scholarly journals Indigenous Mental Health: Imagining a Future Where Action Follows Obligations and Promises

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Constance MacIntosh
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
First Nations ◽  
Indigenous Peoples ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Current State ◽  
The Status ◽  
State Obligations ◽  
Indigenous Mental Health ◽  
Inuit Peoples ◽  
Mental Well Being

This article considers what it would mean if Canada fulfilled select existing commitments and obligations concerning the mental health needs of Indigenous peoples, as identified through current programs and recent jurisprudence: that is, where would we be if Canada carried through on existing commitments? After identifying the role of law in perpetuating poor mental well-being, it assesses programs for First Nations and Inuit peoples and determines they are unlikely to be effective without operational changes and responsive funding. The article then turns to the situation of Metis and non-status First Nations and the implications of Daniels v. Canada for changing the status quo – both by requiring appropriate mental health supports, and by dismantling the racist legal logic that has long undermined the mental well-being of non-status First Nations and Metis persons, by positioning them as not counting as true Indigenous peoples. The article concludes that merely fulfilling current state obligations could bring considerable short-term gains, and some long-term gains, for the mental well-being of Indigenous peoples in Canada.

scholarly journals Study of correlation between social determinants on mental health status of adolescent school students of Patna, Bihar, India

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (7) ◽  
pp. 1561
Author(s):  
Anil Kumar Tiwari ◽  
Anil Kumar Jaiswal
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Determinants ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
School Students ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Status ◽  
Teachers And Parents ◽  
Mental Well Being

Background: The status of mental well-being is a function of emotional well-being, psychological well-being and social well-being, and includes aspects like cognitive and social skills, emotional capacity, empathy, ability to cope with adverse events, and capability to function within a society. Various studies have found strong correlations between a person’s immediate surroundings to how they perceive their well-being as well as their actual status of mental health. On one hand, social determinants affect the causation, severity and outcome of mental well-being, on the other hand the state of mental well-being affects the social determinants by affecting personal freedom, ability to make healthy life choices etc. This makes the study of social determinants of mental health very significant.Methods: A cross-sectional, exploratory study of qualitative nature was undertaken in Patna among School going students between the ages 13-17. A self-administered peer reviewed questionnaire was used for data collection.Results: Of 400 participants 19% have features of depression and other mental health problems. Females were more affected. Students of low socioeconomic group (41.6%) and of single parent family (40%) were affected.Conclusions: Mental health problems are very common in adolescent school students. Active steps must be taken to increase awareness about depression among teachers and parents. Early intervention can help prevent worsening of depression and its impact on life.

Beyond Care: Validating a First Nations Mental Wellness Framework

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Grace Kyoon-Achan ◽  
Naser Ibrahim ◽  
Rachel Eni ◽  
Wanda Phillips-Beck ◽  
Josée Lavoie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
First Nations ◽  
Indigenous Peoples ◽  
Health Knowledge ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Simple Random Sample ◽  
Self Awareness ◽  
Traditional Health ◽  
Community Perspectives ◽  
Mental Wellness ◽  
Mental Well Being

Worldwide, Indigenous peoples focus on being well rather than merely managing diseases and illnesses. We have elaborated on a mental wellness framework earlier developed with Manitoba First Nations (FN). This article further explores wider community perspectives in relation to the themes previously shared by FN Elders. Surveys were administered to a simple random sample of participants by household in 8 participating FN communities. We determined what resonates from the wellness framework in order to expand understanding of mental wellness in FN communities. Appropriate application of traditional health knowledge and practices may result in increased self-awareness and contribute to mental well-being in FN people.

The rationale for developing a programme of services by and for Indigenous men in a First Nations community

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 158-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie George ◽  
Melody Morton Ninomiya ◽  
Kathryn Graham ◽  
Sharon Bernards ◽  
Samantha Wells
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Substance Use ◽  
First Nations ◽  
Mixed Methods Research ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Significant Public Health ◽  
Mental Wellness ◽  
Mental Well Being ◽  
Nations Community

While mental well-being is recognized as a significant public health priority in numerous Indigenous communities, little work has focused on the mental health needs of Indigenous men. In this article, we describe results from the mixed-methods research used to inform the development of mental wellness programming for boys and men. Quantitative and qualitative data from two studies conducted in Kettle & Stony Point First Nation, an Indigenous community in southern Ontario, Canada, were used to (a) understand factors that contributed to issues of mental health, substance use and violence for men, (b) understand men’s experiences accessing and seeking supports and services, and (c) identify ways to address mental health, substance use and violence among boys and men in the community. We show how results from two studies ignited a group of men to develop a culturally strong and strengths-based programme of services as well as a wellness strategy for boys and men in the community.

