Article

The effectiveness of support groups: a literature review

March 2018
Mental Health and Social Inclusion 22(1):00-00

DOI:10.1108/MHSI-12-2017-0055

Authors:

Purpose Support groups are a common feature of the mental health support engaged by carers and consumers. The purpose of this paper is to update and consolidate the knowledge and the evidence for the effectiveness of mental health support groups. Design/methodology/approach This paper is based on a systematic literature review of relevant databases around support groups for mental health. Support groups are defined as meetings of people with similar experiences, such as those defined as carers of a person living with a mental illness or a person living with a mental illness. These meetings aim to provide support and companionship to one another. Findings The results show that there is a consistent pattern of evidence, over a long period of time, which confirms the effectiveness of mental health support groups for carers and people living with mental illness. There is strong, scientifically rigorous evidence which shows the effectiveness of professionally facilitated, family-led support groups, psychoeducation carers support groups, and professionally facilitated, program-based support groups for people living with mental illness. Research limitations/implications This research implies the use of support groups is an important adjunct to the support of carers and people with mental illness, including severe mental illness. Originality/value This research brings together a range of studies indicating the usefulness of support groups as an adjunct to mental health therapy.

Anxiety among nurses in caring for COVID-19 patients: a qualitative study

Article

Full-text available

Jul 2024

This study aimed to explore anxiety among nurses in caring for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients.A qualitative descriptive design was used and the number of participants was 13 nurse managers selected using the purposive sampling method. Data collection was conducted using in-depth interviews coupled with a tape recorder and camera following the consent of participants, while framework analysis was used to analyze data.The results showed that participants, comprising 12 females and one male, had work duration in the range of 1-10 years. The identified five major themes included: i) anxiety response, ii) risk factor, iii) protective factor, iv) interventions, and v) anticipated support from nurses.Nurses were found to experience anxiety when caring for COVID-19 patients, underscoring the need for mental health and psychosocial support to reduce risk factors, increase protective factors, and improve coping mechanisms, fostering resilience. The results provided data to help nurses overcome anxiety when facing cases of infection such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, this study offered valuable insights for the government and hospitals in establishing policies regarding the importance of mental and psychological health support to maintain the well-being of nurses.

Experiences of support received by carers of people who are involuntarily admitted to hospital under the Mental Health Act: qualitative study of carers’ perspectives

Article

Full-text available

Apr 2024

Background Carers of people who are involuntarily admitted to hospital report feeling isolated and unsupported by services. The Independent Review of the Mental Health Act (MHA) recommended that carers be supported. However, no research has directly explored what type of support carers would find most helpful when a relative/friend is involuntary admitted. Aims To explore carers’ experiences and views around the support they want to receive when their relative/friend is involuntarily admitted under the MHA. Method A total of 22 one-to-one interviews with carers were conducted online at three sites across England. Audio recordings of the interviews were transcribed, and data were analysed with thematic analysis. Results Four main themes were identified: (a) heterogeneity in the current support for carers, (b) information about mental health and mental health services, (c) continuous support, and (d) peer support and guidance. Carers reported receiving support from professionals, peers and relatives, but this was unstructured, and the extent of support varied across carers. Carers reported wanting more information about mental health services, and for this information to be consistent. Carers also reported wanting emotional support from a single, continuous person, helping them establish a more personal and sincere connection. Peers were also identified as important in the provision of carer support, allowing carers to feel reassured and understood in their experience. Conclusions The support received by carers is currently unstructured. To meet the MHA review recommendations, carers of patients who are involuntarily admitted should be allocated a named contact person, ideally with lived experience, to offer information and personal continuity of support.

The support group impact on enhancing the self-worth of women who terminated a pregnancy in adolescence

Article

Full-text available

Dec 2023

Background: Terminating a pregnancy can be a traumatic life event, resulting in negative emotions that can diminish women’s self-worth. Support from different sources, including health support groups, could be beneficial in restoring a woman’s self-worth. This article aimed to present findings on the impact of a support group intervention on the self-worth of women who terminated a pregnancy in adolescence.Methods: A qualitative, exploratory and descriptive approach, using in-depth, semi-structured interviews, was used to collect data. Thematic analysis guided the data analysis.Results: Five themes emerged from the data: reasons for joining the support group; enhanced emotional and physical wellbeing; self-forgiveness; spiritual growth and participants’ voices.Conclusion: Participants described why they needed to join the support group. It became clear that the intercession was effective in the short term as it enhanced participants’ self-worth by encouraging them to accept themselves thereby altering their self-condemning emotions, replacing them with self-love.Contribution: The study recommends that a support group should be considered as a backup for women who terminated a pregnancy and have lost their self-worth.

Self-Help Group Therapy as Community Nursing Intervention to Reduce Stress Response and Increase Self-Efficacy in High-Risk Pregnant Women

Article

Full-text available

Apr 2023

Background: Unexpected and unanticipated obstetric problems that can have a direct or indirect impact on the well-being of mothers and babies are considered high-risk pregnancies. Uncertainty in health conditions is felt as a life-threatening event that can threaten the lives of mothers and babies. This condition will trigger various stress responses felt by the mother. Moderate to severe stress during pregnancy greatly increases the risk of developing postpartum depression. One of the important coping sources to deal with stress is self-efficacy. Personal abilities are all aspects of an individual that can be utilized to solve problems. One of the interventions that can be used to improve coping mechanisms is self-help groups. Self Help group is a group approach to help its members solve their problems. Purpose: This study aims to determine the impact of self-help groups as therapy in the community to reduce stress responses and increase self-efficacy in high-risk pregnant women. Methods: The research design used was a quasi-experimental one-group pre-test post-test design. 15 respondents were given intervention in 3 sessions for 90 minutes in each session. Stress response and self-efficacy were measured before and after the intervention. Data analysis was carried out using the paired sample T-test. Results: This study shows that the average assessment stress response and self-efficacy score of mothers before the self-help group therapy is 128 and 35. After the therapy, the average response stress and self-efficacy score of mothers was 86 and 53. The study shows the effect of self-help group therapy on stress response (?-value = 0,012) and self-efficacy (?-value = 0,021). Conclusion: It was concluded that self-help group therapy was effective in decreasing stress respons and improving self-efficacy for high-risk pregnant women.

