scholarly journals Mental health in Malawi

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 32-33
Author(s):  
Philippa Lilford
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Burden Of Illness ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Psychiatry Training ◽  
Excellent Care ◽  
Reflective Essay

This is a reflective essay about the time I spent volunteering in mental healthcare in Malawi, prior to commencing my psychiatry training. The burden of illness I saw was enormous and the resources very limited; however, I describe some particular experiences where we were able to deliver excellent care, and which made me reflect about mental health services in low-income countries in general. Details of the patients discussed in this essay have been fully anonymised.

scholarly journals Three models of community mental health services In low-income countries

2011 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Cohen ◽  
Julian Eaton ◽  
Birgit Radtke ◽  
Christina George ◽  
Bro Manuel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Community Mental Health ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Community Mental Health Services ◽  
Low Income Countries

Human Resources for Mental Health in Low and Middle Income Countries

2018 ◽  
pp. 354-374
Author(s):  
Sheikh Mohammed Shariful Islam ◽  
Reshman Tabassum ◽  
Paolo C Colet ◽  
Jonas Preposi Cruz ◽  
Sukhen Dey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Human Resources ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Mental disorders are a major public health challenge globally, contributing to 40% of the global burden of disease. Nevertheless, it remains highly neglected by health planners and policy makers, particularly in low and middle income countries (LMIC). Bangladesh, one of the low-income countries, suffers from a severe shortage of appropriately trained and an adequate number of human resources to provide mental health care. The authors reviewed available evidence on the dynamics of mental health services in LMIC like Bangladesh, with a view to help develop appropriate policies on human resources. This chapter critically examines the current situation of human resources for mental health in Bangladesh, and explores ways to further strengthen human resources so as to enhance mental health services in the country.

Empirically Supported Treatments: Dissemination Practices in Impoverished Regions

2014 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 186-197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raquel M. Zepeda-Burgos ◽  
Eric A. Storch ◽  
Maria Claustre Jané Ballabriga
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
El Salvador ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Health Providers ◽  
Empirically Supported Treatments ◽  
Empirically Supported

A growing understanding of the implications of childhood psychopathology has driven the dissemination of empirically supported treatments (ESTs). This has not been the case in countries with high rates of poverty and violence—where the need for ESTs is fundamental. In this article, we examined the current status of child psychopathology and mental health services for children in El Salvador to explore key factors that can improve dissemination of ESTs in middle- and low-income countries. In El Salvador, children are constantly exposed to risk factors related to childhood disorders (e.g., violence), and there is an increase in the demand for mental health services for this population. However, a lack of a guiding policy and formal training has led to few psychologists using ESTs. A scientist–practitioner model to guide formal education and training of mental health providers would be the first step to improving the dissemination of ESTs in El Salvador.

Mental health services for children in public care and other vulnerable groups: Implications for international collaboration

2010 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 555-571 ◽  
Author(s):  
Panos Vostanis
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Low Income ◽  
International Collaboration ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Service Planning ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Public Care

Children in public care and other vulnerable young groups (homeless, adopted, refugees) are increasingly becoming the focus of policy and service planning. There is strong evidence that all these client populations have high rates of mental health problems which are closely associated with other needs. We also have good knowledge on the factors that predispose individuals to and maintain mental health problems, as well as on the reasons for their not easily accessing and engaging with services. There is less evidence on the effectiveness of interventions or service models, although some interesting patterns are beginning to emerge. These include the need for inter-agency commissioning, clear care pathways, designated provision, applied therapeutic interventions, training for carers and frontline practitioners, and multi modal programmes. This paper discusses these issues, as well as ways forward, both for systems with relatively well developed child mental health services and for low-income countries. Service quality can be greatly strengthened by international collaboration on policy, practice and research networks, training and research.

scholarly journals Cultural psychiatry, diversity and political correctness in a shrinking world

2008 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 27-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
John L. Cox
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Global Mental Health ◽  
World Health ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
The World

It is perhaps unusual for an academic journal like the Lancet to spearhead a ‘movement’ to advocate the scaling up of mental health services in low-income countries. Yet at the movement's launch in London in November 2007, attended by representatives from World Health Organization (WHO), the World Bank, donor agencies, as well as the World Psychiatric Association (WPA) and the Royal College of Psychiatrists, it was clear that a seminal series of papers, published in September of last year, was of the utmost importance for world psychiatry and for our planet. The five papers in the series ‘Global Mental Health’ had the following titles: ‘No health without mental health’; ‘Resources for mental health: scarcity, equity, and inefficiency’; ‘Treatment and prevention of mental disorders in low-income and middle-income countries’; ‘Mental health systems in countries: where are we now?’; and ‘Barriers to improvement of mental health services in low-income and middle-income countries’ (Lancet, September 2007, vol. 370, nos 9590–9593).

