Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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'Alone with my thoughts' : recommendations for a new approach to young people’s mental health support
- Author:
- MINDFULL
- Publisher:
- MindFull
- Publication year:
- 2013
- Pagination:
- 23
MindFull, a new mental health charity, commissioned YouGov to carry out this study of over 2,000 young people aged 16 - 25 to understand their experiences of mental health. Young people were asked to reflect on their experiences before they were 16, and complete an online survey. Presents the findings of the survey, which sheds light on the problems of poor mental health, the associated stigma, and young people’s experience of seeking support. It calls for early intervention and prevention as well as increased professional support and advice. This report has been released to accompany the launch of a free online counselling service for young people. (Edited publisher abstract)
“It’s us that have to deal with it seven days a week”: carers and borderline personality disorder
- Authors:
- DUNNE Emma, ROGERS Bertha
- Journal article citation:
- Community Mental Health Journal, 49(6), 2013, pp.643-648.
- Publisher:
- Springer
Carers provide unpaid support to family or friends with physical or mental health problems. This support may be within the domain of activities of daily living, such as personal care, or providing additional emotional support. While research has explored the carer experience within the National Health Service in the United Kingdom, it has not focused specifically on carers of individuals with a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder (BPD). Eight carers for those with a diagnosis of BPD were invited to take part in two focus groups. The first carers’ focus group, entitled ‘The role of Mental Health services,’ produced four super-ordinate themes. The second carers’ focus, entitled ‘Experiences in the Community,’ produced six super-ordinate themes. It seems carers of those with a diagnosis of BPD are continuing to be overlooked by mental health services, and subsequently require more support to ensure their own well-being. (Publisher abstract)
The mental health of university students in the United Kingdom
- Author:
- MACASKILL Ann
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 41(4), 2013, pp.426-441.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
There are increasing concerns globally about the mental health of students. In the UK, the actual incidence of mental disturbance is unknown, although university counselling services report increased referrals. This study assesses the levels of mental illness in undergraduate students to examine whether widening participation in education has resulted in increases as hypothesised by the UK Royal College of Psychiatrists. Patterns of disturbance across years are compared to identify where problems arise. Students (N=1197) completed the General Health Questionnaire-28 either on the first day at university or midway through the academic year for first, second and third year students. Rates of mental illness in students equalled those of the general population but only 5.1% were currently receiving treatment. Second year students reported the most significant increases in psychiatric symptoms. Factors contributing to the problem are discussed. (Publisher abstract)
The challenge of a “triple diagnosis”: identifying and serving homeless Canadian adults with a dual diagnosis
- Authors:
- LOUGHEED Donna C., FARRELL Susan
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 10(3), 2013, pp.230-235.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Adults with both a mental illness and intellectual disability (in Canada, a “dual diagnosis”) and who reside in shelters for the homeless are vulnerable and at risk for physical, sexual, and financial abuse. Their mental illnesses are difficult to diagnose and treat, and their intellectual impairments are difficult to ascertain. The authors review the existing literature on homelessness and intellectual disability, and use this and their extensive clinical experience with the homeless in a large Canadian city to identify and extrapolate reasons for the challenges facing both these individuals and the agencies and organizations that serve them. Challenges to providing appropriate services include, identifying and linking with these adults; recognizing the implications of the level of the intellectual delay and the mental illness on the individual's ability to cope, and stay safe; understanding the wants and needs of the individual; expanding the mandate of the agencies and professionals wanting to serve this group; and developing policy that will both provide appropriate support of the individual, but also provide protection, if necessary by legal means. They further suggest that focal services should be based on the following characteristics: flexibility, meeting the client where he or she lives, consideration of capacity to consent in order to avoid neglect issues, and understanding of the lifelong and pervasive effects of intellectual delay in all facets of life. Though the population discussed is resident in Canada, these issues apply to individuals in other countries, as well, where there are concerns about these vulnerable adults with a “triple diagnosis.” (Edited publisher abstract)
Assessing and responding to infant mental health needs
- Author:
- COUSINS Judy
- Journal article citation:
- Community Practitioner, 86(9), 2013, pp.33-39.
- Publisher:
- Community Practitioners' and Health Visitors' Association
Early recognition of mental health problems in maltreated infants, coupled with tailored support to aid recovery, has the potential to offer significant benefits to a population whose needs have perhaps remained hidden in the past. All forms of maltreatment may adversely affect infant mental health, but perhaps none more so that emotional neglect. Universal contact with families with young children makes health visitors ideally placed to provide early support to this vulnerable group, but such practice requires considerable knowledge and understanding. This paper examines how emotional neglect can impact on an infant's mental health and explores how health visitors can assess and respond effectively to this key health need. Throughout, the term 'infant' is used to describe children from birth to the age of three. (Publisher abstract)
The formal support experiences of family carers of people with an intellectual disability who also display challenging behaviour and/or mental health issues: what do carers say?
- Author:
- JAMES Neil
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 17(1), 2013, pp.6-23.
