Background: High prevalence of mental health problems and underutilization of mental health treatment are more severe among the Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander (NHPI) population and remain misunderstood and understudied. Examining mental health literacy (MHL)–the knowledge and beliefs about mental disorders which aid their recognition, management, or prevention–has been shown to identify barriers to seeking and receiving care. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the level of MHL in Polynesian NHPIs and identify associated demographic variables. Methods: Data for this pilot cross-sectional study were collected from 298 US Polynesians via an online questionnaire of the Mental Health Literacy Scale (MHLS). Results: The overall mean MHLS score was 121 (standard deviation = 17.3), with statistically significant higher scores in female participants, > 31 years old, Tongan, more educated, and with higher income. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that overall MHL is comparable among Polynesians compared to the current literature. However, Polynesian men < 30 years old and with lower income had lower MHL, which may be linked to the mental health disparities specific to this population. Current interventions should focus on increasing knowledge of risk factors, causes, self-treatments, and available professional help regarding mental disorders. Efforts to improve the MHL of Polynesians should target men < 30 years with lower income (<$50,000).

No description available.

<p> Individuals diagnosed with dementia make up the majority of the population in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) are the primary caretakers of older adults living in SNFs. The purpose of this grant project was to write a proposal for funding to provide Person-Centered Care (PCC) training to help CNAs enhance their skills to better enhance the quality of life of older adults living with dementia in SNFs. </p><p> The goal of PCC training is to help CNAs better understand the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer&rsquo;s and dementia, improve communication skills, and provide strategies to manage the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. Previous research on PCC has found it to be effective in improving the quality of care of older adults who are affected by dementia and who are living in nursing homes. </p><p> Actual submission or funding of the grant was not required for the successful completion of this project.</p>

<p> This study set out to understand the lived experience of children with mental health diagnoses. With the Foucaldian concepts of historicizing, biopower, power and nominalism, combined with the Disability Studies concepts of the social construction of disability, normative culture, and child voice, the study focused on six boys with mental health diagnoses placed in a summer day treatment program. Data collection included child interviews, field observations in the day treatment center, and the review of documentary evidence including educational files, and treatment center artifacts. The data were analyzed for individual child stories, file review data comparison, turn taking, and pieces of the conceptual framework. </p><p> Critical discourse analysis determined decades of social construction and normative culture were at play in both the child experiences and in the researcher&rsquo;s gathering and understanding of the data. Despite the purpose of the research to step away from these influences and allow the participants&rsquo; stories to organically emerge, the researcher co-produced truth with the children that reinforced the status quo. The three themes emerging from the initial data analysis of child sense of self, adult knowledge &amp; power, and child power led to a revised conceptual framework with power as a more constant, fluid piece of the children&rsquo;s lived experiences. Further analysis suggests historicizing, nominalism, biopower, social construction, and normative culture, while seemingly invisible, are constantly interacting and leaning on each other to create the researcher&rsquo;s lens and reality as well as the participant lived experiences. Power moves among the pieces while holding them together. </p>

<p> This research explores the cultural, sociopolitical, biological, and psychological aspects of spanking. Utilizing a hermeneutic methodology, it reviews the language used around spanking, such as abuse, trauma, violence, corporal punishment, maltreatment, adverse childhood experiences, interpersonal victimization, and discipline; its history in indigenous and post-Columbian America; and empirical findings about its effects on mental health. It concludes with suggestions as to how to use this information clinically, noting perspectives on treating intergenerational transmission of trauma and the ethical duties of mental health practitioners to advocate against abuse.</p>

<p> The Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) of 2004 was analysed using David Gil&rsquo;s (1992) analytic framework. The strengths and weaknesses of the Act were assessed and special attention was placed on transitional age youth (TAY) who are consumers of Full Service Parternship (FSP) services in Los Angeles County. This analysis found that there have been some improvements in the provision of services to TAY as a result of the MHSA (2004). However, TAY continue to be a group that remains underserved despite the availability of MHSA (2004) funds. The lack of infrastructure of Department of Mental Health to oversee MHSA (2004) funded projects is likely one of the main reasons why new programs for TAY have not been developed. This analysis did find that TAY, who have been served under MHSA (2004) funded programs, have lower rates of incarceration and hospitalization. The recommendations for social work practice, policy and research are discussed.</p>

