Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
Results 1 - 10 of 11
Experiences of depression, the role of social support and its impact on health outcomes
- Authors:
- SMITH Lorriane, HILL Nicholas, KOKANOVIC Renata
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health, 24(6), 2015, pp.342-346.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
Background: Little research has been conducted into the value of support from the perspective of the person experiencing depression, or the types of support that are valued. Aim: This article aims to identify the beneficial sources of social support, what form these took, and when and how these sources of support helped. Methods: Narrative interviews with a maximum variation sample of 42 Australians who had experienced depression. Interviews were audio and/or video recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using a coding framework and thematic analysis. Results: Themes included 'early warning system,' 'staying the course' and 'striving for normality.' Practical support made a difference to participants’ health outcomes such as hospitalisation and access to therapy. Seemingly invisible sources of support were recognised and acknowledged by participants particularly when they were seeking to maintain wellness. Conclusions: Support varied according to the trajectory of the depression experience. Some forms of support can make a real difference to health outcomes. The authors propose an alternative interpretation to current understandings about the role of social support. (Edited publisher abstract)
Associations between loneliness and perceived social support and outcomes of mental health problems: a systematic review
- Authors:
- WANG Jingyi, et al
- Journal article citation:
- BMC Psychiatry, 18(156), 2018, Online only
- Publisher:
- BioMed Central
- Place of publication:
- London
Background: The adverse effects of loneliness and of poor perceived social support on physical health and mortality are established, but no systematic synthesis is available of their relationship with the outcomes of mental health problems over time. In this systematic review, we aim to examine the evidence on whether loneliness and closely related concepts predict poor outcomes among adults with mental health problems. Methods: six databases and reference lists for longitudinal quantitative studies that examined the relationship between baseline measures of loneliness and poor perceived social support and outcomes at follow up were searched. Thirty-four eligible papers were retrieved. Due to heterogeneity among included studies in clinical populations, predictor measures and outcomes, a narrative synthesis was conducted. Results: substantial evidence was found from prospective studies that people with depression who perceive their social support as poorer have worse outcomes in terms of symptoms, recovery and social functioning. Loneliness has been investigated much less than perceived social support, but there is some evidence that greater loneliness predicts poorer depression outcome. There is also some preliminary evidence of associations between perceived social support and outcomes in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and anxiety disorders. Conclusions: Loneliness and quality of social support in depression are potential targets for development and testing of interventions, while for other conditions further evidence is needed regarding relationships with outcomes. (Edited publisher abstract)
Lack of perceived social support among immigrants after a disaster: comparative study
- Authors:
- DROGENDIJK Annelieke N., et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 198(4), April 2011, pp.317-322.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
It is suggested that immigrant groups affected by a disaster receive less emotional support than their native counterparts. However, it is unclear whether these differences existed before or can be attributed to post-disaster mental health problems. The authors examined the association between lack of social support, immigration status and victim status, as well as differences in support between immigrants and Dutch natives with disaster-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Social support and psychological distress were assessed among immigrants and Dutch native, affected and non-affected, individuals 2-3 weeks, 18 months and four years after a devastating explosion in a firework storage facility. The disaster–affected group initially consisted of 1567 residents; the control group comprised 640 non-exposed adults from a different part of the Netherlands. Affected immigrants more often lacked various kinds of perceived social support compared with affected Dutch natives. However, no differences in support were seen between affected immigrants and non-affected immigrants. Immigrants with PTSD differed on only two out of six aspects of support from the Dutch natives with PTSD. The authors conclude that differences in support between immigrants and Dutch natives were largely present before the disaster rather than being a consequence of the disaster.
The impact of day hospital closure on social networks, clinical status, and service use: a naturalistic experiment
- Authors:
- GODDARD Kim, BURNS Tom, CATTY Jocelyn
- Journal article citation:
- Community Mental Health Journal, 40(3), June 2004, pp.223-234.
- Publisher:
- Springer
Little research is conducted on service closures. We examined the social, clinical and service use impact of the closure of a partial hospitalisation service (day hospital) on its users. Patients attending the closing day hospital were studied at closure and one year after, and compared to patients at an unchanged day hospital. : The closure did not increase use of inpatient beds, primary care or emergency room. Overall clinical improvements were similar for both groups as were costs. Social networks of the discharged patients decreased. Closures of services need to be as carefully evaluated as new developments.
Social outcomes of employment: the experience of people with mental ill health
- Author:
- BUCKLE David
- Journal article citation:
- A Life in the Day, 8(2), May 2004, pp.17-22.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
The author uses evidence from research and the findings of his own qualitative study to explore the relationship between supported employment and social inclusion. In the study 10 people whose employment had been arranged by Arena, a supported employment agency in Cheltenham were interviewed. Argues that the social and psychological needs of people with mental ill heath can potentially be met by putting employment at the heart of mental health services.
