Mental Health Movement Research Articles

The Ayurvedic management of Spastic Paralysis w.s.r. Pakshaghata: A Case Report

In Ayurveda, Vata Dosha is considered to play a significant role in neurological health due to its association with movement and communication within the body. Vata governs the nervous system and is linked to the movement of nerve impulses and the coordination of bodily functions. When Vata is imbalanced, it can contribute to various neurological issues, including Nervous system disorders, Mental Health Issues, Cognitive Function, and Movement Disorders. Vata Dosha is associated with the movement and function of the nervous system, and imbalances can contribute to spastic paralysis (Pakshaghata). The pathology of paralysis related to Vata dosha is understood through its effects on the body’s neurological and muscular systems. Vata Dosha influences paralysis by nerve Impairment, muscle dysfunction, circulatory Issues and joint and tissue degradation which may be associated with paralysis. In this study, an attempt has been made to describe the scientific effects of Panchakarma procedures and Shamana Aushadha in this case.

Disclosure imperatives and women's subjectivities in an emergent culture of sexual trauma testimony

AbstractSince the democratization of the Maldives, a Sunni‐Islamic nation in the Indian Ocean, the Greater Male’ Region (GMR) has been the site of rapid social reform efforts. The state's democratizing efforts and local engagements with global feminist and mental health movements have led to the emergence of a culture of giving and bearing witness to sexual trauma testimony. I propose the term “disclosure imperatives,” and outline the three public discourses that produce this imperative in the Maldivian context. Next, drawing on interviews with Maldivian women who have experienced childhood sexual abuse, I illuminate how disclosure imperatives shape women's subjectivity and sociality. Using a critical phenomenological approach, I show that disclosure imperatives are, counterproductively, experienced as moralizing in interlocutors’ lifeworlds. Beyond focusing on women's “voice” or its absence as “silence,” the concept of disclosure imperatives illuminates the emotional and moral affects that cultures of disclosure engender in everyday lives.

Forging a psychological solidarity: from the community mental health movement to Latinx life coaching in the South Bronx

Forging a psychological solidarity: from the community mental health movement to Latinx life coaching in the South Bronx

Move Well, Feel Good: Feasibility and acceptability of a school-based motor competence intervention to promote positive mental health.

In response to the adverse impacts of the COVID-19 lockdown measures Move Well, Feel Good (MWFG) was developed as a school intervention using improvement of motor competence as a mechanism for promoting positive mental health. Study objectives were to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of MWFG and to describe changes in child-level outcomes. Five northwest England primary schools were recruited. MWFG was delivered over 10-weeks through physical education (PE) lessons, which were supplemented by optional class-time, break-time, and home activities. The intervention focused on development of 9-10 year-old children's motor competence in locomotor, object control, and stability skills, and psychosocial skills. Feasibility was evaluated against nine pre-defined criteria using surveys, interviews (teachers), and focus groups (children). Pre- and post-intervention assessments of motor competence, mental health, prosocial behaviour, wellbeing, and 24-hour movement behaviours were also completed. The five recruited schools represented 83% of the target number, 108 children consented (54% of target) with teachers recruited in all schools (100% of target). Intervention dose was reflected by 76% of the 45 scheduled PE lessons being delivered, and adherence was strong (>85% of children attending ≥75% of lessons). Positive indicators of acceptability were provided by 86% of children, 83% of PE teachers, and 90% of class teachers. Data collection methods were deemed acceptable by 91% of children and 80% of class teachers, and children spoke positively about participating in the data collection. Child-level outcome data collection was completed by 65%-97% of children, with a 3%-35% attrition rate at post-intervention, depending on measure. Favourable changes in motor competence (+13.7%), mental health difficulties (-8.8%), and prosocial behaviour (+7.6%) were observed. MWFG is an acceptable and feasible motor competence intervention to promote positive mental health. Content and delivery modifications could inform progression to a pilot trial with a more robust design.

Psychotic white men and bipolar black women? Racialized and gendered implications of mental health terminology

This study investigates the intersection of race, gender, and criminality in the language surrounding mental health and illness. Applying computational methods of word embeddings to full text data from major American newspapers between 2000 and 2023, I show that the landscape of mental health is broadly racialized as black, challenging the notion of mental illness as a predominantly white phenomenon. Cultural ideas about mental illness are gendered such that women are medicalized and men are criminalized, yet certain terms blur the boundary between illness and criminality. I highlight how stereotypes embedded in mental health language perpetuate stigma around men's mental health and justify social control with notable implications for black men. I conclude with recommendations for the mental health movement by advocating for more inclusive discussions around men's mental health and revised person-centric language.

