Training Of Mental Health Professionals Research Articles

Perspectives of psychiatrists on Mental Health Care Act, 2017: An in-depth pilot survey

ABSTRACT Background: The Mental Health Care Act, 2017 (MHCA, 17) was passed through both houses of the parliament. The Indian Psychiatric Society through its Patient’s Rights Task Force committee has been deliberating various rounds of discussion at levels of stakeholders, mental health professionals, and patients’ perspective. However, a scarce budget for mental health services, lack of trained mental health professionals, and poor infrastructure and logistics pose a challenge for this new act as still there is a lack of awareness of different provisions of MHCA at the administrative, judiciary, and public levels. Aim: The present study was undertaken to address the perspectives of psychiatrists related to MHCA,2017 its provisions. Materials and Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was designed to gather information on awareness about MHCA, 2017. The responses were collected from the member psychiatrists of Indian Psychiatric Society in a google form including the suggestions regarding amendments in MHCA, 2017. Results: 22.6% of participants were using MHCA in clinical practice completely, and 20.2% did not use it all. 52.4% stated that they are using it partly. Capacity assessment of the person suffering from mental illness was done by 52.4% of participants in day-to-day clinical practice. 35.7% denied assessing it. With respect to section 309 IPC, 31% were registering and managing suicide attempts as medico legal cases and 63.1% as non-MLC cases. 54.2% of the participants were not aware about medical insurance for mental health. The qualitative data suggest the act should be simplified including relaxation in provisions of minor, capacity assessment and ensure active functioning of various authorities. Conclusions: Amendments are required in MHCA, 2017 taking into cognizance the opinions from various practicing psychiatrists who are facing hurdles in routine clinical practice.

Adolescent mental health services in West Africa: a comparative analysis of Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Niger

BackgroundAdolescent mental health (AMH) is a critical issue worldwide, particularly in West Africa, where it is intensified by socio-economic, cultural, and security challenges. Insecurity and the presence of mining sites expose adolescents to hazardous environments, substance abuse, and adulterated alcohol, further aggravating their mental health. Despite these severe issues, research on AMH in this region remains limited. This study aims to analyze the provision of AMH services in Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Niger, highlighting the unique challenges these countries face within the broader West African healthcare context.MethodsThe study adopted a multi-stage, stratified sampling design to collect data from primary healthcare centers (PHCs) in the three countries. Using STATA.17, Descriptive analysis was conducted on the data related to availability of AMH services, types of mental health disorders treated, resources available, and OPD attendance rates. The analysis also incorporated factors such as the rural-urban divide and the presence of national guidelines for AMH services.ResultsThe findings reveal a significant shortfall in the provision of AMH services across the region, with less than 30% of PHCs across all the countries offering these services. The study also highlights a pronounced rural-urban disparity in AMH service availability, a general absence of national guidelines for AMH care, and low OPD attendance rates.ConclusionThe study highlights the urgent need for comprehensive policy reform and targeted interventions to enhance AMH services in West Africa. Key policy reforms should include the development and implementation of national guidelines for AMH care and integration of AMH services into primary healthcare. Additionally, efforts should focus on capacity building through the training of mental health professionals, increasing public awareness to reduce stigma, and ensuring equitable resource allocation across rural and urban areas. Improving AMH care is essential not only for the well-being of adolescents but also for driving broader socio-economic development in the region.

Debate: How much should nonspecialists be involved in mental health care when resources are limited? A perspective from low- and middle-income countries.

Millions of children and young people (CYP) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) have no access to mental health care. This huge treatment gap is primarily due to limited availability of trained mental health professionals. We propose task-sharing as a scalable strategy to expand access to child and adolescent mental health (CAMH) interventions in LMICs. Task-sharing involves using the few mental health specialists in LMICs to train and supervise nonspecialists to provided CAMH interventions. There is strong evidence of clinical and cost effectiveness of task-shared mental health interventions for adults in LMICs and promising evidence for CYP. To succeed, task-shared programmes need to be embedded in a balanced system-wide care setting that includes stakeholder involvement. The existing mental health specialists may require additional training in leadership, supervision, mentoring, service design and evaluation in order to meet the additional expectations of managing task-sharing programmes. The nonspecialists to be trained would need assurances about workload, ongoing supervision, clinical back up for cases that exceed their expertise, certification for their training and career progression. CAMH task-sharing offers good promise for increasing CYP's access to mental health interventions in LMICs. However, planners need to be aware of the important practical, ethical and contextual considerations necessary for success and sustainability.

