Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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Patterns of exclusion of carers for people with mental health problems - the perspectives of professionals
- Authors:
- GRAY Benjamin, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work Practice, 24(4), December 2010, pp.475-492.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
The UK government 10 year strategy for carers (Carers at the Heart of 21st Century Families and Communities, 2008) outlines commitment to support for carers, to enable them to be included within service provision and to have a 'life of their own' including income, employment and well-being, helping to prevent social exclusion. In this study, 65 strategic staff in mental health care delivery from a range of settings and sectors were interviewed and invited to comment on the social exclusion of carers. The findings highlight four main types of exclusion: personal exclusions (including stigma and keeping mental health problems a secret), social exclusions (including isolation, commitments and restrictions and young carers), service exclusions (including needs not being addressed and difficulties with access), and financial exclusions (including paying for care). The author discusses the patterns of exclusion and considers the ways in which professionals and services can promote the social inclusion of carers for people with mental health problems in future.
National programme for improving mental health and well-being small research projects initiative 2006-07: restart for recovery
- Authors:
- BAILEY Pegs, MYERS Fiona, COUTTS Pippa
- Publisher:
- Scotland. Scottish Executive
- Publication year:
- 2007
- Pagination:
- 2p.
- Place of publication:
- Edinburgh
Restart is an Edinburgh-based employability project that aims to promote recovery for people with mental health problems through supporting them into work. It is managed by Forth Sector and works in partnership with NHS Lothian and others. The evaluation used a qualitative methodology to assess the impact the project has had on people’s employability, recovery and levels of social inclusion. It interviewed a total of 17 service users and 4 service providers over a period of 3 months.
Homelessness and mental health: adding clinical mental health interventions to existing social ones can greatly enhance positive outcomes
- Author:
- COCKERSELL Peter
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Public Mental Health, 10(2), 2011, pp.88-98.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
This study investigated the association between homelessness and poor mental and physical health. A pilot project run by St Mungo's suggests that adding clinical mental health interventions makes existing social care interventions several times more effective. The aim of the project was essentially to test the hypothesis that if chronically excluded adults were excluded because of their psychological disorders could a psychotherapeutic intervention reduce their exclusion? Two hundred and seventy four people were invited to attended therapy, of which 70% participated. Of those who did attend assessment, 80% went on to attend four or more sessions; most clients attended either two to four sessions, or more than 12. Attendance overall was 76%, and non-attendances were noted on 11% of occasions. Many homeless people become caught in the trap of hostels, prison, hospitals and the streets, often for many years. This study suggests that this form of homelessness affects people because of their mental health, and that social solutions alone are not sufficient. The authors concluded that offering clinical interventions alongside social ones could begin to transform this situation.
An achievable standard for in-house TC evaluation? Service, individual and group-level outcome data for CHT therapeutic communities
- Authors:
- FREESTONE Mark, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Therapeutic Communities: the International Journal of Therapeutic Communities, 31(4), Winter 2010, pp.372-392.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
This article presents findings from an evaluation of the therapeutic community (TC) projects consisting of Community Housing and Therapy (CHT), a network of TCs in south east England. Data were collected at by in-house research assistants, which were then gathered and analysed centrally, with reference to previous studies performed by the Association of Therapeutic Communities and others. The project was intended to demonstrate what could be achieved by a motivated in-house research team. The study had a high initial take-up from clients, and regular recruitment, but experienced a high dropout rate over its 12-month duration. The findings indicated the mixed nature of difficulties residents experienced with mental health and social functioning when entering CHT, which were equivalent in many respects to those individuals admitted to NHS psychotherapy services and in some cases more severe than those in all but prison TCs. The findings also indicated that those admitted to CHT during the study showed statistically significant overall improvement on most psychometric measures, with 31% reporting reliable and clinically significant positive change.
The lonely society?
