Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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A day in the life: what happens when you ask people who live with mental health difficulties to write about their everyday life?
- Authors:
- BROWN Mark, SAINI Geena
- Publisher:
- Centre for Mental Health
- Publication year:
- 2016
- Pagination:
- 26
- Place of publication:
- London
Reports on the results of a one-year crowdsourcing project by Social Spider CIC, which aimed to provide a snapshot of the lives and wellbeing of people who experience mental health difficulties in England. The project asked people living with mental health difficulties what their day was like, what made their mental health better and what made it worse. On four calendar days between November 2014 and August 2015 the project collected accounts of 893 different days by participants. Content analysis was carried out on 782 of the uploaded days to see what most affected people's day-to-day wellbeing. The most frequently mentioned themes, whether positive or negative, were: experiences of mental health services; the contribution of work to the sense of wellbeing; the stability and security of home life; support from friends; and a sense of purpose in life. The three most commonly mentioned positive wellbeing indicators were friend support, home life and sense of purpose. The three most common negative wellbeing indicators were experiences of mental health services, poor or unsatisfying sleep and the physical health. The archive of personal experiences submitted to the project have been stored online and provide a useful resource for anyone wanting to broaden their understanding of what living with mental health difficulties is actually like. (Edited publisher abstract)
The quality of life of former psychiatric patients in Essex
- Author:
- McLEAN C.
- Journal article citation:
- Research Policy and Planning, 8(1), 1990, p.21.
- Publisher:
- Social Services Research Group
Research highlighted the lack of information available to workers and clients and showed significant agreement between clients' and professionals assessment of service needs.
Benefits of choral singing for social and mental wellbeing: qualitative findings from a cross-national survey of choir members
- Authors:
- LIVESEY Laetitia, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Public Mental Health, 11(1), 2012, pp.10-26.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
This study explored the benefits of choral singing for mental wellbeing and health as perceived by a cross-national sample of amateur choral singers. Data consisted of written responses to open-ended questions. These were derived from 169 participants selected from a larger dataset reporting high and low levels of emotional wellbeing on the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire. A majority of participants were female and aged over 50, they lived in Australia, Germany or England. A thematic analysis was followed by a content analysis and Pearson chi square analyses. Comparisons were made between different ages, genders and nationalities and participants with high and low reported emotional wellbeing. The findings revealed multiple themes covering perceived benefits in social, emotional, physical, and cognitive domains. There were no significant differences in frequency of themes across any of the participant sociodemographic and wellbeing categories. It is concluded that the benefits of singing may be experienced similarly irrespective of age, gender, nationality or wellbeing status. It is suggested that choral signing could be used promote mental health and treat mental illness.
Homes of their own
- Author:
- SOUTH ESSEX SERVICE USER RESEARCH GROUP (SE-SURG)
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Health Today, April 2007, pp.26-29.
- Publisher:
- Pavilion
- Place of publication:
- Hove
This article outlines the results of a consultation, carried out by the South Essex Service User Research Group on behalf of Essex County Council, with people currently living in residential care homes with mental health needs. Participants spanned a wide age range, from young people in their 20s to older people in their 60s. The consultation gathered information about living in residential care, suggested improvements and future aspirations.
The relationship between the level of personal empowerment and quality of life among psychosocial clubhouse members and consumer-operated drop-In center participants
- Authors:
- BOYD Suzanne A., BENTLEY Kia J.
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work in Mental Health, 4(2), 2005, pp.67-93.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This cross-sectional, correlational study examined the relationship between personal empowerment and quality of life among 151 mental health consumers (77 psychosocial clubhouse members and 74 consumer-operated drop-in center participants). This study also evaluated the group differences between empowerment and quality of life. Data collected from face-to-face interviews indicate a positive relationship between personal empowerment and quality of life, with drop-in center participants reporting slightly higher levels of personal empowerment than clubhouse members. Mixed results were found between the two groups with respect to subjective and objective quality of life measures. The results of this study suggest an important association between the ability to make life choices and a mental health consumer's quality of life, especially when high levels of social contact are a part of everyday life. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580).
Changes and predictors of change in objective and subjective quality of life: multiwave follow-up study in community psychiatric practice
- Authors:
- RUGGERI Mirella, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 187(2), August 2005, pp.121-130.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
This Italian study aims to describe changes at 2 and 6 years in objective and subjective quality of life in 261 individuals attending a community mental health service and to identify predictors of change in each life domain. The research used a prospective study of demographic, diagnostic and service utilisation characteristics, psychopathology, functioning, disability, self-esteem, affect balance and service satisfaction. Female gender, unmarried status, older age, less education and greater disability predicted a worsening of objective quality of life over time, but explain a small amount of variance. The variance in subjective quality of life was higher (greater than 40%). Greater clinician-rated anxiety and depressive symptoms had a negative effect on satisfaction with health and general well-being. Psychological status, self-esteem and satisfaction with service were the most important predictors in almost all subjective domains; these variables should be important targets for treatment.
