How to Mitigate the Mental Health Care Consequences of the COVID-19 Financial Crisis.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to record unemployment claims and a weakened U.S. economy. This column reviews results of past research to examine how a recession might affect behavioral health and the treatment of mental and substance use disorders and suggests potential policy solutions. Despite increases in suicide and substance use, losses in employment-related health insurance could dampen treatment seeking. Federal, state, and local officials should be vigilant regarding suicide prevention. Individuals who lose employee insurance coverage should be protected through insurance marketplaces and Medicaid outreach and enrollment. Public and private coverage of telehealth, which has already been expanded, should continue beyond the pandemic. Federal support for community behavioral health organizations should continue to offset state and local budget cuts and ensure provision of needed treatment. The capacity of social services should be expanded as well as systems that facilitate client connection to social services.

Use of Reimbursed Psychology Videoconference Services in Australia: An Investigation Using Administrative Data.

BACKGROUND: In November 2017, the Australian government approved reimbursement for psychology consultations conducted by videoconference under the Better Access initiative to address inequitable access of mental health services across regions in Australia. OBJECTIVE: This project uses publically available activity data from the Medicare Benefits Scheme to quantify the uptake of videoconference for psychology resulting from the initiative change. METHODS: Data were extracted from the Medicare Benefits Schedule item reports using the item codes for standard consultations and the new item codes for videoconference consultations. Activity data from 2 years before and the first year of the change to the Better Access initiative were compared to examine the uptake of videoconference for psychology. Data were stratified by allied health profession, sex, age and state jurisdiction. RESULTS: In the 1-year period after the introduction of reimbursed videoconference consultations, approximately 5.7 million in-person consultations and 4141 videoconference consultations were funded by Medicare in Australia. Videoconference consultations comprised 0.07% of the total consultations performed in that 1-year period and showed an increased trajectory. The results can guide future research into evaluating the clinical outcomes of patients via both in-person and videoconference delivery modes. CONCLUSIONS: Videoconference mental health services were used in the first year that they were available, although they only accounted for a small percentage of all mental health consultations provided by allied health professionals. This finding lays the foundation for future work which could examine the effectiveness of the scheme in reducing inequity and investigating the economic benefits of the expanded initiative to the government and society.

Current state of psychiatry in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: In 1983, an article and accompanying editorial was published on the state of psychiatry in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), which was described as "a mental health system in statu nascendi." METHODS: We provide a 30-year update on advances in mental health care in KSA. Data are reported from a wide range of sources, including the 2007 Saudi Arabian Mental and Social Health Atlas, which compares services in KSA with the rest of the world. RESULTS: We examine how the current mental health system operates in KSA, including recent changes in mental healthcare policy and development of a national mental healthcare plan. Discussed are current needs based on the prevalence and recognition of mental disorders; availability of services and providers (psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, psychologists, and social workers); education and training in psychiatry; developments in consultation-liaison, addictions, child-adolescent, and geriatric psychiatry; and progress in mental health research. CONCLUSIONS: Mental healthcare in Saudi Arabia has come a long way in a very short time, despite cultural, religious, social, and political challenges, although there still remain areas where improvement is needed. The development of psychiatry in KSA serves as a model for countries in the Middle East and around the world.

Reinserção social de portadores de sofrimento psíquico: o olhar de usuários de um centro de atenção psicossocial / Social rehabilitation of patients with psychological distress: the gaze of users of a psychosocial care center

