Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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“Come together”: a thematic analysis of experiences with belonging
- Authors:
- OGUNDIPE Esther, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Advances in Dual Diagnosis, 13(3), 2020, pp.123-134.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore, describe and interpret two research questions: How do persons with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse problems, living in supportive housing, experience belonging? How do residential support staff experience promoting a sense of belonging for persons with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse problems, living in a supportive housing? Design/methodology/approach: Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with five persons with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse problems living in supportive housing in a Norwegian district. In addition, one semi-structured focus group was conducted with nine residential support staff. All interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings: Analysis resulted in three main themes: “I do not go to sleep in my pajamas”, “Do I have a choice?” and “Be kind to each other”. Research limitations/implications: More research on how inclusive practices that are commonly described in guidelines actually affect the experience of residents and residential support staff is needed. Practical implications: Practices that incorporate a communal and contextual understanding when assigning supportive housing are warranted. Originality/value: By paying attention to the components of social recovery, this paper provides a nuanced understanding of how persons with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse problems, living in supportive housing, experience belonging. In addition, residential support staffs’ experiences with promoting a sense of belonging for this group are explored. (Edited publisher abstract)
Perspectives on barriers to employment for job seekers with mental illness and additional substance-use problems
- Authors:
- HARRIS Lynne M., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Health and Social Care in the Community, 22(1), 2014, pp.67-77.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This paper examines the barriers to employment faced by job seekers with mental illness and additional substance-use issues. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with stakeholders associated with an employment service provider specialising in mental illness (n = 17). Stakeholders were job seekers, family members who provide significant support to job seekers (support persons) and employment staff. Data were collected between May and August 2009 at the premises of the employment service provider in metropolitan Sydney. Thematic analysis found the expectations of job seekers and support persons regarding employment outcomes were higher than those of employment staff. Length of time unemployed was perceived as the most important barrier to future employment associated with mental illness, and substance-use problems were associated with lower, more variable motivation, restrictions on the environments where job seekers could work and more negative community and employer perceptions. The findings are consistent with studies from non-vocational settings and provide direction for meeting the needs of clients with mental illness and additional substance-use problems. Ensuring alignment between job seekers and employment staff concerning service goals and expected timeframes may improve job seekers motivation, satisfaction with service delivery and ultimately, employment outcomes. (Edited publisher abstract)
Identifying need for mental health services in substance abuse clients
- Authors:
- MERICLE Amy A., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Dual Diagnosis, 8(31), July 2012, pp.218-228.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Given the prevalence and consequences of their co-occurrence, it is important that clients’ needs for services to address both substance use and mental health problems are accurately assessed. This study examined correspondence between client-reported psychiatric symptoms and client and counsellor ratings of need for mental health treatment and explored characteristics associated with underrating. The Addiction Severity Index (ASI) was used with 3,972 clients entering outpatient substance abuse treatment across the U.S. While agreement between symptoms and ratings of need for mental health treatment was fairly high, there was a substantial amount of underrating. Approximately 54% of clients had at least some psychiatric problems and 30% of these clients underrated their need for mental health services. Counsellors also underrated need for mental health services in 32% of clients who reported psychiatric problems, even though 36% of them indicated that obtaining treatment for mental health problems was important to them. Two factors were linked to this underrating. Clients with psychiatric problems and a drug disorder were more likely than clients without a drug disorder to underrate their need (as were counsellors), and clients with psychiatric problems who were assessed at programs licensed by an outside agency were less likely to underrate their need (as were counsellors). The authors stress the importance of counsellors receiving training, supervision, and support to help them asses their clients’ need to access mental health care.
Meanings of recovery from the perspective of people with dual diagnosis
- Authors:
- HIPOLITO Maria Mananita S., CARPENTER-SONG Elizabeth, WHITLEY Rob
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Dual Diagnosis, 7(3), July 2011, pp.141-149.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This article examines the notion of recovery, based on the perspectives of people with dual diagnosis living in recovery communities. Recovery communities seek to create intentional, safe, relationship-centred communities for people living with co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorders in shared or congregate housing sites. The findings reported in this paper were obtained as part of an ongoing ‘Creating Communities’ research project that aims to examine the impact of the communities on processes of recovery. As part of this study, focus groups have been conducted with residents at 4-month intervals. This analysis draws on data collected in 2009 and 2010 into meanings of recovery. The findings reveal that recovery is a multifaceted concept for individuals living with co-occurring disorders. The analysis yielded 3 dimensions of the meaning of recovery: acknowledgment; present orientation; and transformation and growth.
Double trouble: substance misuse, mental health and self-help
- Author:
- CARMERON Alison
- Journal article citation:
- Drugs and Alcohol Today, 7(3), October 2007, pp.25-28.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
The author, from Dual Recovery Anonymous, talks about the complexity of dual diagnosis and tells the story of her experiences as a service users and her own journey of recovery.
