Experience as ‘expert’ knowledge: A Critical Understanding of Survivor Research in Mental Health

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 203-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bindhulakshmi Pattadath
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Expert Knowledge ◽  
Critical Understanding

scholarly journals Reducing youth suicide: systems modelling and simulation to guide targeted investments across the determinants

BMC Medicine ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jo-An Occhipinti ◽  
Adam Skinner ◽  
Frank Iorfino ◽  
Kenny Lawson ◽  
Julie Sturgess ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Determinants ◽  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
Expert Knowledge ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Modelling And Simulation ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Coordinated Care ◽  
Systems Modelling

Abstract Background Reducing suicidal behaviour (SB) is a critical public health issue globally. The complex interplay of social determinants, service system factors, population demographics, and behavioural dynamics makes it extraordinarily difficult for decision makers to determine the nature and balance of investments required to have the greatest impacts on SB. Real-world experimentation to establish the optimal targeting, timing, scale, frequency, and intensity of investments required across the determinants is unfeasible. Therefore, this study harnesses systems modelling and simulation to guide population-level decision making that represent best strategic allocation of limited resources. Methods Using a participatory approach, and informed by a range of national, state, and local datasets, a system dynamics model was developed, tested, and validated for a regional population catchment. The model incorporated defined pathways from social determinants of mental health to psychological distress, mental health care, and SB. Intervention scenarios were investigated to forecast their impact on SB over a 20-year period. Results A combination of social connectedness programs, technology-enabled coordinated care, post-attempt assertive aftercare, reductions in childhood adversity, and increasing youth employment projected the greatest impacts on SB, particularly in a youth population, reducing self-harm hospitalisations (suicide attempts) by 28.5% (95% interval 26.3–30.8%) and suicide deaths by 29.3% (95% interval 27.1–31.5%). Introducing additional interventions beyond the best performing suite of interventions produced only marginal improvement in population level impacts, highlighting that ‘more is not necessarily better.’ Conclusion Results indicate that targeted investments in addressing the social determinants and in mental health services provides the best opportunity to reduce SB and suicide. Systems modelling and simulation offers a robust approach to leveraging best available research, data, and expert knowledge in a way that helps decision makers respond to the unique characteristics and drivers of SB in their catchments and more effectively focus limited health resources.

Screwed up, but working on it

2012 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 86-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Riki Thompson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
New Media ◽  
Expert Knowledge ◽  
Online Journal ◽  
Self Identity ◽  
Community Membership ◽  
Health Community ◽  
Private And Public ◽  
Mental Health Work

The turn to narrative as a form of therapy has become a common practice with individuals telling their stories in private and public forums in hopes of finding healing and recovery for a wide variety of mental health disorders. With the emergence of the internet and the proliferation of new media forms, narrative practices have evolved concurrently. An examination of the digitally mediated narratives I call e-stories, on mental health community websites can provide a window into how people use psychological concepts in narratives to do mental health work in everyday life (Edwards & Potter, 1992). This case study of the HealthyPlace online journal community shows how e-stories play a significant role in self-identity construction and ideological reproductive work in relation to mental illness and recovery. This research examines autobiographical introductions posted on twenty-eight journal homepages to explore how everyday people use psychotherapeutic coherence systems — lay versions of expert knowledge — to demonstrate expertise and authority while organizing experiences into a socially sharable narrative, characterizing self-identity in terms of illness and health simultaneously. These e-stories reveal the power of language to serve as a tool to negotiate community membership, reproduce ideologies about mental health and recovery, and employ narrative devices online to represent self-identities of people as “screwed up, but working on it.”

