scholarly journals Promoting cross-sector collaboration and input into care planning via an integrated problem gambling and mental health service

2019 ◽  
Vol 42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura E McCartney ◽  
Vicky Northe ◽  
Susannah Gordon ◽  
Evan Symons ◽  
Robert Shields ◽  
...  

While problem gambling and mental illnesses are highly comorbid, there are few examples of integrated problem gambling and mental illness services. This has meant that it is unclear whether such services are needed, why they may be utilised, and how they operate to support clients impacted by the comorbidity and clinicians providing them care. This study reported on data collected via telephone questionnaire-assisted interviews of 20 clients and 19 referrers who had accessed one such Australian integrated problem gambling and mental illness program between July 2014 and June 2016. Data revealed that clients often were referred in the context of psychiatric or psychosocial crisis, or when clinicians encountered clients who were not making progress and wanted a second opinion about diagnosis and treatment. Improved management of illness symptoms or gambling behaviour were commonly reported benefits and a number of clients reported gaining a feeling of reassurance and hope following assessment due to gaining a deeper understanding of their issues and available treatment options. Access to dual specialist problem gambling and mental illness expertise may therefore enhance treatment planning, management during crises and cross-sector collaboration to enhance access to and the impact of care for people experiencing comorbidity.ResumeBien que le jeu problématique et les maladies mentales aient un taux élevé de comorbidité, il existe peu d’exemples de services intégrés pour le jeu et la maladie mentale. En d’autres termes, il n’est pas clair si de tels services sont nécessaires, à quelles fins ils peuvent être utilisés et la manière dont ils fonctionnent pour aider les clients touchés par cette comorbidité et les cliniciens qui leur fournissent des soins. La présente étude a rendu compte des données recueillies lors d’entretiens assistés par un questionnaire téléphonique menés auprès de 20 clients et de 19 répondants qui avaient eu accès à l’un des programmes australiens intégrés de lutte contre le jeu problématique et la maladie mentale entre juillet 2014 et juin 2016. Les données révèlent que les clients étaient souvent recommandés à d’autres services dans le contexte d’une crise psychiatrique ou psychosociale ou lorsque les cliniciens rencontraient des clients qui n’avaient pas fait de progrès et qui souhaitaient obtenir un deuxième avis sur le diagnostic et le traitement. Une gestion améliorée des symptômes de la maladie ou du comportement de jeu constituait des avantages souvent rapportés, et un certain nombre de clients ont déclaré avoir ressenti du réconfort et de l’espoir après une évaluation, en raison d’une meilleure compréhension de leurs problèmes et des options de traitement disponibles. L’accès à une double expertise en matière de jeu problématique et de maladie mentale peut donc améliorer la planification du traitement, la gestion de crise et la collaboration intersectorielle afin d’améliorer l’accès aux soins et l’incidence des soins pour les personnes souffrant de cette comorbidité.

2019 ◽  
pp. 549-582
Author(s):  
M. Daniele Fallin ◽  
Calliope Holingue ◽  
Laysha Ostrow ◽  
Philip J. Leaf ◽  
Ronald W. Manderscheid ◽  
...  

The field of public mental health has seen many advances in policy and discovery, yet there is much more to be done. We must move beyond a narrow focus on clinical interventions to now embrace the impact of community and population dynamics in promoting mental health, preventing mental illnesses, and fostering recovery. We must take advantage of emerging technologies, tools and strategies to expand discovery of the causes of mental illness that will inform new prevention and treatment strategies. Emerging tools can also guide the best implementation of individual and systems-level changes. Finally, we must continue to monitor the frequency of illness and related outcomes among individuals and populations to gauge our progress and highlight areas for continued improvement.


2020 ◽  
pp. 103985622097529
Author(s):  
Justin J Chapman ◽  
Emily Hielscher ◽  
Sue Patterson ◽  
Nicola Reavley ◽  
Wendy J Brown ◽  
...  

Objectives: People with mental illness may be vulnerable to decline in mental health and reduced physical activity because of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions. The aim of this study was to inform the design of physical activity interventions for implementation under these conditions to improve/maintain well-being and physical activity in this population. Methods: People with mental illness who had participated in a physical activity program prior to the pandemic were invited to complete a survey about the impact of COVID-19 on mental health and physical activity and their preferences for engaging in a physical activity program under pandemic-related restrictions. Results: More than half the 59 respondents reported worse mental health and lower physical activity during the pandemic. The preferred format for a physical activity program was one-on-one exercise instruction in-person in a park. Program components endorsed as helpful included incentivization, provision of exercise equipment and fitness devices, and daily exercise programs. About a third of the participants reported limitations in using technology for a physical activity program. Conclusions: In-person exercise support is preferred by people with mental illnesses during pandemic-related restrictions. Enablement strategies such as providing equipment and self-monitoring devices should be utilized; assistance may be needed to incorporate the use of technology in exercise programs.


