Training In Mental Health Issues Research Articles

Preservice preschool teachers’ perspectives on the psychological well-being of preschoolers

The school has a vital role to play in developing well-being and it should be a major goal of education. The aim of the present study was to generate knowledge about how psychological well-being of children in preschool education is understood by pre-service preschool teachers. It explores their views on the importance of cultivating psychological well-being in preschool age, the significance of several skills and competencies for developing preschoolers’ psychological well-being, the obstacles to promoting it, as well as the characteristics and skills that preschool educators that should have in order to be able to promote the psychological well-being of preschool children. The research sample consisted of 135 pre-service preschool teachers. A questionnaire based on the relevant literature review was used as a data collection tool. The results indicate that pre-service teachers suggest that the perception of emotions, constructive emotion expression and cooperation skills are very important skills that should be cultivated for developing psychological well-being. Emotional intelligence, empathy and communications skills are among the competencies that preschool educators should possess according to preservice preschool teachers’ perceptions for promoting children’s well-being. The absence of teachers’ training in mental health issues and emotional literacy skills, the pressure for achieving learning goals and the absence of teacher emotional well-being are among the main obstacles that hinder the promotion of children’s psychological well-being. Research findings may be utilized to the design of preschool education curricula that should prioritize preschoolers’ well-being.

Campus ministry leaders promoting student mental health at a large public university in the Southeast United States

ABSTRACT Despite the widespread, historic presence of campus ministries at public universities, there is limited research exploring campus ministers’ role in student mental health. Prior research on campus ministries focused on student perspectives and organisational social norms. Conducted at a large public university in the Southeast, this research consisted of in-person semi-structured interviews with 12 campus ministry leaders about their experiences with students, including mental health challenges. The narrative interpretative analysis examined similarities and differences across campus ministers’ experiences. Campus ministers reported providing pastoral care for students during crises, referring students to mental health providers and providing transportation to appointments. Major considerations informing referrals included mental health providers’ attitudes towards religion, affordability of services, and their personal relationships with mental health providers. Although these campus ministry leaders reported actions to enhance access to student mental health services, additional training in mental health issues and institutional support would benefit both campus ministry leaders and their students.

Building positive relationships with students struggling with mental health

Teachers today work in classrooms where a large proportion of students have mental health disorders. Yet, because these teachers lack training in mental health issues, they often react to these students in ways that cause them to shut down or escalate their aggressive behavior. Other teachers, however, seem to intuitively understand how to connect with these students. Behavioral analyst Jessica Minahan suggests that the strategies these teachers employ be treated as accommodations, similar to those provided for students with other special needs. Carefully articulating and writing down these interaction strategies will enable adults throughout the school to create personal connections that help students with mental health issues access the curriculum, instead of disengaging or being sent out of class for behavior they cannot control.

Latino Farmworkers and Under-Detection of Depression: A Review of the Literature

The history of Latino farmworkers in the United States is long and complex. Economic forces and often-contradictory immigration policies have given rise to patterns of undocumented immigration from Mexico and Central America by individuals and families looking for work. This review uses a Critical Multiculturalism lens to explore the incidence of depression in Latino farmworkers; the link between depression symptoms and the experience of migration, acculturation, poverty, and agricultural work; and the role of culture, structural issues, primary care providers’ inadequate training in mental health issues, and work conditions in the under-detection of depression in this population. Recommendations for clinicians and researchers are offered to improve detection of depression in Latino farmworkers.

Health Services for Behavioral Problems in Pediatric Primary Care.

