Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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What is normal behaviour in persons with developmental disabilities?
- Authors:
- DOSEN Anton, De GROEF Johan
- Journal article citation:
- Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities, 9(5), 2015, pp.284-294.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: Annoying and bothersome behaviours among persons with developmental disabilities (DD) is a relatively frequent phenomenon. However, not all behaviour that is difficult to accept in its surroundings should be seen as abnormal or problem behaviour (PB). Some of these behaviours may be an expression of a person’s psychosocial needs and may be considered as adaptive and normal. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach: Authors attempt to discuss relevant issues in persons with DD which have an impact on their behaviour, intending in this way to define criteria for a reliable differentiation between normal and abnormal behaviour and psychiatric disorders. Findings: Differentiating between normal and abnormal may be a difficult task for a professional treating persons with DD because of the lack of adequate criteria for such differentiation. The problem becomes even more complex when one attempts to differentiate between PB and psychiatric disorder. By approaching the subject from a developmental perspective and by determining the level of the person’s emotional development, insight in subjective person’s experiences was achieved. On the ground of a “good practice” the authors made schemata outlining criteria for differentiation between these constructs. Originality/value: The application of these schemata in the practice made it easier to establish appropriate diagnoses and was favourable for the planning of adequate treatment and support of persons with DD and mental health problems. (Publisher abstract)
“How can I take a break?” coping strategies and support needs of mental health carers
- Authors:
- BROADY Timothy R., STONE Katherine
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work in Mental Health, 13(4), 2015, pp.318-335.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Caring for a family member or friend can have major impacts on the personal life and wellbeing of carers. Identifying those who experience poor subjective wellbeing, factors that contribute to this, and ways in which services can be more effectively provided is essential in supporting carers in their role. This study surveyed carers from across New South Wales and found that carers of people with mental health issues reported poorer health and mental health themselves than any other group of carers, despite being more likely to access supportive services. The effectiveness of personal coping strategies employed by mental health carers is also discussed. Survey results raise implications regarding the support of mental health carers and their subjective wellbeing. (Publisher abstract)
The postadoption needs of adoptive parents of children with disabilities
- Authors:
- HILL Katharine, MOORE Fintan
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Family Social Work, 18(3), 2015, pp.164-182.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Adoptions of children with disabilities are considered special needs, due to the higher level of support needed pre- and postadoption by families and children for adoptions to succeed. Despite this fact, very few studies examine the specific postadoption experiences of families with children with disabilities. Using secondary analysis of a national survey of adoptive parents, as well as interviews and a focus group with adoptive parents in one state, this study examines families’ with adopted children with disabilities challenges and unmet needs after adoption, as well as the postadoption needs and experiences of adoptive families with children with developmental and intellectual disabilities and adoptive families of children with emotional, behavioural, and mental health disabilities. Findings indicate that families with children with disabilities do report higher rates of challenges and barriers to service access, and that this is particularly true in families with adopted children with emotional, behavioural, and mental health disabilities. Implications for research and practice are discussed. (Edited publisher abstract)
Individual peer support: a qualitative study of mechanisms of its effectiveness
- Authors:
- GIDUGU Vasudha, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Community Mental Health Journal, 51(4), 2015, pp.445-452.
- Publisher:
- Springer
Peer-delivered services for individuals with psychiatric conditions have proliferated over the past three decades. The values and principles underlying peer support have been explored, but understanding is lacking of its mechanisms of action. To shed light on the processes of peer support, the authors conducted a study with individuals who had received substantial individual peer support. Individual interviews were audiotaped, transcribed, and examined using a thematic analysis approach. Analysis suggests that individual peer support provided various practical, emotional, and social supports which were perceived as beneficial. Participants valued having someone to rely on, a friend, and someone to socialise with. The authors, however, found that individuals’ expectations of peer support did not always comport with available services. Participants viewed peer support as especially valuable because of the opportunity for a non-treatment based, normalising relationship. It is concluded that peer support complements rather than supplants needed traditional mental health services. (Edited publisher abstract)
To belong, contribute, and hope: first stage development of a measure of social recovery
- Author:
- MARINO Casadi “Khaki”
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health, 24(2), 2015, pp.68-72.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
Background: Recovery from mental health challenges is beginning to be explored as an inherently social process. There is a need to measure social recovery. Targeted measures would be utilised in needs assessment, service delivery, and programme evaluation. This paper reports on the first stage of development of a social recovery measure. Aims: Explore the social aspects of recovery as reported by individuals with lived experience. Method: A qualitative study using thematic analysis of data from focus groups with 41 individuals in recovery. Results: Three meta-themes of social recovery emerged: community, self-concept, and capacities. Each theme contained a number of sub-themes concerned with a sense of belonging, inherent acceptability of the self, and ability to cope with mental distress and engage socially. Conclusions: Study participants clearly spoke to common human needs to belong, contribute, and have hope for one's future. Findings converged with results of consumer-led research that emphasise the importance of overcoming the impact of illness on the self and social context. (Edited publisher abstract)
Health and psychosocial service use among suicides without psychiatric illness
- Authors:
- LAW Yik Wa, WONG Paul W.C., YIP Paul S.F.