A history of the community mental health movement and individuals with serious mental illness: A vision for the future.

The history of the development of the Global Alliance for Behavioral Health and Social Justice was founded on understanding the social determinants of mental health and society and the necessity for multiple disciplines to organize advocacy for human rights and social justice. This led way to a wide cross-section of disciplines working together to engage at the policy level, in legislation, and within community settings as the Community Mental Health Movement developed and made a path for the reformation of many forms within the mental health field. This article reviews some of that interesting history and the importance of understanding those fundamental roots as we also look at the future for what is next in advocacy, social justice action, and policy directions for advancing the lives of those with serious mental illness, who face some of the most oppressive forms of marginalization and rejection of human rights and citizenship. This article will outline social justice action agendas for the organization and diverse collaborative fields to pursue as we embark upon the future and envision the full rights of citizenship for those with serious mental illness. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Globalising dementia research: echoes of racialisation and colonialism

This paper offers some provocations regarding the contemporary globalisation of dementia research. I begin with a brief account of the late 20th-century genesis of the dementia research economy in the US and subsequent initiatives to extend that research across the majority world. I then trouble this political movement. I consider racialisation in dementia research as a parallel process to globalisation, with minoritised groups being positioned as new subjects for moral and knowledge claims regarding dementia. I suggest resonances with critiques of the global mental health movement as a technology of coloniality, which I argue are relevant to the current globalisation of dementia research. I contend that majority world populations are being positioned – scientifically and morally – as new research sites and as examples of why Anglo-American approaches to dementia are superior. These parallels require critical gerontologists to ask who is benefiting from the globalisation of dementia.

‘Where We Play: Nashville’ Kicks Off Movement for Better Mental Health for Athletes and Musicians

‘Where We Play: Nashville’ Kicks Off Movement for Better Mental Health for Athletes and Musicians

The 'social' in psychiatry and mental health: quantification, mental illness and society in international scientific networks (1920s-1950s).

The post-World War II international mental health movement placed significant emphasis on the concept of the 'social environment', a true paradigm shift in thinking about the causes of mental illness. Rather than focusing on individual risk factors, experts and policy-makers began to consider the interplay between social context and mental health and illness. Also, during this period, quantification gained prominence within the expanding field of Western psychiatry. Eventually, the concept of the 'social' became fragmented into quantifiable social determinants that could be correlated with mental illness and subjected to systematic neutralization. This trajectory paved the way for the prevailing biomedical psychiatric epidemiology. This broader inquiry challenges us to redefine our understanding of the 'social' in the context of mental health research and practice.

Depression and Global Mental Health in the Global South: A Critical Analysis of Policy and Discourse.

Over the past two decades, depression has become a prominent global public health concern, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Movement for Global Mental Health have developed international guidelines to improve mental health services globally, prioritizing LMICs. These efforts hold promise for advancing care and treatment for depression and other mental, neurological, and substance abuse disorders in LMICs. The intervention guides, such as the WHO's mhGAP-Intervention Guides, are evidence-based tools and guidelines to help detect, diagnose, and manage the most common mental disorders. Using the Global South as an empirical site, this article draws on Foucauldian critical discourse and document analysis methods to explore how these international intervention guides operate as part of knowledge-power processes that inscribe and materialize in the world in some forms rather than others. It is proposed that these international guidelines shape the global discourse about depression through their (re)production of biopolitical assumptions and impacts, governmentality, and "conditions of possibility." The article uses empirical data to show nuance, complexity, and multi-dimensionality where binary thinking sometimes dominates, and to make links across arguments for and against global mental health. The article concludes by identifying several resistive discourses and suggesting reconceptualizing the treatment gap for common mental disorders.

Kennedy Forum receives grant to support MH movement

The Kennedy Forum, a national effort to transform the way mental health and substance use disorder are treated in this country's health care system, announced last week the receipt of a significant grant that will aid in its next steps to move its mental health movement forward.

The state of coursework on horses in human services at universities and colleges in the United States: a scoping review

An increasing number of universities and colleges in the United States are offering coursework on adaptive/therapeutic riding and the incorporation of horses in human service areas such as psychotherapy, education, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology. The first study to identify coursework in these areas was published in 2018. In order to track development over time, we conducted a replication study to determine the prevalence of coursework on horses in human services at higher education institutions. Information gathered for the 2021–2022 academic year included the institution name, geographic location, number of courses and their focus, academic department offering the course, and level of study. We identified 122 courses provided by 48 higher education institutions in 29 states in the following areas: adaptive/therapeutic riding (N = 82, 67.2%), mental health (N = 19, 15.6%), education/learning (N = 2, 1.6%), and equine movement in physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology (hippotherapy) (N = 1, 0.8%). Survey or overview courses (N = 18, 14.8%) were also identified. These courses were offered both at the undergraduate (N = 114, 93.4%) and the graduate level (N = 8, 6.6%) by a total of 48 departments that either focused on animals, such as equine science, animal science, and agriculture (N = 27, 54%) or focused on humans, such as health science or liberal arts (N = 23, 46%). The results inform a discussion on changes over time as well as current challenges and opportunities for academic programs offering coursework about horses in human services.