The aim of this research was to explore primary care pediatricians' experiences in delivering behavioral health services in their own practices within the Nebraska context. An online survey was sent to the 154 primary care pediatricians who are members of the Nebraska chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Questions explored their management of behavioral problems, attitudes, and perceived barriers to providing behavioral health services in their practices. Seventy pediatricians completed the survey (47%). The majority of pediatricians reported seeing substantial numbers of children with behavioral problems. Eighty-five percent believed that most emotional and behavioral complaints could be managed by the pediatrician. Eighty-eight percent believed that the parents would prefer to receive services for their children's behavioral problems in the primary care office. Most felt that their training in mental health issues was inadequate. Pediatricians in this survey feel that pediatric behavioral problems are best managed in the primary care office and perceive that parents also prefer this setting. Improving training in behavioral health in pediatrics is necessary to meet the delivery of much needed behavioral health care to children and families.

Value of Mental Health First Aid training of Advisory and Extension Agents in supporting farmers in rural Queensland

This study was a pilot project responding to the increasing levels of stress, depression and other mental health issues in Australian rural areas resulting from prolonged drought and a changing economic and social environment. Thirty-two Advisory and Extension Agents (AEAs) attended a training course held in 2007 and 2008 in Queensland, Australia. A year after the training, data was collected to determine its value. Interviews were conducted with course participants and their supervisors and focus groups were held with stakeholders (farmers, agency staff and health professionals). The findings show that Mental Health First Aid training improved the participants' confidence level and their knowledge of mental health issues and increased their empathy toward persons with mental health problems. Furthermore, providing training on mental health issues to AEAs was perceived by stakeholders to be beneficial to both farmers and AEAs. This study demonstrated that stakeholders and course participants see this type of training as very much needed and highly beneficial. Further, providing training in mental health issues to rural service providers can be very beneficial to their farmer clients and their social network.

Community and Health Professionals’ Attitude Toward Depression: a Pilot Study in Nine Eaad Countries

Community facilitators (CFs), such as pharmacists, policemen, teachers and clergy, may be an important community resource for patients with depression in addition to (mental) health professionals. However, they are ill prepared for such a role and little is known about their attitudes toward depression, which may affect practice. To investigate CFs' attitudes toward depression and compare them to those of (mental) health professionals and nurses. Attitudes were assessed in participants (n = 2,670) of training programmes about depression in nine countries of the European Alliance Against Depression (EAAD). The EAAD questionnaire included attitudes toward depression and its treatment, perceived causes, preferred treatment options, and knowledge of depression symptoms. CFs and nurses had a more negative attitude toward patients with depression and toward antidepressants, and more limited knowledge of depression symptoms than (mental) health professionals. CFs more frequently supported non-standard treatment for depression. Nurse assistants clearly differed from registered nurses with their attitudes being among the least favourable and their knowledge the most limited of all groups. CFs and nurses had less favourable attitudes and more limited knowledge regarding depression when compared to mental health professionals and doctors. This may negatively affect professional collaboration, challenge optimal treatment and stigmatize patients. CFs' and nurses' knowledge and attitudes may be similar to those of the general population and be related to a lack of training in mental health issues.

Application of a Model for the Development of a Mental Health Service Delivery Collaboration Between Police and the Health Service

Changing societal trends have revealed an increased prevalence of mental illness and diminished health resources from which to offer services. This has lead to a need to develop new and more efficient police and health service models of practice. Services offered by the police department in the management of mental health crisis in the community are essential in minimising the risk of individuals with mental health problems causing harm to themselves or a member of the public. In addressing the difficulties associated with police playing an important role in the management of mental health crisis in the community, but having little training in mental health issues, this paper discusses a proposed innovation for New South Wales police in Australia through the development of a Crisis Intervention Team model.

Pharmacists' Role in Depression Care: A Survey of Attitudes, Current Practices, and Barriers

Pharmacists may be well placed to take up a role in depression care, complementing the role of general practitioners. However, depression care is a relatively new role for pharmacists, and little is known of their attitudes, current practices, and barriers toward it. A random sample of 200 community pharmacists in Belgium was surveyed about the care of patients with depression in comparison with patients with other, physical conditions. The 69 pharmacists who responded to the survey generally endorsed a very positive attitude toward their potential role in depression care. This willingness was, however, not reflected in current practice, and fulfilling this role appeared to be more difficult with patients with depression in comparison with patients with other, physical conditions. A lack of training in mental health issues was the most important barrier reported. Cooperation with general practitioners in depression care was desired, but the current level of cooperation was rather low. For pharmacists to effectively take up depression care, perceived barriers need to be addressed through specific training programs and increased cooperation with general practitioners.