Integrating vocational and higher education to train mental health professionals: a qualitative investigation

ABSTRACT Objective This study investigates an integrated approach to training higher education students for mental health work by exploring the experiences of undergraduate psychology students completing a Certificate IV in Mental Health during their degree. Method Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 8 undergraduate psychology students, in which participants were asked about their experiences, knowledge and skills gained through their course, and career aspirations on course completion. Data were analysed using a reflexive thematic analysis. Results Seven themes were identified ‘Rewarding challenge’, ‘Working with people’, ‘Understanding mental health’, ‘Value of skills’, ‘Psychologist-as-calling’, ‘Testing/Affirming/Broadening’, and ‘Theory-Practice’. Participants reported increased knowledge and skills concerning working within a mental health context. They also reported that completing the Certificate IV in Mental Health affirmed their career aspirations to work in the mental health sector as a general mental health professional or as a psychologist. Discussion Although the benefits to students are clear, exploring this approach as a means to train mental health workers to meet existing service gaps merits further discussion. These findings have implications for using integrated qualifications as a training model for the mental health workforce.

Children and adolescents at risk for seclusion and restraint in inpatient psychiatric treatment: a case control study

To reduce coercion in acute inpatient child and adolescent psychiatric units, a better understanding of individuals at risk for seclusion and/or restraint (S/R) is needed. We report data on the proportion of patients secluded/restrained and factors associated with higher risk of S/R. Identifying preventative mechanisms through risk stratification upon inpatient admission can aid the training of mental health professionals, and support shaping specific workflows for at-risk populations for example by joint crisis plans or post-coercion review sessions. Methods: A case-control study included all admissions (n = 782) to a department of child and adolescent psychiatry within 36 months between 2019 and 2022. Data on age, sex, out of home care, primary and comorbid ICD-10 diagnoses, length of stay, prior/multiple admissions were compared between admissions with and without S/R using chi square tests for categorical and t-tests for continuous variables. Uni- and multivariate binary logistic regression models were computed. Results: The overall proportion of S/R was 12.8% (n = 100). Females (p = 0.001), patients in out of home care (p < 0.001), with prior admission (p < 0.001), Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD; p < 0.001) and Borderline personality disorder (BPD; p < 0.001) were at a significantly higher risk of S/R. Length of stay in days (OR 1.01), out of home care (OR 3.85), PTSD (OR 6.20), BPD (OR 15.17), Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)/conduct disorder (OR 4.29), and manic episode/bipolar disorder (OR 36.41) were significantly associated with S/R in multivariate regression. Conclusions: Child and adolescent psychiatric staff should consider risk factors when using coercive measures. Patients with PTSD and/or BPD are the most vulnerable subgroups. Training of professionals and clinical practice need to be adapted in order to prevent the use of S/R and its potential hazards.

Effectiveness of a group psychological intervention to reduce psychosocial distress in adolescents in Pakistan: a single-blind, cluster randomised controlled trial