Global Mental Health Movement: Need for a cultural perspective.

The present commentary reviews the goals and differing positions on the Movement for Global Mental Health (GMH), with a distinct emphasis on the cultural differences in the understanding of the aetiology of mental health issues. The proponents and advocates of GMH support its intentions and primary agenda of scaling up mental health services, especially in low-income and middle-income countries where the prevalence of mental health disorders is continually rising. However, many cultural psychologists and sociologists critique the movement for universalising psychiatric symptoms, as this universalisation could actually suppress local voices and might also undermine the significance of culture and political and psychosocial predictors which may contribute to mental health challenges. After discussing the pros and cons of the GMH movement, this commentary concludes with a conceptual analysis of the GMH position and offers predictions about its future discourse.

Changing the level of mental health and fundamental movement skills on pencak silat athletes through game-based circuit training

Purpose: The decline in mental health and fundamental movement skills of athletes in the COVID-19 era has become a crucial issue and limited research on the effects of game-based circuit training towards changes in mental health levels and fundamental movement skills was a gap in this research. This study aims to investigate the effects of game-based circuit training in changing mental health levels and fundamental movement skills.
 Material and methods: This study adapted a quantitative approach with experimental methods. The participants in this study were pencak silat athletes at the Makassar State University located in Indonesia (n=40). Participants were divided into 2 groups, an experimental group that received game-based circuit training (n=20) and a control group that only did their usual daily training (n=20). Instrument that used to measure mental health was depression, anxiety and stress while fundamental movement skills used the gross motor development test. Data was analyzed with IBM SPSS to find the normality, mean and standard deviation. Meanwhile, Paired sample t-test was used to test differences in mental health and fundamental movement skills scores in the experimental and control groups.
 Results: This study has obtained several findings. First, game-based circuit training was proven to significantly change mental health levels (p<0.05). Second, game-based circuit training could also change the level of fundamental movement skills became better (p<0.05), but different results were shown in the control group which had no effect on mental health and fundamental movement skills (p>0.05).
 Conclusions: This research has a great contribution to the development of sports, especially in pencak silat and provide solutions for coaches and athletes in maintaining the quality of mental health and fundamental movement skills through game-based circuits.

Intervention Studies for Mental Health: A Comprehensive Exploration of Historical Evolution, Theoretical Foundations, and Contemporary Applications

This research comprehensively explores the evolution of intervention studies in psychology, spanning the late 19th century to the present day. Grounded in the seminal works of Gergen, Kazdin, and Beck, the investigation traces the transition from behaviourism to cognitive-behavioural approaches, the rise of positive psychology, and the integration of cutting-edge technologies in the 21st century. Examining diverse domains such as mental health, education, social behaviour, and clinical disorders, the study illuminates the role of interventions in bridging the gap between theory and practical applications. Historical milestones, including World War II and the community mental health movement, are examined to reveal external influences on intervention research. The research emphasizes the transformative impact of technological advancements, ushering in a new era of digital interventions and virtual platforms that offer personalized, scalable solutions, underscoring the dynamic adaptability of intervention studies to contemporary societal needs. Keywords: Interventions, Historical Evolutions, Methods of Intervention, Issues of Intervention, Behaviour Modifications, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy.

S12-4 Feasibility evaluation of the Move Well, Feel Good movement behaviours intervention

