Majority Of Mental Health Professionals Research Articles

Exploring the Prevalence of Psychological Autopsy in Indian Context

Background: Psychological Autopsy is basically done in order to understand the cause of death in equivocal andsuicide death cases. It involves collecting information about the individual’s life history, mental health history, andcircumstances leading up to their death in order to gain insights into the complex factors that may have played arole.Methods: The main aim of this study is to find the prevalence of Psychological Autopsy (PA) in India and to knowhow frequently is it being used as a means of investigation through close ended questionnaire of academicians,forensic psychologists, practitioners and trainees in the field of mental health, this study seeks to discover outcomes.Conclusion: The fact that the majority of mental health professionals had never heard the phrase psychologicalautopsy, despite the fact that they had used it, was a significant weakness of this study.

The World Psychiatric Association Telepsychiatry Global Guidelines

Psychiatry is the branch of medicine that deals with the causation, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of mental and behavioral disorders. Telepsychiatry, in the form of live interactive videoconferencing, has emerged as a promising approach to improve access to mental health care, particularly in underserved populations across the world. However, the use of telepsychiatry also raises unique clinical, ethical, legal, and technological challenges. Pre-pandemic, the vast majority of mental health professionals had little to no experience with telepsychiatry, so they were forced to quickly adapt to the use of telepsychiatry to continue provide ongoing care to patients or new services. To address these challenges, the World Psychiatric Association (WPA) developed Telepsychiatry Global Guidelines in 2020 via outreach to and input from as many countries as possible, with intent to support all countries with intent to specifically assist low- and middle-income countries in adopting and establishing telepsychiatry services amid the COVID-19 outbreak. The guidelines make suggestions for clinical practice, technological challenges, education and training, research, and specific populations and settings, with an emphasis on international and cross-cultural dimensions. The WPA guidelines specifically emphasize the importance of providing cultural fit to patient-centered care, ensuring confidentiality and security of patient information, and ongoing evaluation and quality improvement. The guidelines offer an appendix with a comprehensive collection of tools, templates, and resources. The guidelines highlight the importance of collaboration between policymakers, clinicians, and patients in the development and implementation of telepsychiatry programs.

Interest in Rural Training Experiences in a Canadian Psychiatry Residency Program.

With the large majority of mental health professionals concentrated in urban settings, people living in rural and remote areas face significant barriers to accessing mental health care. Recognizing that early exposure is associated with future practice in rural and remote locations, we sought to obtain baseline data regarding interest in expanded rural residency training opportunities and academic teaching. In March 2021, all psychiatry residents at the University of Alberta (UofA) were invited to complete a 19-question survey that included both closed-ended (age, gender, year of study, rural experience, interest in rural training, etc.) and open-ended questions (challenges, barriers, academic training, and other comments). A reflexive thematic analysis using an inductive and semantic approach was completed on the comments. 36 residents completed the survey (response rate, 75%). Significant associations were identified between previous rural training experience and interest in rural psychiatry training and practice. Female residents and junior residents were significantly more interested in rural training experiences than their counterparts. Thematic analysis noted concerns with the financial costs of accommodation and transportation, high service burden, continuity of care and isolation from their cohort. Many were interested in academic sessions on the realities of rural practice; approaches to collaborative care; and strategies on culturally relevant care; specifically Indigenous health. The University of Alberta has highlighted a focus on improving equity and accountability; and with a large rural catchment region; the residency program is well positioned to make training adjustments to diversify training. Based on our findings we have incorporated rural rotations for incoming residents and have developed further rural academic content to support our responsiveness and accountability to the rural and northern communities we are committed to serving. Future research should review the impact of rural training exposure in medical specialties on recruitment and retention as well as on healthcare outcomes.