Emotional problems in adolescents living in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) remain largely unaddressed; key reasons include a scarcity of trained mental health professionals and unavailability of evidence-based, scalable psychological interventions. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a non-specialist-delivered, group psychological intervention to reduce psychosocial distress in school-going adolescents in Pakistan. In a two-arm, single-blind, cluster randomised controlled trial, eligible public school clusters from a rural subdistrict of Gujar Khan, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, were randomised (1:1, stratified by sex) using permuted block randomisation into intervention (n=20) and wait-list control (n=20) groups. Adolescents aged 13-15 years who provided informed assent and caregivers' consent were screened for psychosocial distress using the youth-reported Pediatric Symptoms Checklist (PSC; total psychosocial distress scores from 0 to 70), and those scoring 28 or more and their caregivers were enrolled into the trial. Adolescents in the intervention group received seven weekly group sessions and their caregivers received three biweekly group sessions in school settings from trained non-specialists. The primary outcome was change from baseline in the total PSC scores at 3 months post-intervention. The trial was registered prospectively with the International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number registry, ISRCTN17755448. From the 40 school clusters that were included, 282 adolescents in the intervention group and 284 adolescents in the wait-list control group were enrolled between Nov 2 and Nov 30, 2021. At 3 months, adolescents in the intervention group had significantly lower mean total score on the PSC compared with adolescents in the control group (mean difference in change from baseline 3·48 [95% CI 1·66-5·29], p=0·0002, effect size 0·38 [95% CI 0·18-0·57]; adjusted mean difference 3·26 (95% CI 1·46-5·06], p=0·0004, effect size 0·35 (0·16-0·55). No adverse events were reported in either group. The group psychological intervention most likely represents a feasible and effective option for adolescents with psychosocial distress in school settings. UK Medical Research Council, Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, Department of Health and Social Care. For the Urdu translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

The Impact of Existentialism on Contemporary Mental Health Practices

Purpose: The general objective of this study was to explore the impact of existentialism on contemporary mental health practices. Methodology: The study adopted a desktop research methodology. Desk research refers to secondary data or that which can be collected without fieldwork. Desk research is basically involved in collecting data from existing resources hence it is often considered a low cost technique as compared to field research, as the main cost is involved in executive’s time, telephone charges and directories. Thus, the study relied on already published studies, reports and statistics. This secondary data was easily accessed through the online journals and library. Findings: The findings reveal that there exists a contextual and methodological gap relating to the impact of existentialism on contemporary mental health practices. Preliminary empirical review revealed that integrating existential principles into contemporary mental health practices significantly enhanced psychological well-being by fostering self-awareness, personal growth, and the ability to cope with existential anxieties. It demonstrated that existential therapies offered a more holistic and personalized approach to mental health care, addressing both symptomatic relief and underlying existential concerns. Additionally, the study highlighted the importance of cultural sensitivity, emphasizing that culturally adapted existential therapies were more effective and accessible across diverse cultural contexts, thereby improving mental health outcomes globally. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The Existential Theory, Humanistic Theory and Cognitive Behavioural Theory may be used to anchor future studies on the impact of existentialism on contemporary mental health practices. The study recommended integrating existential principles into psychological theories, training mental health professionals in existential therapeutic approaches, and developing culturally adapted versions of these therapies. It emphasized the need for mental health policies to recognize the importance of existential concerns and support the inclusion of existential therapies in standard care. The study also suggested revising mental health education curricula to incorporate existential psychology, providing continuing education for current practitioners, and increasing public awareness to destigmatize existential issues. These steps aim to enhance theoretical frameworks, clinical practices, and policy development in mental health care.

The Philosophy of Technology and Its Impact on Human Values

Purpose: The general objective of this study was to explore the impact of existentialism on contemporary mental health practices. Methodology: The study adopted a desktop research methodology. Desk research refers to secondary data or that which can be collected without fieldwork. Desk research is basically involved in collecting data from existing resources hence it is often considered a low cost technique as compared to field research, as the main cost is involved in executive’s time, telephone charges and directories. Thus, the study relied on already published studies, reports and statistics. This secondary data was easily accessed through the online journals and library. Findings: The findings reveal that there exists a contextual and methodological gap relating to the impact of existentialism on contemporary mental health practices. Preliminary empirical review revealed that integrating existential principles into contemporary mental health practices significantly enhanced psychological well-being by fostering self-awareness, personal growth, and the ability to cope with existential anxieties. It demonstrated that existential therapies offered a more holistic and personalized approach to mental health care, addressing both symptomatic relief and underlying existential concerns. Additionally, the study highlighted the importance of cultural sensitivity, emphasizing that culturally adapted existential therapies were more effective and accessible across diverse cultural contexts, thereby improving mental health outcomes globally. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The Existential Theory, Humanistic Theory and Cognitive Behavioural Theory may be used to anchor future studies on the impact of existentialism on contemporary mental health practices. The study recommended integrating existential principles into psychological theories, training mental health professionals in existential therapeutic approaches, and developing culturally adapted versions of these therapies. It emphasized the need for mental health policies to recognize the importance of existential concerns and support the inclusion of existential therapies in standard care. The study also suggested revising mental health education curricula to incorporate existential psychology, providing continuing education for current practitioners, and increasing public awareness to destigmatize existential issues. These steps aim to enhance theoretical frameworks, clinical practices, and policy development in mental health care.

