Background: Mental health issues are a growing global problem and there is a big gap between the need for mental health care and the financial resources allocated to this health care sector. Nurses work closely to patients and play an important role in alleviating suffering and in the recovery of the patient. Highlighting the nurses’ role and experiences of working with persons with mental health problems can give information of how to address the different challenges they meet.  Aim: The aim of this study was to describe nurses’ experiences of caring for persons with mental health problems in a psychiatric care setting in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. Method: Seven semi-structured interviews were conducted with a total of eight nurses working at two psychiatric hospitals. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyze the data. Findings: Four main themes were found: Between possibilities and challenges, Holistic view, Striving for equality and Caring relations. Nurses in psychiatric settings in Kurdistan region of Iraq face different challenges related to organization, prejudice and inequality. They have a lot of knowledge about nursing and aim to meet patients and families with a person-centered approach. Conclusion: The findings show that nurses need the work environment to be open to nurses’ thoughts and concerns. Management should involve nurses in the development of the hospital, encourage collaboration and provide on the job training. This would increase the job satisfaction and contribute to a person-centered atmosphere.

“Dance and forget your sickness” - An ethnological study of the interaction between patients and the medical conceptual world, and the role of music in a healing process. This study is based on interviews with four people. It describes their experiences with the health care system and the role of music in their lives. What these people have in common is that their illnesses are not verifiable from a normal medical perspective. The overall purpose is to describe this interaction with medical care and discuss what role music might have in the mitigation of the perceived illness. The patient-healthcare interaction is analysed from a theoretical discourse perspective. The analysis reveals some of the mechanisms in the medical establishment’s discourse that reinforce its own conclusions by simplifying what is actually quite complex; the inner world of the patient. Considering the powerful position medical science has taken in our modern world it is relevant for medicine to be able to respond to and manage health problems arising in complex personal processes, or what can be described as existential illness. This study describes how the current healthcare establishment has come to focus unilaterally on physical health, supplanting the existential dimension of health that it cannot respond to. The results of this study showed that all people experienced that (current established) healthcare alone could not cure their illness in a satisfactory manner. The study also showed that music played a major role in the relief of specific symptoms. Music also helped patients find meaning, despite their illness, as part of a greater cultural and social world. / <p>daniel@varia.nu</p><p>070-2884547</p>

People with severe mental illness experience medical comorbidities to a greater extent than the general population. When hospitalized in general hospital settings, they experience poorer outcomes and are experienced as difficult by nurses. An understanding of the experience of hospitalization from the patient's perspective is important to improving care and outcomes for this population. The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experience of nonpsychiatric hospitalization for persons with severe mental illness. Heideggarian phenomenology provided the philosophical underpinning and informed the methodology employed. Participants were recruited through mental health providers. Ten individuals with severe mental illness participated in minimally structured interviews and described their experience of hospitalization on a medical-surgical unit. Data, including transcribed interviews and field notes, were analyzed within the hermeneutic tradition as described by Cohen et al. (2000). The lived experience of nonpsychiatric hospitalization was expressed in four themes: taking care of me (subthemes: being cared for, not being cared for), it's my life, on my toes (subthemes: needing an advocate, managing my mental health), and being a good patient. Care providers' comportment, perception of the patient's illness, attentiveness, responsiveness, and personalized caring behaviors characterized the participant experience of being cared for or not being cared for. It's my life reflected participants' desire to be informed and involved so they could contribute to their recovery. Participants felt the need to be on my toes in order to look out for and advocate for themselves. The need to be on my toes extended to the management of a chronic illness while hospitalized for an unrelated acute condition. The final theme reflected the perceived patient role obligation to be a "good patient". Findings were consistent with the literature regarding experiences of hospitalization from the perspective of persons without mental illness. Identified themes emphasize the critical importance of the nurse-patient relationship to the patient experience. There are significant implications for how nurses come to know their patients in medical-surgical settings so that they can effectively personalize care. Reflective practices may empower nurses to solicit assistance and support to improve caring practices / text

Stigmas associated with depression and schizophrenia have been found to negatively impact the communication those with mental illness have with others in face-to-face interactions (e.g., Lysaker, Roe, & Yanos, 2007; Nicholson & Sacco, 1999). This study attempted to specifically examine how stigma affects cognitions, emotions, and behaviors of interactants without a mental illness toward those with a mental illness in online interactions. In this experimental study, 412 participants interacted with a hypothetical target on Facebook, who was believed to have depression, schizophrenia, or a cavity (i.e., the control group). They were asked to read a profile of the target on Facebook, respond to a message from the target, and complete measurements assessing perceived positive and negative face threats in the target's message, perceived facial expressions of the target, induced affect, predicted outcome value, and rejecting attitudes towards the target. Results revealed that the target labeled as schizophrenic was rejected more and perceived to have lower outcome value than the target without a mental illness or labeled as depressive. However, there were no significant differences in any outcomes between the depression and control groups. The mixed results were discussed in relation to methodological limitations and possible modifications of previous theoretical arguments. Theoretical and practical contributions were considered and suggestions for future research were offered. / text

