Mental Health Beliefs Research Articles

A Study on the Moral and Mental Health Beliefs in Sleeping Arrangements of the Children

A Study on the Moral and Mental Health Beliefs in Sleeping Arrangements of the Children

Understanding and addressing the underutilization of school-based mental health services among Korean immigrant adolescents

This ethnographic case study investigates the underutilization of school-based mental health services among Korean immigrant adolescents in the United States. Drawing on the Mental Health Belief Model, the study examines how Korean immigrant adolescents and their parents perceive school-based mental health services and identifies factors that could enhance their utilization. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and informal conversations and analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings indicate that while Korean immigrant parents value their children’s happiness, they hold cultural beliefs, stigma, and concerns about family honor regarding seeking mental health services. The adolescents also questioned the necessity of professional mental health services compared to informal support. Additionally, participants identified several factors that could enhance engagement with these services, which can be categorized into three themes. First, the importance of using alternative terminology to reduce stigma and encourage engagement with mental health services was emphasized. Confidentiality and privacy emerged as crucial factors, with participants expressing a willingness to engage in school-based mental health services if these aspects are assured. Finally, effective communication with parents was recognized as key to fostering service utilization. Implications for educators and school psychologists include using less stigmatizing terminology, ensuring confidentiality, and establishing effective communication with parents to improve access to and utilization of mental health services among immigrant adolescents.

Understanding Help-Seeking Behavior from Mental Health Literacy and Mental Health Belief Perspectives

Mental disorders were prevalent worldwide, and healthcare utilization was crucial. Initiating and sustaining treatment for individuals with mental disorders was compulsory to achieve recovery, disease burden reduction, and improved quality of life. As an attempt to obtain external assistancen to cope with mental health problems, help-seeking began from the ability to perceive a need for care that raises the seeking help intention. Mental health literacy (MHL) and mental health belief (MHB) influence individuals’ awareness of mental health problems and determine their help-seeking behavior. This review aimed to comprehend help-seeking behavior promotion through MHL, MHB, and interventions known to improve them. Publications within the last 5 years from PubMed and Google Scholar were used as references, including citing the original articles. MHL was influenced by age and gender. Religion, culture, age, and gender have been identified as factors thataffect MHB. Psychoeducation is considered an essential strategy to promote help-seeking behavior, which could be performed individually or in an empowered community. Efforts to understand various populations’ MHB, enhance MHL, and encourage help-seeking behavior should be endorsed. Therefore, early intervention to prevent further mental health burdens could be conducted.

A survey on the relationship between mental health literacy and beliefs toward mental illness among nurses in general hospitals in Turkey

AimThe study aimed to determine the relationship between general nurses' mental health literacy and beliefs toward mental illness. MethodThe study involved 285 nurses aged 23 to 47 from three hospitals in western Turkey, who completed the Mental Health Literacy Scale (MHLS) and the Beliefs Toward Mental Illness Scale (BMIS) between December 2023 and March 2024. ResultsThose who received training on mental illnesses as students (t = 2.115, p = 0.018), those who had moderate knowledge about mental illnesses (F = 8.177, p < 0.001), those who were willing to receive training on mental illnesses (t = 1.673, p = 0.048), those who encounter individuals with mental illness in their work units (F = 11.233, p < 0.001) and those who care for individuals with mental illness in their work units (t = 1.808, p = 0.036) have higher mental health literacy levels. There was a negative relationship between nurses' negative beliefs toward mental illness levels and their mental health literacymental health literacy levels (r = −0.432, p < 0.001). ConclusionMental health literacy is a crucial element in reducing general nurses' negative beliefs about mental illnesses. Thıus, psychiatric mental health nurses can actively prevent negative beliefs and increase awareness by providing mental health education to general nurses. Awareness programs should be accorded greater emphasize on individuals who are not trained in mental disorders when they are students, those who have low knowledge about mental disorders, those who are reluctant to receive training on mental disorders, and cohorts of nurses who are likely to encounter patients with mental disorders in their respective work units.