TRAUMA, ADDICTION, AND THE PATH TO RECOVERY AFTER THE KAHRAMANMARAŞ EARTHQUAKES

The 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes in Turkey, characterized by their suddenness and severity, have highlighted the acute need to understand and address the psychological aftermath of such natural disasters. This article examines the intersection of trauma and addiction that frequently follows such catastrophic events. It delves into the widespread psychological distress and the documented rise in post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, and addictive behaviors among the affected populations. The review synthesizes findings from global earthquake studies, including those from Japan, Nepal, Italy, Iran, Pakistan, Haiti and China, to draw parallels and learn from previous experiences in managing post-disaster mental health challenges. The article proposes a multi-pronged approach to intervention that includes immediate responses such as Psychological First Aid and longer-term strategies like sustained psychological counseling and community-based support. It acknowledges the complexity of integrating cultural nuances into these interventions and highlights the importance of ethical considerations, political coordination, and the need for training mental health professionals in trauma-informed care. Challenges such as resource limitations, infrastructural damage, cultural barriers, and the need for long-term sustainability of mental health programs are discussed. Furthermore, the article stresses the importance of supporting the mental health of professionals and volunteers working in disaster zones, who are at risk of burnout and secondary trauma. Innovative and adaptable interventions, supported by rapid and responsive research, are advocated to improve mental health outcomes. This comprehensive review contributes to the discourse on disaster response, emphasizing that addressing both trauma and addiction is essential for the holistic recovery of affected individuals and communities.

Evaluation of a novel co-designed and co-delivered training package to de-escalate violence and aggression in UK acute inpatient, PICU and forensic mental health settings.

BACKGROUND: Evidence suggests a discrepancy between recommended and routine practice in de-escalation in mental health settings, suggesting a lack of impact of existing training. To investigate the acceptability and perceived impact of a co-designed/delivered training intervention on a trauma-informed approach to de-escalation on mental health wards. Trainees were invited to complete the Training Acceptability Rating Scale (TARS) post-training. Responses to the quantitative items were summarized using descriptive statistics, and open-text responses were coded using content analysis. Of 214 trainees, 211 completed the TARS. The trainees rated the training favourably (median overall TARS = 55/63), as acceptable (median 33/36) and impactful (median 23/27). There were five qualitative themes: modules of interest; multiple perspectives; modes of delivery; moulding to context; and modifying other elements. The EDITION training was found to be acceptable and impactful, with trainees particularly valuing the co-delivery model. Trainees suggested several ways in which the training could be improved, particularly around the need for further moulding of the intervention to the specific ward contexts/teams. We recommend co-designing and co-delivering staff training to mental health professionals that tackles restrictive practices. This research is relevant to lived experience practitioners who want to be involved in training mental health professionals around restrictive practices, demonstrating the value and importance of their voice. It is relevant to current providers of de-escalation training, and to staff receiving training, outlining a novel, but acceptable and impactful, form of training on a key area of mental health practice. It is relevant to anyone with an interest in reducing restrictive practice via co-delivered training.

Short report: Integrated evaluations for autism spectrum disorder in pediatric primary care clinics.