Background/ Objectives: It can always be recognised that mass media is one of key sources of information to society. Moreover, it has a great power to affect our life. Printed media, for example, newspaper as one of media communications contains words and texts, which can also create a strong power to influence readers to receive information, including news coverage of mental illness. The objective of this study is to analyse our selected the terms of Schizophrenia, Psychosis and Psychotic Patients from our selected three local Chinese newspapers in Hong Kong, to see the frequency and the trend of reporting incidents on news stories, and the use of language/words to portray people with mental illness on press coverage. Research questions were about 1) the change of frequency using the term of Schizophrenia, and under the same question the hypothesis was to see if using the term of Psychosis was more than Schizophrenia; 2) reviewed the term of Schizophrenia to see our selected three local newspapers whether or not choosing the term of Schizophrenia on news coverage more than Psychosis; 3) assessed both terms of Schizophrenia and Psychosis regarding incidents in all articles, the former was related to negative stories and the latter was related to good news coverage. 4) We reviewed the trend of using all keywords akin to metaphorical (words) usage in all articles. At last, 5) we also assessed all keywords in regard to the trend of using of stereotyping wordings in all papers in our selected years. Method: We assessed the database of retrospective newspaper via WiseNews of electronic resource at the University of Hong Kong, to retrieve the total of 1884 articles, from chosen newspapers, for example, Apple Daily, Ming Pao Daily News and Tai Kung Pao Daily News. We retrieved those newspapers in 2002, 2004, 2007, 2010 and 2012 for our research study. Results: It is good to see that, since 2001 renaming in Psychosis (思覺失調), the term has been widely accepted in the public and has already been used on news coverage. In comparison with both terms of Schizophrenia (精神分裂 [症]) and Psychosis (思覺失調), we noticed that the frequency of using the name of Schizophrenia on printed media has, however, still remained higher than the term of psychosis to portray people with mental illness in all news papers [Schizophrenia – 40.2% 757/1884 /Psychosis – 24.9% 469/1884]. And we also noted that the term of Psychotic Patients was strong association with people in Schizophrenia to appear on same news coverage, according to our research findings. Meanwhile, it can be seen that using Psychosis (renaming in Chinese) on news coverage was increased gradually from 2002 – 2012, whereas using Schizophrenia was a lead in association with criminal cases, with 35/132 of unfavourable events. On the one hand, it can be noted that the trend of metaphorical usage was increased gradually from 2002 – 2012, and in all newspapers the more frequency of using metaphorical words/usage was to insult/cite someone with 46.2% (175/379 articles). On the other hand, it is not surprising to see that the more frequency of using stereotyping words was “Dangerous” or “Violence” to portray people with mental illness in all newspapers, which was highest record with 61.8% (202/327 counted articles) Conclusion: Mass media is generally recognised as key source of information to society, including media coverage of mental illness. Moreover, press media has a great power to influence us. In content analysis of our selected articles, it can be noted that in 2002 –2012, using the term of Schizophrenia was more than using Psychosis in our selected three local Chinese newspapers. It was revealed that the trend of using metaphorical (words) usage in all papers was increased gradually and the more frequency using of both terms was to insult/cite someone. It can be no doubt that inappropriate words and negative descriptive languages to portray people with mental illness on news coverage could influence people’s perception with negative towards psychotic patients. Stigma is a great impact on people with mental illness to receive treatment appropriately and can minimise their self-esteem as a result of causing social withdrawal. Family and relatives are also considerably stigmatised. Educational promotion is one of critical ways to promote mental health, to increase more public awareness and knowledge of mental illness in our society. It could be suggested that training for journalists could be essential, in order to avoid using of sensational or negative descriptive language on news coverage of mental illness that could reduce stigma. We believe that the more people know and receive information accurate on media coverage of mental illness, the less people can form stigma in our society. / published_or_final_version / Psychological Medicine / Master / Master of Psychological Medicine

The aim is to investigate and map the relationship between self-perceived work stress and self-rated activity balance in everyday life among young female nurses. The quantitative survey is made on 30 young female nurses aged 22-35, working in hospitals in south- and central Sweden. The questionnaire consists of estimation questions about the activity balance in everyday life and the experience of stress at work. The questionnaire consists of Occupational Balance Questionnaire (OBQ) and the Karolinska Exhaustion Disorder Scale (KEDS) and seven demographic questions that are presented in tables and charts. The results show a positive correlation between OBQ and KEDS. As an occupational therapist has good knowledge about how to influence the activity balance in everyday life, preventive measures can be applied.

