Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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Mental distress and internal stigma in seeking professional help among women in Tin Shui Wai (TSW), Hong Kong
- Authors:
- CHIU Marcus Y. l., HO Winnie W. N., SZE Fiona S. F.
- Journal article citation:
- Hong Kong Journal of Social Work, 43(1), Summer 2009, pp.67-76.
- Publisher:
- World Scientific Publishing Company
- Place of publication:
- Singapore
The findings of a community study which estimated the proportion of women experiencing psychiatric distress in one district of Hong Kong, explored the determinant of psychological distress and the association between help seeking attitude and selected demographic variables. Findings suggest that there is a need educate the public seek help especially in older, uneducated women.
Intimate partner violence, depression, PTSD, and use of mental health resources among ethnically diverse black women
- Authors:
- SABRI Bushra, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work in Health Care, 52(4), 2013, pp.351-369.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This study examined exposure to violence and risk for lethality in intimate partner relationships as factors related to co-occurring mental health problems and use of mental health resources among women of African descent. Four hundred and thirty one Black women with intimate partner violence (IPV) experiences were recruited from primary care, prenatal or family planning clinics in the United States and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Severity of IPV was significantly associated with co-occurring mental health problems, but was not associated with the use of mental health resources among African-American women. Risk for lethality and co-occurring problems were also not significantly related to the use of resources. African Caribbean women with severe physical abuse experiences were significantly less likely to use resources. In contrast, severity of physical abuse was positively associated with the use of resources among Black women with mixed ethnicity. Severe IPV experiences are risk factors for co-occurring mental health problems, which in turn, increases the need for mental health services. However, Black women may not seek help for mental health problems. Thus, social work practitioners in health care settings must thoroughly assess women for their IPV experiences and develop tailored treatment plans that address their abuse histories and mental health needs. (Edited publisher abstract)
Correlates of readiness to change in victims of intimate partner violence
- Authors:
- JOHNSON Nicole L., JOHNSON Dawn N.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Aggression Maltreatment and Trauma, 22(2), 2013, pp.127-144.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a problem linked to a number of health problems such as the development of posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and substance use dependence. Mental health treatment is important for victims of IPV; however, victims do not always seek the treatment they need. A victim’s stage of change, or readiness to change, could be one variable impacting his or her pursuit of treatment and other pertinent resources. The aim of this study was to investigate a wide range of factors (i.e., violence, PTSD, depression, SUD, and overall distress) that might influence readiness to change in a diverse sample of women residing in battered women’s shelters. Interviews were conducted with 223 women recruited from 2 shelters in the Midwest between 2003 and 2007. The findings showed that victims with more psychopathology and distress, as well as more social support, were more ready to change. Posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, overall distress, and social support were the strongest predictors of readiness to change. Finally, victims higher in readiness to change were more likely to seek mental health treatment and other IPV-related services.
An interpretative phenomenological analysis of African Caribbean women’s experiences and management of emotional distress
- Authors:
- SISLEY Emma J., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Health and Social Care in the Community, 19(4), July 2011, pp.392-402.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
African Caribbean women are under-represented in UK mental health outpatient services, despite sociocontextual vulnerabilities which may increase emotional distress. This study aimed to explore understandings and experiences of personal distress held by African Caribbean women and examine coping choices including help-seeking from mental health services. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 7 African Caribbean women who were recruited following their self-referral to self-help community wellbeing workshops in central London. Interpretative phenomenological analysis of the data revealed 5 super-ordinate themes: explanations of distress; experiences of distress; managing distress; social and cultural influences; and seeking help. Gender roles and a cultural legacy of being strong and hiding distress emerged as influential in the participants’ beliefs about managing personal difficulties. This was balanced with an acknowledgement that intergenerational differences highlighted an increasing acceptance amongst the community of talking about issues and seeking professional support. The study provides support for tailoring services to individual needs using a flexible approach which empowers individuals from black and minority ethnic groups by valuing explanatory models of distress alternative to the westernised medical model. Furthermore, the findings emphasise the importance of readily available information about statutory and voluntary community resources which use language relevant to the communities they are aimed at engaging.
Comparing psychiatric service use among low-income women and women in a general household population
- Authors:
- ROSEN Daniel, WARNER Lynn A., TOLMAN Richard M.
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work Research, 30(4), December 2006, pp.223-232.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
This article examines the use of outpatient mental health services in a sample of low-income women (Mothers' Well-Being Study [MWS]) and compares the findings with a sample of similar-aged women in the general population of the United States (National Comorbidity Survey [NCS]). The expectation of the study was that there would be substantive differences in need for and access to services. The results were mixed. Overall, the prevalence of any 12-month mental health disorder was significantly greater for MWS respondents compared with NCS respondents. Only a quarter of each sample with any disorder had received treatment at an outpatient mental health service in the past year. The authors identify implications for social workers who seek to improve access and quality of care for women in need of specialty mental health and substance use services.
Hard-to-reach or out-of-reach? Reasons why women refuse to take part in early interventions
- Authors:
- BARLOW Jane, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Children and Society, 19(3), June 2005, pp.199-210.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This study explores the reasons why vulnerable women refuse to take part in early interventions. In-depth interviews were conducted with 19 women who refused to take part in an evaluation of an intensive home visiting programme. A number of themes were identified including perceptions about vulnerability, misperceptions about the service, misgivings about the service, and lack of trust. It is concluded that women who refuse to take part in early interventions are a diverse group, and that service providers need to take this diversity into account, if they are to improve uptake of services by vulnerable women. Service providers may also need to consider new ways of providing services.