Somatechnics ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 291-309
Author(s):  
Francis Russell

This paper looks to make a contribution to the critical project of psychiatrist Joanna Moncrieff, by elucidating her account of ‘drug-centred’ psychiatry, and its relation to critical and cultural theory. Moncrieff's ‘drug-centred’ approach to psychiatry challenges the dominant view of mental illness, and psychopharmacology, as necessitating a strictly biological ontology. Against the mainstream view that mental illnesses have biological causes, and that medications like ‘anti-depressants’ target specific biological abnormalities, Moncrieff looks to connect pharmacotherapy for mental illness to human experience, and to issues of social justice and emancipation. However, Moncrieff's project is complicated by her framing of psychopharmacological politics in classical Marxist notions of ideology and false consciousness. Accordingly, she articulates a political project that would open up psychiatry to the subjugated knowledge of mental health sufferers, whilst also characterising those sufferers as beholden to ideology, and as being effectively without knowledge. Accordingly, in order to contribute to Moncrieff's project, and to help introduce her work to a broader humanities readership, this paper elucidates her account of ‘drug-centred psychiatry’, whilst also connecting her critique of biopsychiatry to notions of biologism, biopolitics, and bio-citizenship. This is done in order to re-describe the subject of mental health discourse, so as to better reveal their capacities and agency. As a result, this paper contends that, once reframed, Moncrieff's work helps us to see value in attending to human experience when considering pharmacotherapy for mental illness.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 411-411
Author(s):  
Michelle Zechner ◽  
Ellen Anderson ◽  
Kenneth Gill

Abstract People with serious mental illness (SMI) are more likely to experience chronic health conditions at younger ages, which increases the risk of premature death. Co-morbid health conditions and risk for premature death are well-studied in the population, however less is understood about the impact of aging and SMI on functional ability. Research suggests that the population walk less and may have lower fitness levels than other populations (Gill et al., 2016). Specific data exploring functional age of people with SMI is sparse. The authors compared published standardized geriatric functional fitness values for people over 65 to baseline values of a community sample of people living with SMI who participated in a community health promotion intervention. The average age of the sample was 50 (SD=11). Three physical functioning measures were used in the comparison to measure physical functioning; the Sit to Stand Test, 6 Minute Walk, and Single Legged Stance. Results indicated significant differences in mean physical functioning values between the sample and standardized geriatric values. The sample performed at levels 20-30 years older than their chronological age. This finding suggests that mental health and aging services may need to adjust interventions, services and methods to improve physical functioning in middle-aged and older adults living with SMI. Premature functional decline impacts community living skills, independent living, housing choice, vocational options, and may impede personal goal attainment. Recommendations for interventions will be offered, as will suggestions for policies targeting services that cross aging and mental health silos.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 238212051988935 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrés Martin ◽  
Julie Chilton ◽  
Doron Gothelf ◽  
Doron Amsalem

Introduction: Depression and suicidal ideation are common among medical students, a group at higher risk for suicide completion than their age-normed peers. Medical students have health-seeking behaviors that are not commensurate with their mental health needs, a discrepancy likely related to stigma and to limited role-modeling provided by physicians. Methods: We surveyed second-year medical students using the Attitudes to Psychiatry (ATP-30) and Attitudes to Mental Illness (AMI) instruments. In addition, we asked questions about role-modeling and help-seeking attitudes at baseline. We then conducted a randomized trial of an intervention consisting of 2 components: (a) a panel of 2 physicians with personal histories of mental illness speaking about their diagnosis, treatment, and recovery to the students, immediately followed by (b) small-group facilitated discussions. We repeated the ATP-30 and AMI after the active/early group was exposed to the panel, but before the control/late group was similarly exposed. Results: Forty-three medical students participated (53% women). The majority of students (91%) agreed that knowing physicians further along in their careers who struggled with mental health issues, got treatment, and were now doing well would make them more likely to access care if they needed it. Students in the active group (n = 22) had more favorable attitudes on ATP-30 ( P = .01) and AMI ( P = .02) scores, as compared with the control group (n = 21). Conclusion: Medical students can benefit from the availability of, and exposure to physicians with self-disclosed histories of having overcome mental illnesses. Such exposures can favorably improve stigmatized views about psychiatry, or of patients or colleagues affected by psychopathology. This intervention has the potential to enhance medical students’ mental health and their health-seeking behaviors.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Tessa Lynch