Exploring School Absenteeism: Reasons Why, Mental Health Profiles, and Parental Involvement Perspectives

This study investigated school absenteeism among a sample of Canadian students (N = 88), links with mental health (ADHD, ADHD with depressive symptoms, and neither), and parents’ school involvement beliefs. Reasons as to why students with different mental health profiles missed school were also explored. As part of a larger longitudinal study, parent informants completed an online questionnaire about school absenteeism, mental health, and parent beliefs. The average number of school days missed in the past two weeks was 2.21 for students with both ADHD and depressive symptoms, 1.86 for those with neither, and 1.52 for those with only ADHD. Reasons for school absenteeism differed across groups and the main effect of mental health profile was significant when parent beliefs regarding school involvement were controlled for. These findings highlight features of school absenteeism following the COVID-19 pandemic, illustrating the importance of mental health profiles and parental school involvement beliefs when investigating school absenteeism.

Unaccompanied migrant children in the United States: Implementation and effectiveness of trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy.

The number of unaccompanied children (UC) arriving in the United States (U.S.) from other countries has increased significantly over the past decade. UC report high trauma exposure and greater posttraumatic stress symptoms compared with youth who immigrate with caregivers. Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) has demonstrated preliminary effectiveness with UC. However, few studies have treated U.S.-based samples of UC, who emigrate primarily from Central America. One hundred thirty-eight UC were referred for treatment and 129 completed a pretreatment assessment including the Child and Adolescent Trauma Screen (CATS) and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Most UC were from Central America (n = 109; 79.0%) and resided in government facilities (n = 76; 55.1%). One hundred twenty-two youth began TF-CBT, had an average of 9.71 sessions (SD = 9.3, range: 1-48), and 41.8% (n = 51) completed treatment. One hundred four youth completed a brief, six-item progress monitoring measure of trauma symptoms, for which 84 had at least two observations during treatment. UC endorsed 3.80 traumatic events on average (SD = 2.38). High rates of violence, physical and sexual abuse, and serious injury were reported. There were significant improvements on most self-report rating scales (p < .05); within-subjects Cohen's d's ranged from .07 to 1.03 for pre- to posttreatment assessments and was d = .44 for the progress monitoring measure. Therapists reported on TF-CBT modifications for UC, including discussing mental health beliefs, navigating roles and relationships, tailoring treatment examples, exploring coping strategies, and addressing immigration factors. Preliminary findings support the utility of TF-CBT with UC. Implications for implementation and cultural modifications are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

"I want to be healthy and move on": A qualitative study of barriers and facilitators to antiretroviral treatment adherence among young adult survivors with perinatal HIV in Thailand.

We know that HIV treatment outcome depends on antiretroviral treatment (ART) adherence. Young adults with perinatal HIV (YPHIV) who survived have endured various adherence challenges in their adolescent years. While some of them could maintain perfect adherence with sustainable virologic suppression, many experienced one or more episodes of virologic failure. We explored factors affecting ART adherence from real-life experiences of YPHIV. A qualitative study was conducted between June and November 2022. Twenty YPHIV aged 21-29 years with a history of virologic failure and resumed virologic suppression during adolescent years were invited to share their experiences through individual in-depth interviews. Audio records were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using deductive thematic analysis. We divided excerpts into two themes: barriers and facilitators to ART adherence. The socio-ecological model was used to frame subthemes at personal, societal, and healthcare system levels. Most barriers to adherence were concentrated at the personal level, including work/study-related conditions, personal entertainment, medication issues, mental health problems, thought, and belief. At the societal level, social activities and fear of HIV disclosure were frequently mentioned as barriers. Medical care cost was the only identified barrier at the healthcare system level. The facilitators to adherence at the personal level included perceiving health deterioration, being afraid of hospitalization and medical procedures, and wishing to be healthy and move on. At the same time, perceived family support and determination to complete family without HIV transmission were identified as facilitators at the societal level. Service behaviors of healthcare providers were mentioned as facilitators to adherence at the healthcare system level. From this study, most factors associated with non-adherence in adolescents were at the personal level, and the fear of HIV disclosure was critical at the societal level. The key facilitator to adherence was the determination to be healthy and have a promising future. Our findings reinforce the importance of establishing youth-friendly services in the existing HIV care setting. More time allocation for tailored individual counseling, using other novel approaches like mHealth, online media, and involvement of social support from different sectors might be beneficial to maximize adherence self-efficacy during the transitional period of YPHIV.

