Mental health teaching to UK psychology undergraduates: report of a survey

One of the limitations on developing more progressive applied psychology training is the teaching received by students at undergraduate level. In this study, we focus on the provision of teaching about mental health or its equivalents (e.g. abnormal psychology and clinical psychology) on UK undergraduate psychology programmes. Most students who go on to train as clinical psychologists will have received teaching on modules like these. A survey questionnaire was sent to 109 university departments which might offer a module in mental health mental health module and 348 individuals who might be involved in such modules. The majority of programmes responding offered a mental health module, which was available each year as an optional subject. A number of findings on the content and delivery of the modules are reported and a number of recommendations are made including more involvement from practitioners and service users. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Prevention of Mental Disorders: Promises, Limitations, and Barriers

In the past few years, the field of psychology has seen a dramatic increase in interest in the prevention of mental disorder and emotional difficulties. This special series provides some excellent examples of the promises held by a- variety of prevention programs. At the same time, the papers in this volume highlight several important issues to consider and barriers to the implementation of prevention programs. This discussion paper explores the themes and issues raised by these papers and considers some of the lessons to be extracted for research into and implementation of prevention programs across mental health.     

Prevention-centered science in mental health

Conclusion This special issue of AJCP is the first attempt to collectively publish some of the research generated by the PIRCs, an effort that we hope conveys the richness and sophistication of prevention research at its best. As seen in the papers, the work encompasses a broad multidisciplinary focus, including the domains of epidemiology, econometrics, sociology, community psychology, social psychology, developmental psychology, and psychiatry. The rigor of the studies is sometimes astonishing given the complexities of implementing field-based research, and speaks to the creativity of the investigators at the PIRCs. The critical role they have carved out for prevention within the broader scientific enterprise should move the field toward greater acceptance by other scientists, and should hasten the achievement of its main goal and an important mission of the NIMH—the prevention of mental disorders and dysfunctions and the promotion of mental health. Editor's Note: This special issue of theAmerican Journal of Community Psychology was organized by Doreen Spilton Koretz, who introduces it with a commentary describing the National Institute of Mental Health program that supports the Preventive Intervention Research Centers. Editorial review was handled by Edward Seidman, Associate Editor, with the assistance of a special review board composed of people listed at the end of the issue.The opinions expressed in this chapter are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the support or endorsement of the National Institute of Mental Health; the Alcohol, Drug Abuse and Mental Health Administration; or the Public Health Service.     

Developing coordination of services between a mental health center and a public school system

A child-and-family oriented community mental health center of necessity is concerned with the manner in which the school system in its community is providing for the psychological, social, and emotional development of children. Fortunately, over the last decade, the number of school systems that are aware of their responsibility in this regard has greatly increased, and many affluent and enlightened school systems have moved to develop extensive pupil personnel services, functioning in many ways as in-house mental health programs. Where there are mental health providers both within the community and within the school system, however, problems may develop such as professional competition, overlapping functions, and differences with regard to how mental health problems are best dealt with. This paper will examine the relationship of a town-supported mental health program and the town's public school system. Highlighted will be the variety of problems which develop, including those mentioned above, and strategies adopted to resolve the problems.     

Understanding the evolution of consumer psychology research: A bibliometric and network analysis

Consumer psychology is an interdisciplinary subject that ties together theories and methods from psychology, marketing, advertising, economics, sociology, and anthropology. Since the 1960s, the field of consumer psychology has been the focus of hundreds of research contributions and has emerged as a major research field. However, no study has yet provided a unified perspective on the evolution of the field. This research provides a holistic, quantitative overview of 728 papers in consumer psychology from 1960 to 2016. Utilizing a bibliometric approach and networking methods, it maps out the evolution of the research, provides a comprehensive view of the dynamics of the field, and identifies the key authors and their collaboration networks. Results show that this field has grown dramatically, especially since 2006, with research focusing on psychology, business, and social science, with themes extending to cross culture and gender difference. The findings also indicate that the field of consumer psychology is still developing and many themes remain undeveloped.     

Addressing social determinants of mental health in therapy: A thematic synthesis

Background

The importance of addressing social determinants of mental health in therapy is well-documented. However, there appears to be limited research on what this actually involves in practice and how best to prepare therapists to work with individuals experiencing adverse social determinants.

Aims

The aim of this review was to draw implications for practice and training from reviewing research on addressing social determinants of mental health in therapy.

Methodology

A qualitative systematic review of the research on addressing social determinants of mental health in therapy was conducted, extracting papers from eight databases: Cochrane Library, ASSIA, CINAHL Plus, PsycInfo, Psychoanalytic Electronic Publishing, Science Direct, Scopus and Web of Science. Out of 127 papers found, five met the eligibility criteria and were quality-assessed and analysed thematically.

