scholarly journals Mental Health Services in the 21st Century: The Economics and Practice Challenges on the Road to Recovery

10.18060/94 ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 193-201 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Patrick Sullivan

Since the program was initiated in 1963, little has been stable in Community Mental Health. Not only has this important quasi-public utility fought for survival, but the primary models and philosophies that shape the mission and delivery of services have undergone cycles of reform. There is much to be optimistic about in the mental health treatment arena, particularly in services focused on those with most challenging and debilitating conditions. However, all is not well. As states began to deemphasize institutional care and incrementally build a community infrastructure to care for those most in need, savvy administrators relied less on internal fiscal resources, and more on programs such as Medicaid to accomplish their agendas. Faced with budgetary cries in general, and in the Medicaid program specifically, many states are increasingly forced to consider processes to restrict eligibility, place limits on benefit packages, and cut rates to service providers. Indeed the worlds of economics, policy, and practice are on a collision course. This article explores some of the challenges of providing mental health care in the 21st century, and the continuing quest to address fiscal realities while offering high quality services.

Author(s):  
Joseph Sekyi-Ansah ◽  
James Kwasi Quaisie ◽  
Isaac Eduyah ◽  
Mohammed Okoe Alhassan ◽  
Eric Quansah ◽  
...  

Air conditioning has become a key component in the automobile industry now, and almost every vehicle manufactured in the 21st century has air conditioning integrated. Most drivers drive with their air conditioning on while some of their windows are not fully closed; this affects the operation of the air conditioning. In addition, if the driver wants to turn on the air conditioning while driving, he or she has to move up the power windows manually after or before he or she turns on the air conditioning, which may affect his or her concentration on the road. The concept of this power window circuit system is to automatically close the windows after a few seconds when the air conditioner is turned on.


2008 ◽  
pp. 1295-1302
Author(s):  
Stacey L. Connaughton

At the dawn of the 21st century, more and more organizations in various industries have adopted geographically dispersed work groups and are utilizing advanced technologies to communicate with them (Benson-Armer & Hsieh, 1997; Hymowitz, 1999; Townsend, DeMarie & Hendrickson, 1998; Van Aken, Hop & Post, 1998). This geographical dispersion varies in form. For example, some organizations have adopted “telecommuting,” in which members may work at home, on the road and/or at the office (Hymowitz, 1999). Other organizations have created teams that are globally dispersed. A leader located in Palo Alto, California, for example, may be responsible for coordinating employees in Belgium, China and Mexico.


Author(s):  
Niki Wilson

Climate change. Lack of food security. Limited access to basic healthcare. These are just some of the big, complex problems facing humanity. Solutions will require out-of-the-box innovation, which is why many governments, institutions, and entrepreneurs around the globe are beginning to embrace the concept of convergence research. The US-based National Science Foundation describes convergence as “a deeper, more intentional approach to accelerating discovery.” Following interdisciplinarity and multidisciplinarity, it is the next stop on a continuum used to describe approaches whereby scientists and experts learn from each other and collaborate across disciplines. It aims to integrate the natural, computational, social, economic, and health sciences in a humanities context, thereby transcending the traditional boundaries of those fields and creating unique opportunities for problem-solving. The concept of convergence research is taking hold, but how effectively is it being implemented? This chapter explores examples from research networks, research institutes, and the private sector to better understand how convergence research is addressing some of society’s most pressing issues. From disruptions in indigenous food systems to emerging issues in mental health, the author explores the benefits and challenges that arise from a convergence research approach.


2019 ◽  
Vol 65 (6) ◽  
pp. 527-538
Author(s):  
Eric Badu ◽  
Rebecca Mitchell ◽  
Anthony Paul O’Brien

Background: The clinical pathways for treating mental illness have received global attention. Several empirical studies have been undertaken on treatment pathways in Ghana. No study, however, has systematically reviewed the literature related to the pathways of mental health treatment in Ghana. Aim: This article aims to identify the pathways used to treat mental illnesses; examine the evidence about the possibility of collaboration between biomedical, faith and traditional healing pathways; and draw attention to the barriers hindering such collaboration. Methods: A search of the published literature was conducted using Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL (EBSCO), Web of Science and Scopus databases. The search was limited to the articles that were published in English and released between 2000 and June 2018. The review synthesises both qualitative and quantitative data. Results: The findings showed that mental illnesses in Ghana are treated using a mixture of biomedical and faith-based and traditional healing services. Faith and traditional healing pathways are typically used as a preliminary source of cultural assessment before seeking biomedical treatment. There is an increasing desire for collaboration between biomedical, faith and traditional healing pathways. However, several individual factors (attitude or stigma, the perceived efficacy of treatment and differences in the treatment process) and health system factors (a lack of policy and regulation, a limited number of biomedical service providers, limited financial support and geographical isolation of services) jointly contribute to barriers precluding establishing such collaboration. Conclusion: This review recommends that policies, regulations, educational support and financial incentives should be developed to facilitate collaboration between biomedical, faith and traditional healing service provision.