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work: A journal of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), 60(1), 2015, pp.65-74.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Although mental illness is a major suicide risk factor, some cases of suicide list no symptoms of mental disorder at the time of death. Studying suicides without psychiatric illness has important implications for social work because this group's service needs seem to have been overlooked. The authors of this article conducted a psychological autopsy study of 150 people who committed suicide and 150 age- and gender-matched living controls. Suicides without psychiatric illness showed similar detectable psychopathology as the suicide and living control groups with nonpsychotic psychiatric disorders. Though suicides without psychiatric disorders showed fewer warning signs that could be noticed by their informants, they experienced more negative life events than living controls. The suicide cases without psychiatric illness also seemed to be less protected by enabling factors (such as social support and employment) than living controls with and without psychiatric disorders. Furthermore, they had lower use of services than the control and deceased-with-diagnosis groups. With fewer at-risk signs and poorer enabling resources, they were undetected or unengaged by the existing physical, psychiatric, and psychosocial services. This group should be of concern to social workers, who may develop community-based health education programmes and preventive services to meet this vulnerable population's psychosocial needs. (Edited publisher abstract)
How social work can contribute in the shift to personalised, recovery-oriented psycho-social disability support services
- Authors:
- BROPHY Lisa, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Social Work, 45(S1), 2015, pp.i98-i116.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
This paper presents the findings from an Australian study in which forty-one people, who self-identified as having a psycho-social disability as a result of mental health problems, spoke about their priorities for treatment, care and support within a personalised funding context. The research enabled an improved understanding of the choices about support that people with psycho-social disabilities would make if offered individualised funding packages. Participants prioritised specific supports to improve their health, financial situation, social connection, housing and personal relationships. A relationship with a support worker with a range of skills was identified as a key facilitator of these life goals, but people with psycho-social disabilities also valued opportunities to have discretionary funds to directly address the major problems they face, including stigma, discrimination and poverty. The paper argues that social workers can potentially fill a range of roles and are well placed to work in partnership with people with psycho-social disabilities. Particularly, they have skills in co-production of services, negotiation and advocacy that are required if individual funding is to be maximised for user control, social justice and personal recovery outcomes. (Publisher abstract)
Differential responsiveness to a parenting intervention for mothers in substance abuse treatment
- Authors:
- PARIS Ruth, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Child Abuse and Neglect, 50, 2015, p.206–217.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
This study examines the relationship between levels of psychological distress in substance-dependent mothers and their differential response to a dyadic parent–child intervention. A sample of 66 mothers who were receiving treatment for substance abuse, as well as a simultaneous parenting intervention, were interviewed pre and post-treatment on measures of psychological distress, adult and child trauma history, parental reflective functioning, and child social–emotional development. Additionally, clinicians provided assessments of the parent–child relationships. As anticipated, trauma histories for mothers and children, children's social emotional development, and parental reflective functioning were associated with aspects of maternal psychological distress. Kruskal–Wallis and subsequent Wilcoxson signed rank tests revealed that women with highest levels of baseline psychological distress showed significant improvements in psychological functioning post-treatment while women with moderately elevated levels of psychological distress did not. Women who were most distressed at baseline showed increased levels of parental reflective functioning post-treatment while women with moderate and lower levels of baseline psychological distress showed improvements on clinician-rated assessments of parent–child relationships. Chi Square analyses showed that parents who endorsed the highest levels of distress at baseline reported that their children's risk status regarding social–emotional development decreased post-treatment. Despite similarities in substance dependence, mothers in this sample had different needs and outcomes in the context of this parenting intervention due to variation in mental health. Given this variation, parenting interventions for substance-dependent mothers need to account for the individual differences in levels of psychological distress. (Publisher abstract)
Developing a process for assessment of the emotional and behavioural needs of "looked after" children: the Five Rivers model
- Authors:
- BECKETT Celica, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Children's Services, 10(4), 2015, pp.324-338.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
This paper describes the development process of building an assessment model to assess the emotional and behavioural needs of “looked after children” using a combination of three existing tools. The paper highlights some of the early benefits and challenges which have been encountered using this model. (Edited publisher abstract)
A serious case review: James
- Authors:
- FLYNN Margaret, ELEY Ruth
- Publisher:
- Suffolk Safeguarding Adults Board
- Publication year:
- 2015
- Pagination:
- 53
- Place of publication:
- Ipswich
Serous case review of Richard Handley, referred to as ‘James’, a 33 year old adult with Down’s syndrome and a moderate learning disability who was also diagnosed with a mental illness and hypothyroidism. He had lifelong problems with constipation. He lived in a Supported Living scheme, Goshawk Close, run by United Response. On 14 November 2012 he was admitted to Ipswich Hospital and following a surgical procedure under anaesthetic to remove impacted faeces, he died in hospital on 17 November 2012. Failings identified in the review include: poor monitoring of physical health needs; a lack of understanding about the use of the Mental Capacity Act; no specific arrangements for the supported living scheme to obtain support from specialist learning disabilities services; and lack of a multi-disciplinary approach to supporting physical and mental health needs. Recommendations include: named care coordinators for adults with learning disabilities and complex support needs; an annual review of health and social care needs; and ensuring services providing care to people with complex support needs have explicit access arrangements with NHS providers such as Community Learning Disability Teams. (Original abstract)