Access to dental care and dental ill-health of people with serious mental illness: views of nurses working in mental health settings in Australia

2015 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brenda Happell ◽  
Chris Platania-Phung ◽  
David Scott ◽  
Christine Hanley
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Oral Health ◽  
Serious Mental Illness ◽  
Dental Care ◽  
Dental Health ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Mental Health Consumers ◽  
Access To Dental Care ◽  
Health Consumers

People with serious mental illness experience higher rates of oral and dental health problems than the wider population. Little is known about how dental health is viewed or addressed by nurses working with mental health consumers. This paper presents the views of nurses regarding the nature and severity of dental health problems of consumers with serious mental illness, and how often they provide advice on dental health. Mental health sector nurses (n = 643) completed an online survey, including questions on dental and oral health issues of people with serious mental illness. The majority of nurses considered the oral and dental conditions of people with serious mental illness to be worse than the wider community. When compared with a range of significant physical health issues (e.g. cardiovascular disease), many nurses emphasised that dental and oral problems are one of the most salient health issues facing people with serious mental illness, their level of access to dental care services is severely inadequate and they suffer significantly worse dental health outcomes as a result. This study highlights the need for reforms to increase access to dental and oral health care for mental health consumers.

Unrecognized Trauma and PTSD among Public Mental Health Consumers with Chronic and Severe Mental Illness

2006 ◽  
Vol 42 (5) ◽  
pp. 487-500 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen J. Cusack ◽  
Anouk L. Grubaugh ◽  
Rebecca G. Knapp ◽  
B. Christopher Frueh
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Severe Mental Illness ◽  
Public Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Consumers ◽  
Health Consumers

Women with Serious Mental Illness, Resilience, and the Recovery Movement

2020 ◽  
pp. 24-44
Author(s):  
Lauren Mizock ◽  
Erika Carr
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Serious Mental Illness ◽  
Treatment Team ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Recovery Movement ◽  
Mental Health Issues ◽  
Clinical Strategies ◽  
The Impact

This chapter reviews the recovery movement and the importance of its role in the mental health care of women who experience serious mental illness. This chapter explores the foundations of recovery and how this perspective seeks to decrease the impact of stigma and increase self-determination, while still recognizing the role that stigma and marginalization have played in women’s experience of serious mental illness. Literature is presented regarding the basic components of recovery in serious mental illness. Ways that recovery programs for people with serious mental illness can become more sensitive to woman’s issues are discussed. The biological and developmental concerns uniquely faced by women with serious mental health issues are addressed, as well as the value of a multidisciplinary, recovery-oriented treatment team. Case narratives, a clinical strategies list, discussion questions, activities, and a clinical worksheet (“My Recovery Journey”) are included.

Patterns of Disturbed Behavior in a Supermax Population

2008 ◽  
Vol 35 (8) ◽  
pp. 985-1004 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Lovell
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Disruptive Behavior ◽  
Serious Mental Illness ◽  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
Clinical Status ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Mental Health Issues ◽  
Disturbed Behavior ◽  
Disciplinary Procedures

Results of a systematic survey of the clinical status of supermax residents, showing the association of mental health issues with disruptive behavior, are followed by eight brief case studies. The survey covers 131 inmates selected at random from Washington's supermax facilities, representing almost half the residents. From interviews with 87 of these inmates, combined with reviews of medical and institutional behavior records, it is concluded that 45% of supermax residents suffer from serious mental illness, marked psychological symptoms, psychological breakdowns, or brain damage. With this empirical grounding, an argument is presented that the concept of disturbed behavior, notwithstanding its lack of a clear diagnostic reference, is needed if we are to understand interactions between prison settings and the mental health issues of prisoners. The clinical profile and histories of disturbed prisoners provide reasons to establish greater flexibility in prison classification and disciplinary procedures, especially those that determine how long prisoners stay in supermax. Institutional obstacles to flexibility are diagnosed, and the possibility of shrinking supermax populations is proposed.

scholarly journals Oral health promotion practices of Australian community mental health professionals: a cross sectional web-based survey

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Roisin McGrath ◽  
Rodrigo Marino ◽  
Julie Satur
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Promotion ◽  
Oral Health ◽  
Community Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Oral Health Promotion ◽  
Mental Health Consumers ◽  
Australian Community ◽  
Health Support

Abstract Background This study explored the oral health promotion practices of Australian community mental health professionals working with people living with severe mental illness (SMI). Methods An anonymous cross-sectional web-based survey was distributed to all Community Rehabilitation and Support Workers (CRSWs) working at Neami National (n = 471), an Australian community mental health service. The validated questionnaire assessed participants’ self-rated oral health knowledge and confidence (7 questions); their perceived barriers (9 questions) and attitudes (5 questions) to oral health promotion; and their oral health promotion practices (7 questions). Differences in responses between groups were analysed using Chi-square, Fisher’s exact and Mann–Whitney U tests. Logistic Regression Analysis served to explore the probability of providing oral health support to mental health consumers. Results A total of 141 CRSWs were included in this study, achieving a response rate of 30 percent. Roughly two-fifths (39.0%) of participants had oral health training in the previous 12-months. The majority of CRSWs (89.3%) believed (‘Agreed’ or ‘Strongly agreed’) that mental health support workers have a role to play in promoting oral health. However, less than half (44.0%) of CRSWs practiced oral health promotion activities when working with mental health consumers. When asked about barriers to promoting oral health, ‘lack of consumer interest’ was the most prevalent issue. CRSWs who had oral health training were over three-times (OR 3.5, 95% CI 1.25–9.83, p = 0.017) more likely to provide oral health support. Results showed the provision of oral health support was most strongly associated with self-rated knowledge and confidence (OR 4.089, 95% CI 1.629–10.263, p = 0.003) and attitudes to oral health promotion (OR 3.906, 95% CI 1.77–8.65, p = 0.001). Conclusion The results of this study suggest that mental health support workers who have more positive attitudes to oral health promotion and who have higher self-rated oral health knowledge and confidence are more likely to provide oral health support in their professional role. Training for community mental health professionals is essential to build confidence and skills to promote oral health for mental health consumers.

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