“If you’re struggling, you don’t really care” – what affects the physical health of young people on child and adolescent mental health inpatient units? A qualitative study with service users and staff

BackgroundPhysical health inequalities of people with serious mental illness (SMI) have been labelled an international scandal; due to the 15–20-year reduction in life expectancy associated with poor physical health. This occurs at an early stage and evidence shows young people with and at risk for SMI are a particularly vulnerable group requiring intervention and support. However, most work has been conducted with adults and little is known about what affects physical health for young people, specifically those receiving inpatient care.MethodsWe conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with 7 service users and 6 staff members (85% female, age 14–42) on a generic mental health inpatient unit for children and adolescents. Interviews aimed to identify how young people viewed theirphysical health and factors affecting physical health and lifestyle and identify any support needed to improve physical health. Thematic analysis was conducted. .ResultsThematic analysis revealed the main factors affecting physical health and lifestyle for young people. Three main themes were individual factors (subthemes were mental health symptoms, knowledge, attitudes and beliefs), environmental factors (subthemes were opportunities in a restricted environment and food provision), and the influence of others (subthemes were peers, staff, family members). These factors often overlapped and could promote a healthy lifestyle or combine to increase the risk of poor physical health. Young people discussed their preferences for physical health initiatives and what would help them to live a healthier lifestyle.ConclusionsPromoting physical health on inpatient units for young people is an important, yet neglected area of mental health research. We have identified a range of complex factors which have an impact on their physical health, and there is a pervasive need to address the barriers that young people experience to living a healthy lifestyle. There is an increasingly strong evidence base suggesting the benefits of physical health interventions to improve outcomes, and future work should identify ways to implement such interventions considering the barriers discussed in this article. Further collaborative research is needed with young people, clinical teams, caregivers, and commissioners to ensure improvements are made to clinical care provision and optimisation of the inpatient environment.

Contagion of fear: Investigating the psychology and effects of mass hysteria

Abstract: Mass hysteria, or mass psychogenic illness (MPI), refers to the rapid spread of symptoms or behaviors within a group without an identifiable physical cause, often triggered by psychological and social factors. This case report details an outbreak of MPI, commonly known as mass hysteria, at a girls’ boarding school in central Odisha. The incident was triggered by a 12-year-old student, Miss A, who exhibited physical symptoms such as fainting, shaking, and abdominal pain. These symptoms quickly spread to almost 100 other students. Medical evaluations found no physical cause, confirming the psychogenic origin of the outbreak. Cultural beliefs in malevolent spirits and social contagion were key factors in the spread, especially among the young, impressionable students. This case highlights the psychological and social mechanisms behind MPI outbreaks and emphasizes the importance of addressing mental health and cultural beliefs when managing such incidents.

Examine the impact of mental planning on building mental health and cognitive beliefs of bank employees

Description of the topic: Paying attention to human resources along with the use of new methods, reconstruction of past structures and optimal use of potential and actual facilities is one of the factors for the success of organizational goals, and the success of the organization depends on the establishment of an efficient system based on goals and the existence of the desired human force. And it is appropriate. Undoubtedly, an organization is successful in performing its duties and achieving its goals. which, in addition to establishing an efficient and targeted system, has the best and most skilled employees. Among the effective things for having an efficient system among bank employees is to investigate the effect of mental schema in creating mental health and cognitive beliefs. Purpose: The purpose of this article is to investigate the impact of mental schemas with mental health and cognitive beliefs. Research method: The method of studying the article was a descriptive survey method, which is used as a method to discover and identify the characteristics and distribution of these characteristics, as well as how the variables interact in a society. Results: The results of this article show that metacognition has a positive and significant correlation with mental schema and mental health, meaning that bank employees who use metacognitive skills have better mental schema and mental health. have Also, mental health has a positive correlation with mental schema. In this way, the higher the mental health of bank employees, the higher their mental schema.