Primary care providers often screen for autism during well child visits in the first few years of life and refer children for diagnostic evaluations when needed. However, most children do not receive a diagnosis until years later which delays access to services. Racism, socioeconomic status, and other systemic inequalities that limit access to health care further delay diagnostic evaluations. Mental health clinicians who work in primary care clinics can help address barriers to accessing diagnostic evaluation services once they are recommended by their primary care provider. However, mental health clinicians who work in primary care typically do not have training in diagnosing autism. The goal of this study was to evaluate a program training mental health professionals working in an urban primary care setting, primarily serving Black and Latinx families insured by Medicaid, to provide autism diagnostic evaluations. Two hundred and fifty children completed evaluations through the Autism in Primary Care (APC) program. The wait time to access an evaluation through APC was significantly shorter than through standard avenues of care (e.g. referring to a separate autism clinic). Referring primary care providers and caregivers endorsed high levels of satisfaction with the program. Conducting autism evaluations in primary care settings offers a promising opportunity to improve earlier diagnosis and treatment access for families, reduce inequities in care, and increase caregiver and child well-being.

Mental health professional training for teachers and student outcomes: quasi-experimental evidence from Chinese middle schools

ABSTRACT By using the quasi-experiment of random class assignment, we examined the impact of mental health professional training for teachers on student outcomes in Chinese middle schools. The results indicate that assigning students to classes with Mental Health Training Certificate (MHTC)-equipped homeroom teachers significantly improves their non-cognitive abilities, and the instrumental variable (IV) estimates remain significant. Moreover, this positive effect is more pronounced among disadvantaged students. Mechanism analysis shows that MHTC enhances homeroom teachers’ attributes and fosters a better classroom atmosphere.

Urbanization and its Mental Health Implications in the Philippines

The objective of this research is to examine the effectiveness of integrated mental health services in urban settings within the Philippines, with a particular focus on the challenges posed by rapid urbanization. The study aims to develop a comprehensive framework that assesses the availability, accessibility, and efficacy of mental health services in metropolitan areas, thereby contributing to the improvement of public health strategies in urban environments. Utilizing a robust methodological approach, the research evaluates several key components of mental health services, including intervention strategies, community engagement, and policy implementation. The results indicate that while there are numerous services available, significant gaps in service accessibility and effectiveness remain. Factor analysis identified five critical areas for improvement: 1) Community Awareness and Stigma Reduction; 2) Integration of Mental Health into Primary Health Care; 3) Enhanced Training for Mental Health Professionals; 4) Strengthened Support Networks; 5) Policy and Infrastructure Development. The study also highlights the importance of aligning service provision with the specific cultural and socioeconomic contexts of Filipino urban populations. The findings underscore the need for a multi-disciplinary approach to mental health care that includes both governmental and community-level involvement.

Effects of Training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Motivational Interviewing on Mental Health Practitioner Behaviour: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis

ABSTRACTEffective training of mental health professionals is crucial for bridging the gap between research and practice when delivering cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and motivational interviewing (MI) within community settings. However, previous research has provided inconclusive evidence regarding the impact of training efforts. The current study aimed to systematically search, review and synthesize the literature on CBT and MI training to assess its effect on practitioner behavioural outcomes. Following prospective registration, a literature search was conducted for studies where mental health practitioners were exposed to training in face‐to‐face CBT or MI, reporting on at least one quantitative practitioner behavioural outcome. A total of 116 studies were eligible for the systematic review, and 20 studies were included in four meta‐analyses. The systematic review highlights the need to establish psychometrically valid outcome measures for practitioner behaviour. Results of the meta‐analyses suggest that training has a greater effect on practitioner behaviour change compared to receiving no training or reading a treatment manual. Training combined with consultation/supervision was found to be more effective than training alone, and no differences were found between face‐to‐face and online training. Results should be interpreted with caution due to methodological limitations in the primary studies, large heterogeneity, and small samples in the meta‐analyses. Future directions are discussed.

Ethical and practical considerations for mandating suicide prevention training for mental health professionals.

Ethical and practical considerations for mandating suicide prevention training for mental health professionals.

