Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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Health and psychosocial service use among suicides without psychiatric illness
- Authors:
- LAW Yik Wa, WONG Paul W.C., YIP Paul S.F.
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work: A journal of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), 60(1), 2015, pp.65-74.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Although mental illness is a major suicide risk factor, some cases of suicide list no symptoms of mental disorder at the time of death. Studying suicides without psychiatric illness has important implications for social work because this group's service needs seem to have been overlooked. The authors of this article conducted a psychological autopsy study of 150 people who committed suicide and 150 age- and gender-matched living controls. Suicides without psychiatric illness showed similar detectable psychopathology as the suicide and living control groups with nonpsychotic psychiatric disorders. Though suicides without psychiatric disorders showed fewer warning signs that could be noticed by their informants, they experienced more negative life events than living controls. The suicide cases without psychiatric illness also seemed to be less protected by enabling factors (such as social support and employment) than living controls with and without psychiatric disorders. Furthermore, they had lower use of services than the control and deceased-with-diagnosis groups. With fewer at-risk signs and poorer enabling resources, they were undetected or unengaged by the existing physical, psychiatric, and psychosocial services. This group should be of concern to social workers, who may develop community-based health education programmes and preventive services to meet this vulnerable population's psychosocial needs. (Edited publisher abstract)
Psychosocial treatment of youth suicide: a systematic review of the research
- Author:
- MacGOWAN Mark J.
- Journal article citation:
- Research on Social Work Practice, 14(3), May 2004, pp.147-162.
- Publisher:
- Sage
This article systematically reviews evidence for treatment of adolescent suicidality. In all, 10 empirical studies intended to reduce suicidal behaviors (e.g., suicide attempts) or suicidal ideation were reviewed. Each study's intervention was described and evaluated using two sets of independent criteria to assess the degree to which it was successful in reducing suicidality and the level of its empirical support (well established or probably efficacious). Most of the interventions were successful in reducing suicidality. However, no treatment met the criteria of well established and only two were probably efficacious. Most studies had important methodological limitations. Features of the promising interventions were summarized and methodological limitations highlighted. The number of interventions has increased in the past 10 years, but the research evidence remains weak. Recommendations are offered to strengthen the research, and the role of social workers in using these findings and advancing the research is discussed.
Suicide attempts and social worker contact: secondary analysis of a general population study
- Authors:
- SLATER Thomas, SCOURFIELD Jonathan, GREENLAND Katy
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Social Work, 45(1), 2015, pp.378-394.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
There is a general dearth of social work studies in relation to suicide and very little is known about the characteristics of social work service users who are also suicidal. This paper is based on secondary analysis of the survey 'Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Study in England 2007'. Results showed that (i) social work contact in the previous twelve months was significantly associated with lifetime suicide attempt; (ii) various risk and protective factors help to explain the relationship between suicide attempt and social work contact. Non-suicidal self-harm was found to be associated with suicide attempt, both with and without social work contact. Drug dependency was associated with social work contact, regardless of suicide attempt history. Other variables affected certain aspects of the relationship between social work contact and suicidality. These included age, religion, income, employment and background in local authority care. The implications for social work provision are discussed. (Publisher abstract)
Unemployment, age, gender and regional suicide in England and Wales 1973-90: a harbinger of increased suicide for the 1990s?
- Author:
- PRITCHARD Colin
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Social Work, 25(6), December 1995, pp.767-790.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
The Department of Health's 'Health of the Nation' aims at a substantial reduction in suicide. However, there are a number of socioeconomic changes that have occurred which may lead to increased suicide. Using suicide data and unemployment data finds out if they are in any way linked and discusses the implications of the findings for practitioners in probation and social services departments.
Petersburg in the early 90's: crazy, cold, cruel.
- Author:
- CHARITABLE FOUNDATION NOCHLEZHKA
- Publisher:
- Charitable Foundation Nochlezhka
- Publication year:
- 1994
- Pagination:
- 255p.
- Place of publication:
- St. Petersburg
Articles on the social changes taking place in St. Petersburg, after the euphoria of perestroika had evaporated. Social problems looked at include: homelessness, unemployment, homeless children living on the streets, crime, and poverty. Places these issues in the context of the ineffectiveness of state social policy and the role social work could play in alleviating these problems.