<p> Drug injection is an increasingly important risk factor in the transmission of blood-borne pathogens, including the hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The purpose of the study was to examine the influence of social network factors on HCV and HIV. The study was grounded in social network theory and sought to determine whether social network characteristics affect high-risk sexual and drug injection behavior as well as self-reported HIV and HCV status. The study design was a quantitative cross-sectional survey. A total of 181 participants in a needle exchange program completed a survey in Spanish assessing individual drug and sex risk practices as well as gathering information to describe the characteristics of participants&rsquo; personal networks from an egocentric perspective. General estimating equation techniques were used to analyze the data. Results showed that only social network size was related to risky sexual behavior. Injecting risk behaviors were only impacted by personal network exposures, measured by the average number of years network members had injected. HIV self-reported serum status was correlated with trust, closeness, and number of family members named among the closest 5 network members. Last, HCV self-reported serum status was only related to the years that network members had been injecting drugs. This study has implications for positive social change in that public health practitioners may gain a better understanding of the social network characteristics associated with high-risk behaviors of those infected with HCV and HIV in order to develop health promotion programs to lower infections and mortality.</p>

The focus of this study was to explore how Clinical Psychologists narrate their experience of working on acute adult inpatient units. Mental health services in the UK are poorly resourced with treatments dominated by medical model perspectives. This model can conflict with the psychological and social models Clinical Psychologists are trained in. The aims of this study were to explore the experience of Clinical Psychologists working in acute adult inpatient units and, through this, develop insight into how the core values for improving inpatient care could be maintained. This study was guided by Social Constructionist principles. It required a critical stance to be applied on the current system with an understanding that knowledge is co-constructed between and within relationships. Eight individual semi-structured interviews with Clinical Psychologists who work on adult acute inpatient units were conducted and explored using Narrative Analysis. Four dominant narratives were found. These were; ‘You can’t beat the system’, ‘I am screaming’, ‘Connecting with humanity’ and ‘Someone is screaming’. These narratives related to the Clinical Psychologists themselves in conjunction with the system they were working in which included staff, patients, myself as the interviewer and society in general with the understanding that the interviews were co-constructed and represented multiple voices. This research confirmed that cuts and lack of resources to NHS services have created a massive strain on the system. The Clinical Psychologists working in this system are attempting to understand and support individuals in acute distress; however, they appear to be doing this in isolation which puts them in danger of burn out. It would seem the system is organised against thinking and feeling, affecting both staff and patients, and leaving their experiences unheard and invalidated. The people who are admitted to wards are likely to have had abusive and invalidating earlier experiences. Wards need to be a safe place where they can have time to express themselves, process this and experience validation. The opposite seems to be happening, thus, potentially perpetuating their experience of abuse and neglect. Compassion is a Government directive, yet it takes time and space and, thus, is not cost-efficient. To achieve a system, where people who are vulnerable can express their distress and feel heard, provision of ongoing support and resources is required. Further research could explore the experience of staff who work on inpatient units, for instance health care assistants, nurses, psychiatrists and managers in order to provide further insight into the system that is currently in place and help to develop ways to improve it. It would also give voice to professions that did not have a voice in this research. Experiences of Clinical Psychologists on inpatient units where the medical model is not dominant could also be explored, for instance, where the Open Dialogue approach is dominant. Comparisons between the different approaches could then be explored.

<p> Over the past several years, mental healthcare system in United States has evolved tremendously, however majority of people are still struggling with various forms of mental illness and find it difficult to get appropriate treatment at the right time due to barriers like lack of providers, poor access, high cost and, social stigma. This business plan proposes an online mental health service company PsychWeb, offering telemental health services, with the aim of improving access to mental healthcare in the comfort of one&rsquo;s own living environment.</p><p> Chapter 1 of this business plan is about complete market analysis for the online mental health industry along with the business overview for PsychWeb and its services. It also sheds light on business target population, competitors, growth strategies and proposed future milestones. Chapter 2 shows an in depth feasibility analysis using SWOT that ensures business viability and success. In chapter 3, we have discussed the legal and regulatory issues, along with company formation, and laws around provider and patient use of PsychWeb services laying stress on HIPAA and provider licensure requirements at the state and federal level. Lastly, chapter 4 explains the financial analysis conducted to ensure the business profitability. It gives a detailed breakdown of monthly and yearly expenditures, revenues generated and profit margin projections. All financial statements generated in the process are provided in the appendix of this business plan.</p>

<p> Many Filipino Americans experience mental health disparities, yet they are the ethnic group least likely to seek mental health services. When left untreated, the severity of the original mental health needs may increase and lead to additional behavioral health concerns. The purpose of the proposed short-term mental health program is to provide culturally sensitive psycho-education to address the barriers many Filipino Americans face when seeking mental health services. The psycho-education topics will include general mental health education, mental health experience for Filipino Americans, the barriers faced by this population, how to communicate about mental health disparities and mental health resources. With potential funding support from the California Wellness Foundation, whose mission is to improve the health of underserved and low-income Californians, this program will be made available to bridge the gaps in access and quality mental health care at Filipino American Service Group, Inc. (FASGI) Wellness Center in Filipinotown of Los Angeles, California. The actual submission or funding of this grant was not required for the successful completion of this grant proposal.</p>