Journal of Mental Health Training Education and Practice, 13(5), 2018, pp.283-294.
Publisher:
Emerald
... learning, comprising face-to-face and e-learning. Design/methodology/approach: A small advisory group consisting of professionals, experts-by-experience (service users) and -by-caring (care-givers) and an academic developed a blended learning programme about the recovery approach for mental health carer-givers. This paper details the participatory approach supported by an action research cycle
(Edited publisher abstract)
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to reflect on the development of a recovery-oriented training programme for mental health care-givers. It also considers the effectiveness of using participatory research methods that promote involvement of people with diverse expertise to co-produce this programme. It presents a rationale for developing recovery-oriented training, which employs blended learning, comprising face-to-face and e-learning. Design/methodology/approach: A small advisory group consisting of professionals, experts-by-experience (service users) and -by-caring (care-givers) and an academic developed a blended learning programme about the recovery approach for mental health carer-givers. This paper details the participatory approach supported by an action research cycle that contributed to the design of the programme, and the specific impact of experiential knowledge on its development. Findings: Reflections on the advisory group process are described that led to the co-production of the course. This leads to consideration of the value of using this research approach to develop a carer-focused programme. The content of the recovery-oriented training programme is presented which adopts blended learning. This leads to discussion of potential of this format to improve carers’ access to training. Originality/value: It is proposed that this recovery-oriented course, building on a previous study, has the potential to positively influence outcomes for the training programme participants (the care-givers) and the person they support. It is suggested that blended learning may in part overcome some of the barriers carers experience to accessing and participating in traditional interventions. Reflections on the process of co-production underline the value of participatory research in designing this recovery-oriented course for carers.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
recovery, informal care, mental health problems, mental health, teaching methods, recovery approach, evaluation, intervention, reflective practice;
British Journal of Social Work, 47(1), 2017, pp.28-47.
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
Family is one of the primary sources of spiritual care for people with schizophrenia. Gaps in perspectives between family care-givers and patients not only result in improper spiritual care, but also lead to family conflicts and hamper recovery. Yet, the mutual understanding of spirituality among both parties is often neglected. The authors report part of a larger study that explored the meaning and the role of spirituality in schizophrenia rehabilitation from the perspectives of patients, mental-health professionals and family care-givers. The result suggests that discrepancies in conceptions of spirituality between patients and their care-givers may affect patients' family dynamic and their recovery. A qualitative approach based on grounded-theory principles was used in the study. Six patient–care-giver dyads and one triad of two patients with schizophrenia and one care-giver (N = 15) were recruited from an outpatient clinic of a hospital in Hong Kong. The findings reveal that patients usually tried to fit in with their care-giver's spiritual perspective, in order to preserve family harmony and supports. They would then experience further psychological distress that impeded their recovery. Meanwhile, among the dyads, the mutual understanding and respect on spirituality helped facilitate patients' recovery. Care-givers should be more attentive and open to patients' spiritual needs. Implications for clinical practice are discussed.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Family is one of the primary sources of spiritual care for people with schizophrenia. Gaps in perspectives between family care-givers and patients not only result in improper spiritual care, but also lead to family conflicts and hamper recovery. Yet, the mutual understanding of spirituality among both parties is often neglected. The authors report part of a larger study that explored the meaning and the role of spirituality in schizophrenia rehabilitation from the perspectives of patients, mental-health professionals and family care-givers. The result suggests that discrepancies in conceptions of spirituality between patients and their care-givers may affect patients' family dynamic and their recovery. A qualitative approach based on grounded-theory principles was used in the study. Six patient–care-giver dyads and one triad of two patients with schizophrenia and one care-giver (N = 15) were recruited from an outpatient clinic of a hospital in Hong Kong. The findings reveal that patients usually tried to fit in with their care-giver's spiritual perspective, in order to preserve family harmony and supports. They would then experience further psychological distress that impeded their recovery. Meanwhile, among the dyads, the mutual understanding and respect on spirituality helped facilitate patients' recovery. Care-givers should be more attentive and open to patients' spiritual needs. Implications for clinical practice are discussed.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
spirituality, schizophrenia, informal care, carers, recovery, family relations, families, mental health, attitudes;
