Daily life for young adults who care for a person with mental illness: a qualitative study

This study describes the daily life and management strategies of young informal carers of family members or friends with mental illness. Twelve young adults (three men and nine women; 16-25 years old) in Sweden were voluntarily recruited between February and May 2008. Data collected through eight individual semi-structured interviews and one focus group interview were analysed using qualitative content analysis. The findings revealed nine subthemes that were further grouped into three main themes: showing concern, providing support and using management strategies. Participants lived in constant readiness for something unexpected to happen to the person they cared for, and their role in the relationship could change quickly from family member or friend to guardian or supervisor. Supporting a friend was considered as large a personal responsibility as supporting a family member. Their management strategies were based on individual capacities and their ability to step aside should the situation become too demanding. These young informal carers need support in caring for the mentally ill. As the internet becomes increasingly fundamental to daily life, support could be provided most effectively through person-centred web sites.     

Mental health triage in the ER: a qualitative study

RATIONALE, AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The London Health Sciences Centre found that its emergency room (ER) mental health services were affected by people presenting with problems that did not require psychiatric intervention. Consequently, a second triage using a crisis worker (CW) was introduced in the ER to identify those persons with mental illness (PMI) who presented for social stressors related to housing, finances and legal issues. A qualitative, process evaluation study was conducted to capture experiences and perceptions of the new triage and CW. METHOD: Qualitative input was obtained from a broad range of stakeholders in three waves of data-gathering over a 25-month period. This method allowed corroboration of findings from informants with varying interests and backgrounds. The data were collected through interviews, focus groups and surveys. The NUD-ist Qualitative Data Analysis Software Program was used to conduct content analyses. RESULTS: Many PMI seeking ER mental health services are presenting with problems related to social stressors and being referred by the second triage to the CW. The introduction of the second triage CW has had a positive effect on ER functioning, the workload of ER staff and the experience of persons presenting at ER. CONCLUSIONS: A defined triage process coupled with the use of psychiatric nursing staff may be applicable to ERs within general hospital settings to improve ER functioning, focus support for PMI and further integrate ERs within the community mental health model.     

The meaning of guilt and shame: A qualitative study of mothers who suffer from eating difficulties

The aim of this study was to illuminate and interpret guilt and shame expressed by mothers with eating difficulties (ED). The research question was: What is the meaning of guilt and shame experienced by mothers with ED? Experiences of guilt and shame in mothers with ED may be strong, yet concealed, and should be addressed when promoting women's mental health. The study design was explorative, and in‐depth interviews were conducted with eight mothers suffering from ED. The data were analysed by means of qualitative content analysis and interpreted according to a hermeneutic approach. The main theme ‘Struggling in silence with guilt and shame as a mother living with ED and trying to keep it secret’ was interpreted on two levels: emotional, ‘Feeling worried about failure and wanting to be successful’, and cognitive, ‘Having condemning thoughts about one's own sense of responsibility’. In addition, each theme contained two subthemes. Feelings and awareness of guilt and shame are strong; they vary between individuals and are intensified in mothers who suffer from ED. It is important for mental health nurses to help mothers with ED articulate such feelings in order to promote health.     

Liminality in the occupational identity of mental health peer support workers: A qualitative study

Peer support is increasingly provided as a component of mental health care, where people in recovery from mental health problems use their lived experiences to provide support to those experiencing similar difficulties. In the present study, we explored the evolution of peer support workers’ (PSW) occupational identities. A qualitative study was undertaken alongside a pilot randomized, controlled trial of peer support for service users discharged from a mental hospital in London, UK. Two focus groups were conducted with eight PSW. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 13 service users receiving peer support and on two occasions with a peer support coordinator. The data were analysed using theoretical thematic analysis, focussing on occupational identity formation. We discuss how the occupational identity of PSW evolved through the interplay between their lived experience, their training, and their engagement in the practice environment in such a way as to construct a liminal identity, with positive and negative outcomes. While the difficulties associated with the liminality of PSW could be eased through the formalization and professionalization of the PSW role, there are concerns that this could lead to an undermining of the value of PSW in providing a service by peers for peers that is separate from formal mental health care and relationships. Skilled support is essential in helping PSW negotiate the potential stressors and difficulties of a liminal PSW identity.     