Improving Skills and Knowledge: Adapting a Core Competencies Suicide Risk Assessment Training Program to Support Mental Health Professionals in Hungary

Introduction Competency and skill-based education and assessment have become increasingly significant in mental health professional training. The conventional approach of acquiring knowledge is now being supplemented by emphasizing practical skills and implementing best practices that prove effective in the field. This emphasis on competencies is particularly apparent in the instruction regarding suicide risk evaluation and management. Cramer and colleagues have identified ten core competencies essential for working with patients at risk of suicide and developed a training material (Cramer et al. 2013, Train. Educ. Prof. Psychol; 1 1-11).Objectives We aim to tailor Cramer et al.’s training program to the Hungarian setting and assess its efficacy among mental health experts, including psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, and social workers. Additionally, we aim to validate the Suicide Prevention and Assessment - Competency Assessment Form (SCAF-R), which comprises a ten-item survey to measure the ten core competencies’ levels with Likert scales and textual ratings by observers. Through this training program, we aim to offer mental health professionals an educational framework to enhance their skills in evaluating and managing suicide risk. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive approach to suicide risk assessment and better equip professionals to handle this emotionally difficult clinical task.Methods We have created a Hungarian version of the core competencies training material tailored to the culture. We are assessing changes in attitudes towards suicide behavior and prevention by administering pre- and post-training psychometric measures, such as Willingness to Intervene against Suicide (WISE), Suicide Behavior Attitude Questionnaire (SBAQ), Attitudes Toward Suicide Prevention Scale (ASP), and Suicide Competency Assessment Form - Revised (SCAF-R). A quantitative analysis will be performed on the responses. The research was approved by Péterfy Hospital’s Institutional Review Board (IRB): approval number 07-2023.ResultsThe questionnaires’ results will be summarized with standard statistical methods.ConclusionsImproving mental health education in healthcare with up-to-date knowledge of evidence-based best practices is a top priority. Enhancing skills and knowledge can lower clinicians’ anxiety in this emotionally challenging and burdensome task. There is a high demand for mental health workshop training among healthcare workers in both undergraduate and post-graduate education. We expect positive changes in attitude and self-perceived competencies in participants.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Combining mHealth Technology and Pharmacotherapy to Improve Mental Health Outcomes and Reduce Human Rights Abuses in West Africa: Intervention Field Trial.

In West Africa, healers greatly outnumber trained mental health professionals. People with serious mental illness (SMI) are often seen by healers in "prayer camps" where they may also experience human rights abuses. We developed "M&M," an 8-week-long dual-pronged intervention involving (1) a smartphone-delivered toolkit designed to expose healers to brief psychosocial interventions and encourage them to preserve human rights (M-Healer app), and (2) a visiting nurse who provides medications to their patients (Mobile Nurse). We examined the feasibility, acceptability, safety, and preliminary effectiveness of the M&M intervention in real-world prayer camp settings. We conducted a single-arm field trial of M&M with people with SMI and healers at a prayer camp in Ghana. Healers were provided smartphones with M-Healer installed and were trained by practice facilitators to use the digital toolkit. In parallel, a study nurse visited their prayer camp to administer medications to their patients. Clinical assessors administered study measures to participants with SMI at pretreatment (baseline), midtreatment (4 weeks) and post treatment (8 weeks). Seventeen participants were enrolled and most (n=15, 88.3%) were retained. Participants had an average age of 44.3 (SD 13.9) years and 59% (n=10) of them were male. Fourteen (82%) participants had a diagnosis of schizophrenia and 2 (18%) were diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Four healers were trained to use M-Healer. On average, they self-initiated app use 31.9 (SD 28.9) times per week. Healers watched an average of 19.1 (SD 21.2) videos, responded to 1.5 (SD 2.4) prompts, and used the app for 5.3 (SD 2.7) days weekly. Pre-post analyses revealed a significant and clinically meaningful reduction in psychiatric symptom severity (Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale score range 52.3 to 30.9; Brief Symptom Inventory score range 76.4 to 27.9), psychological distress (Talbieh Brief Distress Inventory score range 37.7 to 16.9), shame (Other as Shamer Scale score range 41.9 to 28.5), and stigma (Brief Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale score range 11.8 to 10.3). We recorded a significant reduction in days chained (1.6 to 0.5) and a promising trend for reduction in the days of forced fasting (2.6 to 0.0, P=.06). We did not identify significant pre-post changes in patient-reported working alliance with healers (Working Alliance Inventory), depressive symptom severity (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), quality of life (Lehman Quality of Life Interview for the Mentally Ill), beliefs about medication (Beliefs about Medications Questionnaire-General Harm subscale), or other human rights abuses. No major side effects, health and safety violations, or serious adverse events occurred over the course of the trial. The M&M intervention proved to be feasible, acceptable, safe, and clinically promising. Preliminary findings suggest that the M-Healer toolkit may have shifted healers' behaviors at the prayer camp so that they commit fewer human rights abuses.