Journal of Aggression Maltreatment and Trauma, 24(8), 2015, pp.876-896.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Social support represents an important recovery factor for individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Nevertheless, partners, family, and friends who take on the role of caregiver for individuals with PTSD might face multiple difficulties. For example, they are at risk for developing anxiety and depressive symptoms, which could negatively affect their ability to offer support.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Social support represents an important recovery factor for individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Nevertheless, partners, family, and friends who take on the role of caregiver for individuals with PTSD might face multiple difficulties. For example, they are at risk for developing anxiety and depressive symptoms, which could negatively affect their ability to offer support. This study examined the associations between the difficulties of individuals with PTSD (i.e., symptoms and level of functioning), their caregivers’ (partners, family, and friends) anxiety and depressive symptoms, and social support behaviours according to 2 variables: relationship status and gender. Sixty-five individuals with PTSD and either their partner, family member, or friend filled out questionnaires and participated in a trauma-oriented discussion. Social support behaviours were coded. Results revealed no associations between the difficulties of individuals with PTSD and their caregivers’ symptoms. However, caregivers’ depressive symptoms were negatively associated with the quality of some of their social support behaviours. Moreover, relationship status and gender were significant moderators, indicating stronger negative associations between anxiety and depressive symptoms and some social support behaviours of men and caregiving partners. Male caregivers could have difficulties offering appropriate support and responding to traditional masculine roles (e.g., being strong and self-reliant) when they report symptoms themselves. Partners are particularly involved in the everyday life of individuals with PTSD. Thus, they could have difficulties keeping an optimal emotional distance to offer support when they report symptoms themselves. Future directions as well as clinical implications are discussed.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
post traumatic stress disorder, partners, stress, mental health problems, family members, recovery, carers, informal care, gender, depression;
Social Work: A journal of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), 60(1), 2015, pp.9-17.
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
Today, as a result of the longest volunteer-fought conflict in U.S. history, there are many wounded coming home not only with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but also with traumatic brain injury (TBI), which together have been called the 'signature' or 'invisible' injuries of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Caregivers are an important part of their recovery, yet little is known about them,
(Edited publisher abstract)
Today, as a result of the longest volunteer-fought conflict in U.S. history, there are many wounded coming home not only with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but also with traumatic brain injury (TBI), which together have been called the 'signature' or 'invisible' injuries of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Caregivers are an important part of their recovery, yet little is known about them, as previous research on caregivers mostly focused on geriatric populations. According to one estimate 275,000 to 1 million people are currently caring or have cared for loved ones who have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan. These caregivers are unique in that they are younger, some with children, and they are caring for a unique understudied population for longer periods of time. This article summarises literature on caregivers of veterans who suffer from PTSD, TBI, or both; provides a theoretical framework; and discusses implications for social workers in assisting caregivers and their families.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
armed forces personnel, social work, social work methods, post traumatic stress disorder, head injuries, recovery, carers, informal care, needs, literature reviews;
... for many service-users and carers, bound-up with mental health issues and the recovery experience. Travel facilitation through the funding of taxis and the provision of guides was appreciated. A few service-users and carers positively valued distancing from their previous home environment. The meaning of travel issues could only be understood in the context of individuals’ wider lives and relationships.
(Publisher abstract)
The qualitative study presented in this paper explored the perspectives of service-users, family members and staff about the impact of travel issues on the lives of mental health in-patients and carers. This topic was chosen because it was prioritised by members of Xplore, a service-user and carer research group, and has received little research attention. Travel problems were a significant issue for many service-users and carers, bound-up with mental health issues and the recovery experience. Travel facilitation through the funding of taxis and the provision of guides was appreciated. A few service-users and carers positively valued distancing from their previous home environment. The meaning of travel issues could only be understood in the context of individuals’ wider lives and relationships. The significance of the findings is discussed in relation to the social model of disability.
(Publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
mental health services, mental health problems, service users, carers, informal care, families, recovery, participatory research, user views, transport, social model;