2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 177-185
Author(s):  
Susan J Rose ◽  
Thomas P LeBel

Abstract Research about pregnant women in jail is scant. This exploratory study begins to fill this gap by examining the demographics; background characteristics; and self-reported physical health, mental health, and substance use challenges reported by 27 pregnant women incarcerated in a large midwestern county jail. It further reports on the prenatal care before and during their incarceration, plans of these pregnant women for delivery of their child, caring for their infant after their release from jail, and their expectations of paternal or family support post-release. Among the sample, 66.7 percent reported a physical health care problem, 48.2 percent had received mental health treatment, and 18.5 percent had substance use treatment in the previous year, but only 51.9 percent had seen a health care professional before their incarceration. All women expected the father of their child to provide financial support, but only 76.9 percent expected the father to be involved with the child. The authors also discuss implications of the findings for jail health care services and reintegration policy and practice for pregnant women.


2012 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Harper ◽  
Ewen Speed

Discourses of recovery and resilience have risen to positions of dominance in the mental health field. Models of recovery and resilience enjoy purchase, in both policy and practice, across a range of settings from self-described psychiatric survivors through to mental health charities through to statutory mental health service providers. Despite this ubiquity, there is confusion about what recovery means. In this article we problematize notions of recovery and resilience, and consider what, if anything, should be recovered from these concepts. We focus on three key issues, i) individualization, ii) the persistence of a deficit model, and iii) collective approaches to recovery. Through documentary analysis we consider these issues across third sector organizations, and public and mental health policy. Firstly, definitional debates about recovery reflect wider ideological debates about the nature of mental health. The vagueness of these concepts and implicit assumptions inherent in dominant recovery and resilience discourses render them problematic because they individualize what are social problems. Secondly, these discourses, despite being seen as inherently liberatory are conceptually dependent on a notion of deficit in that talk of “positives” and “strengths” requires the existence of “negatives” and “weaknesses” for these concepts to make sense.  We argue that this does little to substantially transform dominant understandings of psychological distress. Thirdly, these issues combine to impact upon the progressive potential of recovery. It comes to be seen as an individualistic experiential narrative accompaniment to medical understandings where the structural causes of distress are obscured. This in turn impacts upon the potential for recovery to be used to explore more collective, political aspects of emotional distress. Drawing on the work of Fraser, we use this critique to characterize “recovery” as a “struggle for recognition,” founded on a model of identity politics which displaces and marginalizes the need for social, political and economic redistribution to address many of the underlying causes of emotional distress. We conclude by stating that it is only when the collective, structural experiences of inequality and injustice are explicitly linked to processes of emotional distress that recovery will be possible. 


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
G Franx

Abstract Background In the Netherlands, 1829 persons (11.6/100.000) ended their life by suicide in 2018. Two out of three suicides concern men, most of them in the age group of 50-55. Suicide amongst youth is rising, especially amongst youngsters between 10-25. Around 40 persons a day, predominantly young and female, are treated in Dutch hospitals after having attempted suicide. Only 40% of those who die by suicide have been in touch with healthcare professionals. These figures made the Dutch government to put in place a national strategy for suicide prevention. Methods This strategy follows the WHO's guidance and covers a range of measures in public health as well as in the health care sector. Its implementation is coordinated by “113 Suicide prevention”, the national centre of expertise on suicide prevention in the Netherlands. Results A broad package of measures is being implemented simultaneously, targeting the entire population as well as specific vulnerable groups, such as youngsters, persons with LGBT related issues and persons with mental health needs. We initiated several collective preventive measures, such as media guidelines for safe reporting, a public awareness campaign against stigma, reduction of access to deadly means or places; selective prevention initiatives, e.g. training over 3400 of gatekeepers to detect and address suicidal thoughts with desperate persons; and indicated suicide prevention strategies including screening, treatment and follow up of patients with suicidal behaviour in general practice or mental health hospitals. In this presentation the different components of the Dutch strategy for suicide prevention will be described more in detail, and experiences and first results of the different components will be addressed. Conclusions The relevance of the Dutch national strategy is related to the broad package of measures implemented simultaneously in many domains of society, but closely monitoring and evaluating the effect stays challenging.


Author(s):  
Henry A. Dlugacz

The transition from short-term incarceration in jail or longer-term prison sentences back to the community presents substantial challenges for those with mental illness. Approximately 97 percent of all inmates return to the community. This simple reality makes it in society’s enlightened self-interest to be concerned with the readiness of these former inmates to live a productive life. The criminal justice and correctional treatment systems affect an inmate’s behavior and opportunities upon release. Successful reentry planning considers multiple interrelated issues (entitlements, housing, treatment needs, and so forth) when building an individualized plan to address them. It begins at admission (or even sentencing) and continues after release. Rather than considering incarceration to be an isolated event, reentry planning views incarceration as part of a cycle to be disrupted through targeted intervention. Correctional mental health treatment is seen as part of a continuum of care extending to the community. Reentry planning for people with serious mental illness should be a primary focus of correctional mental health care integrated into the treatment function, not an afterthought to be considered only as release is imminent. While acceptance of personal responsibility is a critical antecedent to leading a lawful life, and self-determination a fundamental principle of recovery, it is unrealistic for service providers to rely on the individual to coordinate fragmented public systems. This is the job of those funded to provide services. This chapter presents the current understanding of transition support needs and practices to optimize successful community reentry.


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