The impact of an educational mental health intervention on adolescents' perceptions of mental illness

2014 ◽  
Vol 21 (7) ◽  
pp. 635-641 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Sakellari ◽  
A. Sourander ◽  
A. Kalokerinou-Anagnostopoulou ◽  
H. Leino-Kilpi
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Health Intervention ◽  
Mental Health Intervention ◽  
The Impact

The effects of a community mental health intervention project upon family caregivers of persons with suspected mental illness in the Chinese cultural context

2017 ◽  
Vol 61 (6) ◽  
pp. 1067-1082 ◽  
Author(s):  
Petrus Ng ◽  
Daniel KW Young ◽  
Jiayan Pan ◽  
King-Keung Law
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Community Mental Health ◽  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Family Caregiving ◽  
Cultural Context ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Health Intervention ◽  
Mental Health Intervention

Family members play an important role in caregiving with more emphasis on early intervention for people suffering from mental illness. Using both quantitative and qualitative methods, this study examines the effects of a community mental health intervention project (CoMHIP) on burdens of caregivers who have family members with suspected mental illness. Results showed that family caregivers’ burden and psychological stress level had been reduced ( p < .001). The caregivers subjectively experienced a significant reduction in stress regarding the caregiving subscales, supervision, tension, worrying and urging after seeking CoMHIP service. Findings for the study have implications on social work interventions regarding family caregiving of people with suspected mental health problems.

Level of Mental Health Intervention and Clinical Need Among Inmates With Mental Illness in Five English Jails

2012 ◽  
Vol 63 (12) ◽  
pp. 1218-1224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lamiece Hassan ◽  
Mohammed Shaiyan Rahman ◽  
Carlene King ◽  
Jane Senior ◽  
Jenny Shaw
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Health Intervention ◽  
Mental Health Intervention

scholarly journals The Impact of a Digital Intervention (Happify) on Loneliness During COVID-19: Qualitative Focus Group

10.2196/26617 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. e26617
Author(s):  
Eliane M Boucher ◽  
Emily C McNaughton ◽  
Nicole Harake ◽  
Julia L Stafford ◽  
Acacia C Parks
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Health Intervention ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Mental Health Intervention ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Self Perceptions ◽  
The Impact

Background Loneliness is a growing area of concern, attracting attention as a public health concern due to its association with a variety of psychological and physical health problems. However, interventions targeting loneliness are less common than interventions for other mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety, and existing interventions focus primarily on building social skills and increasing opportunities for social interaction despite research suggesting these techniques are not the most effective. Furthermore, although there is an increasing need for scalable and convenient interventions, digital interventions for loneliness are even less common. Objective Using a qualitative approach, we explore how adults (18-64 years of age) who express wanting to be more connected to others experience loneliness and react to a digital mental health intervention targeting loneliness. Methods A total of 11 participants were recruited from a pilot randomized controlled trial exploring the impact of a digital mental health intervention, Happify Health, on loneliness among adults aged 18-64 years who indicated wanting to feel more connected to others when signing up for the platform. Participants were invited to participate in a 3-day asynchronous focus group about their experiences with loneliness, with Happify Health, and with social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. All 11 participants completed the focus group in May 2020. Results Participants’ responses were coded using thematic analysis, which led to identifying five themes, each with separate subthemes, that could be applied across the 3-day focus group: loneliness, relationships, social distancing, skill acquisition, and coping. Overall, we observed variability across participants in terms of the source of their loneliness, their perceptions of their social connections, and their motivation to reduce feelings of loneliness; however, participants commonly referred to negative self-perceptions as a cause or consequence of loneliness. Participants also varied in the extent to which they felt social distancing increased or decreased feelings of loneliness. In regard to the intervention, participants showed evidence of adopting skills they used to address their loneliness, particularly mindfulness and gratitude, and then using these skills to shift toward more active coping strategies following the intervention, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusions The heterogeneity in participants’ experiences with loneliness described during this focus group emphasizes the subjective and complex nature of loneliness. This highlights the importance of developing loneliness interventions that use a variety of strategies, including both direct and indirect strategies for reducing loneliness. However, based on our data, a key component to loneliness interventions is incorporating strategies for addressing underlying negative self-perceptions that stem from, but also contribute to, loneliness. This data also provides preliminary evidence that digital platforms may be an effective tool for disseminating loneliness interventions while providing the added benefit of offering a productive distraction when feeling lonely.

