Child and adolescent mental health represents a key area of concern and public health relevance. Mental health disorders are one of the most prevalent illnesses affecting young people and contribute significantly to the global burden of disease. Childhood and adolescent mental health problems often persist into adulthood and as such frequently result in lifelong negative consequences. Yet despite the growing concern with regards to the mental health needs of children and adolescents, not much research, both internationally and particularly locally, has focused on the provision of mental health services to children and adolescents. Additionally, little has been published on the changes and trends in diagnostic rates and assessment procedures over time. Only a few international studies have investigated mental health trends in children and adolescents; hence, there is a crucial need for South African data to inform preventative and curative services for children in South Africa. This present study therefore investigated the trends and patterns relating to diagnostic rates and assessment practices in children and adolescents over time at a local South African psychological community service centre in Pietermaritzburg. The study was a retrospective chart review and the sample consisted of 679 case files from children and adolescents between 3-17 years of age, who had been seen at a local psychological service centre between 1987-1989, 1997-1999 and 2007-2009. The case files were systematically analysed with regards to diagnosis and assessment practices. It was hypothesised that the years of continuous social and political conflict in the Pietermaritzburg area, namely 1987-1989, had a direct impact on the psychological development and well-being of children and adolescents from this area, and that this would be reflected in the case files from the corresponding years. The research findings with regard to the assessment practices were comparable to the internationally observed trends relating to choice of tests and procedures. In addition, the findings of the current study also showed similar trends with regard to the increasing diagnostic rates for ADD/ADHD, Mood Disorder, and Autism Spectrum Disorders as were observed internationally. Additionally, the reported decreasing diagnostic rates for Mental Retardation and behaviour disorders were also found in this local study. However, the internationally observed increases in Anxiety Disorder diagnoses contrast with the findings of this study, where the results revealed that the rates for Anxiety Disorder and PTSD were considerably higher in the late 1980s and 1990s. This finding supports the initial hypothesis that the violence and social unrest had an effect on children’s psychological well-being. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2012.

This study investigates two facets of the relationship between mental health and religion. The first is an investigation into the effects of psychologist's and psychiatrist's religious belief on their assessments of a religious client. Previous research has argued that non-religious mental health workers display bias against their religious clients (Houts and Graham, 1986; and Jones, 1994). Other research has suggested that extrinsically religious indivi~uals and indiscriminately religious individuals tend to be more prejudiced than non-religious or intrinsically religious individuals (Donahue, 1985; and Richards and Bergin, 1997). The second facet of this study is an investigation into the differences between ministers of religion and mental health workers (psychologists and psychiatrists) in their assessment of a religious client. The DSM IV (APA, 1994) suggests that mental health workers should consider the cultural appropriateness of an individuals "symptoms" or behaviours before diagnosing them. It is argued here that psychologists and psychiatrists do not give due regard to the cultural appropriateness of their client's religious beliefs and the ministers of religion offer a gauge of what is culturally appropriate. To investigate these questions a group of mental health workers (consisting of 19 psychologists and 9 psychiatrists) and a group of Christian ministers of religion (consisting of 13 Pentecostal ministers and 17 mainstream ministers) was asked to complete a questionnaire based on a hypothetical case study. The hypothetical case study was constructed to have ambiguous religious characteristics, to allow the respondents to interpret the information according to their own biases. The questionnaire included Allport and Ross's Religious Orientation Scale (ROS) (Wulff, 1991). Data were analysed using Mann-Whittney U-tests and Kruskal Wallis H-tests. Significant differences were found between ministers of religion and mental health workers on most variables, with the greatest differences being evidenced between Pentecostal ministers of religion and psychiatrists. This suggests that mental health workers perceive religious clients as more mentally ill than ministers of religion do. However, no differences were found between mental health workers of different religious orientations according to the ROS and other measures of religiousness. This implies that mental health workers are not biased based on their own religious faith, but all mental health workers may be indiscriminately biased against religious individuals. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2001.

The purpose of this thesis was to investigate the prevalence of mental illness in a nonrandom sample of undergraduate female Emirati students in the United Arab Emirates. In addition, students’ views and attitudes towards counselling were solicited. One hundred and twenty-three women completed Golberg and Hillier’s (1979) 28-item scaled version of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28). The GHQ-28 revealed a high prevalence of mental illness (51%) among the students surveyed, using a GHQ-28 threshold of eight. Furthermore, students reported they held favourable views towards counselling despite never having sought counselling services. The differences between American/European and Arab views of mental illness are explored as one of several limitations to this study. Recommendations for future research are noted. / xii, 117 leaves ; 29 cm

The understanding of the pathways that clients take prior to admission to a mental health institution, is a vital factor in planning to reduce delays in seeking treatment. Studying the pathways may also help in the identification of sources of delays in the receiving of care and suggest possible improvements. Although western medicine plays an important role in the control of disease, traditional medicine continues to play an important role in the health care of black African communities. They, therefore possess unique attitudes, values and beliefs, about health and illness, which integrally infiuence their health behaviour. This study aims to increase the understanding by health professionals of pathways to care taken by clients before they are admitted to a mental health institution, so as to enhance heath service planning. It also aims to determine the socio-cultural and economic factors, as well as satisfaction with different service providers. The sample in this study consisted of 15 clients, who were between the ages of ten and fifty-nine years. These clients were males and females who were admitted for the first time in a mental health institution (MHI) (TownHill Hospital, Pietermaritzburg). The interview questionnaire, was administered, by the researcher.This study has demonstrated that, Africans still believe in traditional and faith healers as their first port of call when they are mentally ill. Their help seeking behaviour is determined by their cultural beliefs and values. The study also demonstrated the high involvement of the South African Police Services (SAPS) in the pathway to mental health institution by intervening to protect family or public and also transporting the client to a mental health institution. The Primary Health Care (PHC) is very seldom used Economic factors like unemployment strongly infiuence the mental health of people and also affect their social functioning, as it is shown by the high levels of unemployment in the sample. Some of these clients resort to living on the streets, because they cannot find employment and are homeless. The study has also shown the importance of education and training of health professionals in PHC, in identifying the first signs of mental illness when clients present themselves and making available the psychotropic drugs at the PHCC as this is the first port of call for clients. Psycho education of traditional healers, spiritual healers, SAPS and community should be implemented on when and how to refer clients, how to handle mentally ill clients. / Thesis (M.Cur.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2001.

Thesis (M.S.W.)--Smith College School for Social Work, Northampton, Mass., 2007 / Typescript. Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment for the degree of Master of Social Work. Includes bibliographical references (leaf 58).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Melbourne, School of Social Work and Department of Psychiatry, 2001. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 262-311).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Flinders University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Dept. of Public Health. / Typescript bound. Includes bibliographical references: (leaves 406-434) Also available online.

Thesis (M.P.A.)--Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, 1999. / Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 45-06, page: 2928. Typescript. Abstract precedes thesis as preliminary leaves iii-iv. Includes bibliographical references 122-127.

Title from second page of PDF document. Includes bibliographical references (p. 99-101).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2007. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. 100-106).