No description available.

Background. Help-seeking is a concept of growing interest in the context of psychosis and the move towards early intervention and community-based service models. Despite a preponderance of first episode studies in this field, help-seeking is also of clinical relevance to adults with more chronic psychosis in the face of spiralling patterns of relapse and diminished recovery. Recent research into attachment theory opens up new avenues for exploring aspects of relating in psychosis, including help-seeking in mental health service contexts. Methods. A systematic review of attachment and psychosis was carried out to critically assess the strength and nature of empirical support for this theory within a clinical context. A social-constructivist based grounded theory study of help-seeking and chronic psychosis was conducted amongst nine individuals in a long term rehabilitation service. This aimed to develop an experiential account and grounded theory of the processes shaping help-seeking for this clinical group. Study findings were reviewed against existing constructs of attachment style, service attachment, recovery style and beliefs about psychosis. Results. A grounded theory emerged from the study emphasising the importance of three domains; ‘beliefs about the self’, ‘beliefs about others’ and ‘service experience’, in dynamically shaping views to help-seeking and receiving, for those with chronic psychosis. Attachment theory and recovery coping style were seen as compatible with this model. Conclusions. Individuals with chronic psychosis may continue to experience difficulties with help-seeking and service engagement, even within supported service settings. An appreciation of the interpersonal significance of service interactions, and improved understanding in this area, may help services better anticipate, respond to and adjust their models of engaging for this important clinical group.

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work

No description available.

INTRODUCTION Since the expansion of the EU, several hundred thousand people from Eastern European countries have migrated to the UK, the majority of whom are Polish. Although no studies examining utilisation of mental health services by Polish workers in the UK could be found, research suggests that their knowledge of how to access health services is low, while rates of emergency psychiatric treatment are relatively high. The broader migrant literature suggests that migrants can perceive a cultural mismatch between themselves and services, find it difficult to access services due to logistical barriers, and often prefer to seek help from other sources. The current study sought to explore Polish migrants' responses to distress, with a focus on views about accessing psychological services. METHODS A cultural psychology framework using Charmaz's social constructionist method of grounded theory was adopted in the design of the research. Field work was conducted within the Polish community, and semi-structured interviews took place with Polish community members and key informants. Utilising data from a range of sources allowed for triangulation of the data, and credibility was further enhanced by member checking. Data were analysed using guidelines outlined by Charmaz supported by NVivo software. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Participants' responses to distress were congruent with their sense of identity and the norms of the social groups with which they identified. Polish cultural values emphasising family closeness, traditional gender roles and discomfort with difference influenced participants' help-seeking strategies. The majority of participants preferred to seek help from a close inner circle of family and friends, at least in the first instance. Participants from working class rural backgrounds appeared to adhere more strongly to traditional values and often saw psychological services as irrelevant to them, whereas seeing a therapist was viewed as fashionable for those from urban, middle-class social groups. Disappointment with Scottish primary care services led to reluctance to approach the NHS for help with emotional difficulties, while those who were satisfied with their treatment were open to this possibility. Private services were preferred in Poland, which could result in preferences for seeking help from private Polish therapists in Scotland. This may also allow problems to be contained within the broader Polish community in line with Polish cultural values. CONCLUSIONS Clinical psychology services in Scotland may not be well-placed to meet the needs of Polish migrant workers. NHS services should attempt to be more responsive to the needs of migrant groups in order that they are not discouraged from seeking help if required. Furthermore, it may be helpful to find ways of working with other organisations which migrants feel more comfortable approaching.

Bildterapeutiskt arbete kan vara ett sätt att stärka psykisk hälsa. Lite är dock skrivet om upplevelsen att använda sig av bildskapande i självhjälpsgrupper. Föreliggande studie avsåg att undersöka detta. Respondenter var fem deltagare samt projektansvarig bildterapeut med erfarenheter från självhjälpsgrupper innehållande fritt bildskapande och samtal. Intervjuer genomfördes och analyserades genom tematisk analys. Tre teman framkom (Personlig utveckling, Bildskapandet samt Sammanhang) innehållande tolv kategorier (Agentskap/empowerment, Att utmana sig själv, Ökad livskvalité, Lust, Kravlöshet/prestigelöshet, Bildens symboliska värde, Nya verktyg, Bearbetning/insikter, Flow, Gemenskap med andra, Kulturen i vården och samhället samt Lokalens betydelse). Resultatet indikerar att deltagarna upplevt ökad hälsa, större agentskap och gemenskap där bildskapandet varit en viktig del. Ytterligare forskning behövs dock för att styrka sambandet mellan bildskapande och ökat välmående. / Working with art therapy can be a way to enhance psychic health. However little is written about the experience of using art therapy in self-help groups. The present study intended to explore that. Respondents were five participants and the project leading art therapist with experiences from self-help groups containing free imaging and talk. Interviews were made and analysed through thematic analyses. Three themes emerged (Personal development, Imaging and Context), containing twelve categories (Agency/empowerment, Challenging yourself, Increased quality of life, Desire, Permissiveness/ unpretentiousness, Symbolic value of image, New tooles, Processing/ insights, Flow, Community with others, Culture in care and society and Importance of premises). The result indicates that the participants experienced an increase in health, self-efficacy and fellowship. Additional research is however needed to confirm possible connections between art therapy and increased health.

Previous studies of help-givers have stressed subjects' perceptions using nine generic problem areas and a list of 100 descriptive adjectives. The present study attempted to specify major personality variables entering into subjects' perceptions of adviser, high school counselor, college counselor, counseling psychologist, clinical psychologist, and psychiatrist. The personality variables of self-disclosure and risk were studied, as well as a comparison using the 100 descriptive adjectives. The results from 217 female undergraduate college students indicated that subjects revealed risky information to help-givers in the same manner that they tended to self-disclose. Findings also revealed that subjects tended to differentiate among help-givers in reference to the extent that they were willing to reveal risky information. Favorable findings with reference to validity for the Norton risk scale are discussed, as are discrepancies between descriptions of help-givers in the current study as opposed to descriptions of the same help-givers in previous studies.

Over half of all lifetime mental health disorders emerge during early adulthood and is associated with many adverse outcomes including: lower educational achievement, substance misuse and premature death. Despite the prevalence and burden of mental health problems, young adults with mental health needs are the least likely to seek professional help. This study aimed to gain a better understanding of help-seeking among young adults aged 18-25 and aimed to identify the factors that can delay or prevent access to mental health support. Quantitative and qualitative data was collected from young adults in the community using an anonymous online survey. The results of the study showed that approximately a third of participants did not seek any help for an emotional or mental health difficulty and of those who sought help the majority had accessed help from their friends or their GP. Intention to seek professional help was significantly association with satisfaction from services and perceived stigma, however psychological distress revealed a non-significant relationship. Thematic analysis revealed that stigmatising beliefs, perceiving the problem as not serious, a preference for self-reliance and difficulty in accessing help or communicating concerns were common barrier themes. Facilitator themes highlighted the importance of having a flexible and confidential service. The clinical implications of the results are discussed as well as consideration for future research.

ABSTRACT Low income housing delivery still remains a challenge in Botswana. The government initiated various programmes to address this problem and the Self Help Housing Agency (SHHA) is one of those programmes. This is an exclusive programme limited only to a prescribed low income group. While SHHA has proved to offer opportunities in sustainable low income housing delivery (due to the complimentary roles played by government and beneficiaries), housing problems still persist especially for the low income households. This, to a certain extent, is due to shortcomings within the programme. Any recommendations to address those shortcomings will enable government to achieve its objectives in low income housing delivery.