scholarly journals Perceptions of ASHA workers in the HOPE collaborative care mental health intervention in rural South India: a qualitative analysis

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. e047365
Author(s):  
Stuti Bansal ◽  
Krishnamachari Srinivasan ◽  
Maria Ekstrand
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Collaborative Care ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Community Outreach ◽  
Health Intervention ◽  
Positive Interactions ◽  
Mental Health Intervention ◽  
Barriers To Treatment

ObjectiveThe main objective of this exploratory study was to investigate the overlooked perspectives and beliefs of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA workers) regarding a collaborative care mental health intervention (HOPE: Healthier Options through Empowerment), mental illness and the health of their rural communities.DesignSemi-structured, one-on-one, qualitative interviews.SettingSeven primary health centres (PHCs) in rural Karnataka, India. All PHCs had previously completed the HOPE study.Participants15 ASHA workers, selected via purposive sampling. ASHAs are high school-educated village women trained as community health workers. ASHAs were included if they had previously participated in the HOPE intervention, a collaborative-care randomised controlled trial that aimed to integrate mental healthcare into existing primary care systems in rural Karnataka.InterventionsNo interventions were introduced.ResultsASHA workers mostly had positive interactions with patients, including encouraging them to attend sessions, helping to explain the topics and techniques, and checking on the patients frequently. ASHA workers were able to identify key barriers to treatment and facilitators to treatment. ASHAs claimed that their knowledge about mental illness improved because of the HOPE study, though gaps remained in their understanding of aetiology and treatment. Several expressed interest in receiving additional mental health training. Overall, ASHAs viewed the HOPE study as a necessary and effective intervention, and requested that it expand.ConclusionsThis paper discusses the perspectives of ASHAs who participated in a novel effort to extend the collaborative care model to their own communities. ASHA workers help maintain relationships with patients that encourage participation, and the efforts of ASHAs often aid in mitigating common barriers to treatment. ASHA workers’ beliefs and knowledge regarding mental illness can be changed, and ASHAs can become effective advocates for patients. Future collaborative care interventions would likely benefit from involving ASHA workers in community outreach efforts.

scholarly journals The impact of a maternal mental health intervention on intimate partner violence in Northern Ghana and the mediating roles of social support and couple communication: secondary analysis of a cluster randomized controlled trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiepin Cao ◽  
John A. Gallis ◽  
Mohammed Ali ◽  
Margaret Lillie ◽  
Safiyatu Abubakr-Bibilazu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Maternal Mental Health ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Health Intervention ◽  
Northern Ghana ◽  
Mechanisms Of Change ◽  
Mental Health Intervention ◽  
Couple Communication ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Backgrounds Diverse intervention efforts are implemented to address intimate partner violence (IPV) against women. Via a syndemics theory lens and emerging empirical evidence, mental health interventions demonstrate promise to partially ameliorate IPV. However, the mechanisms of change underlying many IPV interventions are not well understood. These gaps impede our efforts to strengthen or integrate effective components into the current mental health resources, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This study aims to examine the impact of a maternal mental health intervention called Integrated Mothers and Babies Course & Early Childhood Development (iMBC/ECD) on IPV and whether social support and/or couple communication mediates the intervention effects among women in rural, Northern Ghana. Methods The current study is a secondary data analysis of a cluster randomized controlled trial. IPV was measured at baseline and 8 months post-intervention (~ 19 months post-baseline). At baseline, 84.8% of the women enrolled in the study (n = 374) reported some type of IPV in the past 12 months. Logistic regression models and multiple mediation analyses were used to address the study aims. Results iMBC/ECD did not reduce IPV in the intervention group compared to the control group. Social support and couple communication did not mediate the intervention effects on IPV as indicated by the indirect effects of the multiple mediation models. However, increase in social support reduced women’s odds of experiencing emotional violence by 7%, odds ratio (OR) = 0.93, p = 0.007; b = − 0.07, 95% confidence interval (CI) = (− 0.13, − 0.02), and improvement in couple communication demonstrated promise in reducing women’s odds of experiencing controlling behaviors by 7%, OR = 0.93, p = 0.07; b = − 0.07, CI = (− 0.14, 0.005), though the improvements were not due to the intervention. Conclusion This maternal mental health intervention did not reduce IPV; however, the findings extend our knowledge about the impact of such interventions on IPV and the potential mechanisms of change via social support and couple communication. Future research evaluating the impact of mental health interventions on IPV and mechanisms of change is essential for the development of effective interventions. Future programs addressing IPV in LMICs should consider risk factors beyond relationship level (e.g. poverty and gender inequity). Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov # NCT03665246, Registered on August 20th, 2018.

