Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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Adverse childhood experiences, coping resources, and mental health problems among court-involved youth
- Authors:
- LOGAN-GREENE Patricia, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Child and Youth Care Forum, 46(6), 2017, pp.923-946.
- Publisher:
- Springer
Background: Mental health problems are gaining attention among court-involved youth with emphasis on the role of childhood adversity, but assessment lags. Objective: The present study uses a commonly delivered assessment tool to examine mental health problems (current mental health problem, mental health interfered with probation goals, and suicide ideation) as a function of an expanded set of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs; childhood maltreatment, family dysfunction, and social disadvantage). Adaptive coping resources–impulse control, aspirations, and social support–were tested as both direct contributors and moderators of the influence of ACEs on mental health. Methods: Using a diverse sample of youth on probation (N = 5378), this study utilized logistic regression models to test contributions of the three domains of childhood adversity–childhood maltreatment, family dysfunction, and social disadvantage. These models also examined the moderating roles of coping resources. Results: Childhood maltreatment emerged as the strongest contributor to mental health problems, with significant moderation from social support. Youth aspirations were inversely related to mental health problems and moderated the relation with ACEs and mental health problems that interfered with probation. Conclusions: Assessment and mitigation of the detrimental effects of childhood maltreatment are important considerations in the intervention programs that target mental health outcomes of court-involved youth. Intervention programs to prevent recidivism and improve mental health should improve impulse control and aspirations. (Publisher abstract)
Dying from inequality: socioeconomic disadvantage and suicidal behaviour. Summary report, 2017
- Author:
- SAMARITANS
- Publisher:
- Samaritans
- Publication year:
- 2017
- Pagination:
- 27
- Place of publication:
- Ewell
This report explores the links between socioeconomic disadvantage and suicidal behaviour, setting out how low income and unmanageable debt, unemployment, poor housing, and other socioeconomic factors contribute to high suicide rates in the most disadvantaged communities. The report finds that suicide risk increases during periods of economic recession while countries with higher levels of per capita spending on active labour market programmes, and which have more generous unemployment benefits, experience lower recession-related rises in suicides. There is a strong association between area-level deprivation and suicidal behaviour: suicide rates are two to three times higher in the most deprived neighbourhoods compared to the most affluent. The risk of suicidal behaviour increases when an individual faces negative life events, such as adversity, relationship breakdown, social isolation, or experiences stigma, emotional distress or poor mental health. Socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals are more likely to experience ongoing stress and negative life events, thus increasing their risk of suicidal behaviour. In the UK, socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals are less likely to seek help for mental health problems than the more affluent, and are less likely to be referred to specialist mental health services following self-harm by GPs located in deprived areas. The report makes a number of recommendations for action, and calls on government, businesses, industry and sector leaders to work together so that fewer people die by suicide. (Edited publisher abstract)
Financial insecurity, food insecurity, and disability: the profile of people receiving emergency food assistance from The Trussell Trust Foodbank Network in Britain
- Authors:
- LOOPSTRA Rachel, LALOR Doireann
- Publisher:
- The Trussell Trust
- Publication year:
- 2017
- Pagination:
- 70
- Place of publication:
- Salisbury
Based on a large, representative sample of Trussell Trust food bank users, this research examines the characteristics of people using food banks, the nature of their financial circumstances, and the scale and severity of their household food insecurity across Britain. It is based on responses from a total of 413 people across 18 food banks who participated in the study over October and December 2016. Key findings show that people using food banks are groups who have been most affected by recent welfare reforms. Lone parent families were largest number of people receiving help from food banks; half of households included someone with a disability; people using food banks face extreme financial vulnerability, with almost half of households reported their incomes were unsteady. The findings highlight the depth of poverty, insecurity of incomes, and experiences of food insecurity and material deprivation amongst people using foodbanks. They also show that people with disabilities, lone parent families, and single male households are over represented among food bank users. The findings raise questions about the cost of living and whether the current social security system is meeting people’s basic needs. It concludes there is a need for interventions to address the financial insecurity and insufficiency underlying food insecurity among people using food banks. (Edited publisher abstract)
Socioeconomic disadvantage and suicidal behaviour: full report
- Editor:
- SAMARITANS
- Publisher:
- Samaritans
- Publication year:
- 2017
- Pagination:
- 181
- Place of publication:
- Ewell
This report provides evidence of a strong link between socioeconomic disadvantage and suicidal behaviour, providing a deeper understanding of the nature of this association, how it might be explained, and a consideration of the implications for policy and practice. The report explores key issues from different disciplinary perspectives, including economics, geography, psychology, public health, social policy and sociology, focusing on: the impact of place on suicidal behaviour; socioeconomic disadvantage and suicidal behaviour during times of economic recession and recovery; social and labour market policies and suicidal behaviour; psychological factors underpinning the relationship between socioeconomic disadvantage and suicidal behaviour; a qualitative synthesis of the accounts of those who have self-harmed; and how people in the UK understand the impacts of socioeconomic disadvantage on their mental health and risk factors for suicide. The report finds that unemployment is a key risk factor for suicidal behaviour in men while the association is weaker for women; and the higher risk for men is exacerbated during a downturn or period of economic growth. Recognising the important role of labour market policies in shaping the experience and occurrence of unemployment and job insecurity, the report also examines how suicidal behaviour and related common mental disorders could be reduced through labour market policy design. The report also finds that the risk of suicidal behaviour increases when an individual faces negative life events, such as adversity, relationship breakdown, social isolation, or experiences stigma, emotional distress or poor mental health. Socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals are more likely to experience ongoing stress and negative life events, thus increasing their risk of suicidal behaviour. In addition, the report explores how people understand the impacts of socioeconomic disadvantage on their mental health and risk factors for suicide. The report makes a number of recommendations for action, and calls on government, businesses, industry and sector leaders to work together so that fewer people die by suicide. (Edited publisher abstract)
