Liaison Programme Research Articles

The Mental Health Clinical Liaison Programme for Schools: developing a new approach in Child and Adolescent Mental Healthcare in Spain

Mental health issues among children and adolescents have increased, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite awareness, less than half get needed care, leading to long-term consequences. The World Health Organization calls for integrated, preventive community interventions. In this paper, we present The Mental Health Clinical Liaison Programme for Schools in the Community of Madrid, Spain, which features school-based activities delivered by multidisciplinary mental health teams, offering early detection, intervention, and prevention strategies for children and adolescents. We describe the activities implemented, present the evidence supporting them, provide preliminary data, and discuss the scope and challenges of the programme. In 2023–2024, the programme intervened in 53 primary and secondary schools, helping identify in 876 cases, evaluating 356, and referring 122 to other services. It supported interventions for 179 patients already in mental healthcare and 34 reintegrations after psychiatric hospitalization. Anti-stigma workshops have been conducted, involving approximately 1620 students. Ongoing research aims to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of these interventions to ensure continuous improvement in mental health services for young people.

Analysis of the demand for mental health consultation and liaison programmes: a comprehensive view.

IntroductionThe mental health consultation and liaison programme plays a crucial role in comprehensive medical care by addressing psychiatric co-morbidities in hospitalised patients.ObjectivesThe aim of this study is to analyse demand and assess referral patterns to the mental health consultation and liaison programme in order to identify areas for improvement and optimise the provision of care.Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted by analysing records of referrals to the mental health consultation and liaison programme over a one-year period. Demographic data, origin of demand, type of request, episodic diagnosis, psychiatric diagnoses, follow-up and discharge referral were collected.ResultsA total of 1180 referrals to the mental health consultation and liaison programme were reviewed. Most of the episodic diagnoses were related to anxious-depressive symptomatology, acute stress reaction and acute confusional syndrome. The majority of patients followed up did not require further referral to mental health facilities.ConclusionsAnalysis of the demand for the mental health consultation and liaison programme helps us to optimise care on psychiatric co-morbidities. These results support the importance of integrated care that addresses both medical and psychiatric aspects of inpatient health. Strategies to improve collaboration between different services should be implemented to ensure optimal care and provide a holistic approach.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Geriatric psychiatry liaison programme in a Singapore public hospital geriatric ward setting: descriptive and evaluation study on delirium and dementia

Background: Comprehensive geriatric psychiatry liaison services are in early and evolving stages in Singapore. A description and evaluation of a geriatric psychiatry liaison programme in geriatric wards was undertaken describing programme activity and clinical outcomes in patients with neurocognitive disorders. Dementia training and staff upskilling are also discussed. Methods: This study included all referred patients by the geriatric team in Changi General Hospital over a one-year period from 15 June 2017 to 14 June 2018. As measures of good clinical practice, diagnosis of delirium and new diagnosis of dementia made during the inpatient admission following liaison consultation were included in the study. Patient-related outcomes that included length of stay (LOS), institutionalisation rates and in-hospital mortality were evaluated. Results: Dementia (53%), delirium (49%) and depression (28%) were the commonest diagnoses in this study. Dementia was newly diagnosed in 30% of cases. The median LOS in those with delirium was 19 days; 19% with a delirium diagnosis had new institutionalisation rates. In-hospital mortality in this study was 2%. Conclusions: The geriatric psychiatry liaison programme in geriatric wards in Changi General Hospital improved detection rates of delirium and new diagnoses of dementia. It also reports increased LOS and new institutionalisation rates in those with a diagnosis of delirium. Nursing staff education in neurocognitive disorders is enhanced. This article has outlined the importance of team-based care, joint specialist care and staff training in recognition of delirium and dementia in an acute hospital setting to improve outcomes for older patients.