scholarly journals Trauma, Research, and EMDR: A Disaster Responder’s Wish List

2008 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 146-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert A. Gelbach
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Disaster Response ◽  
Health Intervention ◽  
Mental Health Intervention ◽  
Trauma Research ◽  
Health Response ◽  
Neuropsychological Factors ◽  
The Impact

Disasters, both natural and “man-made,” affect a large portion of the Earth’s population and can be expected to increase in intensity over the coming decades. The impact of disasters on mental health of affected populations is substantial and likely to be insufficiently addressed in the overall context of disaster response. While successful mental health intervention has been demonstrated in a variety of cases, including through the use of EMDR treatment, this problem needs more attention. Effective mental health response will be greatly supported by increased research on questions related to the incidence, form, and prognosis of disaster-generated traumatic stress, as these are affected by type of disaster, culture of affected population, sociological conditions, and neuropsychological factors, and the interactions among these. A brief summary of desirable research is presented that could help responders meet these challenges.

scholarly journals The Impact of a Digital Intervention (Happify) on Loneliness During COVID-19: Qualitative Focus Group (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eliane M Boucher ◽  
Emily C McNaughton ◽  
Nicole Harake ◽  
Julia L Stafford ◽  
Acacia C Parks
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Health Intervention ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Mental Health Intervention ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Self Perceptions ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND Loneliness is a growing area of concern, attracting attention as a public health concern due to its association with a variety of psychological and physical health problems. However, interventions targeting loneliness are less common than interventions for other mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety, and existing interventions focus primarily on building social skills and increasing opportunities for social interaction despite research suggesting these techniques are not the most effective. Furthermore, although there is an increasing need for scalable and convenient interventions, digital interventions for loneliness are even less common. OBJECTIVE Using a qualitative approach, we explore how adults (18-64 years of age) who express wanting to be more connected to others experience loneliness and react to a digital mental health intervention targeting loneliness. METHODS A total of 11 participants were recruited from a pilot randomized controlled trial exploring the impact of a digital mental health intervention, Happify Health, on loneliness among adults aged 18-64 years who indicated wanting to feel more connected to others when signing up for the platform. Participants were invited to participate in a 3-day asynchronous focus group about their experiences with loneliness, with Happify Health, and with social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. All 11 participants completed the focus group in May 2020. RESULTS Participants’ responses were coded using thematic analysis, which led to identifying five themes, each with separate subthemes, that could be applied across the 3-day focus group: loneliness, relationships, social distancing, skill acquisition, and coping. Overall, we observed variability across participants in terms of the source of their loneliness, their perceptions of their social connections, and their motivation to reduce feelings of loneliness; however, participants commonly referred to negative self-perceptions as a cause or consequence of loneliness. Participants also varied in the extent to which they felt social distancing increased or decreased feelings of loneliness. In regard to the intervention, participants showed evidence of adopting skills they used to address their loneliness, particularly mindfulness and gratitude, and then using these skills to shift toward more active coping strategies following the intervention, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. CONCLUSIONS The heterogeneity in participants’ experiences with loneliness described during this focus group emphasizes the subjective and complex nature of loneliness. This highlights the importance of developing loneliness interventions that use a variety of strategies, including both direct and indirect strategies for reducing loneliness. However, based on our data, a key component to loneliness interventions is incorporating strategies for addressing underlying negative self-perceptions that stem from, but also contribute to, loneliness. This data also provides preliminary evidence that digital platforms may be an effective tool for disseminating loneliness interventions while providing the added benefit of offering a productive distraction when feeling lonely.

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