The big picture unfolds: Using photovoice to study user participation in mental health services

2016 ◽  
Vol 62 (8) ◽  
pp. 696-707 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Pui-Shan Tang ◽  
Samson Tse ◽  
Larry Davidson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Social Inclusion ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Expert Knowledge ◽  
User Participation ◽  
Qualitative Inquiry ◽  
Design Data ◽  
Gradual Process

Background: User participation is advocated on the basis that consumers know their own needs better than anyone else. Photovoice is a participatory research method that empowers the grass-root population to give voice on concerned issues for eliciting social change. Aim: This study explores the experience and impact of user participation in mental health services (MHS) in Hong Kong through photovoice. It also examines the effects of this method in studying user participation. Method: In this qualitative inquiry, authors, two peer researchers and three participants were involved in the various stages of research design, data collection and data analysis. Participants took photos showing their perception and experiences of being involved in different MHS systems. They shared their narratives through these images and reflected on the participatory experience of photovoice. Results: User participation was experienced as a gradual process of assuming control that involved personal responsibility, connection with peers, collaboration with staff, redefinition of boundaries and social inclusion. Meaningful participation gave rise to a sense of contribution, interpersonal connection and self-worth and transformed one’s identity. Participants enjoyed the mutual interaction and derived benefit from the photovoice process. Issues such as consent and confidentiality arose in implementation. Conclusion: Participation entails partnership among service users, providers and peers. Photovoice opens up new space for unfolding expert knowledge. Further application of this participatory approach with the local community is suggested in order to develop person-centered care.

From the Psychoanalyst's Couch to Social Networks

2019 ◽  
pp. 391-404 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annamaria Silvana de Rosa ◽  
Emanuele Fino ◽  
Elena Bocci
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Computer Science ◽  
Expert Knowledge ◽  
Social Research ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Target Groups ◽  
Computer Science Research ◽  
One Year ◽  
Open The Doors

Given the important role that psychoanalysis has played in the field of intervention on mental health for many years and the controversial debate that as therapeutical practice has been always originated and recently reactivated, it is of particular interest to discusses the actuality of the SRT 50 years later in the era of social networks. It does so by exploring the dynamics of the interchange between scientific and lay knowledge regarding psychoanalysis, psychiatry, and mental health in light of a corpus of spontaneous conversations among Facebook, Twitter, and Yahoo! Answers users from France and Italy compiled over a one-year period. The study enlarges psycho-social research on social networks, currently under the hegemony of sociometrics and computer science research. Briefly, in this new communicative scenario, the results of the study show how different target groups use new practices, showing their positioning: users act as “infomediaries” of expert knowledge, providing informal help and suggestions online; experts open the doors of their “physical rooms” to “cyber rooms.”

Health professionals and peer support workers in mental health settings

2020 ◽  
pp. 143-160
Author(s):  
Aukje Leemeijer ◽  
Mirko Noordegraaf
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Expert Knowledge ◽  
Experiential Knowledge ◽  
Mental Health Settings ◽  
The Status

In many Western countries mental health care institutions employ ‘peer support workers’ in professional teams. They are clients or former clients in mental health care who are trained and educated to transform their personal experience as a client into ‘experiential knowledge’ helping other clients. This is supposed to improve ‘client centeredness’ in mental health care. However, the rise and roles of peer support workers are not undisputed; mental health professionals – psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses and therapists – have ambivalent responses. Peer support workers may challenge the status and dominance of traditional expert knowledge when they bring experiential knowledge into decision making processes. This challenge is strengthened by the development of peer support workers as a new group who may ultimately themselves professionalise. This chapter, focused on The Netherlands, explores from a neo-Weberian standpoint the relationship between mental health professionals and peer support workers. This is related to professional identities and positions, and also institutional surroundings, including how peer support workers and service organisations deal with risks and accountability. On the basis of empirical observational research, organisational conditions are shown to count more than occupational conditions. This underscores that the interweaving of new forms of knowledge in service processes must be organised.