Pakistani women's use of mental health services and the role of social networks: a systematic review of quantitative and qualitative research
- Authors:
- KAPADIA Dharmi, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Health and Social Care in the Community, 25(4), 2017, p.1304–1317.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Pakistani women in the UK are an at-risk group with high levels of mental health problems, but low levels of mental health service use. However, the rates of service use for Pakistani women are unclear, partly because research with South Asian women has been incorrectly generalised to Pakistani women. Further, this research has been largely undertaken within an individualistic paradigm, with little consideration of patients’ social networks, and how these may drive decisions to seek help. This systematic review aimed to clarify usage rates, and describe the nature of Pakistani women's social networks and how they may influence mental health service use. Ten journal databases (ASSIA, CINAHL Plus, EMBASE, HMIC, IBSS, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Social Sciences Abstracts, Social Science Citation Index and Sociological Abstracts) and six sources of grey literature were searched for studies published between 1960 and the end of March 2014. Twenty-one studies met inclusion criteria. Ten studies (quantitative) reported on inpatient or outpatient service use between ethnic groups. Seven studies (four quantitative, three qualitative) investigated the nature of social networks, and four studies (qualitative) commented on how social networks were involved in accessing mental health services. Pakistani women were less likely than white (British) women to use most specialist mental health services. No difference was found between Pakistani and white women for the consultation of general practitioners for mental health problems. Pakistani women's networks displayed high levels of stigmatising attitudes towards mental health problems and mental health services, which acted as a deterrent to seeking help. No studies were found which compared stigma in networks between Pakistani women and women of other ethnic groups. Pakistani women are at a considerable disadvantage in gaining access to and using statutory mental health services, compared with white women; this, in part, is due to negative attitudes to mental health problems evident in social support networks. (Publisher abstract)
Conquering the Black girl blues
- Authors:
- JONES Lani Valencia, GUY-SHEFTALL Beverly
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work: A journal of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), 60(4), 2015, pp.343-350.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
An examination of the literature on epidemiology, etiology, and use of services for this population reveals an insufficient application of culturally congruent approaches to intervening with black women. An exploration of the social work practice literature and other relevant fields indicate that black feminist perspectives offer the opportunity to gain a clearer understanding of the intersection and influence of oppression among black women struggling with psychiatric issues and provide a useful framework for mental health practice with this population. This article discusses the evolving black feminist thought and summarises the scholarship on black women's mental health services needs and utilisation issues. The article includes a discussion of black feminisms as an emerging mental health perspective, arguing that black feminist perspectives in therapy provide an ideal framework for services that are responsive to the values and health needs of black women. The article concludes with a case vignette that illustrates some of its points. (Edited publisher abstract)
Service utilization patterns as predictors of response to trauma-informed integrated treatment for women with co-occurring disorders
- Authors:
- GILBERT Allison R., MORRISSEY Joseph P., DOMINO Marisa E.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Dual Diagnosis, 7(3), July 2011, pp.117-129.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Women with substance use disorders and with mental health disorders are at high risk for physical and sexual abuse. The aim of this study was to examine whether clinical responses to an integrated treatment intervention among women with co-occurring disorders and histories of abuse varied according to their service use patterns prior to study entry. The study was the Women’s Co-occurring Disorder and Violence Study conducted 1998 to 2003. Analyses for this paper included 999 study participants assigned to the integrated treatment group. The findings showed that participants with high levels of psychotropic medication and medical care use at baseline had significantly lower odds than low-intensity service users of having a good response to integrated treatment at 12 months on mental health, alcohol addiction, and posttraumatic stress measures. A majority of women in this group had serious medical problems and were more likely than their counterparts with other service use patterns to have used homeless or domestic violence shelters. The article concludes that women who used high levels of medication and medical services appear to face especially difficult barriers in responding well to integrated treatment. This information can also be used to target integrated treatment to women who are likely to respond positively and achieve meaningful improvements in their functioning.
Gender and self-reported mental health problems: predictors of help seeking from a general practitioner
- Authors:
- DOHERTY D. Tedstone, KARTALOVA-O’DOHERTY Y.
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Health Psychology, 15(1), February 2010, pp.213-228.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The main topic of this paper is an examination of the socio-demographic and health status factors that predict help seeking for self-reported mental health problems from a general practitioner (GP), for adults of both genders, because it has been reported previously that many people do not seek help when experiencing psychological distress. Using data from the HRB National Psychological Wellbeing and Distress Survey in Ireland in 2005 and 2006, 382 participants who had reported mental health problems in the previous year, with approximately 60% female and 40% male, were selected. The findings showed gender differences in the models of predictors between males and females with more factors influencing attendance at the GP for males and females. Only access to free health care and social limitations predicted female attendance, a range of seven socio-demographic and psychological factors influenced male attendance – self-reporting embarrassment, limitations in physical activities, martial status, employment status, access to free health care, location/size of household, and level of education. This, say the authors, suggests a ‘gender sensitive approach’ to mental health policies and promotion and to preventative practice programs would be well placed in GP surgeries and at a primary care level generally.