scholarly journals Miýo-pimātisiwin Developing Indigenous Cultural Responsiveness Theory (ICRT): Improving Indigenous Health and Well-Being

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
JoLee Sasakamoose ◽  
Terrina Bellegarde ◽  
Wilson Sutherland ◽  
Shauneen Pete ◽  
Kim McKay-McNabb
Keyword(s):  
First Nations ◽  
Indigenous Peoples ◽  
Indigenous Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Cultural Responsiveness ◽  
Truth And Reconciliation Commission ◽  
Collaborative Relationships ◽  
Effect Change ◽  
Truth And Reconciliation ◽  
The Status

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada calls upon those who can effect change within Canadian systems to recognize the value of Indigenous healing practices and to collaborate with Indigenous healers, Elders, and knowledge keepers where requested by Indigenous Peoples. This article presents the Indigenous Cultural Responsiveness Theory (ICRT) as a decolonized pathway designed to guide research that continuously improves the health, education, governance, and policies of Indigenous Peoples in Saskatchewan. Decolonizing practices include privileging and engaging in Indigenous philosophies, beliefs, practices, and values that counter colonialism and restore well-being. The ICRT supports the development of collaborative relationships between Indigenous Peoples and non-Indigenous allies who seek to improve the status of First Nations health and wellness.

scholarly journals Furloughs, Teleworking and Other Work Situations during the COVID-19 Lockdown: Impact on Mental Well-Being

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 2898
Author(s):  
Israel Escudero-Castillo ◽  
Fco. Javier Mato-Díaz ◽  
Ana Rodriguez-Alvarez
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Self ◽  
Exogenous Shock ◽  
Work Location ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Market Status ◽  
Mental Well Being ◽  
Labour Market Status

As a consequence of the Spring 2020 lockdown that occurred in Spain due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many people lost their jobs or had to be furloughed. The objective of this study is to analyse the influence of the latter changes in labour market status on psychological well-being. For this purpose, an ad-hoc questionnaire featuring socio-demographic and mental health criteria was created. Granted that the pandemic can be viewed as an exogenous shock, the bias caused by the bidirectional problems between the work situation and mental well-being can be tackled. Results indicate that the lockdown exerted a greater negative effect on the self-perceived well-being of unemployed and furloughed persons than on those in employment. Moreover, among those in continuous employment, teleworkers experienced a lesser degree of self-perceived well-being post lockdown as compared to those people remaining in the same work location throughout the COVID-19 crisis. Finally, the lockdown provoked worse effects on the self-perceived well-being of women as compared to men, a result that appears to be related to gender differences in household production. In conclusion, these results could be especially relevant given that the evolution of the pandemic is having ongoing effects on employment and, therefore, on the mental health of workers.

scholarly journals COVID-19 is having a destructive impact on health-care workers’ mental well-being

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kris Vanhaecht ◽  
Deborah Seys ◽  
Luk Bruyneel ◽  
Bianca Cox ◽  
Gorik Kaesemans ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Residential Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Health Symptoms ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Sources Of Support ◽  
Mental Well Being

Abstract Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may aggravate workplace conditions that impact health-care workers’ mental health. However, it can also place other stresses on workers outside of their work. This study determines the effect of COVID-19 on symptoms of negative and positive mental health and the workforce’s experience with various sources of support. Effect modification by demographic variables was also studied. Methods A cross-sectional survey study, conducted between 2 April and 4 May 2020 (two waves), led to a convenience sample of 4509 health-care workers in Flanders (Belgium), including paramedics (40.6%), nurses (33.4%), doctors (13.4%) and management staff (12.2%). About three in four were employed in university and acute hospitals (29.6%), primary care practices (25.7%), residential care centers (21.3%) or care sites for disabled and mental health care. In each of the two waves, participants were asked how frequently (on a scale of 0–10) they experienced positive and negative mental health symptoms during normal circumstances and during last week, referred to as before and during COVID-19, respectively. These symptoms were stress, hypervigilance, fatigue, difficulty sleeping, unable to relax, fear, irregular lifestyle, flashback, difficulty concentrating, feeling unhappy and dejected, failing to recognize their own emotional response, doubting knowledge and skills and feeling uncomfortable within the team. Associations between COVID-19 and mental health symptoms were estimated by cumulative logit models and reported as odds ratios. The needed support was our secondary outcome and was reported as the degree to which health-care workers relied on sources of support and how they experienced them. Results All symptoms were significantly more pronounced during versus before COVID-19. For hypervigilance, there was a 12-fold odds (odds ratio 12.24, 95% confidence interval 11.11–13.49) during versus before COVID-19. Positive professional symptoms such as the feeling that one can make a difference were less frequently experienced. The association between COVID-19 and mental health was generally strongest for the age group 30–49 years, females, nurses and residential care centers. Health-care workers reported to rely on support from relatives and peers. A considerable proportion, respectively, 18 and 27%, reported the need for professional guidance from psychologists and more support from their leadership. Conclusions The toll of the crisis has been heavy on health-care workers. Those who carry leadership positions at an organizational or system level should take this opportunity to develop targeted strategies to mitigate key stressors of health-care workers’ mental well-being.

