scholarly journals Visual acuity and reported eye problems among psychiatric in-patients

2006 ◽  
Vol 30 (8) ◽  
pp. 297-299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bhaskar Punukollu ◽  
Michael Phelan
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Visual Acuity ◽  
Inner City ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Contact Lenses ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Health Unit ◽  
Mental Health Staff ◽  
Eye Problems ◽  
Mental Health Unit

Aims and MethodThe aim of this study was to examine visual problems among patients admitted to an inner city acute mental health unit. We measured visual acuity using a Snellen chart. Patients were also asked about perceived eye problems and access to services.ResultsOf 55 in-patients on five acute general adult wards at an inner city mental health unit over a 3-day period, 31 agreed to participate in the study. Twenty (65%) had impaired visual acuity and 19 (61%) had not been to an optician for 5 or more years. Seventeen patients (55%) reported experiencing difficulty with their eyesight. The main problems reported were blurring of vision and periorbital pain. Of these 17 patients, 15 (88%) had impaired visual acuity on Snellen testing. Half of those who had previously been prescribed glasses or contact lenses reported that they had been lost.Clinical ImplicationsVisual impairment appears to be another area of physical health which is underrecognised and undertreated in people with severe mental health problems. Although there are numerous issues that must be addressed by mental health staff, patients should be asked about eye problems and supported in accessing opticians.

Tackling the unseen virus at the unseen frontier

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 65-68
Author(s):  
Cholan Anandarajah ◽  
Matilda Elliott ◽  
Koravangattu Valsraj
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Health Unit ◽  
Compassionate Care ◽  
Mental Health Staff ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
Healthcare Environments ◽  
Mental Health Settings ◽  
Mental Health Unit

There has been widespread coverage, attention and discussion regarding the anxieties of COVID-19 pandemic in health and social care settings; however, compared to other healthcare environments, mental health care settings have not received a similar level of attention and concern. Interestingly there are unique challenges in mental health units and at the height of the pandemic there has been a significant impact on staff, patients and carers. Mental health staff have had to adapt their ways of working, focusing more on the physical health of patients and caring for COVID positive patients in a mental health unit. Anxiety about the infection spreading to other patients and to staff who interact very closely with patients were significant concerns, with the additional difficulties of accessing the appropriate PPE during the early stages of the outbreak. Some challenges are unique to mental health settings and become even more intense within a psychiatric intensive care unit (PICU). These include difficulties with isolation, social distancing and the reluctance of patients to wear masks. The lessons learnt caring for the most challenging patients in a PICU are explored. The adaptability, flexibility and commitment to providing kind, compassionate care at the height of the COVID pandemic is remarkable.

scholarly journals The impact of Recovery Colleges on mental health staff, services and society

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 481-488 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Crowther ◽  
A. Taylor ◽  
R. Toney ◽  
S. Meddings ◽  
T. Whale ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Mechanisms Of Action ◽  
Advisory Panel ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Mental Health Staff ◽  
Social Care Service ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
The Impact

AbstractAimsRecovery Colleges are opening internationally. The evaluation focus has been on outcomes for Recovery College students who use mental health services. However, benefits may also arise for: staff who attend or co-deliver courses; the mental health and social care service hosting the Recovery College; and wider society. A theory-based change model characterising how Recovery Colleges impact at these higher levels is needed for formal evaluation of their impact, and to inform future Recovery College development. The aim of this study was to develop a stratified theory identifying candidate mechanisms of action and outcomes (impact) for Recovery Colleges at staff, services and societal levels.MethodsInductive thematic analysis of 44 publications identified in a systematised review was supplemented by collaborative analysis involving a lived experience advisory panel to develop a preliminary theoretical framework. This was refined through semi-structured interviews with 33 Recovery College stakeholders (service user students, peer/non-peer trainers, managers, community partners, clinicians) in three sites in England.ResultsCandidate mechanisms of action and outcomes were identified at staff, services and societal levels. At the staff level, experiencing new relationships may change attitudes and associated professional practice. Identified outcomes for staff included: experiencing and valuing co-production; changed perceptions of service users; and increased passion and job motivation. At the services level, Recovery Colleges often develop somewhat separately from their host system, reducing the reach of the college into the host organisation but allowing development of an alternative culture giving experiential learning opportunities to staff around co-production and the role of a peer workforce. At the societal level, partnering with community-based agencies gave other members of the public opportunities for learning alongside people with mental health problems and enabled community agencies to work with people they might not have otherwise. Recovery Colleges also gave opportunities to beneficially impact on community attitudes.ConclusionsThis study is the first to characterise the mechanisms of action and impact of Recovery Colleges on mental health staff, mental health and social care services, and wider society. The findings suggest that a certain distance is needed in the relationship between the Recovery College and its host organisation if a genuine cultural alternative is to be created. Different strategies are needed depending on what level of impact is intended, and this study can inform decision-making about mechanisms to prioritise. Future research into Recovery Colleges should include contextual evaluation of these higher level impacts, and investigate effectiveness and harms.