A 10-hours workshop improves physical activity prescription for mental illness knowledge and confidence in health care professionals: a nation-wide multicentre study from Uganda

Purpose Lack of knowledge about and confidence in physical activity (PA) prescription for people with mental illness are important barriers for clinical practice in low-income countries. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether a 10-hour workshop improved the knowledge and confidence in PA prescription among health care professionals in 13 regional referral hospitals across Uganda. Material and methods 260 health care professionals (age = 40.4 ± 10.8 years; 48% women; 63.8% nurses, 10% social workers, 8.1% psychologists, 7.3% medical doctors, 5.8% psychiatrists, 5% physical or occupational therapists) completed the Exercise in Mental Illness Questionnaire – Health Professionals Version (EMIQ-HP) pre- and post-workshop. Results The EMIQ-HP PA knowledge score (3.1 ± 0.7 versus 1.3 ± 1.3, p < 0.001, Cohen’s d = 1.28, 95% confidence interval, CI = 1.04–1.52, i.e., large effect) and EMIQ-HP confidence in PA prescription score (3.0 ± 0.8 versus 1.2 ± 1.2, p < 0.001, Cohen’s d = 1.14, 95% CI = 0.91–1.36, i.e., large effect) improved significantly following training. Significantly more benefits and fewer barriers to prescribing PA in busy low-resourced settings were reported. Conclusions Training in PA counselling improved the knowledge and confidence in PA prescription in Ugandan health care professionals. Future research should investigate whether PA uptake in people with mental illness can be improved via additional training of health care professionals. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION The majority of mental health professionals never recommend physical activity to their patients in low-resourced settings and increased awareness is needed to improve rehabilitation programs. Training in prescribing physical activity using the 5A framework improves knowledge about physical activity prescription in mental health professionals at all levels of care. Training in prescribing physical activity using motivational interviewing improves confidence in physical activity prescription in rehabilitation programs. Training in prescribing physical activity reduces perceived barriers for prescribing in rehabilitation programs in low-resourced settings.

Mental health professionals’ attitudes and knowledge about hearing voices groups

ABSTRACT Background An initiative was proposed to integrate local Hearing Voices Groups within statutory adult mental health services in a particular NHS Trust. The aim of this service evaluation was to assess clinician’s attitudes towards, and understandings, of the groups to better inform the proposal. Methods Multi-disciplinary NHS staff members were invited to participate in a brief survey on their attitudes towards and understanding about Hearing Voices Groups. The survey was co-produced with people with lived experience of hearing voices, and local mental health professionals. Content analysis was used to analyse qualitative data from an additional free text section of the survey. Results Forty mental health professionals responded to the survey. There was majority agreement (>50% agreement) on all items related to perceived benefit of Hearing Voices Groups. The findings also showed that only 25% of respondents felt that they were aware of the evidence base for Hearing Voices Groups and only 30% felt confident explaining Hearing Voices Groups to service users. Discussion The data suggest that the majority of mental health professionals hold positive attitudes towards Hearing Voices Groups. However, many expressed uncertainty about the evidence base and discussing the groups with service users, highlighting further training needs in these areas.

Gregory Research Beliefs Scale: Psychometric properties and social work student survey results

ABSTRACT In the United States (US) there is an increasing numbers of social work students and social work practitioners represent the majority of mental health professionals. Consequently the role of evidence-based social work practice (EBSWP) in education becomes more important. Past research supported the psychometric properties of the Research Beliefs Scale (GRBS) with social work students. The purposes of the present study are two-fold. The first purpose is to evaluate the factor structure and internal consistency reliability of the GRBS in a distinct sample of US MSW and BSW students. The second purpose is to evaluate the extent to which the US MSW and BSW students believe that research has value for social work practice. Data collection consisted of face-to-face and online formats. Factorial validity was examined using a principal component analysis. Internal consistency reliability was measure via Cronbach’s alpha. The data provided empirical evidence for the one-factor GRBS model and demonstrated high internal consistency with a Cronbach’s alpha of .95. The data cautiously showed support for US social work students’ beliefs in the value or research for social work practice. Applications of the RBS to social work education and future research are discussed.

