Effectiveness of Culinary Nutrition Workshops on the Mood and Nutritional Interest of Inpatients With Mental Disorder.

Background Promoting healthy eating habits through nutrition education programs is crucial to improving the overall health of people with mental disorders. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of culinary nutrition workshops on the mood and nutritional interest of hospitalized adults with mental disorders (MD) from the acute psychiatric unit of two general hospitals in Catalonia, Spain. Methods A pilot randomized control trial (RCT) was conducted with MD inpatient. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups: the intervention group received weekly culinary nutrition workshops with flexible participation and the control group continued routinary care. The interest in nutrition was analysed with an ad hoc item pre and post-intervention period. Mood changes were studied with a visual analog scale and analysed pre- and post-intervention periods as well as before and after every session. An ad hoc questionnaire was also used to assess the satisfaction of participants with the intervention. The obtained data were analysed at both descriptive and inferential levels. Results We included 81 participants, with a mean age of 45.3 (SD: 17.0); 66.7% were women, with 41 assigned to the intervention group and 40 to the control group. At the end of every culinary nutrition workshop, a statistically significant improvement in mood was observed in the intervention group (5.9 vs. 7.4 points, p<0.001). However, there were no significant differences in mood changes between the control and intervention groups after the intervention period (control group: 1.0 vs. intervention group: 1.5, p=0.473), while the nutritional interest was significantly improved after the intervention period intergroups (control group: 4.1 vs. intervention group: 37.2, p<0.001). The intervention was excellently valued by the participants regarding content, space, and health professionals, and generated interest and motivation, with scores above 9 on all these items. Conclusion The improvement of interest in nutrition and the satisfaction of hospitalised people with MD with the nutrition culinary workshops emphasize the need to design more comprehensive RCTs in hospitals and rehabilitation centers.

MOSAIC, an example of comprehensive and integrated social and health care: care and practices oriented towards personal recovery.

Background: The Mosaic project is a socio-health integration model that promotes the personal recovery of people with severe mental illness in a territory of Central Catalonia: the Bages region. The recovery approach in mental health care promotes meaningful activities and social inclusion for people with mental health disorders. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between the level of meaningful activities and other factors associated with the mental health recovery model. Methods: A cross-sectional design was used. Participants (n = 59) signed an informed consent and completed the following standardized instruments: Engagement in Meaningful Activities Survey; The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale; Hert Hope Scale; and Recovery Assessment Scale. Results: A Pearson correlation test was performed between the level of meaningful activities and life satisfaction, resilience, hope, and recovery. These data indicate that the amount of meaningful activities are strongly associated with variables related to the personal recovery process from mental health problems. Conclusions: The integration process of MOSAIC confirms the need to accompany the recovery processes through significant occupations.

Training Peer Support Workers in Mental Health Care: A Mixed Methods Study in Central Catalonia.

Introduction: A mental health peer support program was implemented at two reference institutions in Central Catalonia. The program culturally and contextually adapted successful international projects by training people with experience of mental health problems and ensuring their employment in multidisciplinary health care teams. This study explores the influence of peer interventions in mental health on the three groups of participants: peer support workers, service users, and mental health professionals. Methods: A mixed observational method design included pre-, inter-, and post-experimental components and a qualitative description of the impact. The triangulation of the qualitative and quantitative findings showed its coherence and facilitated the understanding of the results. Outcomes and measures were as follows: self-stigma (Self-Stigma Questionnaire); life satisfaction (Scale of Satisfaction with Life); participation in relevant activities (Engagement in Meaningful Activities Survey); personal recovery (Scale-revised Recovery Assessment); occupational performance (Canadian Occupational Performance Measure); and attitudes toward mental illness (Community Attitudes toward Mental Illness). Results: The program showed beneficial effects on peer support workers' (PSW) perceptions of occupational performance, specifically on the ability to find work (p = 0.038), work as a peer support worker (p = 0.016), give to the community (p = 0.011), and satisfaction in the ability to find work (p = 0.031). The assessment made by the three groups of participants was very positive: the PSWs showed an increase in self-esteem and a feeling of usefulness; users of the service described the experience as a source of hope and optimism in their recovery process; and professionals described the program as a positive step in their professional growth. Discussion: The peer-to-peer strategy is a source of hope in the personal recovery process, providing meaning to life for the PSWs while providing an extra source of support to service users in their process of personal recovery. The results offer us lines of improvement for future implementations. PSW's final emphasis has us reflecting on improvements to enhance their own wellness in mental health care services. The findings show the importance of working on life projects and their impact on the recovery process.

Analysis of Stigma in Relation to Behaviour and Attitudes towards Mental Health as Influenced by Social Desirability in Nursing Students.

The training undergraduate nursing students receive, both in terms of theoretical input and clinical practice, may help to instil a less stigmatising perception of mental health. To analyse the perceived evolution of attitudes and expected behaviours, a longitudinal repeated measures study was conducted in a population of student nurses during their undergraduate mental health education. The Mental Illness: Clinicians' Attitudes Scale, a Scale for measuring attitudes to the mentally ill among future Health workers, and the Reported and Intended Behaviour Scale were completed. A mixed linear model was used to assess the effect of each factor in the questionnaires before and after the various stages of the students' training in mental health. The overall effect of each factor was assessed by testing the interaction between factor and group, both with and without adjustment with the Social Desirability Scale. The results showed that the clinical practice stage, due to the proximity to care for people with mental health problems, improves attitudes and behaviours towards mental health in students who have not had mental health problems, and also in younger students. In conclusion, integrated, holistic training during the period of clinical practice was associated with positive changes in the attitudes and intended behaviour.

The development of positive attitudes toward mental health among university nursing students: Countering the role of social desirability.

PURPOSE: This study analyses the evolution of attitudes of nursing students towards mental health, paying particular attention to the influence of social desirability. DESIGN AND METHODS: Prospective longitudinal repeated-measures study in a sample of nursing students who completed the Community Attitudes toward Mental Illness scale and The Social Desirability Scale. FINDINGS: After their training, and after adjusting for social desirability, students of female gender recognized attitudes that foster humanistic values than their male counterparts. However, attitudes of restrictiveness and authoritarianism continued to be manifested significantly when the students themselves had mental health problems (MHPs), had had previous training, or were older. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: University courses should continue to foster attitudes of acceptance and destigmatization of people with MHPs, through responses that value authenticity.

Attitudes and stigma toward mental health in nursing students: A systematic review.

PURPOSE: This systematic review seeks to ascertain whether mental health-specific education reduces stigmatizing attitudes in nursing students. DESIGN AND METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was performed. FINDINGS: Thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Most of the results show an improvement in attitudes toward mental health, both in theory and clinical experience, but a greater improvement toward these stigmatizing attitudes was observed in clinical placements than in theory. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Mental-health-specific training seems to improve perceptions toward mental health. Clinical placement underpins theory, leading to a decrease in negative attitudes and stigma regarding mental health.