Messages from rainbow rangatahi to mental health professionals in training

ABSTRACT Past research has shown significant inequities in mental health outcomes between rainbow and non-rainbow people, particularly for youth. Rainbow youth report mixed experiences when accessing support, signalling the need for increased rainbow competency training for mental health professionals (MHPs). While previous research has explored the experiences of rainbow young people, little research has sought direct messages from rainbow youth to training MHPs. The current study presents a thematic analysis of messages from rainbow rangatahi (14–24 years) to training MHPs. We identify six themes: (1) check your assumptions, (2) treat us with empathy and respect, (3) earn our trust, (4) you need to self-reflect, (5) balance getting to know me with educating yourself, and (6) hear our stories. Participants’ responses describe their experiences within the mental health sector and in life, and their recommendations for what practitioners should both implement and avoid in their practice. We reflect on whether current recommendations for MHPs working with rainbow people align with these messages. Finally, we discuss the possibility of personal narratives enacting social change. The findings of the current study reflect the need for rainbow cultural competency training, grounded in the voices of rainbow people, to become mandatory for all MHPs.

Supporting future doctors: Mental health help-seeking behaviour in medical students at the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

Abstract Studies have shown that medical students may have higher rates of mental distress than the general population. Serious consequences thereof include academic failure, substance use and suicide attempts. In the wake of recent media reports of suicide in university students, mental health help-seeking behaviours and associated barriers to help-seeking in clinical year medical students at the University of Witwatersrand were examined. It was found that although formal mental healthcare was viewed favourably, medical students most often sought assistance from family members or friends rather than trained mental health professionals. The most commonly reported barriers to seeking mental healthcare were lack of time (primarily due to academic obligations) and fears of stigma and discrimination from colleagues and superiors. The need for support structures to be more easily accessible to medical students is highlighted by these findings, as well as the importance of lecturers and university staff being more familiar with the mental health screening of medical students.

Нові стандарти підготовки фахівців сфери охорони психічного здоров’я на етапі післядипломної освіти.

Abstract. The article deals with the issues of quality training of professionals in the field of mental healthcare, which is an urgent problem in the context of the war in Ukraine. Postgraduate medical education is an important stage of their training and is included in the ongoing professional development of psychiatrists as a process of continuous enhancement of professional knowledge and skills. Specialization is one of the types of training for mental health professionals. Taking into consideration the complex challenges of the current stage of postgraduate education development in Ukraine and the new standards of higher education introduced in our country, the academic staff of the Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Medical Psychology of Shupyk National Healthcare University of Ukraine has developed an educational programme of specialization in Psychiatry. The aim of this programme is to train professionals capable of solving complex tasks and innovative problems in the field of mental healthcare, as well as preventive mental health, psychodiagnostics, psychocorrection and treatment of mental health-related diseases which are characterized by uncertainty of conditions and requirements and may require research and/or innovation. Its main task is to develop key competencies in the field of mental healthcare. The programme consists of educational and practical components and is designed for 900 hours, which is 30 ECTS credits. There are 202 hours of independent work, which is 22% of the total. This should facilitate more active involvement of participants of the educational process in learning, as well as delegate the responsibility for acquiring knowledge and skills to them. An important component of the programme is the list of mandatory competences (integral, general and professional) that doctors must acquire during the learning cycle and that will determine their ability to successfully carry out professional activities. Programme learning outcomes, as well as matrices of compliance with the defined results, competences and components of the educational programme have been introduced to determine the effectiveness of the educational process. Thus, this educational programme of specialization in Psychiatry reflects modern changes in the training of professionals at the postgraduate level of medical education.