Findings

The thematic synthesis generated three main themes: “the therapeutic relationship,” “adapting to client context” and “community as a resource,” with eight subthemes.

Conclusion

This thematic synthesis highlights the importance of the therapeutic relationship and adapting mental health support to client frame of reference and context to address social determinants of mental health in therapy. It emphasises community as a helpful resource for informing training and therapeutic interventions, as well as a significant resource for people experiencing adverse social determinants.     

The professional identity of counselling psychologists in health care: a review and call for research

Despite (a) anecdotal evidence which suggests that it is possible to be a counselling psychologist in non-traditional settings, and (b) the potential integration of counselling psychology foci with the medical model, there has been some discussion about whether counselling psychologists who practice in health care settings might experience a change in their professional identity. Professional identity is defined here as a sense of connection to the values and emphases of counselling psychology. The retention of professional identity seems important for counselling psychologists in health care settings. This is considering that the application of counselling psychology principles has the potential to make their contributions unique among mental health professionals in the health care arena. Here, the authors describe the evolution of ‘counselling health psychology’ and address issues of professional identity. Limitations of existing literature are examined. Recommendations for future research are also made.     

Building more solid bridges between Buddhism and Western psychology

Introducing the ways of cultivating mental balance, B. A. Wallace and S. L. Shapiro attempted to build bridges between Buddhism and psychology. Their systematic categorization of Buddhist teachings and extensive review of empirical support from Western psychology are valuable for future study. However, it remains a matter of concern that some more profound parts of Buddhist philosophy can be disregarded by focusing only on practical aspects of Buddhism within the context of mental health. In this comment, the authors briefly address four substantial themes to be considered: reality, identity, causality, and logicality. They suggest that the way to interpret Buddhism as techniques for well-being would certainly be viable in encouraging the study of Buddhist teachings in psychology. Yet, such attempts should not result in superficial imports and applications of Buddhist practices but give due weight to the deeper philosophical issues to build more solid bridges between Buddhism and psychology.     

Mental balance and well-being: building bridges between Buddhism and Western psychology

Clinical psychology has focused primarily on the diagnosis and treatment of mental disease, and only recently has scientific attention turned to understanding and cultivating positive mental health. The Buddhist tradition, on the other hand, has focused for over 2,500 years on cultivating exceptional states of mental well-being as well as identifying and treating psychological problems. This article attempts to draw on centuries of Buddhist experiential and theoretical inquiry as well as current Western experimental research to highlight specific themes that are particularly relevant to exploring the nature of mental health. Specifically, the authors discuss the nature of mental well-being and then present an innovative model of how to attain such well-being through the cultivation of four types of mental balance: conative, attentional, cognitive, and affective.     

School psychology: a public health perspective : I. Prevention, populations, and systems change

Concerns regarding American schools and mental health services for children abound, including inadequate educational achievement, school violence, over-referral to special education and disproportionate placement of minorities into special education, under-utilization of mental health services for children, and a poorly coordinated system of child mental health services. All of the above concerns share two common attributes: (a) they are statements regarding populations, rather than specific individuals; and (b) they are best addressed by changing system-wide elements of psychological service delivery. We argue that, although conceptualizing school psychology as primarily an indirect service specialty (e.g., J. Sch. Psychol. 28 (1990) 203) has advanced our thinking about effective service delivery, conceptualizing school psychological services from a public health perspective will provide an even broader framework that can increase both the efficacy and efficiency of school psychologists' work.     

A new era for Estudios de Psicología / Una nueva era de Estudios de Psicología

Abstract

The journal Estudios de Psicología enters a new era, in which all issues will be dedicated to monographic themes. These themes may be proposed by either the journal Editor or authors themselves, who may submit a positioning article on a topic in the frontiers of psychology (as defined in a previous Editor’s comment, here translated into English and reproduced in its entirety) that will be sent to peer review. If the topic and the article are found to be of interest and relevance, its authors will become the Invited Editors of the monographic issue, and a call for papers will invite authors to send their articles on the chosen topic. The reasons behind this new method, as well as its implications, are presented and discussed.     

Community Participation Needs of Families With Children With Behavioral Disorders: A Systems of Care Approach

The purpose of the current study was to convey findings regarding the community participation needs of families who have children with behavioral disorders. The changing focus of community-based service provision to the systems of care approach for children with mental health needs requires family input to identify and better address their needs. This study identified characteristics of community participation in families of children with mental health needs through a survey, using mixed methods design and purposeful sampling. Evolved themes supported challenges for policymakers to make changes in professional, school, and community supports. Occupational therapists have a strong skill set to offer these families and must work collaboratively with family organizations, provide support for successful engagement in desired social activities, and build adaptive behaviors in children with mental health needs.     

