Search results for ‘Subject term:"severe mental health problems"’ Sort:
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Mediated learning experience intervention increases hope of family members coping with a relative with severe mental illness
- Authors:
- REDLICH Dorit, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Community Mental Health Journal, 46(4), August 2010, pp.409-415.
- Publisher:
- Springer
Hope is central in recovery of the mentally ill, and family attitudes play an important role. Hope may be mediated by cognitive and communication processes. The “Keshet” program is aimed at enhancing communication of family members with the use of cognitive pathways. This pilot study examines whether the program effectively increases hope in family members in regard to themselves versus their hope for their ill relative. Forty nine family members who participated in the “Keshet” program for 6 months comprised the experimental group. The control group comprised 22 family members who underwent no structural intervention. Hope was measured at baseline and after 6 months using the Hope Scale developed by Snyder. No difference in self-perception was detected in Hope Scores between groups. However, the experimental group displayed a significant increase in their hope toward the ill relative with a concomitant decrease in the gap between hope of family members in relation to themselves versus their hope toward the ill person. “Keshet” significantly increased hope of families concerning the ill person, while decreasing the gap between hope of family members regarding themselves and the affected person. Thus, the program may contribute to the increase of the families’ hope in the recovery journey of mentally ill family members.
What influences social workers’ attitudes toward working with clients with severe mental illness?
- Authors:
- EACK Shaun M., NEWHILL Christina E.
- Journal article citation:
- Families in Society, 89(3), July 2008, pp.418-427.
- Publisher:
- The Alliance for Children and Families
A national random survey of 2,000 National Association of Social Workers (NASW) members in post-master's degree practice in mental health in the United States was conducted to investigate their experiences with and attitudes about working with individuals with severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI). Through a series of structural equation models the authors examined the influence of different frustrations reported by the respondents on their attitudes toward working with individuals with SPMI. Results suggest social worker attitudes toward working with individuals with SPMI are primarily influenced by their frustrations related to client behaviours and treatment issues rather than frustrations with system-related issues. Implications for social work practice include burnout and challenges to staff retention. Other implications and directions for future research are discussed.
Aspirations, ability, and support: consumers' perceptions of attending college
- Author:
- STEIN Catherine H.
- Journal article citation:
- Community Mental Health Journal, 41(4), August 2005, pp.451-468.
- Publisher:
- Springer
In this American study, 80 individuals coping with serious mental illness describe their aspirations and plans for college, perceptions of social support and acceptance, and perceived intellectual and emotional capacity for college. The research examines the role of consumers' age, prior college experience, psychiatric hospitalization history and feelings of personal loss due to mental illness in accounting for their views about college.
Practice with people with severe mental illness
- Authors:
- NEWHILL Christina E., KORR Wynne S.
- Journal article citation:
- Health and Social Work, 29(4), November 2004, pp.297-305.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
The authors surveyed a random sample of 1,200 US National Association of Social Workers members in post-master's practice in mental health to identify their attitudes toward practice with people with severe mental illness. Contrary to the literature that claims social workers have abandoned vulnerable populations or have negative attitudes toward this population, they found that the majority practice with this clientele and find it rewarding. Most of the respondents' frustration and obstacles in practice were related to systemic, not client-related, problems. Respondents' recommendations for education of future practitioners are presented.
Carers’ hope, wellbeing and attitudes regarding recovery
- Authors:
- MARSHALL Sarah, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Community Mental Health Journal, 49(3), 2013, pp.344-353.
- Publisher:
- Springer
Carers are important to the recovery of their relatives with serious mental disorder however, it is unclear whether they are aware of, or endorse recent conceptualisations of recovery. This study compared carers’ and mental health workers’ recovery attitudes, and undertook multivariate predictions of carers’ wellbeing, hopefulness and recovery attitudes. Participants were 82 Australian family members caring for a relative with psychosis. Carers’ average recovery attitudes were less optimistic than for previously surveyed staff. Carers’ recovery attitudes were predicted by perceptions that their relative’s negative symptoms were more severe. Hopefulness and wellbeing was predicted by more positive and less negative caregiving experiences. Hopefulness was also predicted by less frequent contacts with their affected relative, and unexpectedly, by perceptions of more severe psychotic symptoms. Carers’ wellbeing was further predicted by having a partner and having no lifetime history of a mental disorder. Hope and wellbeing are affected by everyday challenges and positive experiences of caregiving. (Publisher abstract)
Effects of severe mental illness education on MSW student attitudes about schizophrenia
- Authors:
- EACK Shaun M., NEWHILL Christina E., WATSON Amy C.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work Education, 48(3), 2012, pp.425-438.
