Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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Working to recovery: victim to victor III
- Authors:
- TAYLOR Karen, COLEMAN Ron, BAKER Paul
- Publisher:
- P and P
- Publication year:
- 2007
- Pagination:
- 64p.
- Place of publication:
- Dundee
- Edition:
- 2nd ed.
This book has been written to fill a gap in the available literature on how to overcome mental distress. It has been written especially for people undergoing emotionally distressing experience and particularly those people who have been diagnosed as having a mental illness. This is a workbook and as the name implies it is intended to be a practical tool in assisting you in your recovery
Another assault: Mind's campaign for equal access to justice for people with mental health problems
- Author:
- MIND
- Publisher:
- MIND
- Publication year:
- 2007
- Pagination:
- 26p.
- Place of publication:
- London
Too often people with mental health problems are reluctant to report crimes.One victim told Mind that contact with the police exposed them to yet more discrimination and vulnerability: "The system of investigation is another assault."Mind's new research exposes shockingly high levels of bullying, harassment and exploitation experienced by people with mental health problems while living in the community. Mind believes everyone has an equal right to personal safety, and that people experiencing mental distress have the same rights to justice as anyone else.
The effect of pre-employment factors on job control, job strain and psychological distress: a 31-year longitudinal study
- Authors:
- ELOVAINIO Marko, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Social Science and Medicine, 65(2), July 2007, pp.187-199.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
This study examined the role of pre-employment factors, such as maternal antenatal depression, low birth weight, childhood socioeconomic position, early adolescence health risk behaviours and academic performance, in the relationship between work characteristics (low job control and high job demands, or job strain) and psychological distress at age 31. The data of 2062 women and 2231 men was derived from the prospective unselected population-based Northern Finland 1966 Birth Cohort study. Results of linear regression models showed that being female, father's low socioeconomic position, and poor academic achievement in adolescence were linked to low control and high job strain jobs at age 31, and that low control and high job strain were associated with psychological distress at age 31. Although having lower school grades, high absence rate from school, and moderate alcohol consumption at age 14 were significant predictors of psychological distress at age 31, the associations between job control, job strain and psychological distress remained after controlling for these and other pre-employment effects. As such, pre-employment factors do seem to link people to risky work environments, which in turn seem to relate strongly to psychological distress. However, the relationship between pre-employment factors and later psychological distress in adulthood is not completely explained by job environment.
The role of social capital in reducing non-specific psychological distress: the importance of controlling for omitted variable bias
- Authors:
- SCHEFFLER Richard M., BROWN Timothy T., RICE Jennifer K.
- Journal article citation:
- Social Science and Medicine, 65(4), August 2007, pp.842-854.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
This paper examines the relationship between area-level social capital and non-specific psychological distress. It demonstrates that not controlling for non-time-varying omitted variables can seriously bias research findings. The authors use data from three cross-sections of the US National Health Interview Survey (1999, 2000, and 2001): 37,172 observations nested within 58 Metropolitan Statistical Areas. Data was also added from the Area Resource File and County Business Patterns. A validated measure of social capital, the Petris Social Capital Index (PSCI), which measures structural social capital was used. The authors estimate a two-level multilevel linear model with a random intercept. Non-specific psychological distress is measured using a valid and reliable indicator, the K6. Individual-level variables include sex, age, race/ethnicity, marital status, education, family income, smoking status, exercise status, and number of visits to a health professional. Area-level covariates include the PSCI, the unemployment rate, psychiatrists per 1000 population, non-psychiatric physicians per 1000 population, and area-level indicators to account for non-time-varying area-level omitted variable bias. Time dummies are also included. It was found that lagged area-level social capital is negatively related to non-specific psychological distress among individuals whose family income is less than the median. These associations are much larger when we control for non-time-varying area-level omitted variables.
The importance of social context: neighborhood stressors, stress-buffering mechanisms, and alcohol, drug, and mental health disorders
- Authors:
- STOCKDALE Susan E., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Social Science and Medicine, 65(9), November 2007, pp.1867-1881.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
This study examines the relationship among neighbourhood stressors, stress-buffering mechanisms, and likelihood of alcohol, drug, and mental health (ADM) disorders in adults from 60 US communities (n=12,716). Research shows that larger support structures may interact with individual support factors to affect mental health, but few studies have explored buffering effects of these neighbourhood characteristics. A conceptual model ist tested that explores effects of neighbourhood stressors and stress-buffering mechanisms on ADM disorders. Using Health Care for Communities with census and other data, results found a lower likelihood of disorders in neighbourhoods with a greater presence of stress-buffering mechanisms. Higher neighbourhood average household occupancy and churches per capita were associated with a lower likelihood of disorders. Cross-level interactions revealed that violence-exposed individuals in high crime neighbourhoods are vulnerable to depressive/anxiety disorders. Likewise, individuals with low social support in neighbourhoods with high social isolation (i.e., low-average household occupancy) had a higher likelihood of disorders. If replicated by future studies using longitudinal data, the results have implications for policies and programs targeting neighbourhoods to reduce ADM disorders.