Relationship between academic teaching staff' mental health literacy levels and beliefs toward mental illness

ObjectiveThe study aimed to determine the relationship between academic teaching staff' mental health literacy levels and beliefs toward mental illness. MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted with 357 academic teaching staff working at a state university in Turkey between July 2021 and February 2022. ResultsSignificant predictors of academic teaching staff' beliefs toward mental illness were mental health literacy, department, receiving mental health literacy education, seeking psychiatric help before, having a family member with a mental disorder, willingness to work with someone with a mental disorder, experience with a student with a mental disorder in professional life, and thoughts that students with a mental disorder should continue education. ConclusionMental health literacy is an important variable in reducing academic teaching staff' negative beliefs toward mental illness. Therefore, training programs can be planned to increase the mental health literacy levels of academic teaching staff and change their negative beliefs toward mental illness.

Assessing mental health and technology use in the time of COVID-19 among farmworkers in the U.S. – Mexico border

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present findings on a community-based participatory research project where the authors examined access and ability to use technology, attitudes and perceptions of technology, and COVID-19 and mental health beliefs in the time of COVID-19, among predominantly Hispanic/Latinx farmworker males residing in the US–Mexico border city of El Paso, Texas. Design/methodology/approach This paper used a qualitative narrative analysis which consisted of in-person interviews in Spanish with male farmworkers (n = 10) between the ages of 49–60 years. This paper applied a research approach designed to engage researchers and community stakeholders as equal partners with the goal of improving practice. Findings Of the participants, eight reported having a phone and only three reported knowing how to use the internet. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the participants reported living a relatively stress-free life. When the pandemic impacted their community, they reported experiencing heightened anxiety and stress. To relieve stress, all participants used healthy coping strategies (e.g. walking and gardening). Originality/value The findings suggest that farmworker males are receptive to obtaining mental health services. In addition, they would benefit from resources highlighting healthy stress coping mechanisms. Due to their limited knowledge of current internet technology, efforts on how to promote and deliver mental health services and resources to farmworkers should be strategic and appropriate.

Mental health attitudes, norms, beliefs, and experiences with care among young Black men: A theory of planned behavior assessment.

Young Black/African American men (YBM) are at greater risk for trauma and related mental health concerns compared to young non-Hispanic White men but are less likely to receive mental health care when needed. The current study used a Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB)-guided framework to qualitatively explore beliefs, norms, and intentions related to seeking mental health screening and linkage to care (LTC) among YBM exposed to trauma. Participants (N = 55, Mage = 23 years) were YBM aged 18-30 recruited from urban community settings in Kansas City, MO, between October 2018 and April 2019 for participation in focus groups. Participants discussed lived experiences with trauma and mental health care, plus salient behavioral beliefs-both positive and negative. Key normative referents were significant others and family members, and participants endorsed greater motivation to seek care with their support. Control beliefs ranged from individual and interpersonal facilitators and barriers to more systemic factors (e.g., availability of providers, cost, lack of access, disparities in incarceration). Tailored interventions are needed to promote engagement in mental health services among YBM, with strategies that recognize cultural contexts and ongoing needs for general well-being. Recommendations for providers and systems are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Community perceptions and attitudes toward serious mental illness in Cambodia

BackgroundWorldwide, approximately 64 million people are living with serious mental illnesses (SMI), such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Because community perceptions and attitudes can impact help-seeking and the course of illness, understanding and incorporating these perspectives, and addressing misconceptions and harmful attitudes, is a critical component of comprehensive mental health support. These concepts are deeply rooted in local culture and belief systems, yet research to provide local understanding is often lacking, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to assess relative caregivers' and other key community members’ perceptions and attitudes towards people with SMI in Cambodia. MethodsA brief survey that included open-ended assessment of mental health knowledge and beliefs was interviewer-administered to 115 relative caregivers of people with SMI. Additionally, 20 community members considered knowledgeable about mental health (e.g., traditional healers, local authorities, family caregivers) participated in semi-structured qualitative interviews that explored perceptions and attitudes toward SMI in Cambodia. ResultsParticipants included 56 men and 79 women. While respondents were able to identify signs and symptoms of SMI, the most commonly perceived causes were spiritual (e.g., spells, ghosts); family crisis (e.g., domestic violence); and physical health problems. Both respondent groups showed empathy for people with SMI (e.g., pity) but also reported feelings of fear and shame (e.g., perceived tendency toward violence and not wanting to live with such a person). ConclusionBoth caregivers likely to seek help and respected local figures likely to be involved in initial help-seeking efforts demonstrated limited understanding of SMI as a medical disorder suitable for management within the formal healthcare system. Commonly reported misperceptions are likely to lead to delayed access to care and poorer treatment within the community. Strengthening mental health knowledge among caregivers and key community leaders may hold promise for improving peer support and community referral pathways.