2010~2020中国内地高中生心理健康问题检出率的元分析

我国高中生心理健康问题的检出率亟需关注, 许多研究对此进行了探究, 但结果并不一致。为明确近10年来我国高中生心理健康问题的检出状况及其影响因素, 对检索后获得的252项研究进行了元分析。结果发现: 检出率由高到低依次是抑郁(28.0%)、焦虑(26.3%)、睡眠问题(23.0%)、自我伤害(22.8%)、自杀意念(17.1%)、躯体化(9.8%)、自杀计划(6.9%)、自杀企图(未遂) (2.9%)。我国高中生心理健康问题检出率受出版年代、测量工具、检出标准、检出时间、年级和区域影响。未来应着力编制标准化测评工具、构建心理健康教育长效机制并对高年级、欠发达地区高中生的心理健康问题予以重点关注。     

Forging partnerships for mental health: The case of a prefecture in crisis ravaged Greece

Public health and in particular mental health have been severely affected by the multitude of socioeconomic crises experienced by people in Greece. The severe austerity programmes, have reduced access to health services and increased demand for publically funded health care. This paper presents a case study focusing on the impact of these measures on the lives of mental health providers in one prefecture in Crete. Focus group methodology was applied and the data were analysed using thematic analysis. Analyses revealed three superordinate themes that converge at many levels and appear to be going counter to the circumstances: firstly, ‘forging partnerships for mental health’; secondly, ‘extending our reach’; and thirdly ‘transformations in professional identity through praxis’. These themes are discussed using the words of the participants and the relevant literature.     

Editorial introduction

Health Psychology has been with us “officially” for about a decade and its development has been rapid and influential. With any new area, particularly one which has developed so quickly, it becomes necessary to take stock in order to assess progress and to identify critical issues. To some extent, this task has been attempted in the United States (see Stone er al.,1987) but there has been no systematic attempt to look at international developments in health psychology. I was therefore particularly pleased when Mary Jansen, Gerda Methorst and Ad Kerkhof offered to act as guest editors for a special issue on this topic.

Any collection of papers which attempts the task of an international overview is bound to be selective. Although the present collection is no exception in this respect, certain key themes are explored very successfully. These include the nature of the development of the discipline and the professional perspective, as revealed in the emergence of different types of training program. Added to this there is a most valuable opportunity to compare the development and application of health psychology in contrasting countries around the world. In addition to ensuring that the papers cover an appropriate range of areas, the guest editors have been particularly fortunate in obtaining contributions from a very impressive collection of authors from many countries and professional contexts.

At present health psychology holds many promises both as a research area and as an emerging profession. The planning of good quality research and of appropriately structured training programs is necessary to convert the promises into a reality. In our attempts to do this, we will need to cooperate and to learn from each other and this collection of papers provides an excellent basis for this. I am extremely grateful to the contributing authors and to Mary Jansen, Gerda Methorst and Ad Kerkhof for all their hard work.     

我国心理健康研究现状的文献计量学分析

对收录在中国期刊网上的488条心理健康研究的论文题录进行计量学分析,发现心理学刊物上的心理健康研究论文数量不多,主要集中在心理健康相关因素和现状调查两个方面,内部合作研究已经成为心理健康研究的主要形式,研究力量的机构分布主要集中在高等师范院校和医科院校及医院,研究力量的地区分布主要集中在经济较为发达地区。     

Developing a family-based depression prevention program in urban community mental health clinics: a qualitative investigation

Extensive research documents that children of depressed mothers are at a significantly higher risk for developing a variety of socioemotional difficulties than children of nondepressed mothers. Yet, little prevention research has been conducted for this population, and low-income, minority, and urban families are rarely included. To address this deficit, we are developing the Protecting Families Program (PFP), a family-based multicomponent depression prevention program for mothers in treatment at urban community mental health agencies and their school-aged children. To inform intervention development and begin relationship building with the agencies, patient and staff focus groups were conducted in the participating agencies. Eighteen mothers with depression participated, and eight major themes were identified: (1) depression symptoms, (2) generational legacy, (3) parenting difficulties, (4) child problems, (5) social support, (6) stressful life events, (7) therapy and other helpful activities, and (8) desired treatment. In the focus groups with 10 mental health providers, the five major themes identified were parenting difficulties, lack of social support, life stress, current mental health practices, and intervention development. The findings support the multicomponent design of PFP, which focuses on increasing knowledge of depression, enhancing social support, and improving parenting skills. The study helped clarify many of the challenges of conducting research in a community mental health system.