Com o objetivo de possibilitar o convívio social mais amplo dos portadores de sofrimento psíquico, a Reforma Psiquiátrica preconiza a ruptura do modelo de internação hospitalar e a consequente reinserção social desses sujeitos. Considerando que a reforma encontra-se em processo de construção, são necessárias pesquisas sobre a reinserção social visando contribuir para uma maior eficácia da rede de saúde mental. O presente artigo objetiva analisar a visão dos usuários de um serviço de saúde mental acerca da reinserção social dos portadores de sofrimento psíquico. O estudo contou com a participação de 20 usuários de um CAPS, que responderam a uma entrevista semiestruturada; os dados obtidos foram submetidos a uma análise discursiva. A análise aponta que o serviço é percebido como um local de acolhimento, seguro para os usuários; no entanto, os portadores de sofrimento psíquico ainda são vistos com preconceito por frequentarem um local de assistência psicológica. Além disso, os usuários do serviço não estão inseridos no mercado de trabalho. A partir do exposto, considera-se que o serviço ainda não proporciona plenamente a reinserção social dos usuários. Fica clara a positiva mudança nos modos de tratamento da saúde mental, sendo o CAPS sinônimo de liberdade em seus diversos sentidos. Contudo, a reinserção ainda não atingiu outros espaços que não o próprio CAPS.

With the objective of enabling the broader social life of people with mental disorder, the Psychiatric Reform advocates to disrupt the hospitalization model and subsequent reintegration of these individuals. Whereas the reform is in process of construction, research is needed on the social reintegration to contribute to greater effectiveness of mental health network. This paper aims to analyze the views of users of a mental health service about the social rehabilitation of patients with psychological distress. The study involved the participation of 20 users of a CAPS, who responded to a semistructured interview, data were subjected to discourse analysis. The analysis indicates that the service is perceived as a place of welcome, safe for users, however, patients with psychological distress are still viewed with prejudice by attending a place of psychological assistance. Additionally, users of the service are not included in the labor market. Thus it is considered that the service still does not provide full social reinsertion. It is clear the positive shift in ways of mental health treatment, and the CAPS becomes synonymous with freedom in its various senses. However, the reinsertion not yet reached spaces other than the CAPS itself.

Reducing barriers to mental health and social services for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans: outcomes of an integrated primary care clinic.

BACKGROUND: Despite high rates of post-deployment psychosocial problems in Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, mental health and social services are under-utilized. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) integrated care (IC) clinic (established in April 2007), offering an initial three-part primary care, mental health and social services visit, improved psychosocial services utilization in Iraq and Afghanistan veterans compared to usual care (UC), a standard primary care visit with referral for psychosocial services as needed. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study using VA administrative data. POPULATION: Five hundred and twenty-six Iraq and Afghanistan veterans initiating primary care at a VA medical center between April 1, 2005 and April 31, 2009. MAIN MEASURES: Multivariable models compared the independent effects of primary care clinic type (IC versus UC) on mental health and social services utilization outcomes. KEY RESULTS: After 2007, compared to UC, veterans presenting to the IC primary care clinic were significantly more likely to have had a within-30-day mental health evaluation (92% versus 59%, p < 0.001) and social services evaluation [77% (IC) versus 56% (UC), p < 0.001]. This exceeded background system-wide increases in mental health services utilization that occurred in the UC Clinic after 2007 compared to before 2007. In particular, female veterans, younger veterans, and those with positive mental health screens were independently more likely to have had mental health and social service evaluations if seen in the IC versus UC clinic. Among veterans who screened positive for ≥ 1 mental health disorder(s), there was a median of 1 follow-up specialty mental health visit within the first year in both clinics. CONCLUSIONS: Among Iraq and Afghanistan veterans new to primary care, an integrated primary care visit further improved the likelihood of an initial mental health and social services evaluation over background increases, but did not improve retention in specialty mental health services.

