A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of a PhD in Community Psychology at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2012. / Ongoing global crises impact negatively on human health. International comparison studies may improve health promotion. A community psychology, appreciative inquiry was conducted into local staff perceptions of selected child and adolescent mental health interventions in the Kent and Zululand regions of the United Kingdom and South Africa respectively. The Kent findings, supported by a quasi-experimental investigation, indicated that intervention was beneficial, the mental health practitioner role had value and additional mental health practitioners should be employed. The Zululand findings, complemented by a single client case study, suggested that intervention provided a valuable people focused programme, and that additional emphasis should be placed on promoting the intervention, its structure and staffing. Evaluative comparisons thus illustrated the differential effectiveness of the respective interventions. The Kent service could learn from the way in which the Zululand intervention was people orientated and the Zululand programme could learn from the way in which the Kent intervention was structured and organized. Findings highlighted the ongoing need to evaluate existing models of community psychology, create new models, and the temporal and contextual nature of any such models.

No description available.

<p> The purpose of this research paper is to examine the effects of neighbourhood factors on attitudes towards Mental health facilities. The research hypothesis is that personal attitudes towards mental health are a major determinant of reactions to community mental health facilities. The study conducted by the Canadian Training Institute (CTI) in 1983 provides relevant data on attitudes toward mental health group homes. Attitudes towards mental health group homes were studied using measures of desirability and perceived neighbourhood impacts. In order to test the hypothesis, two sets of relationships were examined; the relationship between facility impact and neighbourhoods;and the relationship between facility desirability and neighbourhoods. The results provide support for the results obtained by Trute and Segal in Canada and Linsky in the United States. The results showed similar socio-demographic profiles and attitudes of potential accepting and rejecting neighbourhoods. Therefore, the conclusions are that attitudes towards mental health group homes vary spatially between different types of neighbourhoods. The results have practical reference because they can help planners locate mental health facilities in locations where public opposition and patient dissatisfactionare minimized. </p> / Thesis / Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Boston University / PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis or dissertation. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you. / The American Psychiatric Association criteria for differential psychiatric diagnoses (DSM III-R) do not exhaust the list of socially problematic behaviors displayed by the mentally ill. The extent to which such behaviors influence a person's "career" as a deinstitutionalized patient is the major topic of this study. Fiscal crises and changing public commitments have reduced support to those with severe mental illness who are deinstitutionalized, increasing the importance of understanding how degrees of competence at activities of daily living and the extent of socially problematic behaviors affect their participation in the community. The concept Interactive Competence was developed on the basis of the writer's clinical experience and a review of the literature on community adjustment of persons with severe mental illness. The concept characterizes the social functioning of persons diagnosed as mentally ill, and includes demonstration of self-care (ADL) skills and self-management skills (trouble in relationships). Secondary analysis was performed on data from a 1984 probability sample of clients in Community Support Programs for seriously mentally ill adults. Factor analysis reduced items in the original instrument, The Uniform Client Data Instrument, to scales measuring Interactive Competence. Only persons with the diagnosis of Schizophrenia or Affective Disorders were studied (n=824 of 1053), excluding diagnoses which were diverse in nature and infrequent in occurrence. Bivariate correlation and regression techniques were used to test the major hypotheses: 1) Schizophrenics demonstrate less Interactive Competence than those with the diagnosis of Affective Disorder; 2) the greater the chronicity (length of time in the social role as a patient from point of first diagnosis) the less Interactive Competence; 3) lower level of Interactive Competence is associated with a lower level of mental health service utilization. Monitoring Interactive Competence self-care (ADL) skills and selfmanagement skills (trouble in relationships) provides new insights about the service utilization of the severely mentally ill and their families. Schizophrenics had less the Interactive Competence than those with Affective Disorders; those with lower scores on Interactive Competence used more services; family involvement influenced clients' use of crisis assistance services and urgent care services. / 2999-01-01

<p> The purpose of this thesis project was to write a grant proposal to secure funding for a mindfulness meditation training program for adults diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) at Venice Family Clinic in Venice, California. A literature review was conducted to examine topics related to ADHD including the unique and challenging experiences of adults with ADHD. The purpose of the proposed program was to increase knowledge in participants about ADHD, improve their mindfulness skills, reduce their ADHD symptoms, and improve their perceived well-being. The Ralphs M. Parsons Foundation was chosen for the proposed grant funding. The actual submission or funding or this grant proposal was not a requirement for the successful completion of the project.</p>