- Publisher:
- Sage
- Place of publication:
- London
Legislation, policy and strategies encourage services and professionals to work with carers in ways that complement and enhance their roles in order to maximize their capacity to care for their relative. Family carers therefore are recognized as a valuable resource. This article reports the findings of a review of research that explored the support experiences of family carers of a person with an intellectual disability who displays challenging behaviour and/or has a mental health problem. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the reported experiences of family carers from recent research studies, about their own support. Carers commonly reported that the support they want from services and professionals is the provision of clear, understandable information about their relative’s condition and treatment. Also, they want help to develop skills that enable them to manage in difficult situations, the provision of psychological support for themselves and a break from their caring role. They desire well-coordinated services as well as skilled and knowledgeable professionals. Recommendations made for the development of future research and practice.
Older women living and coping with domestic violence
- Authors:
- LAZENBATT Anne, DEVANEY John, GILDEA Aideen
- Journal article citation:
- Community Practitioner, 86(2), 2013, pp.28-32.
- Publisher:
- Community Practitioners' and Health Visitors' Association
Arguing that women aged over 50 who are victims of domestic violence are suffering in silence because the problem is often ignored by health professionals, this research aimed to gain a deeper understanding of how older women cope with domestic violence and how it affects their wellbeing. The Northern Ireland study recruited a sample of 18 women aged 50 years and older through Northern Ireland Women's Aid programmes (which coordinate outreach and refuge services for women experiencing domestic violence). Women were invited to talk about their relationships in semi-structured interviews, and the transcripts were analysed for key themes. The interrelated themes identified covered health and wellbeing, psychological effects, barriers to support and coping mechanisms. The article discusses the findings, with illustrative examples from the interviews. It concludes that the findings indicate that living in a domestically violent context has extremely negative effects on older women's wellbeing leading to severe anxiety and depression, and reports that support networks were missing for the women, both in the past and present. The authors suggest that health professionals must receive appropriate education and training to gain knowledge and skills in order to deal effectively with and support older women experiencing domestic violence.
Six-month outcomes following an emergency hospital admission for older adults with co-morbid mental health problems indicate complexity of care needs
- Authors:
- BRADSHAW Lucy E., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Age and Ageing, 42(5), 2013, pp.582-588.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Background: Two-thirds of older patients admitted as an emergency to a general hospital have co-existing mental health problems including delirium, dementia and depression. This study describes the outcomes of older adults with co-morbid mental health problems after an acute hospital admission. Methods: A follow-up study of 250 patients aged over 70 admitted to 1 of 12 wards (geriatric, medical or orthopaedic) of an English acute general hospital with a co-morbid mental health problem and followed up at 180 days. Results: Twenty-seven per cent did not return to their original place of residence after the hospital admission. After 180 days 31% had died, 42% had been readmitted and 24% of community residents had moved to a care home. Only 31% survived without being readmitted or moving to a care home. However, 16% spent >170 of the 180 days at home. Significant predictors for poor outcomes were co-morbidity, nutrition, cognitive function, reduction in activities of daily living ability prior to admission, behavioural and psychiatric problems and depression. Only 42% of survivors recovered to their pre-acute illness level of function. Clinically significant behavioural and psychiatric symptoms were present at follow-up in 71% of survivors with baseline cognitive impairment, and new symptoms developed frequently in this group. Conclusions: The variable, but often adverse, outcomes in this group implies a wide range of health and social care needs. Community and acute services to meet these needs should be anticipated and provided for. (Publisher abstract)
Being understood, being respected: an evaluation of mental health service provision from service providers and users' perspectives in Birmingham, UK
- Authors:
- RABIEE Fatemeh, SMITH Paula
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 15(3), 2013, pp.162-177.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This paper examines the views and experiences of using and providing mental health services from the perspectives of black African and black African Caribbean mental health service users, their carers, voluntary services and a range of statutory mental health professionals and commissioners in Birmingham, UK. Using a qualitative approach, data were collected through telephone interviews (n = 15), individual face-to-face (n = 20) and focus group interviews (n = 12), and analysed using Krueger's framework and Rabiee's guidelines. Findings showed differences in the experiences of mental health services amongst African Caribbean and their African counterparts, the impact of social inequality on mental health and the needs of asylum seekers and refugees. It highlighted the important role of voluntary organisations in provision of care and support, insufficient provision of psychological therapies and concerns about high dosage of medication. The implications for practice are discussed, particularly the role of health beliefs in help-seeking behaviour and barriers to accessibility of mental health services. (Edited publisher abstract)
Relationships between youth and caregiver strengths and mental health outcomes in community based public mental health services
- Authors:
- RADIGAN Marleen, WANG Rui
- Journal article citation:
- Community Mental Health Journal, 49(5), 2013, pp.499-506.
- Publisher:
- Springer
To examine relationships between youth and caregiver strengths and behavioural health outcomes for youth in community service settings. Strengths and behavioural health needs of youth (N = 793) receiving Home and Community Based Services Waiver from 2002–2008 were characterised using the child and adolescent needs and strengths mental health assessment. Comparisons of assessment scores at admission and programme completion were conducted using Chi-square, repeated measures ANOVA and Cohen’s d effect size. Associations between strengths at admission and having behavioural health needs met were examined using multivariable logistic regression. Youth had high levels of needs on mental health, risk and functioning dimensions at admission. All needs improved significantly over the course of the service episode. Youth and caregiver strengths at admission were associated with significant improvements in youth behavioural needs areas at discharge. The findings support the importance of assessing and incorporating youth and caregiver strengths in planning and delivering public mental health services. (Publisher abstract)