- Publisher:
- Council on Social Work Education
Social workers are the primary providers of psychosocial interventions for individuals with schizophrenia in the United States. The aim of this quasi-experimental study was to investigate changes in MSW student attitudes about schizophrenia before and after completing a course on social work practice with individuals with severe mental illnesses. The course was designed, in part, to provide the latest knowledge about schizophrenia and its treatment, as well as initial exposure to people and families who live with the illness. A total of 60 social work students completed a survey of their knowledge about, contact with, and attitudes toward individuals with schizophrenia during the first and the last sessions of the course. The results revealed significant improvement in student knowledge and general attitudes after the course and indicated that increased knowledge about schizophrenia was only related to general attitudinal improvement when accompanied by increased personal social contact. Implications for education on severe mental illnesses and value and attitude development in social work education are discussed.
Consumer perspectives on information and other inputs to decision-making: implications for evidence-based practice
- Author:
- TANENBAUM Sandra J.
- Journal article citation:
- Community Mental Health Journal, 44(5), October 2008, pp.331-335.
- Publisher:
- Springer
This American study is an exploration of mental health consumers’ perspectives on information, including scientific information, and on other inputs to decision-making. Four focus groups were held with severely mentally ill consumers at two sites in the summer of 2005. Consumers varied in age, race and diagnosis. Participant responses were coded by theme and into subthematic categories. Implications for evidence-based decision-making included that: consumers desire and seek information about their illnesses and the mental health system; consumers identify scientific studies as information with special and welcome properties; and consumers also identify other influences on their decision-making, most of which fall under the “recovery” rubric.
Neighbors' perceptions of community-based psychiatric housing
- Authors:
- ZIPPAY Allison, LEE Sung Kyong
- Journal article citation:
- Social Service Review, 82(3), September 2008, pp.395-417.
- Publisher:
- University of Chicago Press
Neighbourhood opposition to the establishment of community-based housing for individuals with serious mental illness, often called the not in my backyard (or NIMBY) phenomenon, has generated considerable public and professional notice. However, little is known about longer-term attitudes among neighbours. Interviews with 1,425 neighbours of extant psychiatric housing sites in the US were conducted to examine their perceptions of the effects of the residences on neighbourhood life and the associations among current perceptions, initial neighbourhood opposition, and agency-sponsored outreach efforts with neighbours. Results suggest that few of those aware of the sites report negative views and that many express support for concepts of social responsibility and collective care.
Social Workers’ familiarity with psychiatric advance directives: implications for education, practice, and research
- Authors:
- SCHEYETT Anna, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Families in Society, 89(2), April 2008, pp.228-236.
- Publisher:
- The Alliance for Children and Families
Psychiatric advance directives (PADs) are legal documents that allow competent individuals to express wishes for psychiatric care during a future crisis when they may no longer be able to do so. PADs are intended to enhance client autonomy at a time when clients are most vulnerable - when in psychiatric crisis and thus in need of treatment, yet unable to voice their wishes because of illness. Despite their potential utility, PADs are infrequently used. Using data from an exploratory US survey, the familiarity and experience of 193 social workers’ with PADs were examined. Surprisingly low levels of PAD awareness and experience were found. The implications of these findings for social work research, practice, and education, are discussed and recommendations for future study are offered.
Barrier or Bridge? The language of diagnosis in clinical social work
- Author:
- ISHIBASHI Noriko
- Journal article citation:
- Smith College Studies in Social Work, 75(1), 2005, pp.65-80.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Diagnoses are labels that have a powerful effect. Linguistic anthropology provides the tools necessary to study how diagnosis projects meaning based on underlying linguistic assumptions and culture of usage. The author uses anthropologically-based linguistic theories to analyze the diagnostic system utilized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV), and to examine the impact of the diagnosis of schizophrenia on the minds of the diagnostician and the labeled client. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580).