Estratégia da Atenção Psicossocial e participação da família no cuidado em saúde mental / The Psychosocial Care Strategy and family participation in mental health care

Este trabalho tem como objetivo discutir como familiares de portadores de transtornos mentais têm experienciado as mudanças nas políticas da área, o que pensam sobre as novas demandas de participação e como as mesmas têm impactado na sua relação cotidiana com os serviços de saúde mental e nas práticas de cuidado junto a seus familiares. A pesquisa foi realizada no ambulatório de saúde mental de Natal entre novembro de 2008 e fevereiro de 2009, como parte de um trabalho de mestrado que objetivava analisar processos de cronificação em curso nesse serviço. Foram realizadas 12 entrevistas, sendo sete com familiares e cinco com usuários. Os resultados evidenciam as inúmeras dificuldades dos familiares junto às novas propostas de cuidados em saúde mental, que interferem diretamente na perspectiva de corresponsabilização posta pela Estratégia da Atenção Psicossocial. Acreditamos que tal construção entre técnicos e familiares deve vir acompanhada de ações de suporte às famílias, de mudanças nos modos de trabalho e gestão, bem como de avanços em relação às políticas de inclusão social e reabilitação psicossocial, de fortalecimento de mecanismos de controle social, de estímulo ao empoderamento dos usuários e familiares no sentido de fazer avançar o processo de desinstitucionalização em saúde mental.

This study aimed to discuss the way that families of individuals with mental health disturbances experience the political changes in the area, what they think about the new participation demands and about the impact that these demands have on their daily relations with the mental health services, and on their family care practices. The study was conducted from November 2008 to February 2009 in a mental health service in the city of Natal, Brazil. It is part of a masterïs dissertation project that sought to analyze the chronic processes in this service. The results brought into evidence the several difficulties experienced by family members with the new mental health care proposals, that directly interfere in the co-responsibility perspective proposed by the Psychosocial Care Strategy. We believe that in order to promote the mental health deinstitutionalization process, the construction of co-responsibility between technical workers and family members must include: supportive actions to the families; changes in the work and management modes; advances in the social inclusion and psychosocial rehabilitation policies; mechanisms for the strengthening of social control; and empowerment stimulus for the client and his family members.

[The medical social characteristic of patients with psychic disorders addressed to medical institutions with various forms of property].

The article deals with the issues of enhancement of the psychiatric service. The analysis of the results of medical social study of the patients addressed for the medical care to public and commercial structures is given. The substantiation of necessity in enhancing the quality and effectiveness of out-patient psychiatric care service are presented and the various alternative models of its development as well.

Mental health social work and nursing in the USA and the UK: divergent paths coming together?

BACKGROUND: When the mental health systems of the UK and the USA are compared, one of the most striking differences is that social workers are the largest professional group in the USA and community nurses the largest in the UK. AIM AND METHOD: This paper examines the history of the development of both professional groups in both countries, and their education and training. RESULTS: Demand, supply and economic factors are important influences and reasons for these differences. CONCLUSIONS: Both professions have critical future workforce roles, but further consideration needs to be given to the extent to which their skills and values overlap in order to inform future workforce planning, and to reduce the extent to which the workforce pattern in both countries risks being over-determined by supply issues.

Alta-Assistida de usuários de um hospital psiquiátrico: uma proposta em análise / Assisted-Discharge of users of a psychiatric hospital: a proposal under review

Um dos obstáculos atuais à Reforma Psiquiátrica é a ausência de uma rede assistencial ágil, flexível e resolutiva. A proposta de saída dos usuários do hospital de forma planejada e assistida é uma estratégia fundamental no processo de desinstitucionalização, no sentido de evitar o tão acentuado fenômeno da reinternação. Tal situação está relacionada à falta de uma rede de atenção extra-hospitalar, bem como de suporte e acompanhamento do usuário por parte da equipe técnica em parceria com as famílias. Com base nisso, realizou-se uma investigação em um hospital psiquiátrico do município de Natal, visando a avaliar o processo de implantação e o funcionamento do Projeto de Alta-Assistida atualmente em curso nessa instituição. Este trabalho objetiva discutir os resultados dessa investigação.