Social support within a mother and child group: An ethnographic study situated in the UK

Social support has been associated with positive outcomes regarding the mothering experience, and professional interventions have therefore been developed in formal settings to promote this. An ethnographic approach was used to consider the subjective experiences of mothers attending a professionally‐facilitated group for parents and children aged 0–4 years, focusing on relationships within the group and their importance within existing social networks. Qualitative data were collected from seven participants using interviews and participant observation. These were analyzed by the constant comparison method into codes, categories, and themes. Three themes emerged: past history, being a mother, and function of the group. To ensure mothers and children benefit from such groups, nurses who participate in developing and leading community interventions for mothers and their children need to be aware of the importance of maternal identity and the factors that can impact the relationships between mothers within group settings.     

Effect of a computer-based intervention on social support for chronically ill rural women.

Social support is a key factor in illness management. Despite the positive effects of support groups, there are barriers to participation by rural dwellers in face-to-face groups. To address these barriers, a computer-based support group intervention, the Women to Women Project, was designed to provide peer support and health information through a computer-based intervention. Data from three groups (intervention, information, comparison) of woman who participated in the program were analyzed. The pattern of improvement in social support was in the anticipated direction, but not significant in the main analysis. Exploratory analysis was conducted on a vulnerable subsample of women reporting low social support and high psychosocial distress. Results suggest that improvement in social support, based on the intervention, was greater for the vulnerable subsample as compared with the sample as a whole. An effective and efficient means of providing social support and facilitating the mobilization of this support is through self-help groups; this study demonstrates that virtual support groups can increase perceived social support.     

Social support and psychological functioning among high-risk mothers: the impact of the Baby Love Maternal Outreach Worker Program

This study compared two groups of high-risk Medicaid-eligible mothers, 221 who participated in a maternal home visitation program and 198 who did not, to determine whether program participation was associated with improvements in the mothers' psychological functioning 1 year after delivery, and whether these improvements were associated with the type and intensity of support provided by home visitors. The results suggest that, compared to nonparticipants, participants provided with more intensive home visitor support had significantly higher self-esteem (p = 0.039) and were less depressed (p = 0.015). Participants with less intensive home visitor support, however, did not differ significantly from nonparticipants in their self-esteem or depression levels. No significant differences were observed in the perceived stress levels of participants as compared with nonparticipants, regardless of the intensity of home visitor support. Mothers who had support from the baby's father, however, had significantly lower perceived stress levels than mothers with no support from the baby's father (p = 0.046). Moreover, the type of support provided by home visitors (emotional, instrumental, informational) did not appear to be related to the mothers' psychological functioning. This study suggests that the intensity of support is an important component of maternal home visitation programs that aim to improve women's psychological functioning.     

综合医院低年资护士社会支持与应对方式的相关性分析

目的 了解临床低年资护士的社会支持与应对方式状况及两者的相关性.方法 采用社会支持评定量表和简易应对方式问卷,对183名临床毕业5年以下的低年资护士进行调查.比较不同婚姻状况、不同学历组间社会支持、应对方式得分的差异,分析社会支持与应对方式得分相关性.结果 本组低年资护士社会支持总分为(34.49±6.14)分,积极应对维度分为(2.00±0.58)分,消极应对维度为(1.63±0.49)分;客观支持、主观支持、社会支持总分与消极应对呈一定负相关(r分别是-0.29、-0.33、-0.36,均P<0.01);已婚护士社会支持总分较未婚护士高(P<0.01);大专护士社会支持总分与本科护士问差异不明显(P>0.05).结论 低年资护士社会支持总分与消极应对都处于中下水平,积极应对则处于中等水平,社会支持总分与消极应对呈负相关.护理管理者应重视年轻护士的心理健康状况,引导其学会恰当估计自己的应对能力,争取更多的社会支持,提高心理健康水平.     

'I wanted to be a nurse ... but I didn't get that far': women with serious ongoing mental health problems speak about their lives

Within mental health services there are fewer women than men with serious mental health problems and there is evidence that their needs are relatively neglected resulting in specific deleterious effects. In research, as in services, the abilities of women with serious mental health problems appear to be under-estimated, and there is almost a total absence of research into the views and experiences of such women. This study aimed to explore the lives of women with serious ongoing mental health problems and their experience of services, to develop understanding of the context and impact of mental distress. In a series of 5 focus group interviews, the women, who were using a range of services for people with long-term mental health problems, described lives which, even before the onset of mental health problems, were marked by material, social and personal disadvantage. Their mental health problems led to numerous losses: loss of homes, jobs, relationships, children and loss of 'normality', yet the women retained hopes and aspirations for the future. The women clearly identified aspects of the service that they valued, in particular the support and company of women workers and other women service users. The implications of these findings are discussed in relation to planning and providing mental health services for women.