Creating eresearch Tools For Archaeologists: The Federated Archaeological Information Management Systems Project

In this article, the Federated Archaeological Information Management Systems (FAIMS) project presents its stocktaking activities and software development towards the creation of a comprehensive digital infrastructure for archaeologists. A National eResearch Collaboration Tools and Resources (NeCTAR)-funded initiative, the FAIMS project aims to develop tools to facilitate the creation, sharing, reuse and dissemination of high-quality digital datasets for research and cultural heritage management. FAIMS has engaged in an extensive stocktaking and liaison programme with archaeologists and related professionals, the results of which have shaped the development plans. Project development is focusing on highly customisable mobile applications for data collection, a web application for data processing, and an online repository for archiving and disseminating data, with provisions for creating semantically and technically compatible datasets embedded throughout. Data exchange using standard formats and approaches ensures that components work well together, and that new, externally developed tools can be added later. Our goal is to create a digital system that respects the current workflow of archaeological practice, improves the availability of compatible archaeological data, and delivers features that archaeologists want to use.

University lecturers' preferences for the library liaison activities: The case of the Physical Science faculty of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka

The purpose of this study was to determine physical science lecturers’ preferences of library liaison activities in University of Nigeria, Nsukka. This study will help the University of Nigeria, Nsukka Library system to effectively and efficiently serve the lecturers in the Physical Science Faculty by focusing attention on their preferences. The study was based on survey design. Questionnaire was employed to elicit responses from selected 65 lecturers in the Physical Science Faculty of the University. The questionnaire was used to gather data on five major areas of library liaison activities: communication, information gathering, collection development, user services, and programme development. The findings reveal that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka library system currently engages in a dynamic library liaison programme. The findings also reveal that in communication activities these lecturers prefer updating the appropriate subject guides on library resources, and producing information guides on new services. In collection development activities, the lecturers prefer identifying additional materials relevant to faculty research interests for acquisition and for developing awareness of current and retrospective literature and publishing trends in all subject fields in the faculty. However in user-centred activities they preferred introducing lecturers, students and researchers to the use of information resources in both traditional and electronic format. Finally, the programme development activity which the lecturers prefer involves introducing faculty, staff and students to current awareness and document delivery services.

Outbreak of hepatitis A in the injecting drug user and homeless populations in Bristol: control by a targeted vaccination programme and possible parenteral transmission.

To study the use of hepatitis A virus (HAV) vaccination in controlling an outbreak of HAV in inner-city Bristol among injecting drug users (IDUs). To study whether hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) co-infection increases morbidity. Community-based cohort study. Avon Health Authority area, UK. All laboratory-confirmed cases of HAV infection notified in 2000. Administration of a targeted vaccination, education and liaison programme. Number of cases of HAV before and after introduction of HAV vaccination programme. Mortality and number of patients requiring hospital admission. Association of HCV and HBV co-infection with hospital admission. Ninety cases of HAV were reported in the first 6 months of 2000, of whom a substantial number were IDUs and/or inner-city hostel residents. In the second 6 months of 2000, following the introduction of a vaccination programme among homeless people, hostel residents, and IDUs, the number of HAV cases fell to 33. Sixteen patients had evidence of HCV co-infection. No patient had chronic HBV infection. Two patients died as a result of HAV, and two subsequently died from drug misuse. Fifty-six per cent of HCV-co-infected patients required admission to hospital compared with 28% non-HCV-co-infected patients. This is the first reported successful use of vaccination to control an outbreak of HAV in a population of IDUs and to prevent transmission to the wider population. HCV co-infection appears to increase the severity of HAV illness, as demonstrated by increased incidence of hospital admission.

The first step in first psychotic episodes intervention: the current situation in Ourense's mental health area

The objective of this study is to initiate a debate about how to improve, in a General Mental Health Service, the detection and treatment of First Episodes of Psychosis. As a first step a study was conducted to look at the current situation of our intervention on First Episodes of Psychosis. As a result of this study an important delay in the ‘pathway to care’ was detected. It was seen that the most convenient way to approach this problem was to create a Liaison Programme between the General Practitioners and the Mental Health Service. This Programme will include training on First Episodes of Psychosis for the General Practitioners and a Referral and Diagnostic Team.

Engineering Centres as Targets for Industrial Innovation

The Engineering Design Group (EDG) at the University of Melbourne has forged an ongoing teaching, research, design and development liaison programme with industrial partners, in particular with small and medium-sized enterprises. A government-sponsored centre, the Advanced Engineering Centre for Manufacturing has provided the necessary financial and human resources to facilitate this collaborative work. The EDG collaborative programme incorporates a staged liaison model: short-horizon senior undergraduate industrial projects and medium-horizon product design and development opportunities that can include training for industry clients, leading to long-horizon collaborative projects that attempt to enhance the technologies used in Australian industry.