Clinical effectiveness

2002 ◽  
Vol 181 (02) ◽  
pp. 170-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Higgitt ◽  
Peter Fonagy
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Expert Knowledge ◽  
Clinical Effectiveness ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Policy Initiatives ◽  
The Past

A number of themes have run through health policy initiatives of the two Labour Governments of the past 5 years: modernisation; stigma; inequalities and social exclusion; partnerships; involvement of users and carers. But perhaps the most important from the point of view of mental health professionals is the initiative to alter the culture within which health care is offered from one based on expert knowledge and authority to one founded on the principle of evidence-based practice.

scholarly journals A Mental Health Database Creation Method with Neuroscience-Inspired Search Functions

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Venera Raneva ◽  
Yasushi Kiyoki
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Vector Space ◽  
Expert Knowledge ◽  
Mental States ◽  
Phase Correlation ◽  
Multiple Factors ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Life Habits ◽  
Health Database

Mental health, an essential factor for maintaining a high quality of life, is determined by one’s nutritional, physical, and psychological situations. Since mental health is influenced by multiple factors, a multidisciplinary approach is effective. Due to the complexity of this mechanism, most non-specialists have little knowledge and access to the related information. There are multiple factors that influence one’s mental health, such as nutrition, physical activities, daily habits, and personal cognitive characteristics. Because of this complexity, it can be hard for non-specialists to find and implement appropriate methods for improving their mental health. This paper presents the 2-Phase Correlation Computing method for interpreting the characteristics of each emotion/mental state, nutrients, exercises, life habits with a vector space. The vector space reflects the roles of neurotransmitters. The 2-Phase Correlation Computing extracts the information expected to be most relevant to the user’s request. In this method, expert knowledge, characteristics of emotions, and mental states are defined in the “Requests” Matrix, and each stimulus into “Nutrients”, “Exercises”, and “Life Habits” Matrixes. “Nutrients”, “Exercises”, and “Life Habits” are expressed and computed to as “Stimuli”. In short, this method introduces logos to the chaotic world of decision making in mental health.

scholarly journals Combining Farmers’ Preferences With Evidence-Based Strategies to Prevent and Lower Farmers’ Distress: Co-design and Acceptability Testing of ifarmwell

10.2196/27631 ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. e27631
Author(s):  
Kate M Gunn ◽  
Gemma Skaczkowski ◽  
James Dollman ◽  
Andrew D Vincent ◽  
Camille E Short ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Research Evidence ◽  
Expert Knowledge ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Text Messages ◽  
Trial Registration ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Self Help

Background Farming is physically and psychologically hazardous. Farmers face many barriers to help seeking from traditional physical and mental health services; however, improved internet access now provides promising avenues for offering support. Objective This study aims to co-design with farmers the content and functionality of a website that helps them adopt transferable coping strategies and test its acceptability in the broader farming population. Methods Research evidence and expert opinions were synthesized to inform key design principles. A total of 18 farmers detailed what they would like from this type of website. Intervention logic and relevant evidence-based strategies were mapped. Website content was drafted and reviewed by 2 independent mental health professionals. A total of 9 farmers provided detailed qualitative feedback on the face validity of the draft content. Subsequently, 9 farmers provided feedback on the website prototype. Following amendments and internal prototype testing and optimization, prototype usability (ie, completion rate) was examined with 157 registered website users who were (105/157, 66.9%) female, aged 21-73 years; 95.5% (149/156) residing in inner regional to very remote Australia, and 68.2% (107/157) “sheep, cattle and/or grain farmers.” Acceptability was examined with a subset of 114 users who rated at least module 1. Interviews with 108 farmers who did not complete all 5 modules helped determine why, and detailed interviews were conducted with 18 purposively sampled users. Updates were then made according to adaptive trial design methodology. Results This systematic co-design process resulted in a web-based resource based on acceptance and commitment therapy and designed to overcome barriers to engagement with traditional mental health and well-being strategies—ifarmwell. It was considered an accessible and confidential source of practical and relevant farmer-focused self-help strategies. These strategies were delivered via 5 interactive modules that include written, drawn, and audio- and video-based psychoeducation and exercises, as well as farming-related jokes, metaphors, examples, and imagery. Module 1 included distress screening and information on how to speak to general practitioners about mental health–related concerns (including a personalized conversation script). Modules were completed fortnightly. SMS text messages offered personalized support and reminders. Qualitative interviews and star ratings demonstrated high module acceptability (average 4.06/5 rating) and suggested that additional reminders, higher quality audio recordings, and shorter modules would be useful. Approximately 37.1% (52/140) of users who started module 1 completed all modules, with too busy or not got to it yet being the main reason for non-completion, and previous module acceptability not predicting subsequent module completion. Conclusions Sequential integration of research evidence, expert knowledge, and farmers’ preferences in the co-design process allowed for the development of a self-help intervention that focused on important intervention targets and was acceptable to this difficult-to-engage group. Trial Registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12617000506392; https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=372526