<p>Generally, one in five New Zealanders experience mental illness. Majority of lifelong mental illnesses begin before the age of 25, presenting a real problem for youth. In 2018, young people of New Zealand called for more help as they rallied outside parliament. The government responded by allocating more money towards student mental health. Yet, employing more counsellors, which is necessary, is not the only way to contribute to an urgent need for a new approach towards supporting mental health and wellbeing.   This research portfolio responded to this complex situation by developing ‘a guide’ for the design of tertiary spaces supportive of wellbeing. One of the most important goals of this work was to align the research closely with user needs and views, therefore research methods involved including students views in more than one phase of development. The work draws on evidence based design, geography, health and architectural theory and the existing wellbeing knowledge. Engagement with the users, observation, experiments and real life interventions were critical in refining a conceptual framework which kept the users at the centre of the process. The outcome of this research was a resource to guide the design of tertiary space for wellbeing, using five intervention points, which could have a positive effect on the student wellbeing if implemented as a system.  New Zealand must shift the current model of mental health care towards more holistic understandings of health, which better incorporates Māori health and wellbeing. Despite New Zealand’s bicultural values, Māori experience significantly higher rates of mental illness. This prompted to design with the same understandings of hauora (health). As a result, the conceptual framework presented a multi-dimensional, interconnected understanding of wellbeing through an integrated framework exploring physical, cultural, social, learning and spiritual environments.   While it is acknowledged that environments can affect our mental health, this is an under researched field requiring motivation to stimulate discussion and change. This research advocates wellbeing as a central focus in the design of our built environments and explores the opportunity for architecture to facilitate our student and national wellbeing goals.</p>


2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 149-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krista J. Van Slingerland ◽  
Natalie Durand-Bush ◽  
Scott Rathwell

We examined the level and prevalence of mental health functioning (MHF) in intercollegiate student-athletes from 30 Canadian universities, and the impact of time of year, gender, alcohol use, living situation, year of study, and type of sport on MHF. An online survey completed in November 2015 (N = 388) and March 2016 (n = 110) revealed that overall, MHF levels were moderate to high, and more student-athletes were flourishing than languishing. MHF levels did not significantly differ across time based on gender, alcohol use, living situation, year of study, and type of sport. Eighteen percent reported a previous mental illness diagnosis and yet maintained moderate MHF across time. These findings support Keyes’ (2002) dual-continua model, suggesting that the presence of mental illness does not automatically imply low levels of well-being and languishing. Nonetheless, those without a previous diagnosis were 3.18 times more likely to be flourishing at Time 1 (November 2015).  


1995 ◽  
Vol 19 (12) ◽  
pp. 743-746 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mervat Nasser

A review is made of the anti-psychiatric movement through its major protagonists, Lacan, Laing, Cooper and Szasz. The ideology was set to challenge the concept of mental illness and question the authority of the psychiatrist and the need for mental health institutions. The anti-psychiatric movement received a lot of attention in the 1970s but is now considered to be of the past and of likely interest to the psychiatric historian. However, the impact of the movement on current psychiatric practice requires further re-examination and appraisal.


Author(s):  
Molly McVoy ◽  
Heather Hardin ◽  
Erin Fulchiero ◽  
Kate Caforio ◽  
Farren Briggs ◽  
...  

Background Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a burgeoning epidemic in children and adolescents. Adult T2D doubles the risk of depression and mental health comorbidity makes it more difficult to make the lifestyle, medication adherence and health behavior changes needed to optimize outcomes. There is limited research on the impact of depression and depressive symptoms on youth T2D. Methods A search of the literature in the last 10 years regarding youth with depression and T2D was conducted. Abstracts were screened by 2 randomly assigned authors for inclusion, and disagreement was resolved by a third author. Selected full-text articles were divided among all authors for review. Results 13 publications from 8 studies (N=2244, age 6–17) were included. 6 of 13 publications utilized Treatment Options for Type 2 Diabetes in Youth (TODAY) study data. While studies included evaluation of depressive symptoms, most did not formally assess for major depressive disorder (MDD) and excluded participants with a previous diagnosis of MDD. Depressive symptoms were common in this population and were associated with negative T2D outcomes. Conclusions While there is a growing body of adult literature highlighting the extensive relationship between T2D and mental health, there is a dearth of data in youth. Future studies are needed that include, 1.) youth with diagnosed MDD, 2.) treatment studies of both T2D and MDD, 3.) larger, more racially diverse samples of youth with T2D, and 4.) studies that evaluate the impact of social determinants of health, including mental health comorbidity on outcomes of T2D.


Author(s):  
Debra Kram-Fernandez

This chapter is concerned with the impact of practitioner biases on the experience of a meaningful life for individuals who live with serious mental illness (SMI). Professional biases, systemic biases that originate in societal fear and lack of knowledge, and internalized stigma taken on by the consumer affect life decisions. Following a history of treatment initiatives experienced by consumers as abusive, it is important to understand how a system envisioned to protect and treat was often experienced as harmful. In the 1980s a movement emerged to transform the nature of mental health treatment to a client-centered, recovery-oriented model. In 1999, the Surgeon General proclaimed that all agencies serving this population should be recovery oriented. Yet, the shift to this approach to understanding people with SMI has not been complete. While there are many explanations why practitioners may not fully embrace this perspective, this chapter introduces the concept of “schemas” from cognitive behavioral theory as a way of examining professional biases in the field of SMI.


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