Research suggests that more than ten percent of older adults experience behavioral health problems (including mental health problems and/or substance abuse). However, very few actually receive care from a behavioral health care provider or even a primary care provider. One major barrier to accessing and receiving care is the feeling of perceived stigma commonly associated with behavioral health problems. The present study examined the relationships among attitudinal variables, feelings of stigma, and behavioral health outcomes over time in an elderly population with the secondary analysis of data collected for a previously implemented research study, the Primary Care Research in Substance Abuse and Mental Health for Elderly (PRISM-E) study. The PRISM-E research project was a multisite, randomized, comparative trial examining two models of care for persons aged 65 and older with symptoms of depression, anxiety, and/or at-risk drinking. A total of 2,022 participants over the age of 65 were included in the database. Over half of the participants indicated that they had some feelings of stigma associated with mental health and substance abuse issues. An examination of the measure used in the PRISM-E study to measure stigma revealed the presence of two factors, or components, of stigma that we labeled Perceived Stigma and Comfort Level. Statistical analyses of the data demonstrated that feelings of stigma are not constant and can indeed change over time. However, in this sample, perceived stigma was not related to behavioral health outcomes, such as a reduction in symptoms of depression, anxiety, and/or at-risk drinking. Limitations of this study include the possibility that the sample may be biased due to the fact that all participants were under the care of a primary care provider and all agreed to enter treatment for their behavioral health problem. Implications of the findings are that it is possible to influence feelings of stigma and previous research has demonstrated that lower levels of feelings of stigma in older adults as well as other age groups may lead to improvements in accessing and engaging in behavioral health treatment.

Clinical and consumer recovery efforts continue to advance more successful recovery agendas. Limited research into the effect of the expectation to recover and what strategies are most effective in enhancing recovery impedes coherent recovery programming. What factors are significantly associated with recovery expectancy and recovery strategies is still largely unknown. Thus, this study addresses three key gaps in the field. First, which factors associate with the expectation of recovery and is expectation related to strategy choice? Second, what are common strategies for recovery from mental illness and what factors are associated with each strategy? Third, does recovery expectancy or severity of mental illness mediate or moderate the relationship between clinical, social and service factors and recovery strategies? This study surveyed a sample of 350 randomly chosen participants from a community mental health organization with varying degrees of mental illness in a cross-sectional study utilizing instruments that measured clinical/historical, social, and service factors and recovery. The results were examined in multivariate analysis targeted to address the gaps noted above. The six recovery strategies included: (1) effective illness management, (2) positive future orientation, (3) meaningfulness, personal control, and hope, (4) recognizing support, (5) help seeking, and (6) symptom eradication. Recovery expectancy was not significantly predicted by any of the clinical, social, or service factors. Although 25% of the variance was explained by the full model, factors associated with expectancy differ from recovery strategies and require further investigation. Except for symptom eradication, recovery expectancy was significantly negatively associated with each recovery strategy.Main effects models were significant for all six recovery strategies. The social factor constructs (social support, empowerment, stigma) were most consistently and robustly associated with all recovery strategies. Variance explained in full models ranged from 71% for positive future orientation to 19% for symptom eradication. However, no mediating or moderating effects were detected for recovery expectancy or illness severity. The results of this study further the understanding of recovery and provide information for development of recovery programs.

Music-based healing is utilized as a healing tool in many cultural contexts around the world. This thesis examines the cultural practice of music therapy in the context of the larger discipline of medicine in the United States through an ethnographic study of music therapists in the Greater Atlanta area. It contextualizes this data with research in medical ethnomusicology that explores cross-cultural traditions of music in healing rituals. It also connects music therapy to the observation that forces of globalization are strongly correlated with an increase in rates of inequality, poverty, stress, and disease. This thesis discusses how Atlanta-area music therapists use music healing with patients suffering from physical and mental disease and how economic stratification impacts access to music therapy. It is concerned with deeper and not immediately evident processes taking place in music therapy, such as the role of music as a medium and facilitator in healing.

Section A consists of a review of the literature relating the therapeutic use of creative writing. It highlights gaps in the literature and suggesting potential avenues of further research. Section B presents the findings of a phenomenological study which aimed to explore the experience and significance of creative writing at times of personal difficulty through the analysis of written accounts. Method. Twenty one people who had personal experience of creative writing in the context of difficult life experiences submitted written accounts. These were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) (Smith, Larkin & Flowers, 2009). Results. Four main themes were identified: 1) Struggle with a difficult experience, 2) Turning to creative writing, 3) Dealing with it ‘as a matter of words’ and 4) Rejoining the world. A conceptual model illustrating how these master themes are related is presented. Conclusion. Creative writing was deemed to have played an important and meaningful role in helping participants to integrate and move beyond difficult life experiences. Limitations and clinical implications of the study are discussed and suggestions are made for future research. Section C involves a critical appraisal of the study presented in Section B. Reflections on the process of the study, as well as further implications and clinical applications are discussed.