Outcomes from personal budgets in mental health: service users’ experiences in three English local authorities
- Authors:
- LARSEN John, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health, 24(4), 2015, pp.219-224.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
Aims: To investigate people’s own reporting of outcomes from using personal budgets in relation to social care needs arising from severe mental health problems. Method: A convenience sample of 47 individuals receiving personal budgets was recruited from three English local authorities. In-depth semi-structured interviews were subject to thematic framework analysis. Results: Most participants identified positive outcomes across domains interconnected through individual life circumstances, with mental health and wellbeing, social participation and relationships, and confidence and skills most commonly reported. Some needed more support than others to identify goals and make use of the personal budget to take a more active part in the society. Conclusions: Personal budgets can enable people to achieve outcomes that are relevant to them in the context of their lives, particularly through enhancing their wellbeing and social participation. Consideration should be given to distinguishing those individuals potentially requiring more support for engagement from those who can engage more independently to identify and pursue their goals. (Edited publisher abstract)
Brighter futures: supporting mental health in later life: project overview, learning and recommendations
- Authors:
- GOLDIE Isabella, GRANT Sandra
- Publisher:
- Mental Health Foundation
- Publication year:
- 2011
- Pagination:
- 31p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
Scotland has an ageing population where the proportion of older people is increasing due to low birth rates and increased longevity. This will have a major impact on society not only in terms of family structure and roles but also on economic issues related to wealth production and the costs of care. The Brighter Futures project worked with older volunteers to deliver a peer mentoring service for isolated older people aimed at improving their wellbeing and quality of life through enhancing their social networks and enabling meaningful community engagement. This report reveals how having a peer every step of the way was one of the most valuable aspects of the project. Many participants were able to move on from the project within a short timescale. Some participants considered becoming volunteers themselves and the mentor role was highly valued by volunteers. Participant and volunteer case studies and experiences are included. The report recommends that services should be developed that focus on the needs of those most isolated within our communities, and service models should be developed that provide support built on peer relationships. Volunteering opportunities should be developed that take account of the importance of having a socially valued role and should aim to enable older people to create new positive identities for themselves following retirement.
Deafblindness and mental health: psychological distress and unmet need among adults with dual sensory impairment
- Authors:
- BODSWORTH Sarah M., et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Visual Impairment, 29(1), January 2011, pp.6-26.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Little detailed information is available about the mental health of people with deafblindness. This systematic survey was designed to better understand the levels of psychological distress and unmet need in this population. Using materials adapted for each member, a self-report survey was sent to the membership of the third sector organisation, Deafblind UK. The response rate was relatively low; a total of 539 usable responses were received from the 2717 surveys distributed. As anticipated, high rates of psychological distress were reported: 61 percent (n = 439) of the respondents obtained a score of two or more (from a maximum of 12) on the General Health Questionnaire-12, while 45.8 percent obtained a more stringent score of four or more. Informal support from family and friends was widely reported but the findings also suggested high levels of unmet need. More than one in four respondents reported that they received no formal support; only a third received regular support from a general practitioner of community nurse. The development of services for this client group, particularly within the health service, is discussed.
Finding strength from within: report on three local projects looking at mental health and recovery with people from some of the black and minority ethnic communities in Edinburgh
- Author:
- SCOTTISH RECOVERY NETWORK
- Publisher:
- Scottish Recovery Network
- Publication year:
- 2008
- Pagination:
- 22p.
- Place of publication:
- Glasgow
This exploratory community development project gathered the experiences around recovery of people using mental health services who come from some of the black and minority ethnic (BME) communities in Edinburgh. The project involved around 50 people from BME communities. The work with each of the three smaller projects was designed around the circumstances of that service and the ways in which those participants or service users wished to take part. This took place between December 2007 and May 2008. The three small projects took different approaches to discussing similar issues. The NHS Lothian Minority Ethnic Mental Health Project invited people who had been in touch with the service and other people from BME communities who had contact with NHS Lothian mental health services to take part in individual interviews, the Men’s Forum at Men in Mind invited the development worker from Outside the Box to come to one of the Forum meetings, where people talked about wellbeing and recovery and decided that they would like to have an event which provided information for men from minority ethnic communities, and at Saheliya, a group of women came together to talk about recovery and wellbeing and put together a presentation which was a record of their stories and could be shown at conferences or to groups and individual people. This final report brings together the themes which were raised across the three small projects and describes what people identified as their priorities within these issues and their suggestions for services. It also describes what people have said about taking part in the project and being able to explore their experiences around recovery and wellbeing.