scholarly journals Factors promoting and inhibiting sustained impact of a mental health task-shifting program for HIV providers in Ethiopia

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Jerene ◽  
M. Biru ◽  
A. Teklu ◽  
T. Rehman ◽  
A. Ruff ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Indicators ◽  
Task Shifting ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Mental Health Staff ◽  
The Face ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Competing Priorities

Background.Task-shifting mental health into general medical care requires more than brief provider training. Generalists need long-term support to master new skills and changes to work context are required to sustain change in the face of competing priorities. We examined program and context factors promoting sustainability of a mental health task-shifting training for hospital-based HIV providers in Ethiopia.Methods.Convergent mixed-methods quasi-experimental study. Sustained impact was measured by trained/not-trained provider differences in case detection and management 16 months following the end of formal support. Factors related to sustainability were examined through interviews with trained providers.Results.Extent of sustained impact: Trained providers demonstrated modest but better agreement with standardized screeners (greater sensitivity with similar specificity). They were more likely to request that patients with mental health problems return to see them v. making a referral. Factors promoting sustainability (reported in semi-structured interviews): provider belief that the treatments they had learned were effective. New interactions with on-site mental health staff were a source of ongoing learning and encouragement. Factors diminishing sustainability: providers feelings of isolation when mental health partners left for work elsewhere, failure to incorporate mental health indicators into administrative data, to re-stock staff education materials, and to build formal mechanisms for generalist-mental health staff interaction.Conclusions.An intervention seen as feasible and effective, and promotion of relationships across professional lines, helped generalists sustain new skills. Failure to address key system context issues made use of the skills unsustainable as external supports ended.

Remarkable lives: Laura O’Brien in conversation with Jerome Carson

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 74-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura O'Brien ◽  
Jerome Carson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Childhood Abuse ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Personal Recovery ◽  
Mental Health Staff ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Biographical Account ◽  
The Individual

Purpose – The purpose of the paper is to provide a profile of Laura O’Brien. Design/methodology/approach – Laura provides a short biographical account of her life thus far. She is then interviewed by Jerome. She describes her abusive childhood and the effect this has had on her mental health. Findings – Despite enduring significant adversity, Laura has completed a Psychology degree, is finishing off a PGCE and hopes to go on to complete a PhD. Research limitations/implications – There has been increasing interest looking at the effects of childhood abuse on predisposing individuals to adult mental health problems. This case study provides evidence of this linkage. Practical implications – Patricia Deegan talks about mental health staff having to “hold the care” while the individual struggles with their personal recovery. Laura’s story shows how despite numerous overdoses and admissions, she has been able to battle through. Mental health staff should never give up. There are thousands of “Lauras” out there. Social implications – How much of Laura’s problems might have been avoided or minimised if there had been better interventions during her troubled childhood years? Originality/value – Given what she has endured, Laura’s recent career successes have been staggering.

scholarly journals DIFICULDADES VIVENCIADAS POR PROFISSIONAIS DA ESTRATÉGIA SAÚDE DA FAMÍLIA FRENTE AO ACOLHIMENTO AOS PACIENTES COM TRANSTORNOS MENTAIS NO MUNICÍPIO DE MARACAÇUMÉ – MA