Efficacy of ‘Foundations’, a Digital Mental Health App to Improve Mental Well-Being, during COVID-19: A Proof-of-Principle Randomised Controlled Trial (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvina Catuara-Solarz ◽  
Bartlomiej Skorulski ◽  
Inaki Estella ◽  
Claudia Avella-Garcia ◽  
Sarah Shepherd ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Report ◽  
World Health ◽  
Randomised Control Trial ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Mental Well Being ◽  
Proof Of Principle

BACKGROUND Against a long-term trend of increasing demand, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a global rise in common mental disorders. Now more than ever, there is an urgent need for scalable, evidence-based interventions to support mental well-being. OBJECTIVE The aim of this proof-of-principle study was to evaluate the efficacy of a mobile-based app in adults with self-reported symptoms of anxiety and stress in a randomised control trial that took place during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK. METHODS Adults with mild to severe anxiety and moderate to high levels of perceived stress were randomised to either the intervention or control arm. Participants in the intervention arm were given access to the app, Foundations, for the duration of the 4-week study. All participants were required to self-report a range of validated measures of mental well-being (10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience scale [CD-RISC-10]; 7-item Generalised Anxiety Disorder scale [GAD-7]; Office of National Statistics Four Subjective Well-being Questions [ONS-4]; World Health Organisation-5 Well-Being Index [WHO-5]) and sleep (Minimal Insomnia Scale [MISS]) at baseline and weeks 2 and 4; and, in addition, on perceived stress weekly (10-item Perceived Stress Score [PSS]). RESULTS 136 participants completed the study and were included in the final analysis. The intervention group (n=62) showed significant improvements compared to the control group (n=74) on measures of anxiety (GAD-7 score, delta from baseline to week 2 in the intervention group: -1.35 [SD 4.43]; control group: -0.23 [SD 3.24]; t134= 1.71 , P=.04), resilience (CD-RISC score, delta from baseline to week 2 in the intervention group: 1.79 [± SD 4.08]; control group: -0.31 [± SD 3.16]; t134 -3.37, P<.001), sleep (MISS score, delta from baseline to week 2 in the intervention group: -1.16 [± SD 2.67]; control group: -0.26 [± SD 2.29]; t134= 2.13, P=.01), and mental well-being (WHO-5 score, delta from baseline to week 2 in the intervention group: 1.53 [5.30]; control group: -0.23 [± SD 4.20]; t134= -2.16, P=.02) within 2 weeks of using Foundations, with further improvements emerging at week 4. Perceived stress was also reduced within the intervention group, although the results did not reach statistical significance relative to the control group (PSS score, delta from baseline to week 2 in the intervention group: -2.94 [± SD 6.84]; control group: -2.05 [± SD 5.34]; t134= 0.84, P=.20). CONCLUSIONS This study provides proof-of-principle that the digital mental health app, Foundations, can improve measures of mental well-being, anxiety, resilience, and sleep within 2 weeks of use, with greater effects after 4 weeks. It therefore offers potential as a scalable, cost-effective, and accessible solution to enhance mental well-being, even during times of crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

scholarly journals Identifying key targets for interventions to improve psychological wellbeing: replicable results from four UK cohorts

2018 ◽  
Vol 49 (14) ◽  
pp. 2389-2396 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Stochl ◽  
E. Soneson ◽  
A.P. Wagner ◽  
G.M. Khandaker ◽  
I. Goodyer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Public Mental Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Psychological Wellbeing ◽  
Self Perception ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
Self Confidence ◽  
Mental Health Interventions ◽  
Mental Well Being ◽  
Signal Improvement