Human Resources for Mental Health in Low and Middle Income Countries

2016 ◽  
pp. 144-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheikh Mohammed Shariful Islam ◽  
Reshman Tabassum ◽  
Paolo C Colet ◽  
Jonas Preposi Cruz ◽  
Sukhen Dey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Human Resources ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Mental disorders are a major public health challenge globally, contributing to 40% of the global burden of disease. Nevertheless, it remains highly neglected by health planners and policy makers, particularly in low and middle income countries (LMIC). Bangladesh, one of the low-income countries, suffers from a severe shortage of appropriately trained and an adequate number of human resources to provide mental health care. The authors reviewed available evidence on the dynamics of mental health services in LMIC like Bangladesh, with a view to help develop appropriate policies on human resources. This chapter critically examines the current situation of human resources for mental health in Bangladesh, and explores ways to further strengthen human resources so as to enhance mental health services in the country.

The EPA Guidance Project: Guidance for Mental Healthcare in Europe

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (01) ◽  
pp. 5-11
Author(s):  
I. Großimlinghaus ◽  
J. Zielasek ◽  
W. Gaebel
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Graduate Training ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Stakeholder Involvement ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
World Health ◽  
Post Graduate Training ◽  
Health Organization

Summary Background: The development of guidelines is an important and common method to assure and improve quality in mental healthcare in European countries. While guidelines have to fulfill predefined criteria such as methodological accuracy of evidence retrieval and assessment, and stakeholder involvement, the development of guidance was not standardized yet. Aim: In 2008, the European Psychiatric Association (EPA) initiated the EPA Guidance project in order to provide guidance in the field of European psychiatry and related fields for topics that are not dealt with by guideline developers – for instance due to lack of evidence or lack of funding. The first three series of EPA Guidance deal with diverse topics that are relevant to European mental healthcare, such as quality assurance for mental health services, post-graduate training in mental healthcare, trust in mental health services and mental health promotion. Results: EPA Guidance recommendations address current and future challenges for European psychiatry. They are developed in accordance with the World Health Organization (WHO) European Mental Health Action Plan.

scholarly journals Remote care for mental health: qualitative study with service users, carers and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. e049210
Author(s):  
Elisa Liberati ◽  
Natalie Richards ◽  
Jennie Parker ◽  
Janet Willars ◽  
David Scott ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Comparison Method ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Qualitative Interview Study ◽  
Remote Care

ObjectivesTo explore the experiences of service users, carers and staff seeking or providing secondary mental health services during the COVID-19 pandemic.DesignQualitative interview study, codesigned with mental health service users and carers.MethodsWe conducted semistructured, telephone or online interviews with a purposively constructed sample; a lived experience researcher conducted and analysed interviews with service users. Analysis was based on the constant comparison method.SettingNational Health Service (NHS) secondary mental health services in England between June and August 2020.ParticipantsOf 65 participants, 20 had either accessed or needed to access English secondary mental healthcare during the pandemic; 10 were carers of people with mental health difficulties; 35 were members of staff working in NHS secondary mental health services during the pandemic.ResultsExperiences of remote care were mixed. Some service users valued the convenience of remote methods in the context of maintaining contact with familiar clinicians. Most participants commented that a lack of non-verbal cues and the loss of a therapeutic ‘safe space’ challenged therapeutic relationship building, assessments and identification of deteriorating mental well-being. Some carers felt excluded from remote meetings and concerned that assessments were incomplete without their input. Like service users, remote methods posed challenges for clinicians who reported uncertainty about technical options and a lack of training. All groups expressed concern about intersectionality exacerbating inequalities and the exclusion of some service user groups if alternatives to remote care are lost.ConclusionsThough remote mental healthcare is likely to become increasingly widespread in secondary mental health services, our findings highlight the continued importance of a tailored, personal approach to decision making in this area. Further research should focus on which types of consultations best suit face-to-face interaction, and for whom and why, and which can be provided remotely and by which medium.

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