Effects of Two Group Prenatal Care Interventions on Mental Health: An RCT

Perinatal depression and anxiety cost the U.S. health system $102 million annually and result in adverse health outcomes. Research supports that cognitive behavioral therapy improves these conditions, but barriers to obtaining cognitive behavioral therapy have prevented its success in pregnant individuals. In this study, the impact of a cognitive behavioral therapy-based intervention on anxiety, depression, stress, healthy lifestyle beliefs, and behaviors in pregnant people was examined. This study used a 2-arm RCT design, embedded in group prenatal care, with one arm receiving a cognitive behavioral therapy-based Creating Opportunities for Personal Empowerment program and the other receiving health promotion content. Black and Hispanic participants (n=299) receiving prenatal care from 2018 to 2022 in New York and Ohio who screened high on 1 of 3 mental health measures were eligible to participate. Participants were randomized into the manualized Creating Opportunities for Personal Empowerment cognitive behavioral therapy-based program, with cognitive behavioral skill-building activities delivered by advanced practice nurses in the obstetrical setting. Outcomes included anxiety, depression, and stress symptoms using valid and reliable tools (Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, and Perceived Stress Scale). The Healthy Lifestyle Beliefs and Behaviors Scales examined beliefs about maintaining a healthy lifestyle and reported healthy behaviors. There were no statistically significant differences between groups in anxiety, depression, stress, healthy beliefs, and behaviors. There were significant improvements in all measures over time. There were statistically significant decreases in anxiety, depression, and stress from baseline to intervention end, whereas healthy beliefs and behaviors significantly increased. Both cognitive behavioral therapy and health promotion content embedded in group prenatal care with advanced practice nurse delivery improved mental health and healthy lifestyle beliefs and behaviors at a time when perinatal mood generally worsens. This study is registered with clinicaltrials.gov NCT03416010.

Trauma, genes, or spirits? Development of a scale to provide a more nuanced understanding of refugees' causal attributions for mental health problems

Only a small proportion of refugees requiring treatment actually receive psychotherapy. Alongside structural barriers, it has been hypothesized that causal attributions for mental health problems that deviate from Western explanatory models may reduce refugees' help-seeking behavior. Prevailing assumptions suggest that refugees predominantly hold causal beliefs that are incompatible with the rationales of psychotherapy. Testing these assumptions requires a reliable assessment tool to evaluate refugees' causal beliefs. Therefore, we developed the Causal Attributions for Mental Health Problems Scale (MH-CAUSE) and validated it in a sample of Middle Eastern refugees living in Germany (N = 429). The outcomes of the psychometric analysis, which included exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, internal consistency, and convergent validity, indicate that the MH-CAUSE is a suitable instrument for assessing refugees' causal beliefs about mental health problems. Our findings suggest that refugees' causal attributions are in line with a biopsychosocial-spiritual model of mental illness. Contrary to common assumptions, the majority of participants predominantly explained mental illness via psychosocial and biomedical causes, whereas spiritual beliefs were relevant only for a minority of participants. We observed significant associations between causal beliefs and help-seeking attitudes and behavior. However, effect sizes were only small to moderate. While mental health beliefs might contribute to mental health inequities, alleged cultural differences of refugees should not be overemphasized.

Beliefs about mental health in incarcerated males: a qualitative interview study.