AbstractBackgroundAn increasing importance is being placed on mental health and wellbeing at individual and population levels. While there are several interventions that have been proposed to improve wellbeing, more evidence is needed to understand which aspects of wellbeing are most influential. This study aimed to identify key items that signal improvement of mental health and wellbeing.MethodsUsing network analysis, we identified the most central items in the graph network estimated from the well-established Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS). Results were compared across four major UK cohorts comprising a total of 47,578 individuals: the Neuroscience in Psychiatry Network, the Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey, the Northern Ireland Health Survey, and the National Child Development Study.ResultsRegardless of gender, the three items most central in the network were related to positive self-perception and mood: ‘I have been feeling good about myself’; ‘I have been feeling confident’; and ‘I have been feeling cheerful’. Results were consistent across all four cohorts.ConclusionsPositive self-perception and positive mood are central to psychological wellbeing. Psychotherapeutic and public mental health interventions might best promote psychological wellbeing by prioritising the improvement of self-esteem, self-confidence and cheerfulness. However, empirical testing of interventions using these key targets is needed.

scholarly journals Microdosing Psychedelics: Personality, mental health, and creativity differences in microdosers

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Anderson ◽  
Rotem Petranker ◽  
Daniel Rosenbaum ◽  
Cory Weissman ◽  
Le-Anh Dinh-Williams ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Dysfunctional Attitudes ◽  
Online Forums ◽  
New Paradigm ◽  
Full Dose ◽  
Regular Consumption ◽  
Exciting Potential ◽  
Clinical Benefits ◽  
Mental Well Being

Microdosing psychedelics - the regular consumption of small amounts of psychedelic substances such as LSD or psilocybin - is a growing trend in popular culture. Recent studies on full-dose psychedelic psychotherapy reveal promising benefits for mental well-being, especially for depression and end-of-life anxiety. While full-dose therapies include perception-distorting properties, microdosing may provide complementary clinical benefits using lower-risk, non-hallucinogenic doses. No experimental study has evaluated psychedelic microdosing, however; this pre-registered study is the first to investigate microdosing psychedelics and mental health. Recruited from online forums, current and former microdosers scored lower on measures of dysfunctional attitudes and negative emotionality and higher on wisdom, open-mindedness, and creativity when compared to non-microdosing controls. These findings provide promising initial evidence that warrants controlled experimental research to directly test safety and clinical efficacy. As microdoses are easier to administer than full-doses, this new paradigm has the exciting potential to shape future psychedelic research.

scholarly journals Self-Reported Well-Being Indicators and Case Identification of Common Mental Health Disorders in Routinely Collected Health Data

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Thompson ◽  
Ann John ◽  
Richard Fry ◽  
Alan Watkins
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Satisfaction With Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mental Health Disorders ◽  
Resource Utilisation ◽  
Individual Response ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Case Identification ◽  
Health Disorders ◽  
Mental Well Being

IntroductionCommon mental health disorders (CMD) are significant contributors to impaired health and well-being, and drive greater health resource utilisation. Electronic health records (EHR) are increasingly used for case identification of CMD when ascertaining social determinants of mental health. We seek to compare self-reported well-being indicators in groups identified using EHR-based CMD methods. Objectives and ApproachThe National Survey for Wales (NSW) contains self-reported well-being indicators (Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale, WEMWBS) recorded annually on ~7,000 individuals. We combined data from two NSWs and linked well-being indicators with Welsh Longitudinal General Practice (WLGP) data within the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage (SAIL) Databank, using individual response dates. We then used WGLP data to algorithmically derive identifiers of CMD cases within survey respondents. This individual-level linkage enables a comparison of NSW responses in CMD and non-CMD cases, and to assess sensitivity and specificity of the current CMD algorithm. ResultsSurvey participants comprised 18,450 adults aged 16+ and living in Wales during 16/17 or 18/19. WEMWBS responses indicate 2,338 (12.6%) participants could be considered possibly depressed, and 2,268 (12.3%) probably depressed with low mental well-being (LMW). For participants with LMW, a 42/58 percentage split is observed between male/female respondents, compared to a 45/55 respective split of those not identified with LMW. Participants with LMW recorded low measures for overall satisfaction with life, 998 (44%) reported a value of 5 or less (/10) compared to 1123 (7%) participants not identified with LMW. Similarly, 828 (37%) participants identified with LMW reported 5 or less (/10) on the life worthwhile index, compared to 800 (5%) of non-LMW participants. Conclusion / ImplicationsLinkage to the NSW provides a rich data source to compare objective well-being to algorithmically derived CMD cases from routinely collected primary care data. The individual-level linkage involved will allow for the wider determinants of mental health disorders to be examined.

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