Co-designing a peer support programme for carers of people treated under the Mental Health Act: views from stakeholders

Article

Full-text available

May 2025
BMC PSYCHIATRY

Background Relatives/friends (carers) of people who are involuntarily admitted to a psychiatric hospital report high levels of stress, feelings of isolation and exclusion from their patient’s care. One-to-one peer support is widely implemented for patients, facilitating mental health recovery. Preliminary evidence reports that peer support may benefit carers too, but a one-to-one peer support programme to help carers when their relatives/friends are in hospital has not been developed. Objective To explore carers’, patients’, and professionals’ views on what an accessible, feasible and helpful one-to-one peer support intervention should consider for carers of patients treated under the Mental Health Act (MHA) in England. Method Nineteen one-to-one interviews were conducted online with five carers, four patients, four clinicians, four independent mental health advocates and two behaviour change experts. Participants had experience of either being treated or supporting someone treated under the MHA within the last 10 years. Audio recordings of the interviews were transcribed, and data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results Five themes were identified: (a) carer availability and awareness; (b) peer support flexibility; (c) early promotion of peer support; (d) appropriate training and support for peers, and; (e) anticipated impact of peer support. Carers’ lack of time and awareness of support were reported as key barriers to accessing peer support. To address this, participants emphasised the need for early introduction of support following patients’ hospitalisation and flexible delivery through various communication channels. They also highlighted the need for robust, interactive training for peer supporters. Expected benefits included improved carer and peer supporter wellbeing and increased carer knowledge and empowerment. Conclusions These findings highlight the need for structured training for peer supporters and a flexible, accessible peer support programme for carers. The findings can inform evidence-based co-production of a carer peer support programme for use in England, which could improve carer wellbeing, knowledge and empowerment.

Dimensions And Challenges Associated With Mental Health Support Groups In Zambia: A Service Provider Perspective

Preprint

Full-text available

Jan 2025

Introduction: The burgeoning impact of mental illness over the last two decades underscores a global health crisis, exacerbated by disparities faced by ethnic minorities in accessing quality care. Mental health challenges pose a significant burden on individuals, families, and the Zambian healthcare system. While significant advances have been made around mental health, there is still a significant bias towards pharmacological and counselling interventions while hardly prescribing support groups. This study sought to investigate the landscape of mental health support groups in Zambia by understanding the dimensions and challenges faced by facilitators. Materials and Methods: This was a mixed methodology study employing explanatory sequential design in which quantitative data will be sought first and supported by qualitative findings. The study involved 23 support groups facilitators majority (12 respondents) of whom were males. Results: The study found that support groups for mental health operate in private premises and institutions while other groups operate a hybrid of physical and virtual and others are completely virtual. Majority of the groups are organized by psychologists followed by non-medical facilitators who previously had mental disorders and felt the need to support others. Further, all facilitators had no competency specific for facilitating mental health support groups. Lack of financial support, general infrastructure and space for meetings, and network connectivity were challenges faced by facilitators while noting awareness and stigma reduction, recovery prognosis and improved service uptake as opportunities associated with effective mental health support groups. Conclusion: The study concludes that existing mental health support groups operating in community-based settings as well as hospitals are a resource for patients, facilitators, and health systems provided they are supported and staff are trained on facilitation.

Los contenidos de este artículo están bajo una licencia de Creative Commons Atribución No Comercial -Sin Obra Derivada 4.0 Internacional Creative Commons Atribución-NoComercial-SinDerivadas 4.0. Lump in the Throat: Narratives of Health Personnel Caring for Patients with COVID-19

Article

Full-text available

Apr 2024

Resumen La salud mental del personal sanitario quedó afectada ante la sobrecarga derivada de la atención a pacientes por COVID-19. Se entiende que no había conocimientos sobre la enfermedad ni sistemas laborales preparados para atender la pandemia. La problemática de salud mental de un grupo de 8 profesionales de enfermería (6 mujeres y 2 hombres), laborando en una institución de salud estatal, fue atendida a través de un grupo de ayuda mutua creado como dispositivo de contención emocional. Se analiza la información co-creada por el proceso grupal de 10 sesiones a través de las narrativas desde un enfoque relativista, con los ejes temáticos del malestar emocional ante las incertidumbres y las agresiones; el deber ser y las disyuntivas morales; el coraje impulsor ante la desorganización institucional, la sobrecarga emocional y la recuperación de estrategias y recursos. Se discuten las implicaciones del proceso narrado por el grupo constituido como una estrategia efectiva para la mejora en la salud mental de los participantes y la necesidad de tener dispositivos virtuales ante necesidades o circunstancias como las detonadas por una pandemia, así como la fortaleza del proceso grupal.

The Effect of Support Group Therapy on Bullying Victim’s Resiliency in An Islamic Boarding School Setting

Article

Full-text available

Oct 2023

Introduction: Bullying becomes a subset of intentional aggressive behavior that occurs globally. It allows the invasion of negative experiences, triggering feelings of discouragement, hopelessness, desperation, and insecurity, leaving the victims in powerless and indefensible circumstances toward the vicious bullying attacks. Thus here, we ought to investigate the influence of support group therapy on resilience among bullying victims in an Islamic boarding school setting. Method: This was a quasi-experimental study with a pre-posttest design with the control group. A total of 64 eligible participants that selected by the purposive sampling technique then equally distributed into the experimental and control groups. This research was conducted from May to June 2023 at Islamic Boarding School. Data were collected using the Resilience Scale Questionnaire which consists of 25 question items with answer choices using a Likert scale. Result: The results showed that the difference in resilience before and after the intervention in the control group showed a p value of 0.080, while in the treatment group the difference in resilience showed a p value of 0.000 before and after the intervention. The difference in the resilience scores of the control and treatment by the Wilcoxon test showed the p-value of 0.000, these results show that the significant effect of support group therapy on bullying victims’ resiliency. Conclusion: Support group therapy conclusively concentrates on providing adequate support and reinforcement to the bullying victims, cultivating empathy to restore their confidence and resiliency. Furthermore, this therapy can be implemented in mental health and community nursing settings as an alternative therapy. Keywords: Bullying, Resilience, Support Group Therapy

The COVID-19 Crisis as an Evolutionary Catalyst of Online Psychological Interventions. A Systematic Review and Qualitative Synthesis

Article

Aug 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has been an opportunity for professionals and clients to experience online interventions; even though many challenges were faced, many resources were identified. This systematic review investigates the experience with online psychological interventions during the pandemic to understand the effect on online practice during such unprecedented times. A systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines and thirty-seven studies were included in the review. The results pointed out two overarching themes: The practical implications of shifting to an online setting and Professionals’ experiences associated with engaging in the shift, with a number of themes describing the implications and practical limitations of online interventions; together with professionals’ attitudes, changes in the therapeutic relationship and intention of use in the future. This review provides a report of professionals’ experience with online psychological interventions during the pandemic and points out the needs and proposals identified by professionals for practising online in the future.