- Author:
- GRIFFIN Jo
- Publisher:
- Mental Health Foundation
- Publication year:
- 2010
- Pagination:
- 41p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This report examines how modern society has changed the way people connect. A range of research methods were used to compile the data for this report including: a rapid appraisal of existing literature; a survey completed by a nationally representative sample of 2,256 people; and site visits and interviews with stakeholders including mental health professionals and organisations that provide advice and support to the public. It highlights the case for raising awareness of loneliness and the need to intervene to prevent it from becoming chronic. Whilst loneliness is a natural emotion, chronic loneliness can lead to serious physical and mental health problems. The report describes several approaches to combating loneliness and preventing it from becoming chronic, including initiatives and therapies with proven success in reducing isolation and improving well-being. It argues that in modern society relationships have been relegated to a low priority, and the problem of loneliness is likely to persist and deepen if society continues to fragment. The report concludes that the problem of loneliness in society is a prompt to revitalise our communities, and better integrate their members.
Youth locked in time and space? Defining features of social withdrawal and practice implications
- Author:
- WONG Victor
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work Practice, 23(3), September 2009, pp.337-352.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Critically discusses the defining features of social withdrawal by drawing references from studies in Hong Kong and Japan in particular. With the use of empirical data, the practice implications for working with young people in acute social withdrawal are examined with specific reference to the four defining features, namely, time, place, social relations and social status. It is argued that unless the defining features and the implied directions for measures and practice are thoroughly addressed, personal troubles and social ills that give rise to the downward spiral of withdrawal as a personal experience and social phenomenon cannot be broken.
Social exclusion and mental health: conceptual and methodological review
- Authors:
- MORGAN Craig, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 191(12), December 2007, pp.477-483.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
The concept of social exclusion is now widely used in discussions about the nature of disadvantage, and there are ongoing initiatives to promote social inclusion among those with mental health problems. The article seeks to conduct a conceptual and methodological review of social exclusion, focusing initially on the origins and definitions of the concept and then on approaches to its measurement, both in general and in relation to mental health. It used two main strategies. First, the authors utilised expertise within the study team to identify major texts and reviews on social exclusion and related topics. Second, we searched major bibliographic databases for literature on social exclusion and mental health. They adopted a non-quantitative approach to synthesising the findings. There is no single accepted definition of social exclusion. However, most emphasise lack of participation in social activities as the core characteristic. There are a number of approaches to measuring social exclusion, including use of indicator lists and dimensions. In the mental health literature, social exclusion is poorly defined and measured. If social exclusion is a useful concept for understanding the social experiences of those with mental health problems, there is an urgent need for more conceptual and methodological work.
Mental health and social inclusion: mental health in the mainstream: working paper two
- Author:
- RANKIN Jennifer
- Publisher:
- Institute for Public Policy Research
- Publication year:
- 2005
- Pagination:
- 22p.
- Place of publication:
- London
Mental health problems deny people many ordinary opportunities. It has been estimated that someone with a serious mental health problem is four times more likely than an ‘average’ person to have no close friends. In a survey, 84 per cent of people with mental health problems reported feeling isolated, compared with 29 per cent of the general population (Mind 2004). These barriers to basic social networks signal the wider social exclusion of people with mental health problems. There is increasing understanding about the links between poor mental health and social exclusion. This paper explores these links and aims to add to the momentum for change, for good mental health to become ‘everybody’s business’, as well as a core objective for social policy.
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)
PIEs five years on
- Author:
- COCKERSELL Peter
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Health and Social Inclusion, 20(4), 2016, pp.221-230.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to consider evidence for the effectiveness of the psychologically informed environments (PIEs) approach to working with homeless people in the five years since the national guidance was published. Design/methodology/approach: The author reviewed the intended outcomes of the original guidance and then looked at a range of data from evaluations of current PIE services in UK and Ireland. Findings: The findings were that the PIE approach is effective in meeting the outcomes suggested by the original guidance; in reducing social exclusion and improving the mental health of homeless people; and in improving staff morale and interactions. Research limitations/implications: This is a practice-based evidence. There needs to be more practice-based evidence gathered, and it would be useful if there were some standardised measures, as long as these did not limit the richness of the data which suggests that PIEs have a wide, not narrow, impact. Practical implications: The implications are that homelessness services should use the PIE approach, and that they should be supported by clinically trained psychotherapists or psychologists; and that wider mental health services should look at the PIE approach in terms of working effectively with socially excluded people with complex needs/mental health problems. Originality/value: This is the first review of evidence, much of it so far unpublished, for the effectiveness of PIEs, despite the fact that this approach has been increasingly adopted by both providers and commissioners in the homelessness sector. (Publisher abstract)