Developing and using social capital in public mental health
- Author:
- FALZER Paul R.
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Health Review Journal, 12(3), October 2007, pp.34-42.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Social capital has played a prominent role in recent initiatives to improve mental health and enhance the quality of services. However, efforts to substantiate a link between social capital and mental health have been daunted by equivocal findings and conceptual confusion. These consequences are in part due to having two prominent approaches that offer disparate and inconsistent accounts about what comprises social capital, how to increase it and how to use it to benefit mental health policy and practice. This paper lays the groundwork for a rapprochement.
The consumer-employee as a member of a Mental Health Assertive Outreach Team: clinical and social outcomes
- Authors:
- CRAIG Tom, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health, 13(1), February 2004, pp.59-69.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
The Health Service is among the largest employers in Britain and has the potential to provide supported work for significant numbers of people who have been long-term unemployed as a result of mental health problems. This investigates the feasibility and impact of employing mental health service users as health care assistants within an assertive outreach team. Forty-five clients of the assertive outreach team were randomly assigned to receive either standard case management (n =21) or to case management plus additional input from a consumeremployee (n =24) working as a health care assistant (HCA) to the team. Clients alllocated to the HCAs were more engaged with treatment as re ected in lower rates of non-attendance at appointments, higher levels of participation in structured social care activities and significantly fewer unmet needs in the domains of daytime activity, company, finances, transport and access to benefits. There were no differences between groups in terms of social networks (size or subjective quality) or in satisfaction with the service received. Employing service consumers in front-line caring roles is feasible and may contribute to improved client engagement with services.
Resettlement from large psychiatric hospital to a small community residence: one step to freedom?
- Authors:
- FORRESTER-JONES R.V.E., GRANT Gordon
- Publisher:
- Avebury
- Publication year:
- 1997
- Pagination:
- 226p.,bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- Aldershot
Research study focusing on the lives of 25 people discharged from psychiatric hospitals to small residences in the community. Contains sections on: social networks, social support and well-being; research methodology; the community housing projects and their residents; social networks - an applied perspective; care environments and their relationship to social network development; social networks, social support, social lives - case studies; encountering support and analysing the experience of residents; residents' views of their relationships with different supporters; and outcomes of community care.
Friends and purpose: evaluation of Camerados public living rooms
- Authors:
- BATTY Elaine, SHEFFIELD HALLAM UNIVERSITY. Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research, et al
- Publisher:
- Association of Camerados
- Publication year:
- 2020
- Pagination:
- 26
- Place of publication:
- London
This is the final report from an evaluation of camerados public living rooms (PLRs), a form of mutual aid. Camerados is a movement of people in communities across the country helping each other through tough times. The movement has six principles that help people to be a camerado in daily life or in a public living room. It's about daily behaviour but also about coming together in places and spaces called public living rooms created and run by local people where they can form relationships that will lift them through a bad day or a life crisis. They are used by people at any end of the scale of tough times, from stressed students to bereaved relatives to homeless people. The evaluation adopted a co-produced approach and mixed-methods approach, and was conducted between May 2019 and January 2020. The report draws on research carried out in nine case study PLRs. The evaluation covers: How people access PLRs; the impact for individuals, anchor camerados and host organisations; and 'what works' in the implementation of PLRs from the perspective of those supporting and organising them. Key findings include: a growing network of PLRs are held in many places and spaces including hospitals, schools and colleges, community centres, prisons, libraries and in streets and alleyways; and PLRs are valuable resources to the people who access them, including (but not exclusively) people who may be vulnerable because of loneliness, mental health problems or stress; they help people to make connections and cope better with life; and PLRs lead to more and better quality relationships resulting in people having improved levels of happiness, decreased levels of stress and anxiety and feeling better able to cope with life. (Edited publisher abstract)
The consumer-employee as a member of a Mental Health Assertive Outreach Team: impressions of consumer-employees and other team members
- Authors:
- DOHERTY Ingrid, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health, 13(1), February 2004, pp.71-81.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
Reports of the benefits of employing consumers of mental health services as mental health workers tend to focus on the views of other professionals. The aim was to provide a first hand account of the experience of being a consumer-employee healthcare assistant (HCA) within an assertive outreach team and to examine the effect on other team members. Semi-structured interview schedules were administered to the HCAs (n = 2) and a range of measures given to other team members (n =10). Perceived benefits to clients include a positive role model and having a worker with personal understanding of pertinent issues. Bene ts to the team included effects on attitudes to, and practices with, clients. Concern was expressed about sickness level and its impact on the service. The employment of consumer-employees has much to offer mental health services but issues for consideration include appropriate support.