"التكامل بين الشبكة السيكومترية وتحليل المسار لدراسة تأثير الازدهار الرقمي ويقظة الإنترنت علي الرفاه الأكاديمي لدى طلاب المرحلة الثانوية "

Article

Apr 2025

The effectiveness of implemented interventions at the workplace to promote the mental health of working women: A systematic review

Article

Full-text available

Dec 2024

Over the last decades, a gradual increase in prevailing mental disorders in the adult population has been observed all over the world. Global estimates of anxiety, stress, depression, and mood disorders prevalence have also been high. Employed women are susceptible to experiencing some symptoms or mental disorders due to their lifestyle or working conditions. The objective of this study is to find effective interventions based on the workplace to improve the mental health of employed women. This systematic review was conducted by following PRISMA guidelines to report systematic reviews. The papers in Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar for English and SID, Magiran, and Irandoc for Persian resources were searched from 2005 to 2023. To include the final study, 15 papers were eligible to be selected. The findings of this study show that giving interventions to improve the mental health of employed women is hopeful and employers may promote their mental health through performing low-cost and effective intervention programs such as setting up supportive training groups’ sessions and group exercises. The outcomes of performing this study may help to increase our knowledge concerning the necessity of giving effective health interventions to women in the workplace and to consider the shortage of giving such interventions. Therefore, giving the interventions is recommended aiming at the health and welfare improvement of employed women.

Social support in obsessive-compulsive disorder: The relationships between social support and readiness to change

Article

Full-text available

Oct 2024

Social support is widely beneficial for individuals suffering from mental health disorders. Preliminary work suggests that it is influential in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), but no studies have investigated the importance of social support as it relates to readiness to change (RTC, a relevant variable in treatment-seeking populations. The present study aimed to investigate this relationship as well as broadly characterize support-seeking experiences in those with OCD. Results indicated that, on average, participants with OCD have positive experiences of sharing their symptoms, that others tend to react well to such sharing, and sharing tends to positively affect one's relationship to their diagnosis. We further found that subjective experience of sharing symptoms and internalized stigma moderately predicts RTC. This study suggests nonprofessional social support may be a practical and impactful adjunct to OCD treatment by influencing motivation to change, though future work is needed to validate this pilot study.

Evaluating the efficacy of support groups in the metaverse for Ukrainian refugees: a protocol for a randomized clinical trial

Article

Full-text available

Oct 2024
TRIALS

Background The Ukrainian crisis, sparked by the Russian invasion, has generated one of the most extensive refugee crises in modern history. Addressing the mental health challenges of Ukrainian refugees is critical to promoting their resilience and successful integration into host communities. Traditional support group interventions might be challenging to implement for geographically dispersed populations, making the metaverse an innovative and inclusive platform for providing much-needed support to such populations. Methods/design Displaced Ukrainian refugee adults (18 years or older) without current psychiatric diagnoses or current involvement in therapeutic interventions are included in the study. Participants are randomized to one of three conditions: (1) Metaverse Support Groups, (2) In-Person Support Groups, or (3) Waitlist. Both intervention groups (Metaverse and In-Person) undergo 5 support group sessions, and data are collected at baseline, mid-intervention, post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up. Primary outcomes are depressive symptomatology and anxiety. Secondary outcomes are perceived social support, well-being, and gender-based violence awareness. Discussion To our knowledge, this is the first attempt to test the efficacy of support groups in the Metaverse for the Ukrainian refugee population. This study can thus add substantially to the body of knowledge on effective interventions and policies for refugees. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT06142032 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06142032). Registered on November 8, 2023.

Feasibility of online psychosocial interventions to promote mental health recovery and well-being

Article

Full-text available

Nov 2024
INT J SOC PSYCHIATR

Background Amid the increasing trend and huge impact of mental illness, psychosocial support (PSS) has been asserted to support individuals’ recovery. Unfortunately, about 80% of affected people cannot access care as needed. Meanwhile, digital technology has a considerable role in closing service gaps. Aims This convergent parallel mixed methods study examines existing mental health service utilization, users’ needs for PSS, and feasibility of online PSS development. Methods A cross-sectional interview survey was conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire at a super tertiary psychiatric hospital in Thailand from March to May 2023, with three groups of service users, having self-perceived conditions/diagnosis of schizophrenia (n = 100), mood disorders (n = 84), and others including alcohol and substance use, anxiety and personality disorders (n = 52). Four focus group discussions with three user groups (n = 16) and one multidisciplinary provider group (n = 7) were parallelly executed. Quantitative and qualitative data were convergently analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, and thematic and content analysis. Results Critical shortcomings of PSS were indicated by 75.8% of user participants. Six common types of self-determined PSS were psychoeducational program, support group, skills training, counseling, supported employment, and complimentary therapy. While psychoeducational program was feasible, support group, and counseling were possibly featured within the ‘all-at-once’ online intervention development. Conclusions PSS development based on users’ needs can promote clinical and personal recovery outcomes, and close the service gaps. Users with mood disorders have the potential for online interventions. Peer-provider formalization, co-production approach, community engagement, digital literacy, infrastructures, and equal access factors are crucial for sustainable development.

Stubborn Families: Logics of Care of a Family Member with Borderline Personality Disorder

Article

Full-text available

Jul 2024
CULT MED PSYCHIAT

Maureen O’Dougherty

This study conducted in-depth, largely unstructured interviews with 31 involved family members in a metropolitan area of the United States (US) Midwest on their experiences of BPD in a close relative. Narrative analysis employing concepts from anthropology (the logic of care and family assemblage) was used to examine the nature and quality of care practices and identify human, environmental, and cultural supports needed for family recovery. Findings indicate that these US family caregivers provided intensive and extensive care over the long term. They acted in situations of risk to their relative, and often disconnected from professional support. Parents labored under unforgiving normalizations: judgments (real or perceived) of not properly raising or “launching” their children and norms of parental self-sacrifice. The dearth of housing options for the young person hindered recovery. While duly recognizing the care practices provided by family members for a relative with BPD, I argue that there is a significant omission. Our conceptualizing of supports for family members of a relative with BPD needs to encompass supports for their own recovery. Respite, mental health care for caregivers, housing, support groups, and collaborative care (with professionals, peers and family members) could productively assist recovery of all family members.