Pharmacists' Role in Depression Care: A Survey of Attitudes, Current Practices, and Barriers

Pharmacists' Role in Depression Care: A Survey of Attitudes, Current Practices, and Barriers

Police need better training in mental health issues

Police need better training in mental health issues

Stakeholders' Perspectives on the Recommendations of the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health

Stakeholders' Perspectives on the Recommendations of the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health

Applying Procedural Justice Theory to Law Enforcement's Response to Persons With Mental Illness

Applying Procedural Justice Theory to Law Enforcement's Response to Persons With Mental Illness

Attitudes of psychiatry residents toward mental illness

Attitudes of lay people and physicians towards mentally ill patients are frequently highly biased. The aim of this study was to investigate differences in attitudes of psychiatry and internal medicine residents toward mental illness and to establish the relationship between their attitudes and their personal characteristics. The sample consisted of 45 psychiatry and 36 internal medicine residents. The attitudes toward mental illness were assessed using Opinions about Mental Illness Questionnaire (OMI) and personality traits were examined using the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ). Our findings showed that in regard to internal medicine residents, psychiatry residents do not consider mentally ill patients to be inferior and dangerous. Psychiatry residents have a benevolent attitude toward the mentally ill. Personality traits of psychiatry residents were not related to their opinions about mental illness. The results suggest that there is a need to develop strategies that would bring about changes in the curriculum of training programs for medical residents, including proper training in mental health issues. Such strategies should help in destigmatization of persons with mental disorders and increase the competence of physicians to deal with mentally ill.

Ethical issues in the social worker's role in physician-assisted suicide.

This article presents the results of an exploratory study of social workers' views on physician-assisted suicide (PAS), situations in which PAS would be favored, and whether there is a difference in education or training on mental health issues, ethics, or suicide between social workers who favor PAS and those who oppose PAS. A questionnaire was administered to a convenience sample of 66 social workers in South Carolina. The authors raise questions about the training in mental health issues, ethics, and suicide that social workers have received to prepare them to work with clients making this end-of-life decision. Implications for social work practice and suggestions for future research are presented.

Improving police response to mentally ill people.

Improving police response to mentally ill people.

A Preliminary Assessment of Mental Health Needs Faced by Religious Leaders in Eastern Europe

Enormous sociopolitical changes in Eastern Europe in the last decade have had a profound impact on the psychological functioning of the citizens of these nations. In order to assess and intervene in the mental health realm in Eastern Europe, a brief survey was sent to various Christian leaders in Eastern Europe. Common mental health problems identified across the various Eastern European countries and cultures include depression, relationship difficulties, alcohol abuse, and anxiety disorders. Christians in Eastern Europe tend to turn to family and friends for help with these problems first, pastors second, and almost never to mental health professionals. Clergy and laypersons have little training in mental health issues. A promising direction for future service is training those who can, in turn, train Eastern European laypersons in basic listening and support skills. Cultural awareness and sensitivity will be of paramount importance in such an endeavor.

Living in the community: Training housing officers in mental health

Housing officers usually have very little training in mental health issues and yet most of them encounter problems relating to mental illness. They have to cope with a wide range of problems including coping with intoxicated or violent clients, becoming closely involved with residents and feeling hopeless and overwhelmed by their problems, frequent verbal abuse and occasional physical violence and coping with complaints from neighbours of people behaving bizarrely. A training course was developed based on the need to deal with these events. Ninety housing officers were trained over a six month period.