Socioeconomic disadvantage and suicidal behaviour: a rapid review
- Author:
- PLATT Stephen
- Publisher:
- Samaritans
- Publication year:
- 2017
- Pagination:
- 27
- Place of publication:
- Ewell
This review considers the empirical relationship between socioeconomic disadvantage and suicidal behaviour, highlighting the evidence relating to the UK (as a whole or its constituent nations) and the Republic of Ireland. The weight of evidence summarised in the review points to a significant association between socioeconomic disadvantage (across a range of indicators at both individual and area levels), on the one hand, and suicidal behaviour (suicide and self-harm), on the other. In particular, the review focuses on unemployment and economic recession; occupational status, occupation and suicidal behaviour; education and housing tenure; socioeconomic characteristics of geographical areas; and the relative importance of individual- and area-level inequalities on suicide risk. The review identifies possible pathways to increased risk of suicidal behaviour. At the individual level, these include: accumulated adverse life-course experiences (e.g., health, employment, living conditions); powerlessness, stigma and disrespect; experiencing other features of social exclusion (e.g., poverty, poor educational attainment); living in socioeconomically deprived area; poor physical and mental health; unhealthy lifestyles, i.e. smoking; and social disconnectedness (e.g., loneliness, isolation, poor social support, negative relationships). At the contextual level, pathways to increased risk of suicidal behaviour include: physical (e.g., poor housing conditions); cultural (e.g., tolerant attitudes to suicide); political (e.g., adverse local public policy); economic (e.g., lack of job opportunities; social (e.g., weak social capital); history (e.g., high incidence of suicidal behaviour); infrastructure (e.g., poor quality, accessibility, acceptability of services); and health and well-being (e.g., high prevalence of poor physical and mental health). (Edited publisher abstract)
Inequalities in later life
- Authors:
- SCHARF Thomas, SHAW Caroline
- Publisher:
- Centre for Ageing Better
- Publication year:
- 2017
- Pagination:
- 127
- Place of publication:
- London
This report presents the results of an evidence review on the nature of inequalities in later life, with a focus on six key areas: subjective wellbeing; physical and mental health; life expectancy and healthy life expectancy; financial security; social connections; and home and living environment. The review was carried out by researchers at the Institute of Health and Society and Institute for Ageing at Newcastle University and the International Longevity Centre-UK (ILC-UK) and includes published research from 2006 to 2016. For each outcome, inequalities were considered in relation to: gender, race, age, disability, sexual orientation and religion or beliefs, socioeconomic status, place of residence, and status as an informal carer. The results show that inequalities for older people are largely a product of poverty and disadvantage throughout life. Poor education and work opportunities and lack of social connection can have long term consequences. The review also found that older women are more vulnerable to financial difficulties than older men, with both their employment history and family circumstances impacting on pension income and ability to save. People from BAME backgrounds and some from LGBT are also disproportionately disadvantaged. In analysing the strength of the available evidence, the review also identified the need for more research relating to the inequalities in later life experienced by Black and minority ethnic groups, LGBT groups and people with disabilities. (Edited publisher abstract)
Role of family stressors on rural low-income children's behaviors
- Authors:
- GREDER Kimberly A., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Child and Youth Care Forum, 46(5), 2017, pp.703-720.
- Publisher:
- Springer
Background: Exposure to multiple stressors and lack of access to resources place rural children at high risk for adverse consequences. Family Stress Model guided this study to examine relations between two stressors- food insecurity and maternal depressive symptoms, and behaviour problems among younger and older rural children. Objective: To test associations between food insecurity, maternal depressive symptoms, and behaviour problems among younger and older rural low-income children. Methods: Cross-sectional data from 370 low-income rural families across 13 states was analysed using structural equation modelling and multiple group analyses. Mothers’ education level, household income, marital/partner status, and participation in SNAP served as covariates. Results: Among younger children, maternal depressive symptoms partially mediated the relation between food insecurity and child externalising behaviours, while among older children, maternal depressive symptoms completely mediated the relation between food insecurity and child internalising and externalising behaviours. Conclusions: Stress manifested directly from, or indirectly through, maternal depressive symptoms and from food insecurity was related to behaviour problems among younger and older rural children; however, the relations varied by age of children. Programmes and policies that prevent or lessen both food insecurity and maternal depression may help to lessen problem behaviours among on rural children. Longitudinal studies are needed to rigorously examine causation and directionality among food insecurity, maternal depression and rural child behaviour problems, while accounting for influences of child, caregiver and family characteristics. (Edited publisher abstract)
Looking again at troubled families: parents' perspectives on multiple adversities
- Authors:
- BUNTING Lisa, WEBB Mary Anne, SHANNON Rachel
- Journal article citation:
- Child and Family Social Work, 22(S3), 2017, pp.31-40.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The ‘Troubled Families’ policy and intervention agenda is based on a deficit approach that tends to ignore the role of structural disadvantage in the lives of the families it targets. In an effort to support this rhetoric, both quantitative and qualitative data have been used, and misused, to create a representation of these families, which emphasizes risk and individual blame and minimizes societal factors. This current paper presents findings from an in-depth qualitative study using a biographical narrative approach to explore parents' experiences of multiple adversities at different times over the life-course. Key themes relating to the pattern and nature of adversities experienced by participants provide a more nuanced understanding of the lives of families experiencing multiple and complex problems, highlighting how multiple interpretations are often possible within the context of professional intervention. The findings support the increasing call to move away from procedurally driven, risk averse child protection practice towards more relationally based practice, which addresses not only the needs of all family members but recognizes parents as individuals in their own right. (Publisher abstract)