Promoting mental wellbeing in pregnant women living in Pakistan with the Safe Motherhood—Accessible Resilience Training (SM-ART) intervention: a randomized controlled trial

Article

Full-text available

Jun 2024

Background The negative impact of adverse perinatal mental health extends beyond the mother and child; therefore, it is essential to make an early intervention for the management of mental illness during pregnancy. Resilience-building interventions are demonstrated to reduce depression and anxiety among expectant mothers, yet research in this field is limited. This study aims to examine the effect of the ‘Safe Motherhood—Accessible Resilience Training (SM-ART)’ on resilience, marital adjustment, depression, and pregnancy-related anxiety in a sample of pregnant women in Karachi, Pakistan. Method In this single-blinded block randomized controlled study, 200 pregnant women were recruited and randomly assigned to either an intervention or a control group using computer-generated randomization and opaque sealed envelopes. The intervention group received the SM-ART intervention consisting of six, weekly sessions ranging from 60 to 90 min. Outcomes (Resilience, depression, pregnancy-related anxiety and marital harmony) were assessed through validated instruments at baseline and after six weeks of both intervention and control groups. Results The results revealed a significant increase in mean resilience scores (Difference:6.91, Effect size: 0.48, p-value < 0.05) and a decrease in depressive symptoms (Difference: -2.12, Effect size: 0.21, p-value < 0.05) in the intervention group compared to the control group. However, no significant change was observed in anxiety and marital adjustment scores. Conclusion The SM-ART intervention has the potential to boost resilience scores and decrease depressive symptoms in pregnant women and offers a promising intervention to improve maternal psychological health. Trial registration NCT04694261, Date of first trial registration: 05/01/2021.

North Central Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Center: 2020-2023: Outcomes, Lessons Learned, and Recommendations for the Future

Article

Full-text available

Jun 2024

Agricultural producers (i.e., farmers, ranchers) and agricultural workers (i.e., hired labor, farmworkers) have worse mental health than the general population and often lack access to mental healthcare. In response, the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture funded four regional Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Networks in 2019. In the north central region, the North Central Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Center (NCFRSAC) was created in 2020 to develop, deliver, and expand stress and mental health assistance to agricultural producers, workers, and families in 12 states. Since 2020, the NCFRSAC has expanded a telephone helpline for agricultural producers and workers and published a clearinghouse website. In addition, the network has trained over 11,000 agricultural supporters in mental health programming, trained over 18,000 agricultural producers in stress management and mental health awareness programming, engaged over 850 farmworkers in support groups, and delivered more than 1200 hours of professional behavioral health services. As circumstances and conditions within agriculture change, such as commodity prices and export policies, NCFRSAC can continue to be responsive by modifying approaches and offering new resources to agricultural communities.

Kendi Kendine Yardım Grupları: Bağımlılık Tedavisindeki Rolü

Article

Jan 2023

Simge Alevsaçanlar Cücü

Kendi kendine yardım grupları, belirli bir konuda ortak endişeleri, sorunları veya mücadeleleri paylaşan bireylerin bir araya gelerek deneyimlerini paylaştığı ve birbirlerine destek sağladığı yapılanmalardır. Bu gruplar, bağımlılık, ruh sağlığı sorunları, sağlık sorunları, yas, boşanma gibi yaşamın çeşitli alanlarındaki zorluklarla ilgili olabilirler. Ülkemizde ve dünya genelinde Adsız Alkolikler ve Adsız Narkotikler gibi kendi kendine yardım gruplarının bağımlılık tedavisindeki etkinliğini gösteren birçok çalışma bulunmaktadır. Bu çalışma, kendi kendine yardım gruplarının işlevleri ve bağımlılık tedavisindeki önemini ve rolünü anlamaya odaklanmaktadır.

Support Group Intervention on Self-Awareness and Parental Coping Strategies as an Effort to Prevent Sexual Violence in Children

Article

Full-text available

Dec 2023

Background: The victims, primarily female children, have suffered sexual abuse, often perpetrated by individuals known to them, such as neighbors or acquaintances. In interviews with concerned parents regarding ongoing cases of sexual abuse, they expressed fears about their children falling victim to such incidents.. The research aim was to assess the effectiveness of support group interventions in enhancing self-awareness and parental coping strategies as preventive measures against child sexual abuse. Methods: The study's main objective is to evaluate the impact of Support Groups in improving Self-Awareness and Parental Coping Strategies. It employed a quasi-experimental design using a non-equivalent group pre-test and post-test methodology, with one group as the control and the other as the experimental group. The study included 70 respondents in the intervention group and an equal number in the control group, selected through purposive sampling. Research instruments comprised the Revised Ways of Coping Scale questionnaire for coping strategies and a self-awareness questionnaire. Non-parametric data analysis was conducted using SPSS, specifically the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test. Results: Results of the normality test indicated that both the intervention and control groups had p-values of less than 0.05 for coping strategies (0.002 for the intervention group and 0.003 for the control group) and self-awareness (0.000 for both groups), suggesting non-normal data distribution. Consequently, non-parametric statistical analysis was applied with SPSS, and a significance level was set at p < 0.05. The Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test results for the intervention group were 0.000 (coping strategies) and 0.000 (self-awareness), signifying a significant difference in average pretest and posttest scores within the intervention group. Conversely, the control group's Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test results were 0.953 (coping strategies) and 0.317 (self-awareness), indicating no significant difference in average pretest and posttest scores within the control group. Conclusion: Based on the research findings and discussion, it can be deduced that support group interventions positively impact the enhancement of parental coping strategies and self-awareness in the endeavor to prevent child sexual abuse.

Student-Led Stress Reduction Support Groups: A Qualitative Program Evaluation

Article

Dec 2023

Background Burnout and attrition in nursing have been accelerated by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Nursing students experience greater stress than non-nursing students but often lack adequate institutional support to build resiliency. Support groups are an effective strategy for processing stress that are underused in nursing education. An innovative online stress impact course was developed at a college of nursing to address students' stress during the pandemic. The course culminated in a voluntary virtual support group led by a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner graduate student. The aim of this qualitative program evaluation was to determine how graduate nursing students experienced the stress support group. Method This study used qualitative exploratory analysis of support group reflections from 47 graduate nursing students. Results Four themes emerged: (1) Making Positive Connections; (2) Leveraging Skills to Manage Stress; (3) Beneficial; and (4) Facing Trauma. Conclusion Graduate student-led support groups are a feasible and effective strategy to mitigate stress and improve nursing student resiliency. [ J Nurs Educ . 2023;62(12):711–715.]