scholarly journals Modelling the balance of care: Impact of an evidence-informed policy on a mental health ecosystem

PLoS ONE ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. e0261621
Author(s):  
Nerea Almeda ◽  
Carlos R. Garcia-Alonso ◽  
Mencia R. Gutierrez-Colosia ◽  
Jose A. Salinas-Perez ◽  
Alvaro Iruin-Sanz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Decision Support ◽  
Bayesian Network ◽  
Outpatient Care ◽  
Fuzzy Inference ◽  
Expert Knowledge ◽  
Generalized Least Squares ◽  
Causal Relationships ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
Inpatient And Outpatient Care

Major efforts worldwide have been made to provide balanced Mental Health (MH) care. Any integrated MH ecosystem includes hospital and community-based care, highlighting the role of outpatient care in reducing relapses and readmissions. This study aimed (i) to identify potential expert-based causal relationships between inpatient and outpatient care variables, (ii) to assess them by using statistical procedures, and finally (iii) to assess the potential impact of a specific policy enhancing the MH care balance on real ecosystem performance. Causal relationships (Bayesian network) between inpatient and outpatient care variables were defined by expert knowledge and confirmed by using multivariate linear regression (generalized least squares). Based on the Bayesian network and regression results, a decision support system that combines data envelopment analysis, Monte Carlo simulation and fuzzy inference was used to assess the potential impact of the designed policy. As expected, there were strong statistical relationships between outpatient and inpatient care variables, which preliminarily confirmed their potential and a priori causal nature. The global impact of the proposed policy on the ecosystem was positive in terms of efficiency assessment, stability and entropy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that formalized expert-based causal relationships between inpatient and outpatient care variables. These relationships, structured by a Bayesian network, can be used for designing evidence-informed policies trying to balance MH care provision. By integrating causal models and statistical analysis, decision support systems are useful tools to support evidence-informed planning and decision making, as they allow us to predict the potential impact of specific policies on the ecosystem prior to its real application, reducing the risk and considering the population’s needs and scientific findings.

scholarly journals Shared Decision-Making—Balancing Between Power and Responsibility as Mental Health-Care Professionals in a Therapeutic Milieu

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 237796081775215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lise S. Beyene ◽  
Elisabeth Severinsson ◽  
Britt S. Hansen ◽  
Kristine Rørtveit
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Shared Decision Making ◽  
Clinical Supervision ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Expert Knowledge ◽  
Shared Decision ◽  
Therapeutic Milieu

Background Shared decision-making (SDM) is supposed to position patient and expert knowledge more equal, in which will have an impact on how mental health-care professionals relate to their patients. As SDM has not yet been widely adopted in therapeutic milieus, a deeper understanding of its use and more knowledge of interventions to foster its implementation in clinical practice are required. Aim To explore how mental health-care professionals describe SDM in a therapeutic milieu as expressed through clinical supervision. The research question was “What are prerequisites for mental health-care professionals to practice SDM in a therapeutic milieu?” Methods A qualitative content analysis of data from focus groups dialogues in 10 clinical supervision sessions where eight mental health-care professionals participated was performed. Findings The theme, practicing SDM when balancing between power and responsibility to form safe care, was based on three categories: internalizing the mental health-care professionals’ attributes, facilitating patient participation, and creating a culture of trust. Conclusion SDM is a complex and arduous process requiring appropriate interventions. Clinical supervision is necessary for reflection on SDM and for improving practice in a therapeutic milieu.

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