Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
Results 1 - 10 of 12
Geographical barriers to mental health service care among individuals with an intellectual disability in the Republic of Ireland
- Authors:
- RAMSAY Hugh, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 13(4), 2016, pp.261-268.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
People with an intellectual disability (ID) are more likely to experience mental health difficulties than others. The United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) states that health services should be provided close to people's own communities. This article examines differences in access to psychiatry services for those with an ID according to geography, in the context of a small European country (Republic of Ireland). The sample consisted of 753 individuals aged 40 and over with ID in the Republic of Ireland, with data collected from the Intellectual Disability Supplement of the Irish Longitudinal Study on Aging (IDS-TILDA). The primary outcome of interest was attendance with any psychiatrist and the primary independent variables were area of residence (health service region and degree of county urbanicity). Logistic regression was used to analyse associations, unadjusted and then controlling for age group, gender and level of ID. Secondary analysis examined factors associated with anti-psychotic prescription without psychiatrist supervision. Treatment by a psychiatrist was associated with both health region (p = 0.029) and degree of urbanicity (p = 0.015) before controlling for group differences but only the health region was significantly associated after controlling for age, gender and level of ID. Antipsychotic use without a psychiatrist was associated with degree of urbanicity (p = 0.036) but not with health service region (p = 0.989). Geographic factors are associated with access to mental health services among those with ID in the Republic of Ireland. This may be partly due to movement of people with ID away from their area of origin, highlighting the need for locally tailored specialist ID mental health teams and for further research into barriers to treatment. Additional work in other countries will further understanding of similar roles of geographic factors in mediating mental health services access. (Edited publisher abstract)
‘I didn't know other people existed who hear voices…’ – qualitative perceptions of a hearing voices group for people with learning disabilities
- Authors:
- TOMLINS Rose, CAWLEY James
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 44(3), 2016, pp.204-212.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Group work for people who experience voice hearing in the mainstream population has been shown to have various benefits; however, there is little research describing hearing voices groups for people with learning disabilities. This study describes perceptions of a new hearing voices group for people with mild learning disabilities. Semi-structured interviews with twelve participants were conducted. This included three clients who attended the hearing voices group, three of their family members/carers and one professional. In addition, of those who were referred to the group but chose not to attend, one client, two family members/carers and two professionals were interviewed. Interview data were transcribed verbatim and thematic analysis was used to identify three overarching themes; the first ‘benefits of our hearing voices group’ described participants’ evaluations and perceptions of the hearing voices group. The second ‘making the decision to attend’ covers factors that influence clients when deciding whether or not to attend a hearing voices group. In the final theme ‘positive and negative contributors to the voice-hearing experience’, participants reflected on factors that affect the voice-hearing experience. The hearing voices group was valued by participants; however, services should consider the barriers to attendance faced by some clients. Strategies for addressing these are discussed. (Publisher abstract)
Family-focused practice in mental health care: an integrative review
- Authors:
- FOSTER Kim, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Child and Youth Services, 37(2), 2016, pp.129-155.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
While mental health services are increasingly encouraged to engage in family-focused practice, it is a poorly understood term. The aim of review was to synthesise evidence on the concept and scope of family-focused practice in adult and child and youth mental health care settings. An integrative literature review method was used. Electronic databases were systematically searched between 1994–2014. In 40 included articles, family-focused practice was conceptualised variously depending on who comprised the "family," the family type, and context of practice. Six core and inter-related family-focused practices were identified: assessment; psychoeducation; instrumental, emotional, and social support; family care planning and goal-setting; liaison between families and services; and a coordinated system of care between families and services. "Family" as defined by its members forms a basis for practice that is oriented to providing a "whole of family" approach to care. Key principles and family-focused practices are recommended across mental health settings. (Edited publisher abstract)
The nature of emotional support and counselling provision for people with sight loss in the United Kingdom
- Authors:
- PYBIS Joanne, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Visual Impairment, 34(2), 2016, pp.167-176.