Positive influence of a liaison program on the rate of psychiatric consultation referrals for cancer patients.

To improve access to psychiatric consultation for cancer patients as well as non-cancer patients with psychiatric disorders, a psychiatric liaison programme to communicate closely with physicians and ward staff regarding anticipated psychiatric morbidity in patients, was introduced in each ward of a general hospital. The rate of psychiatric consultation referrals for cancer patients was significantly higher after the psychiatric liaison programme was established. The programme had a greater impact on the rate of psychiatric consultation in a unit with cancer patients who were informed of their diagnoses. The greater consultation rates in cancer patients after the liaison programme might be, in part, associated with the physicians' attitude toward the more open disclosure of the cancer diagnosis.

Interview with Joan Grant, Director of Collection Services, Bobst Library, New York University

Joan Grant discusses the Bobst Library’s approach to collection development including the selection of print resources, CD‐ROMs and electronic resources. Of particular interest are the faculty liaison programme and the cooperative collection development activities, as well as the integration of electronic resources into their collection development activities.

Assessing an academic library liaison programme

Liaison programmes have been in existence in academic libraries for a number of years. A liaison programme is a co‐operative agreement between the library and academic units to foster better communication, improve services and enhance collection development. In order for it to be operated effectively such a programme needs to be assessed on an ongoing basis. Reports the findings of an assessment survey which was conducted in the spring of 1992 at Kent State University Libraries and Media Services, Kent, Ohio. The assessment of this programme offers some guidelines for assessing similar programmes at other institutions.

The library‐faculty connection

The primary function of an academic library is to serve as an information resource centre for the entire academic community. In order to provide better service to academic patrons, liaison programmes have been established in some colleges and universities. Very little has been written on liaison activities or the role of subject specialists in academic libraries. Focusses on how to implement a successful liaison programme in order to facilitate library collection building and improve communication with the academic units. Defines the concept of liaison librarians and library representatives in academic units, and provides suggestions for setting up such a programme.

School pupils' perceptions of the police that visit schools: Not all police are ‘pigs’

AbstractThis paper presents data concerning young people's perceptions of the police taking part in a police—schools liaison programme. Eighty‐one 14‐year‐old school pupils took part in 28 semi‐structured group discussions concerning their perceptions of the ‘typicality’ of police officers working in their schools. Pupils clearly differentiated between these and those ‘on the street’. Central to this differentiation was the issue of police power; the perceived atypicality of the police in schools was intimately bound up with pupils' perceptions of the qualitatively different social relations that obtain between young people and the police ‘in the school’ and ‘on the street’. The implications of these data for the literatures concerning the ‘contact hypothesis’ and police—schools liaison are discussed.

Cognitive models of stereotype change: (1). Generalization and subtyping in young people's views of the police

AbstractWe report investigations of change in, and cognitive representation of young people's stereotypes of the police, in response to a police‐schools liaison programme. This programme provides a real‐life application of the ‘conversion’ model of stereotype change (in which stereotypes change radically in response to salient instances of disconfirming information). Study 1 revealed that school police officers were rated significantly more positively than the police in general, but that this view did not generalize to perceptions of the police in general. Stereotypes of the police became less positive over one year, although females were more positive than males, and school police officers were not judged typical of the category. Study 2 revealed that subjects categorized their school police officer separately from the police in general, and perceived him to share features with ‘caring and welfare’ professions, rather than other police officers and authority figures. Both studies converge on the limitations of the conversion model and tend to support the subtyping model (in which extremely disconfirming individuals are isolated from other group members).

Plans for the 1971 census of Canada

Abstract This article describes the plans which have been developed for the Census of Canada to be taken June 1, 1971. One of the most important features of this census will be the use of the Self-enumeration technique for the great majority of respondents. Other topics touched upon include the User Liaison Programme which established requirements, the Testing Programme which determined the methodology and some highlights of the Data Collection and Processing Phases of the operation. There is a brief discussion of the use of sampling in 1971 with particular emphasis on the benefits to be derived in increased quality and reliability of data, increased timeliness and reduction in respondent burden. The Quality Control procedures are described. The Post-censal Evaluation and Data Dissemination programmes are also dealt with.