Large-scale evaluation of outcomes following a genetic diagnosis in children with severe developmental disorders

Preprint

Full-text available

Oct 2023

Objective: We sought to evaluate outcomes for clinical management following a genetic diagnosis from the Deciphering Developmental Disorders (DDD) Study. Design: Individuals in the DDD study who had a pathogenic/likely pathogenic genotype in the DECIPHER database were selected for inclusion (n=5010). Clinical notes from regional clinical genetics services notes were reviewed to assess pre-defined clinical outcomes relating to interventions, prenatal choices, and information provision. Results: Outcomes were recorded for 4237 diagnosed probands (85% of those eligible) from all 24 recruiting centres across the UK and Ireland. Additional diagnostic or screening tests were performed in 903 (21%) probands through referral to a range of different clinical specialties, and stopped or avoided in a further 26 (0.6%). Disease-specific treatment was started in 85 (2%) probands, including seizure-control medications and dietary supplements, and contra-indicated medications were stopped/avoided as no longer necessary in a further 20 (0.5%). The option of prenatal/preimplantation genetic testing was discussed with 1204 (28%) families, despite the relatively advanced age of the parents at the time of diagnosis. Importantly, condition-specific information or literature was given to 3214 (76%) families, and 880 (21%) were involved in family support groups. In the most common condition (KBG syndrome; 79 (2%) probands), clinical interventions only partially reflected the temporal development of phenotypes, highlighting the importance of consensus management guidelines and patient support groups. Conclusions: Our results underscore the importance of achieving a clinico-molecular diagnosis to ensure timely onward referral of patients, enabling appropriate care and anticipatory surveillance, and for accessing relevant patient support groups.

Mental health and wellbeing in family caregivers of patients with schizophrenia disorder: a literature review

Article

Full-text available

Sep 2023
CURR PSYCHOL

Up to 50% of patients with schizophrenia disorder live with family. Family, as informal, unpaid caregivers, provide support for patients by assisting with activities of daily living, illness management, financial assistance, emotional support, and more. The high resource demand caregiving activities entail take a toll on caregivers’ mental health and wellbeing. As the wellbeing of caregivers is significantly associated with improved patients’ symptom management, increased service utilization, reduced hospitalizations, and relapse reduction, improving the mental health and wellbeing of caregivers should be priority. The aim of this review is to provide a unique summary of the last 20 years of literature focusing on the mental health and wellbeing of family caregivers of patients with schizophrenia disorder in developed countries through searching of five databases, including MedLine, Web of Science, ProQuest, PsycInfo, and Embase, using keywords related to schizophrenia, caregiving, and mental health. Findings indicated that caregivers’ mental health and wellbeing was affected by increased burden, escalated emotional and physical stress, decreased quality of life due to declining social lives, safety concerns, and lacking formal and informal support. However, findings also indicate that enhancing coping skills and consideration of the positive aspects of caregiving served to ameliorate these effects. This review supports the call for more programs and interventions targeting caregiving-associated stress and burden, the mobilization of formal and informal support, and enhancement of coping skills and resiliency, are required to improve mental health and wellbeing among caregivers.

Social isolation and loneliness in family caregivers of people with severe mental illness: A scoping review

Article

Aug 2023
AM J COMMUN PSYCHOL

Family caregivers of people with severe mental illness (SMI) have been increasingly observed to experience social isolation and/or loneliness (SI/L) which are risk factors for ill health. This scoping review aimed to map existing evidence and identify knowledge gaps in studies on SI/L in this population using the Arksey and O'Malley's framework. Parallel searches (2011-2021) conducted in 10 databases identified 51 publications from 18 countries fully meeting the inclusion criteria. Over half of the included studies were quantitative. We found that the definition of loneliness reached a consensus, while the definition of social isolation varied across studies. Risk factors and correlates of SI/L were grouped into sociodemographic factors, illness-related factors, health and wellbeing, and stigma. The evidence showed a lack of comprehensive measurements assessing SI/L, few longitudinal studies, and little knowledge of interventions specifically addressing SI/L. Future studies are recommended to address these knowledge gaps and explore effective interventions on SI/L in family caregivers of people with SMI.

Digital Flourishing: Conceptualizing and Assessing Positive Perceptions of Mediated Social Interactions

Article

Full-text available

Feb 2023

Recent research started to apply concepts of well-being to the context of computer mediated communication (e.g., social media, instant messaging). While much research investigates negative perceptions of mediated social interactions (e.g., “problematic” or “addictive” social media use), a multi-dimensional measure that taps into users? positive perceptions is sorely lacking. The present research therefore develops the first comprehensive measure of digital flourishing, defined as positive perceptions of mediated social interactions. Building on a qualitative pre-study that aided the construction of the Digital Flourishing Scale (DFS), Study 1 (N = 474) employed exploratory factor analysis to reveal five subdimensions of digital flourishing. The preregistered Study 2 (N = 438) confirmed these five dimensions, yielding five reliable items per subscale and initial construct validity with three psychological needs from self-determination theory (SDT; competence, autonomy, relatedness) which were used as an underlying well-being framework for the development of the DFS. The preregistered Study 3 generated further construct validity by directly relating DFS to well-being. The scale is relevant for researchers and practitioners alike to better understand how users perceive their mediated interactions to impact mental health and well-being.

After the ordeal: health communication messages in a pregnancy-OSG

Article

Full-text available

Mar 2020

Titi Nur Vidyarini

The increase use of internet open up a broad spectrum of usage. Among those are the use of sharing platform such as Instagram and facebook for particular communities. Support groups are essential part of health treatment and recovery, in this case for pregnancy condition. One can try to find solace and information through online support group. Online support group enable people from around the globe to communicate, discuss and encourage others with similar condition. This article delves the question of how women use internet-based health support group. The researcher conduct qualitative discourse analysis on an online pregnancy support group and various literatures which explores the use of internet-based support group. The findings show that women use online support group because they found lack of support offline, they need information and emotional support regarding their pregnancy loss and the recovery process, the role of medical expert and the spouses are perceived differently.

Characterization of online support group resources for patients with dermatologic conditions

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2023
ARCH DERMATOL RES

Dermatologic conditions can have significant quality of life effects on patients. The internet is a first-line accessible resource for patients to seek support and community in managing dermatologic diagnoses. The accessibility and content of online support resources for patients with dermatologic conditions is unclear so we sought to characterize these resources. We conducted online searches utilizing incognito Google, Yahoo, and Bing search engines and identified a total of 36 support group resources. 9 links were for single dermatology support groups and 27 links were for databases of support groups for different dermatologic conditions. We tallied number totals and percentages of online support resources and found wide variability of material in terms of the readability of the group websites, as well as content, medium, and hosts of the groups. Furthermore, we observed an imbalance in representation of resources for certain dermatologic conditions as opposed to others, further highlighting the strong need for the creation of easy-to-access support groups for patients across the spectrum of dermatological disease.