Pathways to policy: a toolkit for grassroots involvement in mental health policy
- Editors:
- BUREAU Jonathan, SHEARS Jane, (eds.)
- Publisher:
- Hamlet Trust
- Publication year:
- 2007
- Pagination:
- 91p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This toolkit provides a framework for NGOs and user groups to establish a mental health policy “forum” to enable people experiencing mental distress to have a genuine voice in policy-making. Published by the Hamlet Trust and the Mental Health Foundation, the resource explains how to work in partnership with stakeholders to prioritise local mental health issues, develop action plans and raise awareness among the wider population. The Pathways to Policy programme, originally developed in 2002 by the UK organisation Hamlet Trust, has seen the establishment of forums in a wide range of countries and contexts. Using socially inclusive approaches to policy-making, this toolkit is draws on the experiences of those involved in the programme. The toolkit includes: Accessible, interactive study of concepts of policymaking; Workshop outlines, including exercises, to improve skills and confidence among service users and other stakeholders; Advice and ideas on working with the media; Case studies and learning from successful mental health policy forums around the world.
A mix-method approach to the cultural understanding of distress and the non-use of mental health services
- Authors:
- GROLEAU Danielle, PLUYE Pierre, NADEAU Lucie
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health, 16(6), December 2007, pp.731-741.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
The rationale for conducting mixed-method studies is usually based on the desire to combine the complementary strengths of qualitative and quantitative research. Typically, the former provides in-depth descriptions offering strong internal validity while the latter provides strong external validity. The exclusive use of quantitative methods in mental health research presents certain limitations which lie in the subjective nature of mental health problems and related behaviours, and the fact that these are mediated by cultural context. This paper illustrates, along with the Pathway and Barriers to Mental Health project, the usefulness of using a mixed-method design to study mental health problems and related behaviours in a culturally diverse community. The results show how the various quantitative and qualitative stages of the project were implemented in a Sequential Transformative Design that allows for a better identification and understanding of community mental health problems. This type of mixed design contributed to the development and evaluation of a regional cultural consultation service in mental health. A mixed-methods approach does not simply make positivist science stronger; rather, it contributes to do better research and tailored intervention.
Predictors of burden of family caregivers of women with substance use disorders or co-occurring substance and mental disorders
- Authors:
- BIEGEL David E., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions, 7(1/2), 2007, pp.25-49.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This American study examined the impact of having a female family member with a substance use or co-occurring disorders on family caregivers. Predictors of subjective burden (worry, stigma, and displeasure) and objective burden (family disruption) on caregivers and on types of burden were explored. Subjects were 82 women receiving substance abuse treatment and their family member providing most social support. Behavioural problems of the recipient and lack of social support for caregivers predicted higher levels of family member burden, with different types of social support predicting different types of burden. Having a dual disorder did not predict family member burden. Implications of findings for treatment are discussed. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580).
Post-divorce adjustment and social relationships: a meta-analytic review
- Authors:
- KRUMREI Elizabeth, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Divorce and Remarriage, 47(3/4), 2007, pp.145-166.
- Publisher:
- Routledge
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
A meta-analysis of the findings of 21 studies on the role of social relationships in post-divorce adjustment is reported. It shows that network relationships (such as being part of a circle of friends or a support group) are particularly associated with positive post-divorce adjustment, as reflected in measures of well-being. Conversely, one-to-one relationships (with, for example, a family member or close friend) are particularly important in protecting against maladjustment, as reflected by measures of psychological distress or physical ill-health. The limitations of the meta-analysis are such that the findings need to be interpreted with caution, but there are implications nonetheless for professionals working with divorcing or recently divorced clients.
Mental health and physical health of family caregivers for persons with dementia: a comparison of African American and white caregivers
- Authors:
- KNIGHT B. G., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 11(5), September 2007, pp.538-546.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This investigation analyzed the differences between African American and white caregivers in the effects of family caregiving for a person with dementia on mental health and physical health variables (including subjective health, reported diseases and cardiovascular measures). A population-based sample of 102 caregivers is compared with 102 non-caregivers matched on ethnicity, gender and age. There were no significant group differences for mental health effects. Most significant physical health effects were attributable to main effects of ethnicity rather than caregiving status. However, African American caregivers had higher diastolic blood pressure than all other groups, a finding consistent with group-specific risk for circulatory system disorders.