Abstract Purpose Improving children’s motor competence through school-based physical activity interventions may be a mechanism for promoting positive mental health through psychosocial factors. Move Well, Feel Good (MWFG) is a such an intervention that was co-designed with children, class teachers, physical education (PE) teachers, and school leaders. This presentation describes the feasibility evaluation of MWFG. Methods Five primary schools were recruited from a low socioeconomic status community in northwest England. A 10-week intervention was co-designed which aimed to enhance children’s mental health through motor competence and psychosocial development. The core delivery of the programme involved one PE lesson per week devoted to development of locomotor, object control, and stability skills. This was supplemented by optional recess and home activities, and by non-PE curricular activities. Teachers were asked to record details of each MWFG session taught, and feasibility was evaluated against pre-defined criteria using surveys, interviews (teachers), and participatory focus groups (children). Pre- and post-intervention assessments of motor competence, mental health, wellbeing, psychosocial factors, and 24-hour movement behaviours were also completed. Results The 5 schools represented 83% of the target number of schools and 108 children consented (43% of target). PE and class teachers were recruited in all schools (100% of target). Intervention dose was reflected by 76% of scheduled PE lessons being delivered. Adherence was strong with >85% of children attending ≥75% of lessons. Positive indicators of acceptability were provided by 86% of children, 83% of PE teachers, and 90% of class teachers. Teachers commented on the children’s positive engagement irrespective of ability, the quality of resources provided, and the challenges of competing demands for curriculum time and spaces to deliver MWFG. The data collection methods were deemed acceptable by 91% of children and 80% of class teachers, and children spoke positively about participating in the data collection. Secondary outcome data collection was completed by 87%-100% of children, with a 0%-6% attrition rate at post-intervention. Descriptive analysis revealed favourable changes in motor competence and mental health. Conclusions MWFG was deemed to be feasible to develop further into a pilot trial, with improved school and child recruitment strategies warranted.

Preventing Suicide: Time to Mobilize the Physical Therapist Workforce.

Each year, approximately 700,000 people, including 46,000 Americans, die by suicide; however, many more people experience suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Historically, the prevention of suicide has largely been the domain of mental health professionals working within specialist mental health care settings. An issue with this approach is that many individuals who experience suicidal ideation never disclose these thoughts to a mental health professional. The nonprofessional and paraprofessional mental health movement aims to bring suicide prevention to the people who need it, rather than wait for them to seek help. The nonprofessional and paraprofessional mental health movement does so by upskilling people who are not recognized as mental health professionals but may have contact with people experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviors. In this Perspective, we argue that physical therapists are well-positioned to engage in suicide prevention. For example, physical therapists working in pain management are likely to frequently encounter clients experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Physical therapy is also viewed as a physical health profession, meaning that they may have contact with a broad range of populations at high risk of suicide who may be difficult to reach through traditional channels (eg, men from rural communities). Physical therapists will require training on how to provide crisis support, including how to link clients with appropriate mental health services. However, given the size of the physical therapist workforce globally, the impact of mobilizing the physical therapist workforce could be significant.

The Movement for Global Mental Health: Critical Views from South and Southeast Asia.Edited by WilliamSax and ClaudiaLang, Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press. 2021. pp. 336.

The Movement for Global Mental Health: Critical Views from South and Southeast Asia.Edited by WilliamSax and ClaudiaLang, Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press. 2021. pp. 336.

Opening up mental health research.

Open science provides a compelling framework for accelerating global collaborations and enabling discoveries to understand and treat mental health disorders. Herein, we discuss the advantages and obstacles to adopting open science in mental health research, considering the particularities of sensitive and diverse data types, the potential of co-designing projects with research participants and the opportunity of amplifying open science by integration with mental health care. We present a practical example of how this landscape may be navigated to adopt open science across an entire research centre, in 5 steps, namely leadership committing to open science; finding models, resources and allies; identifying needs; defining open science principles; and putting principles into practice. We derive lessons learned that can be built upon by researchers and research organizations joining the open science movement in mental health.

“When you Search a #Hashtag, it Feels Like You’re Searching for Death:” Black Twitter and Communication About Police Brutality Within the Black Community

Despite heightened levels of scrutiny and enhanced media coverage, excessive force by law enforcement continues to result in the disproportionate death of Black civilians. As a central rallying cry of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, mitigating instances of police brutality is of the utmost importance, and Twitter is a known mobilization and protest tool of the BLM movement. Yet, research surrounding police brutality specifically is sparse as police departments are not mandated to report cases of brutality, and the submission of body camera footage is often nonexistent or delayed. Fortunately, technological advancements, particularly the rise of Black Twitter and smartphones, have radically altered communication about information-seeking related to and knowledge circulation of police brutality. Using Critical Race Theory as the anchor, this qualitative study utilized a trauma-informed interview approach to better understand how Black Americans use Twitter to engage with the timely issue of police brutality. The following themes emerged from the analysis: (1) Remembering #PhilandoCastile, (2) Twitter: place for breaking news, (3) Twitter: organic connections in a Black-centered space, (4) Twitter: Firsthand Accounts/Authenticity, and (5) the dilemma of retweeting graphic images/videos. Findings from this study can be used to better understand how Blackness and social media intersect to impact various fields, including digital media, policing, mental health, and social movements.