Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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Mental health, social exclusion and social inclusion
- Author:
- SECKER Jenny
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Health Review Journal, 14(4), December 2009, pp.4-11.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Based on a comparison of ways of defining social exclusion within the mental health literature, this article outlines the social systems approach to understanding social exclusion (where social exclusion is seen as a concept encompassing processes that involve the failure of one or more of 4 systems on which the sense of belonging in society depends: the democratic and legal system, the labour market, the welfare state system, and the family and community system), and uses it to examine the position of people with mental health needs in the UK. It looks at the relationship between exclusion and inclusion and provides a critique of the inclusion imperative in mental health. From the evidence reviewed, the author concludes that there is a need for policy initiatives to focus on tackling the structural barriers that work to exclude people with mental health needs as well as on challenging deep-rooted prejudice and stigmatisation that reinforce those barriers, and a need to be mindful of the context in which inclusion policies are implemented, the assumptions implicit within these policies, and the possible consequences of their adoption.
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.
Using focus groups and photography to evaluate experiences of social inclusion within rehabilitation adult mental health services
- Authors:
- FELTON Anne, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Health Review Journal, 14(3), September 2009, pp.13-30.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Tackling the social exclusion of people with mental health problems is a primary concern for contemporary mental health services. This paper describes a project based in adult rehabilitation mental health services within an NHS trust. The service consists of 7 community-based residential units and offers services to adults who experience ongoing mental health problems and require support to return to living independently. The project aimed to explore if people using these services were included in their local community. This paper focuses on the findings of focus groups with staff, examining their perception of service users’ social inclusion, and a participatory photo project enabling the service users to capture involvement with their local community. The findings indicated that services reported some success at developing partnerships within the community, but discrimination still remained a significant obstacle. The article concludes that some people, having experienced acceptance and inclusion within mental health services, had actively chosen to define this as their community.
Measuring social inclusion: a staff survey of mental health service users’ participation in community occupations
- Authors:
- DORER Gemma, HARRIES Priscilla, MARSTON Louise
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 72(12), December 2009, pp.520-530.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Mental health service users frequently experience social exclusion and limited occupational engagement. This paper describes a survey of staff in an inner-city mental health rehabilitation service regarding the community occupations of 199 people with long-term mental disorders. The community occupation domains looked at were: attending any education course; work-related activity or training; attendance at day centres; sports; religious activities; engagement in any arts activity; use of local facilities such as shops or library; and contact with family and friends. The staff reported that the majority of service users (54%) engaged in 2 or fewer of the community occupation domains over a 7-day period. The most common was the use of local facilities (92%) and contact with friends and family (61%). The staff reports suggested that far fewer service users were engaged in the other domains: day centres (25%), education (14%), sport (13%), arts (12%), employment (11%) and faith (8%). With regard to social inclusion, the activities that occurred most frequently in mainstream settings were faith (100%), use of local facilities (98%), sport (80%), and family and friends (79%). Statistical analysis revealed that service users’ occupation engagement related to their accommodation type, age and gender, but not to ethnicity.
Changes 12 Steps to Mental Health
- Author:
- WAIN Barbara
- Journal article citation:
- A Life in the Day, 13(4), November 2009, pp.25-30.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Changes 12 Steps to Mental Health is a peer-led charity providing person-focused, recovery-rooted services that aim to promote recovery, enabling people to become contributing members of society again. This article traces its history, achievements and the challenges faced in developing the services that it provides today.
Social inclusion or continuing social exclusion?
- Author:
- BURNETT Vicki
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Leadership in Public Services, 5(2 Supplement), July 2009, pp.26-28.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
The author explores the concept of rehabilitation versus recovery and suggests that current approaches in mental health service delivery continue to promote social exclusion. The author purports that until people recognise and understand why this is the case and replace our current philosophy with the principles of recovery which have hope and high expectations of success and peer leadership as the foundation we will not see real change. Strong consumer leadership remains the key to embedding change and improving outcomes for the people that services exist for.
Access to health care for people with mental disorders in Europe
- Authors:
- WAHLBECK Kristian, HUBER Manfred
- Publisher:
- European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 8p.
- Place of publication:
- Vienna
People with mental disorders are at high risk of poverty, stigmatisation and social exclusion. There is evidence that they do not receive the general health care that best responds to their needs. This policy brief outlines hurdles of access to health care for people with mental disorders in Europe and discusses policy implications.
The Care Programme Approach and adult learning
- Author:
- LAW Caroline
- Journal article citation:
- A Life in the Day, 13(2), May 2009, pp.13-15.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
There is general consensus that taking up adult learning is good for mental health. For people experiencing mental health difficulties, taking up learning enhances social inclusion. Learning helps people gain new skills, become more employable, meet new people and grow in confidence. It can also be an exhilarating experience that aids the recovery process. This article reports on a project to investigate why so many people with mental health difficulties are still missing out on learning opportunities.
Down and out?: the final report of St Mungo's Call 4 evidence: mental health and street homelessness
- Author:
- ST. MUNGO'S
- Publisher:
- St. Mungo's
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 63p.
- Place of publication:
- London
More than 90 submissions were received following the Call for Evidence. These came from a range of sectors: mental health organisations, homeless agencies, individual service users and healthcare professionals, local authorities, campaigning groups, Primary Care Trusts, community groups, government departments and other organisations. Oral hearings were also held. This report analyses and reports on the material gathered. It summarises the nature of the mental health and homelessness problem, covering politics and policy, definition of mental illness, gaps in services, and social exclusion. It looks at health care and social care for homeless people, and discusses the recovery journey and the way forward. It includes recommendations, and brief illustrations of good working. The Chief Executive of St Mungo's notes that the report sets out a case for reform, using a range of evidence gathered to "highlight the inadequacy of the current system of treatment, care and support" to meet the mental health needs of homeless people.
Well London: mental well being impact assessment: project report
- Author:
- EDMONDS Nerys
- Publisher:
- Well London
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 32p.
- Place of publication:
- London
The Well London programme aims to improve health and well-being in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the capital. As part of the Well London programme, the Mental Well-being Impact Assessment (MWIA) project is being delivered by the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. MWIA uses a combination of methods, procedures and tools to assess the potential for a policy, service, programme or project to impact on the mental well-being of a population. MWIA focuses on population groups who may experience health inequalities and social injustice with a particular emphasis on those most at risk of poorer mental well-being. The MWIA framework is based on enhancing control, increasing resilience and community assets, facilitating participation, and promoting social inclusion. The specific delivery targets of the Well London MWIA project were: to train between 60 and 100 local people in MWIA across 20 target areas in London; to involve 400 project stakeholders in 40 MWIAs; and to have an indirect impact on Well London project users through the implementation of action plans coming out of the MWIAs. This report offers a review and an initial evaluation of this MWIA programme, and shares the learning that is relevant for both the remaining period of Well London programme delivery and for future MWIA programmes. The report considers: MWIA training and capacity building; the delivery of MWIAs across 19 target areas; learning about Well London projects and target areas from the MWIAs; the impact of the Well London MWIA project to date; learning networks; and conclusions and recommendations.