Thresholds of hope: stories of lacking generosity
- Authors:
- SAELOR Knut Tore, SKATVEDT Astrid
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work in Mental Health, 17(5), 2019, pp.533-550.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Hope is a pivotal part of recovery in a broad range of health conditions, including those relating to the field of mental health and substance abuse. People who experience co-occurring mental health and substance-use problems are often bound to use services that are not suited to their needs. This study aims is to explore how service users experience barriers to help and assistance, and to determine the manner by which these barriers may influence their experiences of hope. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with nine participants, and these were analyzed using a thematic approach. This analysis produced the following three overarching themes: “battles with bureaucracy”; “distance, disempowerment, and de-individualization”; and “no clean slates.” (Edited publisher abstract)
Client perspectives on wilderness therapy as a component of adolescent residential treatment for problematic substance use and mental health issues
- Authors:
- HARPER N.J., MOTT A.J., OBEE P.
- Journal article citation:
- Children and Youth Services Review, 105, 2019, p.104450.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
Wilderness therapy is a specialised approach to adolescent substance use and mental health treatment. While empirical evidence of positive outcomes grows to support this approach, qualitative understandings are lacking in the literature, thereby limiting theoretical explanations. Additionally, the voice of adolescent clients is hardly present, and was therefore the focus for this research. A sample of 148 adolescent wilderness therapy clients at one Canadian residential treatment program for addictive behaviour and mental health issues participated in the study. A realist approach utilising thematic analysis of written open-ended responses produced six major themes; three depicting participant experiences (social dynamics, wilderness, catalyst for change) and three for perceived outcomes (skill development, self-concept, health). These findings are discussed in relationship to the development of a clinical model of wilderness therapy and the potential of wilderness interventions in adolescent residential treatment. Recommendations for practice and future research are discussed. (Edited publisher abstract)
Interconnections among homelessness, family separation, and mental health: implications for multi-sectoral social services
- Authors:
- SHAIKH Arshi, RAWAL Hiren
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Service Research, 45(4), 2019, pp.543-557.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This qualitative study explored the interconnections among the phenomena of homelessness, family separation, and mental health and substance abuse issues within the social services, geographic, and infrastructure context of northern Ontario. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with thirteen participants. Findings revealed the effects of colonization in the form of poor and overcrowded housing conditions in the northern First Nations, difficulties in obtaining affordable and suitable housing in northern towns and cities, reliance on the scarce social services for survival, and valiant attempts to cope with the cold climate of northern Ontario. All participants reported multiple and intergenerational experiences of separation from family due to involvement of child welfare system, placement in residential schools, death of family member(s), flooding, and epidemics. Participants described their lifelong struggles with mental health and substance abuse issues. All three phenomena were tied together in various configurations of causes and consequences. The implications include the need for critical examination of the historical policies and practices, early intervention for mental health and substance abuse issues, greater support for youth transitioning out of care, creation of a continuum of housing options, collaboration across multiple social services sectors, and incorporation of Indigenous worldview and practices in the mainstream services. (Edited publisher abstract)
Numbing the pain: survivors' voices of childhood sexual and addiction
- Author:
- ONE IN FOUR
- Publisher:
- One in Four
- Publication year:
- 2019
- Pagination:
- 44
- Place of publication:
- London
This report highlights the link between substance misuse and childhood sexual abuse. Using 14 personal accounts and critical analysis, the report illustrates how childhood sexual abuse predisposes survivors to substance use and addiction. It shows how the trauma of childhood sexual abuse can affect survivors' emotions, their ability to relate to others and how drugs and alcohol can be used to numb the pain of abuse. It finds that addiction services rarely make the link between substance use and the underlying trauma of childhood sexual abuse, yet survivors can report a range of mental health issues. It recommends that addiction and mental health services develop a trauma model in working with people in addiction, make the link between childhood sexual abuse as an underlying trauma in addiction and consider how they are supporting and signposting survivors to appropriate support. It order to establish the scale of childhood sexual abuse trauma in people with addictions, it also recommends that services anonymously record disclosures of childhood sexual abuse for collation. (Edited publisher abstract)
"Are they shouting because of me?" Voices of children living in households with domestic abuse, parental substance misuse and mental health issues
- Author:
- CHILDREN'S COMMISSIONER FOR ENGLAND
- Publisher:
- Children's Commissioner for England
- Publication year:
- 2018
- Pagination:
- 25
- Place of publication:
- London
This report presents the views and experiences of 15 children who were interviewed about growing up in households where there is domestic abuse, parent substance misuse and parent mental health problems. Children spoke about their day-to-day life, how their experiences at home affected their emotional wellbeing and mental health, relationships with family and friends, caring for themselves and for siblings, and whether they felt safe. Children also spoke about how they coped, which could involve avoiding particular situations, delaying going home, relying on siblings, and retreating to their bedrooms. Children acknowledged that talking about what was happening at home could help them process their thoughts and feelings, but often didn't want to talk about what was happening at home due to fear, anxiety, embarrassment and a lack of trust in others. The report supports the wider Children’s Commissioner’s programme into quantifying the scale of vulnerability faced by young people. (Edited publisher abstract)