SELF CONCEPT OF PEOPLE WITH BIPOLAR THROUGH BIPOLAR SURVIVAL GROUP IN DENPASAR

Article

Nov 2022

SELF CONCEPT OF PEOPLE WITH BIPOLAR THROUGH BIPOLAR SURVIVAL GROUP IN DENPASAR KONSEP DIRI ORANG DENGAN BIPOLAR MELALUI KELOMPOK PENYINTAS BIPOLAR DI KOTA DENPASAR

Article

Full-text available

Oct 2022

Putri Ekaresty Haes

Daily routine can trigger stress and load of though that make mood changes, mood changes are normal, for physical and mentally healthy human but not so with ODB (people with bipolar). The focus of this study is communication of bipolar survivor group in Denpasar that supports healing from ODP (people with bipolar). This research is qualitative research using case study approach, with only focuses on group communication in only one group of bipolar survivors in Denpasar. Data collection technique used participatory observation, in-depth interviews with informants and documentation techniques. This study uses data triangulation as a technique for validity of the data. The result obtained from this study show that ODB (people with bipolar) are greatly helped by the presence of bipolar group of survivors, so that emotion bond are established between members and have the same goal, namely recovering from mental illness. In addition, this group also help its member find the self-concept of its members, so that its members have a new life to rejoin the society. ABSTRAK Rutinitas sehari-hari dapat memicu stress dan beban pikiran yang dapat membuat perubahan mood, perubahan mood tersebut bagi normal bagi manusia yang sehat jasmani dan rohani namun tidak demikian dengan ODB (orang dengan bipolar). Fokus dalam penelitian ini adalah komunikasi kelompok penyintas bipolar yang ada di Denpasar yang mendukung kesembuhan dari ODB (orang dengan bipolar). Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian kualitatif dengan menggunakan pendekatan studi kasus, yaitu hanya berfokus pada komunikasi kelompok pada salah satu kelompok penyintas bipolar yang ada di Denpasar. Teknik pengumpulan data menggunakan observasi partisipasif, wawancara mendalam dengan informan penelitian dan teknik dokumentasi. Penelitian ini menggunakan trianggulasi data sebagai teknik keabsahan datanya. Hasil yang diperoleh dari penelitian ini bahwa ODB (orang dengan bipolar) sangat terbantu dengan adanya kelompok penyintas bipolar, sehingga diantara anggota terjalin ikatan emosional dan memiliki satu tujuan yang sama yaitu sembuh dari penyakit mental yang diderita. Selain itu, kelompok ini juga membantu para anggotanya menemukan konsep diri para anggotanya, sehingga anggotanya memiliki kehipan baru untuk bergabung kembali dalam masyarakat.

Characterization of Online Support Group Resources for Patients with Dermatologic Conditions

Preprint

Full-text available

Jan 2023

Dermatologic conditions can have significant quality of life effects on patients. The internet is a first-line accessible resource for patients to seek support and community in managing dermatologic diagnoses. The accessibility and content of online support resources for patients with dermatologic conditions is unclear so we sought to characterize these resources. We conducted online searches utilizing incognito Google, Yahoo, and Bing search engines and identified a total of 36 support group resources. 9 links were for single dermatology support groups and 27 links were for databases of support groups for different dermatologic conditions. Analysis of resources indicated wide variability of material in terms of content, coverage, and readability. Furthermore, analysis of content showcased an imbalance in representation of resources for certain dermatologic conditions as opposed to others, further highlighting the strong need for the creation of easy-to-access support groups for patients across the spectrum of dermatological disease.

‘Wanting No Regrets’: Parental decision making around Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy

Article

Sep 2022

Background: Selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) is an irreversible neurosurgical procedure used to reduce spasticity while aiming to improve gross motor function for children with cerebral palsy (CP). Little research has explored the complexity of parental decision-making experiences surrounding SDR surgery and required rehabilitation. The aim was to explore parental experiences and expectation in the decision-making process around the SDR operation, physiotherapy treatment and outcomes. Method: Qualitative methods using in-depth, semi-structured interviews were used. Eighteen parents (11 mothers and 7 fathers) participated whose child had SDR and completed 2-year post-operative rehabilitation. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Decision making involved an interacting process between the 'parental information seeking experience', 'influence of professional encounters and relationships' and 'emotional and social aspects'. Despite underlying uncertainties about outcomes, parental drivers of expectations and aspirations for their child preceded and sustained this decision-making process. A foundational narrative of 'wanting no regrets' resolved their decision to undertake SDR. Outcomes did not always match expectations, and parents moved away from a position of idealism, which was driven in part by parental information seeking including overly optimistic media representation. Conclusion: Universally, parents expressed they had 'no regrets' on their decision, yet many felt a mismatch between expectation and outcomes of SDR surgery. A greater understanding of the complex nature of SDR decision making is required to help improve family preparedness and provide support from clinicians to enable balanced discussions in parental decision-making.

“It's still our child”. A qualitative interview study with parent carers in forensic mental health

Article

Jul 2022
ARCH PSYCHIAT NURS

The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences and perceptions of parents in forensic mental health services with regard to their cooperation with healthcare professionals and their role as parent carers. 15 participants were interviewed using qualitative, in-depth interviews and transcripts were analysed thematically. The identified themes were ‘Medical dominance’, ‘Interactions with healthcare professionals’, and ‘Advocating for their daughter/son’. The themes were associated with the overall theme ‘perceived impact on the parents' everyday lives’. The results suggest that parent carers perceive a malalignment between the institutional medicalised treatment focus and the need for an integrated holistic approach, which would include them as partners.

Peer Support and Mental Health of Migrant Domestic Workers: A Scoping Review

Article

Full-text available

Jun 2022
Int J Environ Res Publ Health

The effectiveness of peer support in improving mental health and well-being has been well documented for vulnerable populations. However, how peer support is delivered to migrant domestic workers (MDWs) to support their mental health is still unknown. This scoping review aimed to synthesize evidence on existing peer support services for improving mental health among MDWs. We systematically searched eight electronic databases, as well as grey literature. Two reviewers independently performed title/abstract and full-text screening, and data extraction. Twelve articles were finally included. Two types of peer support were identified from the included studies, i.e., mutual aid and para-professional trained peer support. MDWs mainly seek support from peers through mutual aid for emotional comfort. The study's findings suggest that the para-professional peer support training program was highly feasible and culturally appropriate for MDWs. However, several barriers were identified to affect the successful implementation of peer support, such as concerns about emotion contagion among peers, worries about disclosure of personal information, and lack of support from health professionals. Culture-specific peer support programs should be developed in the future to overcome these barriers to promote more effective mental health practices.