One of the current obstacles to the psychiatric reform is the absence of an agile, flexible and problem-solving welfare network. The proposed removal of users from the hospital in a planned and assisted is a key strategy in the process of deinstitutionalization, in order to avoid the phenomenon of so marked rehospitalization. This situation is related to the lack of a network of care outside hospitals, as well as supporting and monitoring of the user by the technical team in partnership with families. On this basis, there was an investigation into a psychiatric hospital in the city of Natal, to evaluate the process of deployment and operation of the Project for Assisted Discharge currently in progress at that institution. This work discusses the results of this research.

Deprofessionalization or postprofessionalization? Reflections on the state of social work as a profession.

Recent literature considering the state of the social work profession has primarily focused on concerns about deprofessionalization. This article provides an overview of the literature on professionalization and professional decline in order to situate the social work profession within a broader context. The article then describes the emergence of a new role for social workers in Canada that crosses the boundaries between clinical, managerial, and legal aspects of client care in the area of mental health forensics. It is argued that the future of social work's professionalization project around the world may not be as bleak as has been portrayed in the literature.

Women, mental health, and the psychiatric enterprise: a review.

This article raises questions about how social workers can be more responsive to the needs and wants of women who struggle with mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. Specifically, the article examines the history and theoretical context of mental health services for women, reviews lessons learned from women's own descriptions of their lived experiences with mental illness, and summarizes needed responses to the treatment needs of women. Recommendations are offered in areas of the general structure of the service delivery system, psychosocial and psychotherapeutic interventions, and psychopharmacology.

[Shift of usage of medical psychiatric and psychosocial services in Upper Austria (whole territory of Austria) in the period 1965-2005]. / Der wandel der inanspruchnahme von diensten der medizinischen, psychiatrischen und psychosozialen einrichtungen in Oberösterreich (gesamt-Osterreich) 1965-2005.

Psychiatric reforms in Upper Austria have considerably improved the quality of life of psychiatric patients. Modernizing the status of acute psychiatric departments based on a bio- psycho-, social concept implemented multidimensional approach in diagnostics and therapeutic methods applied by multiprofessional teams. Prophylactic procedures and rehabilitation programs have minimized chronification of psychiatric diseases. By "late rehabilitation programs" increased autonomy, more individualized planning of life processes could be achieved even with "chronic" patients. We do not see any need to confine "chronic" psychiatric patients in psychiatric hospitals. These patients are cared for, socially integrated by special rehabilitation measures and professional rehabilitation in community-based services and units of Pro Mente Upper Austria--a non-profit organization. Problems decreased the duration of stay in psychiatric hospitals, and increased admission rates when the number of beds in psychiatric departments was considerably decreased in the course of psychiatric reforms in Austria. In our province--Upper Austria--these problems are of lesser importance because private non-profit organizations like Pro Mente Upper Austria have provided a variety of community-based services (mental health centres, day clinics, housing facilities and special services for drug addicts and geriatric patients) in ever increasing numbers. Still there is the need for further development of community-based services provided by specially trained professionals. These services are financed mainly by the state, the provincial government, the labour market services and to a small degree by funds of the European Union. In these days of reduced social budgets of the state and social departments of provincial governments it is not easy to keep our standards and meet the increased needs of our clients.

Upward trends in the use of community mental health and social work services in the Netherlands between 1979 and 1995: are particular sociodemographic groups responsible?

OBJECTIVE: We investigate 1) trends in use of community mental health care (CMHC) and community social work (CSW) by Dutch households in 1979-1995; 2) whether such trends can be explained by long-term relative changes in service use or in sizes of particular household categories. METHOD: Data was derived from the Facilities Use Surveys, cross-sectional population studies recording Dutch household characteristics and service use since 1979. A simulation technique was used to explain trends in service use. RESULTS: Use of CMHC and CSW virtually doubled in recent decades. Such trends are not explained by increasing relative service utilization in particular household categories, and only marginally by shifts in the relative sizes of such categories. They are attributable to growing rates of utilization throughout society. CONCLUSION: Trends in service use are explained by broad changes in help-seeking behaviour. Policymakers should act on these findings to narrow the persisting inequalities in service uptake.