Beliefs about mental health are shaped by the sociocultural context. Prisons have unique environmental and social features, and the prevalence of mental health problems in incarcerated populations is exceptionally high. These features make prisons especially interesting settings for exploring health beliefs. The aim of this study was to explore the conceptualizations of mental health and coping preferences in a prison environment. Individual in-depth interviews were conducted with fifteen incarcerated males from three prisons in Northern Norway. The design draws on central elements from Grounded Theory. Mental health was perceived as distinct from mental illness by many of the participants. They coped with the prison environment by focusing on the things that gave them a sense of meaning and autonomy - this also formed their conceptualization of mental health. Furthermore, social interaction and activities were perceived as important to enhance and maintain mental well-being, however there were institutional barriers to using these coping strategies. The prison environment was integrated in the participants conceptualizations of mental health problems, and psychosocial stressors were emphasized in causal attributions. Biological and dispositional factors were less frequently mentioned. The participants preferred non-medical management for mental health problems and most displayed a reserved attitude towards psychotropic medications. The exception was attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, for which they held neurobiological causal beliefs, together with a corresponding preference for medication as treatment. The main finding was a firm integration of the prison context in in the participants' beliefs about mental health. We theorize that fusion of prison conditions and mental health beliefs were brought on by the processes of prisonization, observing mental distress in peers and attempts to protect self-esteem by externalizing the causes for mental health problems. Access to activities, social time, and "someone to talk to" were perceived to be crucial for improving and preserving mental health.

“We grew up in the church”: A critical discourse analysis of Black and White rural residents’ perceptions of mental health

RationaleKnown as the “Black-White mental health paradox,” Black Americans typically report better mental health than White Americans, despite chronic exposure to the psychologically harmful effects of racism and discrimination. Yet, researchers rarely examine how mental health is experienced across racial groups in economically distressed rural regions where all residents have disproportionately less access to mental healthcare resources. ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to explore how the racialized social system potentially contributes to the mental health beliefs and attitudes of racially majoritized and minoritized rural residents. MethodsWe conducted a secondary analysis of 29 health-focused oral history interviews from Black American (n = 16) and White American (n = 13) adults in rural North Carolina. Through critical discourse analysis, we found nuanced discourses linked to three mental-health-related topics: mental illness, stressors, and coping. ResultsWhite rural residents’ condemning discourses illustrated how their beliefs about mental illnesses were rooted in meritocratic notions of individual choice and personal responsibility. Conversely, Black rural residents offered compassionate discourses toward those who experience mental illness, and they described how macro-level mechanisms can affect individual well-being. Stressors also differed along racial lines, such that White residents were primarily concerned about perceived social changes, and Black residents referenced experiences of interpersonal and structural racism. Related to coping, Black and White rural residents characterized the mental health benefits of social support from involvement in their respective religious organizations. Only Black residents signified that a personal relationship with a higher power was an essential positive coping mechanism. ConclusionsOur findings suggest that belief (or disbelief) in meritocratic ideology and specific religious components could be important factors to probe with Black-White patterning in mental health outcomes. This research also suggests that sociocultural factors can disparately contribute to mental health beliefs and attitudes among diverse rural populations.

The Political Consequences of Depression: How Conspiracy Beliefs, Participatory Inclinations, and Depression Affect Support for Political Violence

AbstractDepression can affect individuals’ attitudes by enhancing cognitive biases and altering perceptions of control. We investigate the relationship between depressive symptoms and Americans’ attitudes regarding domestic extremist violence. We develop a theory that suggests the association between depression and support for political violence depends on conspiracy beliefs, participatory inclinations, and their combination. We test our theory using a two‐wave national survey panel from November 2020 and January 2021. We find that among those who hold conspiracy beliefs and/or have participatory inclinations, depression is positively associated with support for election violence and the January 6 Capitol riots. The participatory inclination dynamic is particularly strong for men. Our findings reveal how the intersection of two concerning features of American society—poor mental health and conspiratorial beliefs—strongly relate to another feature: support for political violence. The results also make clear that interventions aimed at addressing depression can potentially have substantial political consequences.

Mental Health Symptoms, Attitudes And Beliefs Of Healthcare Professionals At The Paralympic Games

Mental Health Symptoms, Attitudes And Beliefs Of Healthcare Professionals At The Paralympic Games