The right to die: Perspectives of mental health professionals in malta

IntroductionIn their professional work, mental health professionals are continually working with individuals in distress, who may express a wish to end their lives.ObjectivesTo understand the perspectives of mental health professionals towards a person’s right to die.MethodsA mixed-method technique was used: Stage 1 involved a validated online questionnaire sent to all professionals working within the public mental health services in Malta. Stage 2 consisted of a multidisciplinary discussion between six professionals asked to hypothetically manage a terminally ill patient requesting physician-assisted suicide. Thematic analysis was subsequently applied.ResultsThe majority of mental health professionals disagreed with allowing a person to commit suicide, even in situations of crippling debt, overwhelming despair and family dishonour. Terminal illness elicited a varied response (Figure 1)Older professionals and spiritual beliefs negatively impacted acceptability of suicide (Figure 2).The discussion revealed that professionals would assess individuals requesting to end their lives, with the aim of treating any mental illness and determining mental capacity. Figure 3 highlights factors explored during the assessment. Greatest emphasis is ultimately placed on individual autonomy.ConclusionsMental health professionals consider autonomy and self-determination as imperative in evaluating a person’s right to die. Professionals agreed that, after a comprehensive psychiatric assessment and within a regulatory legal framework, they would not impede a person with terminal illness to request physician-assisted suicide, provided that one is acting autonomously. The majority would however conscientiously object to actively assisting the terminal patient in ending one’s life, since this is deemed contradictory to their professional vow of non-maleficence.

MH providers need exposure to suicide prevention best practices, training

Outside of psychiatrists, the majority of mental health professionals have minimal to no formal training in how to effectively treat suicidal people, according to suicide prevention experts, a recent article in USA Today reported.

Mental Health Professionals' Suicide Risk Assessment and Management Practices.

Approximately 20% of suicide decedents have had contact with a mental health professional within 1 month prior to their death, and the majority of mental health professionals have treated suicidal individuals. Despite limited evidence-based training, mental health professionals make important clinical decisions related to suicide risk assessment and management. The current study aimed to determine the frequency of suicide risk assessment and management practices and the association between fear of suicide-related outcomes or comfort working with suicidal individuals and adequacy of suicide risk management decisions among mental health professionals. Mental health professionals completed self-report assessments of fear, comfort, and suicide risk assessment and management practices. Approximately one third of mental health professionals did not ask every patient about current or previous suicidal thoughts or behaviors. Further, comfort, but not fear, was positively associated with greater odds of conducting evidence-based suicide risk assessments at first appointments and adequacy of suicide risk management practices with patients reporting suicide ideation and a recent suicide attempt. The study utilized a cross-sectional design and self-report questionnaires. Although the majority of mental health professionals report using evidenced-based practices, there appears to be variability in utilization of evidence-based practices.

Collaborative Role Education in Post Graduate Psychiatric Training: A Narrative Review

1.1 Objective: To review the literature and trusted scientific websites on studies about Collaborative role education and its application in postgraduate psychiatric training. 1.2 Methods: Medline literature and scientific websites were searched. The data selected were those discussing collaboration care efficacy, collaborative role competency and the application of adult education theory principles through Interprofessional education (IPE). The results reported are those obtained using appropriate techniques and published in reputable journals or on trusted scientific websites. Information relevant to mental health and postgraduate psychiatric training was selected for inclusion. 1.3 Results: Collaborative role is one of the seven core roles (CanMEDS) that define essential physician competencies. Collaborative care and IPE were efficacious in improving cost efficiency, patient safety, health professionals’ satisfaction and patient outcomes in different populations. According to a 2005 survey, the majority of mental health professionals in Canada support but do not presently offer formal pre-licensure, post-licensure, or continuing IPE involving collaborative mental health care. 1.4 Conclusion: Despite some challenges, IPE is a very worthy way to build collaborative role competency in postgraduate psychiatry trainees.

The New DSM-5: Where Have We Been and Where Are We Going?