- Publisher:
- Sage
People with sight loss in the United Kingdom are known to have lower levels of emotional well-being and to be at higher risk of depression. Consequently, ‘having someone to talk to’ is an important priority for people with visual impairment. An online survey of the provision of emotional support and counselling for people affected by sight loss across the United Kingdom was undertaken. The survey was distributed widely and received 182 responses. There were more services offering ‘emotional support’, in the form of listening and information and advice giving, than offered ‘counselling’. Services were delivered by providers with differing qualifications in a variety of formats. Waiting times were fairly short and clients presented with a wide range of issues. Funding came from a range of sources, but many felt their funding was vulnerable. Conclusions have been drawn about the need for a national standardised framework for the provision of emotional support and counselling services for blind and partially sighted people in the United Kingdom. (Publisher abstract)
Delivery characteristics, acceptability, and depression outcomes of a home-based depression intervention for older African Americans: the Get Busy Get Better Program
- Authors:
- GITLIN Laura N., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 56(5), 2016, pp.956-965.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Purpose of the Study: To facilitate replication, the authors examined delivery characteristics, acceptability, and depression outcomes of a home-based intervention, Get Busy Get Better, Helping Older Adults Beat the Blues (GBGB). GBGB, previously tested in a randomised trial, reduced depressive symptoms and enhanced quality of life in African Americans. Design and Methods: A total of 208 African Americans aged above 55 years with Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) scores ≥5 on two subsequent screenings were randomised to receive GBGB immediately or 4 months later. GBGB involves up to 10 home sessions consisting of care management, referral/linkage, depression education/symptom recognition, stress reduction, and behavioural activation. Interventionists recorded delivery characteristics (dose, intensity) and perceived acceptability of sessions. Baseline and post-tests were used to characterise participants and examine associations between dose/intensity and depression scores. Participant satisfaction and perceived benefits were examined at 8 momths. Results: Of 208 participants, 181 (87%, mean age = 69.6) had treatment data. Of these, 165 (91.2%) had ≥3 treatment sessions (minimal dose). Participants had on average 8.1 sessions (SD = 2.6) for an average of 65.4min (SD = 18.3) each. Behavioural activation and care management were provided the most (average of six sessions for average duration = 17.9 and 22.2min per session respectively), although all participants received each treatment component. GBGB was perceived as highly acceptable and beneficial by interventionists and participants. More sessions and time in programme were associated with greater symptom reduction. Implications: GBGB treatment components were highly acceptable to participants. Future implementation and sustainability challenges include staffing, training requirements, reimbursement limitations, competing agency programmatic priorities, and generalisability to other groups. (Edited publisher abstract)
Dual dilemma: the impact of living with mental health issues combined with drug and alcohol misuse
- Author:
- TURNING POINT
- Publisher:
- Turning Point
- Publication year:
- 2016
- Pagination:
- 12
- Place of publication:
- London
Short report providing an update on the challenges facing people with mental health problems issues who also misuse drugs and/or alcohol. The report presents key facts and figures which highlight the number of people affected and the cost to services. It also looks at the impact of substance misuse on the symptoms of mental ill health. Despite government initiatives and policy guidance to develop more integrated services for people with substance misuse and mental health problems, it reports that joint commissioning is rare. The report the highlights some of the challenges to effective service delivery are identified, which include: the lack of a joined up approach, failure to diagnosis or recognise need, and lack of access to services. The paper then makes suggestions to improve funding, commissioning and provision of services for people with co-existing needs. These include greater collaboration of services, partnership working between staff, drug and alcohol awareness training for mental health staff, and the need for early intervention and prevention. The report makes recommendations for the government, commissioners and providers and calls for them to work together to improve service provision. (Edited publisher abstract)
Interagency collaboration in children and young people's mental health: a systematic review of outcomes, facilitating factors and inhibiting factors
- Authors:
- COOPER Mabel, EVANS Yvonne A., PYBIS Joanne
- Journal article citation:
- Child: Care, Health and Development, 42(3), 2016, pp.325-332.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Background: In the UK and internationally, there have been increasing calls for interagency collaboration across mental health services for children and young people. However, it is not clear whether such practices do, indeed, have a positive impact and, if so, what factors facilitate and inhibit collaboration across agencies. Methods: Electronic searches were carried out on seven key computerised bibliographic databases. For inclusion in the review, studies needed to report on close working by two or more services that provided mental health support for children and/or young people and that had some systematic collection of qualitative and/or quantitative data. Outcomes were analysed narratively, and facilitating and inhibiting factors were examined using thematic analysis. Results: A final sample of 33 studies was identified from 4136 initial records. Outcomes were mixed, with some findings indicating that interagency collaboration was associated with greater service use and equity of service provision, but other suggesting negative outcomes on service use and quality. However, interagency collaboration was perceived as helpful and important by both service users and professionals, and collaborative initiatives were evaluated positively. The factors most commonly identified as facilitating interagency collaboration were good interagency communication, joint trainings, good understandings across agencies, mutual valuing across agencies, senior management support, protocols on interagency collaboration and a named link person. The most commonly perceived barriers to interagency collaboration were inadequate resourcing, poor interagency communication, lack of valuing across agencies, differing perspectives, poor understandings across agencies and confidentiality issues. Conclusions: The results are consistent with findings from previous reviews of interagency collaboration across adult and child services: there were some indications of benefit; and facilitating and inhibiting factors involved working relationships and multi-agency processes, resources and management. The identification of these factors has implications for practitioners, service managers, trainers, commissioners and researchers. (Publisher abstract)
Implementation of positive behavioural support in a medium secure mental health service: a service development
- Authors:
- DAVIES Bronwen, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health Training Education and Practice, 11(3), 2016, pp.156-161.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to detail the implementation and evaluation of positive behavioural support within a medium secure mental health service. Design/methodology/approach: Information regarding the policy context, service context and the processes supporting PBS interventions are outlined. Findings: PBS has historically been applied within child services in USA and learning disability services in UK. Originality/value: Forensic mental health is a new area of implementation and is in line with current policy promoting its use across a number of service contexts. (Publisher abstract)
The stolen years: the mental health and smoking action report
- Authors:
- HARKER Katy, CHEESEMAN Hazel
- Publisher:
- Action on Smoking and Health
- Publication year:
- 2016
- Pagination:
- 48
- Place of publication:
- London
Sets out recommendations for how smoking rates for people with a mental health condition could be dramatically reduced and outlines works to help people with mental health conditions to quit. These include improved training of healthcare staff, better access to stop smoking medication and a move towards smoke free mental health settings. The report explains that while smoking rates amongst the general population have fallen in the past few decades, they have remained high amongst people with mental health conditions. People with a mental health condition face more barriers to quitting smoking and are more likely to need more support. This can result in reduced life expectancy and higher risk of conditions such as heart and lung disease, stroke and cancer. It then outlines twelve high level ambitions to reduce this growing health inequality. These cover the areas of: culture, workforce and training; service delivery; data collection; prevention; and areas for future research agenda to review gaps in the evidence. Each ambition includes a set of specific actions and are supported by examples from recent research. The report has been informed by input from a wide range of experts and professionals from across public health, mental health and surveys with 147 staff working in mental health settings and 355 people with a mental health condition. The report has been endorsed by 27 health and mental health organisations. (Edited publisher abstract)
Understanding the patterns of use, motives, and harms of New Psychoactive Substances in Scotland
- Authors:
- MacLEOD Katy, et al
- Publisher:
- Scotland. Scottish Government
- Publication year:
- 2016
- Pagination:
- 133
- Place of publication:
- Edinburgh
Reports the results of mixed methods research on New or Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS) use among five key target populations: vulnerable young people, people in contact with mental health services, people affected by homelessness, people who inject drugs and men who have sex with men. Research methods included: interviews with 33 people who had taken NPS; focus groups with 42 front line staff working with people who use NPS; and surveys completed by 424 service users and 184 front line workers. Findings are presented on patterns of NPS use, motivations for and consequences of use, and treatment and legislative responses. Key motives for use of NPS related to ease of access, curiosity and influence of peers, as well as pleasure, price and potency. Multiple harms associated with NPS use were identified though the surveys. These included: mental health harms, such as anxiety, paranoia and depression; physical health harms such as lack of sleep and coordination problems; and social harms, such as debt, loss of tenancy and negative effects on relationships. Rates of contact with drug treatment and other services such as social work, mutual aid, and drug, homeless, mental and sexual health services regarding NPS use were low. It suggests that there is a need to raise the profile of available NPS support within services and to ensure that staff are adequately trained to ask about NPS use. The report highlights learning points for improving practice, developing services and engaging with vulnerable populations. (Edited publisher abstract)