scholarly journals Increasing interest in rural mental health work: the impact of a short term program to orientate allied health and nursing students to employment and career opportunities in a rural setting

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keith Sutton ◽  
Kent Patrick ◽  
Darryl Maybery ◽  
Kaytlyn Eaton
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Nursing Students ◽  
Allied Health ◽  
Rural Mental Health ◽  
Rural Setting ◽  
Health Work ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Career Opportunities ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Mental Health Work

Bringing them home: a Gippsland mental health workforce recruitment strategy

2012 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keith Sutton ◽  
Darryl Maybery ◽  
Terry Moore
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Nursing Students ◽  
Health Workforce ◽  
Allied Health ◽  
Career Decisions ◽  
Rural Mental Health ◽  
Health Work ◽  
Mental Health Workforce ◽  
Workforce Shortages ◽  
Mental Health Work

This paper reports on preliminary findings of a novel program piloted in 2010 to address rural mental health workforce shortages. The program involved exposing allied health and nursing students from rural backgrounds studying in Melbourne to mental health service employment opportunities in Gippsland. A longitudinal study is underway to evaluate the effect and outcomes of the program and includes surveying participants’ interest in rural mental health work through an online questionnaire immediately prior to and following the program; and surveying career decisions at 6 months and yearly intervals. Paired sample t-tests were used to analyse participants’ level of interest in rural work (pre-event 4.67 (1.50); post-event 5.93 (0.96); P = 0.001), career in a rural setting (pre-event 4.67 (1.63); post-event 5.67 (1.23); P = 0.006), mental health work (pre-event 4.73 (1.39); post-event 6.07 (0.80); P < 0.000) and rural mental health career (pre-event 4.73 (1.33); post-event 5.80 (1.21); P = 0.002). These findings indicate a significant increase from pre- to post-event and are supported by strong effect sizes suggesting that the program had a significant effect on participant interest in rural mental health work. Longer-term evaluation will determine whether the program influences participant career decisions and thereby addressing mental health workforce shortages in Gippsland. What is known about the topic? Despite the ongoing challenges that regional and rural mental health services face recruiting and retaining mental health professionals, there is a lack of evidence available to inform rural mental health workforce recruitment strategies. What does this paper add? This paper describes a novel recruitment initiative and preliminary data from a longitudinal evaluation program. The initiative targets allied health and nursing students with rural backgrounds who are studying at a large urban centre (Melbourne). What are the implications for practitioners? This study provides a potentially successful recruiting tool for mental health sector policy-makers and managers which will be evaluated over the long-term.

Avoiding Psychiatric Disability Overdiagnosis, Part 1: General Disability and Occupational Disability—Going Beyond Medical Impairment Assessments

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 3-7
Author(s):  
Fabien Gagnon ◽  
Les Kertay
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Work Disability ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Psychiatric Disability ◽  
Disability Assessment ◽  
Health Work ◽  
Occupational Disability ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Mental Health Work

Abstract Claims of occupational psychiatric disability have increased considerably over the past 20 years. To avoid psychiatric disability overdiagnosis, it is important to improve the clinical assessment of mental health work disability. This article discusses general disability issues and their impact on individual well-being, social participation, and frequently associated poverty. It defines the difference between impairment assessment and disability assessment, explores three common disability models, and raises issues about psychiatric disability and its potential overdiagnosis.

Avoiding Psychiatric Disability Overdiagnosis (Part 2): Improving Diagnosis and Assessment of Mental Health Disorders and Psychiatric Work Disability

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 15-18
Author(s):  
Fabien Gagnon ◽  
Les Kertay
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Work Disability ◽  
Mental Health Disorders ◽  
Psychiatric Disability ◽  
Positive Outcomes ◽  
Health Work ◽  
Occupational Disability ◽  
The Past ◽  
Health Disorders ◽  
Mental Health Work

Abstract Given the increase in psychiatric occupational disability claims over the past 20 years, better patient psychiatric assessment and management is critical. To minimize iatrogenic psychiatric disability and maximize positive outcomes, it is important to understand the issues involved and establish better procedures for diagnosing conditions and assessing any associated impact on function. This second article in a three-part series focuses on ways to improve the diagnosis and assessment of mental health work disability.

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