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders(DSM) is celebrating its 60th birthday this year. Many generations of social work students have graduated since the inception of this diagnostic tool, which has become the encyclopedia for helping professionals across the country. As we anticipate the upcoming publication of the DSM–5 in May 2013, it is worth briefly reflecting on where we have come and where we are going in terms of the use of this manual within social work to guide our assessments and interventions with clients who live with mental and emotional challenges. The DSM, though developed and published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA), has gained wide acceptance over the past several decades as the authoritative codebook for mental disorders. It is used not only by the medical profession, but also by the majority of mental health professionals, insurance companies, researchers, grant-funding agencies, and academicians in the United States for diagnostic, assessment, and educational purposes. Its development has consistently reflected the U.S. zeitgeist, including the relevant import of theory or research in guiding the conceptualization of mental illness, the definition of mental illness, and political and social developments within mainstream American culture.

Evidence-based hope for recovery from “schizophrenia”: A common objective for all stakeholders in the mental health field

This article summarizes the research about, and presents a personal account of, recovery from “schizophrenia”. In a potentially optimistic mental health scenario, like that in Italy, where psychiatric hospitals were closed and community-oriented care is nearly ubiquitous, the majority of mental health professionals maintain a pessimistic outlook concerning the long-term outcomes of schizophrenia. This gap between a clinician’s daily practice and prognostic beliefs about schizophrenia has a considerable effect on the expectations of patients and their families, and is the underlying theme of this article. Hope can be considered reasonable on two conditions: that it is not taken for granted and that it is supported by convincing data. The available scientific evidence on favourable outcomes of schizophrenia is consistent and convincing. The “positive” personal accounts of recovery, which have been accumulating over the last few decades, represent another relevant source of evidence. The “evidence-based” hope of recovery from schizophrenia is a reasonable one, both now and in the near future. It represents a common horizon for people who experience psychotic episodes, for their families and for all healthcare professionals who support abilities rather than disabilities.

Mental health system in China: history, recent service reform and future challenges

This paper summarizes the history of the development of Chinese mental health system; the current situation in the mental health field that China has to face in its effort to reform the system, including mental health burden, workforce and resources, as well as structural issues; the process of national mental health service reform, including how it was included into the national public health program, how it began as a training program and then became a treatment and intervention program, its unique training and capacity building model, and its outcomes and impacts; the barriers and challenges of the reform process; future suggestions for policy; and Chinese experiences as response to the international advocacy for the development of mental health.

Introduction: Report of the APA's Task Force on Research Ethics

Introduction: Report of the APA's Task Force on Research Ethics

Homosexuality in Finland: The Decline of Psychoanalysis' Illness Model of Homosexuality

SUMMARY This paper addresses the ways in which Finnish psychiatric textbooks and psychotherapy practices have conceptualized homosexualities since the beginning of the twentieth century. Liberal views of the first decades changed in the 1950s under the influence of the American adaptational (Rado-Bieber) school of psychoanalysis. These later views were reflected in psychiatric textbooks until the 1990s. This paradigm has been criticized since the 1970s by radical psychiatrists and grassroots movements. Changes in American psychiatric textbooks contributed to the change in Finnish textbooks. However, the majority of mental health professionals still feel that their professional training had not given them adequate sources of information about homo/bisexuality and the treatment teams seldom discuss openly the sexual orientation of their clients.

Mental health concepts of evangelical Protestants.

There has been an upsurge of interest in the problems encountered when attempting counseling and psychotherapy across cultural and ethnic barriers. Differences between therapist and client in nationality, race, and socioeconomic background have been widely discussed. Protestant evangelicals have not received much attention in this literature, yet this group has a world view not likely to be shared by the majority of mental health professionals. To fill this gap, 152 members of liberal and traditional (evangelical, fundamentalist) Protestant churches were investigated. Measures of religious orthodoxy and of modernity served as independent variables. Dependent variables were attitudes toward seeking mental health services, opinions about mental illness, and tendencies to view mental health problems as spiritual. The results indicate that evangelicals are prepared to use professional help, although they are concerned about the beliefs and values of the mental health practitioner and express fears that secular therapists might try to alter their beliefs and values: They prefer to go to religious advisers. They also appear to have certain characteristic ideas about mental illness that need to be addressed in any attempt to counsel such clients.