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (6) ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Ana Patrícia Fonseca Coelho GALVÃO ◽  
Dheny Antônia Martins SILVA ◽  
Fábio Batista MIRANDA
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Staff Training ◽  
National Policy ◽  
Family Health ◽  
Descriptive Study ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Health Unit ◽  
Mental Health Staff ◽  
Working Process

Introdução: A Política Nacional de Saúde Mental brasileira tem defendido nas últimas décadas a necessidade de abordagem de pessoas com sofrimento ou transtorno mental nas unidades básicas de saúde, com a intenção de substituir o modelo asilar, oferecendo acolhimento e suporte a esse público. Objetivo: Investigar as dificuldades que os profissionais de Estratégia Saúde da Família vivenciam frente ao acolhimento aos pacientes portadores de transtornos mentais. Metodologia: Estudo descrito, prospectivo, de caráter quantitativo, realizado nas Unidades Básicas do Município de Maracaçumé – MA. A população foi composta por todos os integrantes atuantes durante a realização da pesquisa na Estratégia Saúde da Família, totalizando 40 profissionais. Resultados: Após análise dos dados, constataram-se dificuldades na coordenação do cuidado a pacientes com transtornos mentais, percebidas pelo próprio serviço. E além de questões relacionados ao núcleo familiar em que ele está inserido.  Outro ponto, o processo de trabalho do ACS volta-se para o estabelecimento de um vínculo com os usuários na atenção à saúde mental através da visita domiciliar, sendo ferramenta do cuidado e se constitui num atributo essencial da APS. Conclusão: O estudo evidenciou que os profissionais enfrentam dificuldades para garantir cuidado e acolhimento a pacientes portadores de transtornos mentais, mostrando a necessidade de capacitação para as equipes de saúde, um maior vínculo com as comunidades e a tentativa de mostrar às famílias que sua participação é fundamental no processo de adesão e continuidade do tratamento, coincidindo com os objetivos da Reforma Psiquiátrica.   THE DIFFICULTIES EXPERIENCED BY PROFESSIONALS FROM A FAMILY HEALTH UNIT FACING THE RECEPTION OF PATIENTS WITH MENTAL DISORDERS IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF MARACAÇUMÉ – MA   ABSTRACT Introduction: The Mental Health National Policy in Brazil has defended in recent years the necessity of an approach for people suffering from mental disorders at health units, aiming at substituting the asylum model, hosting, and supporting that community. Purpose: To review the difficulties that professionals from a Family Health Unit experience when facing the reception of patients with mental disorders. Methodology:  A descriptive study, prospective, quantitative, carried out at Health Care Units in the municipality of Maracaçumé – MA. The population was formed by all the employees working while the study was conducted, totaling 40 professionals. Results: After data analysis, difficulties in managing the patients with mental disorders were noticed, by the service by itself, besides the issues regarding the familiar nucleus, where the patient was incorporated. Another issue, the CHA working process aims at strengthening the bonds with patients at mental health attention through home visits as a tool for assistance and it has become a critical trait for PHC. Conclusion: The study reveals that professionals face difficulties to ensure the care and reception to patients with mental disorders; it evidences the necessity for the mental health staff training, a stronger bond with the community, and the attempt to show families that their participation is crucial for the adherence and consistency of the treatment, coinciding with the Psychiatric Reform goals.     Descriptors: Family Health Unit. Mental disorders. Reception.

The Disturbed Disruptive Inmate: Where does the Bus Stop?

1982 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 327-349 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans Toch
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Disruptive Behavior ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Prison Inmates ◽  
Mental Health Staff ◽  
Bus Stop ◽  
Disturbed Behavior ◽  
Special Programs

Among least understood prison inmates are the “disturbed disruptive” inmates (DDIs)—those who simultaneously pose disciplinary and mental health problems. Such inmates are at times viewed as “disruptive” by mental health staff and as “disturbed” by custody personnel. They are also disproportionately subjected to “bus therapy” because no special programs are available for them. This article reviews the institutional careers of several “DDIs,” and it discusses some treatment-relevant links between disturbed behavior and disruptive behavior that emerge from such scrutiny.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document