Health service utilisation and access for people who inject drugs during COVID ‐19

Article

Mar 2022

Introduction: The wide-spread implementation of interventions to limit transmission and public health consequences of COVID-19 in the Australian state of Victoria had flow-on consequences for people who use and inject drugs. Consequences included the interruption of illicit drug supply and drug procurement, and the disruption to the delivery of health services. To inform strategies that can minimise the adverse outcomes of similar future disruptive events, this study explored how COVID-19 restrictions impacted access to harm reduction and drug treatment services for people who inject drugs in Melbourne, Victoria. Methods: Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted via an online calling app, with 11 participants of a broader cohort study (the SuperMIX study) in April 2020. Interviews were focused on participants experiences of accessing and using harm reduction and drug treatment services. Data were thematically analysed using a process of blended coding. Results: Findings revealed how disruptions in the delivery of harm reduction and drug treatment services-in response to COVID-19 restrictions-created barriers accessing sterile injecting equipment, increased risk of arrest by police and exacerbated social isolation. Participants reported difficulties adapting to changes in services access, with some increases in injecting risk behaviours. However, improvements in opioid agonist therapy prescriptions were noted as a beneficial outcome. Discussion: By examining the impacts of COVID-19 and the resultant restrictions on people who inject drugs' access to health services in Melbourne, Victoria, findings provide guidance for future responses to the unanticipated large-scale effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and similar disruptive events.

Patient Empowerment Among Adults With Arthritis: The Case for Emotional Support

Article

Feb 2022

Objective: This study aimed to identify differences in patient empowerment based on biopsychosocial patient-reported measures, the magnitude of those differences, and which best explain differences in patient empowerment. Methods: This was a cross-sectional observational study of 6,918 adults with arthritis in the United States. Data were collected from March 2019 to March 2020 through the Arthritis Foundation's Live Yes! INSIGHTS program. Patient empowerment, measured by the Health Care Empowerment Questionnaire, included two scales: Patient Information-Seeking and Healthcare Interaction RESULTS: Patient-reported outcomes were measured using the PROMIS- 29® and PROMIS® Emotional Support scale. Analysis of variance assessed differences between groups; Spearman's Rank Correlation assessed correlations between variables. Hierarchical regression analysis determined the contributions of sociodemographic characteristics, arthritis type, and patent-reported health measures in explaining patient empowerment (α=0.05). Results: Empowerment was lower among those who were male, older, less educated, or who had lower income, osteoarthritis, less emotional support, or better physical function, although the effect was small to negligible for most of these variables in the final regression models. Empowerment did not differ by race/ethnicity in unadjusted or adjusted analysis. In final regression models, Emotional Support contributed the most to explaining patient empowerment. Conclusion: Emotional support is important for patient empowerment. This suggests that programs that seek to improve patient empowerment should target and measure impacts on emotional support.

Kotahitanga—connection, unity, and belonging: perspectives of Māori mothers on a kaupapa Māori group intervention for perinatal mental health

Article

Apr 2025

In Aotearoa New Zealand, perinatal mental health outcomes and maternal suicide rates demonstrate that Māori (the Indigenous peoples of New Zealand) mothers and birthing parents have the worst outcomes relative to other ethnic groups. Little research exists exploring Indigenous approaches to perinatal mental health or the perspectives of Indigenous peoples on perinatal mental health interventions. This article explores a kaupapa Māori (Māori approach) perinatal mental health intervention, offering insights around its responsiveness to the needs of Māori birthing parents. This qualitative study was guided by kaupapa Māori research methodology and explores the experiences of 11 Māori mothers who had accessed a kaupapa Māori group intervention for perinatal mental illness. Results demonstrate that future service design of perinatal mental health services should consider the incorporation of whanaungatanga (relationship building) and tikanga (cultural customs, conventions) to improve mental health outcomes and elevate the mana (prestige, power) of Māori during the perinatal period.

Support groups for family members of older adults in residential aged care: A pilot feasibility study

Article

Jan 2025
AUSTRALAS J AGEING

Objectives There are limited mental health support services in Australia that address the well‐being of family members of aged care residents. The aim of this project was to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary effectiveness of an online program designed to support residents' families. Methods This one‐arm mixed methods project examined uptake, attendance and retention patterns, satisfaction and experience with the service, and pre‐ and postoutcomes with respect to depressive and anxiety symptoms and loneliness. The sample comprised 38 participants. Results The uptake, attendance and retention rates were high: 86%, 87% and 95%, respectively. Participants were satisfied with the content and format of the program. The benefits of participation included the following: connecting with peers, developing emotional well‐being strategies, and learning about dementia and mental health issues. Suggestions for improving the program included the following: offering additional sessions and an option for meeting face‐to‐face. Symptoms of depression and anxiety improved significantly from pre‐ to postintervention time points, but loneliness did not statistically reduce over time. Conclusions This study found the family support group feasible and acceptable, and showed preliminary indications of effectiveness for improving depressive and anxiety symptoms for families of aged care residents.

Preparing counselors‐in‐training to address religion and spirituality: Fostering competency through the lens of the addiction curriculum

Article

Jun 2024

Beginning with a brief review of the literature related to the importance of religion/spirituality (R/S) in counseling clients with substance use disorders and addictions, this article provides classroom exercises that educators can use in the addiction curriculum to foster student insight and awareness, leading to increased R/S competency.

Self-Help Groups and Psychological well-being of individuals at risk of or suffering from mental illness and Psychosocial Disabilities

Preprint

Full-text available

Nov 2024

Anup Acharya

Large-scale evaluation of outcomes after a genetic diagnosis in children with severe developmental disorders

Article

Oct 2024

Purpose We sought to evaluate outcomes for clinical management after a genetic diagnosis from the Deciphering Developmental Disorders study. Methods Individuals in the Deciphering Developmental Disorders study who had a pathogenic/likely pathogenic genotype in the DECIPHER database were selected for inclusion (n = 5010). Clinical notes from regional clinical genetics services notes were reviewed to assess predefined clinical outcomes relating to interventions, prenatal choices, and information provision. Results Outcomes were recorded for 4237 diagnosed probands (85% of those eligible) from all 24 recruiting centers across the United Kingdom and Ireland. Clinical management was reported to have changed in 28% of affected individuals. Where individual-level interventions were recorded, additional diagnostic or screening tests were started in 903 (21%) probands through referral to a range of different clinical specialties, and stopped or avoided in a further 26 (0.6%). Disease-specific treatment was started in 85 (2%) probands, including seizure-control medications and dietary supplements, and contra-indicated medications were stopped or avoided in a further 20 (0.5%). The option of prenatal/preimplantation genetic testing was discussed with 1204 (28%) families, despite the relatively advanced age of the parents at the time of diagnosis. Importantly, condition-specific information or literature was given to 3214 (76%) families, and 880 (21%) were involved in family support groups. In the most common condition (KBG syndrome; 79 [2%] probands), clinical interventions only partially reflected the temporal development of phenotypes, highlighting the importance of consensus management guidelines and patient support groups. Conclusion Our results underscore the importance of achieving a clinico-molecular diagnosis to ensure timely onward referral of patients, enabling appropriate care and anticipatory surveillance, and for accessing relevant patient support groups.