<p> The purpose of this project was to write a grant to develop a mentoring program for foster youth. The program will be designed for minority male youth, ages 12 to 18, and will espouse the Recovery Model. This model seeks to promote client empowerment by allowing the minority males to have a say in the selection of mentors. The client will have a large state in their treatment plan and other goals concerning permanency following departure from the out of home foster care environment.</p><p> A literature review was conducted in order to provide empirical evidence in support of a mentoring program. The mentoring program will be located in Ettie Lee Youth &amp; Family Services, located in Los Angeles County. The actual submission or funding of this grant was not a requirement for the successful completion of the project.</p>

<p> Research shows that there has been a significant increase in mental health issues within the college student population. Applying recovery-oriented principles as defined by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) may be an effective approach to creating and adapting mental health resources for college students. In the current study, literature on the following was reviewed: (a) the college culture, (b) the prevalence of mental health issues for college students, and (c) recovery-oriented principles. Then, a critical analysis of the literature was conducted based upon the following recovery-oriented principles: (a) encouraging a holistic approach, (b) self-responsibility and self-empowerment, (c) strengths-based practice, (d) cultural sensitivity), and (e) family support. Findings indicate that holistic resources highlight individual needs and creativity; programs that encourage self-responsibility underscore the importance of self-screenings; strengths-based approaches are centered around building self-esteem and increasing positive emotions; culturally sensitive resources are often group-oriented and acknowledge multiple facets of diversity, and programming that promotes family support emphasizes psychoeducation and stigma reduction. Based upon the integration of these findings, adaptations of current efforts on campus to promote these principles, as well as new ideas, are provided.</p>

<p> Human trafficking for sexual exploitation, a dire human rights violation, is a world-wide problem. According to the Polaris Project (n.d.), the illegal sex trade makes 32 billion dollars yearly. Women and children are often sexually exploited for profit after being lured away by &ldquo;fraud, force, or coercion&rdquo; (U.S. Department of State, 2009, p. 8). This phenomenon poses a serious threat to women and youth who are at risk and vulnerable to exploitation. The majority of females are victimized in their own country (McClain &amp; Garrity, 2011). Nonetheless, many Americans are not aware that such tragic underground criminal activity is thriving right here, within our own borders. Trafficking occurs in every state across the nation and approximately 14,500 to 17,500 foreign victims are trafficked each year into our nation (McClain &amp; Garrity, 2011; Polaris Project, n.d.). This is not only a problem for third world countries; this is a global problem that threatens the safety of countless women and children. Though primary prevention is the ultimate goal, Young (2012) illuminates the need for continued education and training of professionals working with survivors as well as collaboration across multiple service venues over time. The current study seeks to contribute to the limited but growing body of literature in this important area by identifying factors that are important to consider when working with survivors of sex trafficking. This researcher will personally interview professionals and staff who work directly with survivors of sex trafficking and recruit survivors to respond anonymously to a questionnaire about their experiences. Both the interview and the questionnaire inquiries will pose open-ended questions in order to gather qualitative data from service providers and survivors, respectively. This study will provide an opportunity to gain insight and perspective on the pertinent factors that need attention when working with this unique population. </p><p> Key words: sex trafficking, survivors, service providers, factors.</p>

<p> The purpose of this project was to create awareness about the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) community. The CSEC victims face many challenges, which include socioeconomic hardship, mental health issues, criminal charges and inappropriate coping mechanism. The workshops will be focus on educating the Willowbrook community members and bringing awareness about CSEC using the Public Health Model (PHM) perspective. The workshops will focus on what commercial exploitation is, who the victims are, how CSEC victims are lured, circumstances that lead a juvenile into being sexually exploited, and what the community can do to help alleviate CSEC population. The workshops will only include risk factors associated with the CSEC population, Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgendered Questioning Youth (LGBTQ), international sex trafficking and the main causes for the CSEC victims. The different prevention programs and interventions currently in place will also be a focus in the workshop. The major component of the proposed program will be to educate the community with facts about the CSEC population and linkages to the multiple programs serving the CSEC community. Submission and/or funding of the project were not requirements for the successful completion of this project.</p>

<p> The purpose of this proposal was to identify the need and write a grant to fund a mental health school based program for adolescents that have a variety of mental health concerns using cognitive behavior therapy techniques. The sponsoring school for the grant proposal was Gladstone High School in Azusa, California. If funded, the school will be able to implement provide mental health services specifically to the students of Gladstone High School. This program that consists of a licensed clinical social worker and 3 master of social work interns will help assess mental health needs of students, provide cognitive behavioral interventions in individual counseling sessions, psychoeducation groups for students, mental health trainings for students, teachers, and families, and meeting with students/families to track their progress.</p>