The Journey From Nonimmersive to Immersive Multiuser Applications in Mental Health Care: Systematic Review

Article

Full-text available

Nov 2024
J MED INTERNET RES

Background: Over the past 25 years, the development of multiuser applications has seen considerable advancements and challenges. The technological development in this field has emerged from simple chat rooms through videoconferencing tools to the creation of complex, interactive, and often multisensory virtual worlds. These multiuser technologies have gradually found their way into mental health care, where they are used in both dyadic counseling and group interventions. However, some limitations in hardware capabilities, user experience designs, and scalability may have hindered the effectiveness of these applications. Objective: This systematic review aims at summarizing the progress made and the potential future directions in this field while evaluating various factors and perspectives relevant to remote multiuser interventions. Methods: The systematic review was performed based on a Web of Science and PubMed database search covering articles in English, published from January 1999 to March 2024, related to multiuser mental health interventions. Several inclusion and exclusion criteria were determined before and during the records screening process, which was performed in several steps. Results: We identified 49 records exploring multiuser applications in mental health care, ranging from text-based interventions to interventions set in fully immersive environments. The number of publications exploring this topic has been growing since 2015, with a large increase during the COVID-19 pandemic. Most digital interventions were delivered in the form of videoconferencing, with only a few implementing immersive environments. The studies used professional or peer-supported group interventions or a combination of both approaches. The research studies targeted diverse groups and topics, from nursing mothers to psychiatric disorders or various minority groups. Most group sessions occurred weekly, or in the case of the peer-support groups, often with a flexible schedule. Conclusions: We identified many benefits to multiuser digital interventions for mental health care. These approaches provide distributed, always available, and affordable peer support that can be used to deliver necessary help to people living outside of areas where in-person interventions are easily available. While immersive virtual environments have become a common tool in many areas of psychiatric care, such as exposure therapy, our results suggest that this technology in multiuser settings is still in its early stages. Most identified studies investigated mainstream technologies, such as videoconferencing or text-based support, substituting the immersive experience for convenience and ease of use. While many studies discuss useful features of virtual environments in group interventions, such as anonymity or stronger engagement with the group, we discuss persisting issues with these technologies, which currently prevent their full adoption.

The benefits of hearing voices groups: more findings from a US national study

Article

May 2024

A Duty to Care: Male Perspectives on the Caregiver Role for Persons With Alzheimer's or Dementia

Article

Jan 2024

Michael V Bueno

The population of family caregivers (FCGs) of persons with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) is growing, as is the proportion of males taking on this traditionally female role. Caregiving research has centered around women due to historic roles, resulting in a knowledge gap regarding male caregiving experiences. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore the experiences of male FCGs of people with ADRD. Eleven male caregivers were recruited and interviewed by telephone or Zoom/videoconferencing. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Four major themes emerged highlighting males’ struggles with the unfamiliar caregiving role and changing identity; their acknowledgment of personal growth and discovery through caregiving; their challenges in finding the “right” kind of support; and their perceived reshaping of masculinity through the caregiving role. Male caregivers expressed unique experiences as FCGs. Findings indicate the need for researchers and clinicians to develop tailored support to address their needs.

Educational Messages to Combat COVID-19 Misinformation on Instagram

Chapter

Dec 2023

Nia Ashton Destrity

The present state of global growth, which is now focused on the process of digitalization and the establishment of information technology networks, has emerged as a fundamental component within the realm of Public Relations professionals. The field of Public Relations has seen significant transformation via digitalization as practitioners have adapted their strategies to meet the increasing needs and expectations of stakeholders. Incorporating digital communication platforms, big data, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) has necessitated Public Relations practitioners to acquire a thorough proficiency in a new array of digital abilities. The primary objective of this preliminary research was to examine the digital skills and competencies shown by public relations practitioners in Indonesia. A quantitative research method was undertaken to investigate the implementation of Digital Public Relations in Indonesia, with surveys as the primary technique of data collecting. The study included participation from many public relations practitioners from diverse organizations as survey respondents. The study revealed that the emergence of Digital Public Relations, together with its accompanying technological advancements, has facilitated the tasks of Public Relations professionals, hence potentially enhancing their efficiency and productivity. Furthermore, many Public Relations professionals in Indonesia have already acquired the necessary knowledge and skills in digital public relations. In addition to possessing knowledge and competencies in Digital Public Relations, it is observed that a significant number of Public Relations practitioners lack practical skills in analysing the vast amount of data pertaining to their organizations on the internet and other social media platforms.

The Relationship between Public Mental Health Policy and the Practice of Community Psychology through Family Support Groups

Article

Full-text available

Dec 2023

Brigitte Swarts

This article will examine the relationship between public mental health policy and the practice of community psychology through the lens of family support groups (FSGs). Government policy promotes community psychology, but the implementation thereof is lacking and gives way to approaches that deny the involvement of communities and families as equal owners in the psychotherapeutic process. However, the psychiatric system expects families to act as the ‘primary carers’ or ‘case managers.’ Family involvement is cited as invaluable to the overall success of recovery and, therefore, represents an opportunity for self-critique within the psychiatric system in its orientation towards partnering with families. In this context, FSGs were initiated within the adult male and adolescent inpatient units in the Western Cape at Lentegeur Hospital (LGH). This article promotes FSGs as central to psychotherapeutic interventions and offers an empirical grounding for an inclusive approach to family support. This practice of inclusivity is underpinned by a community psychology ethos and is based on the analysis of 24 FSG sessions involving 446 family members between July 2013 and November 2015.

Solidarity for the anthropocene: From the widening inequity to climate change and beyond

Article

Jul 2023
ENVIRON RES

Social solidarity is essential to large-scale collective action, but the need for solidarity has received little attention from scholars of Earth Systems, sustainability and public health. Now, the need for solidarity requires recognition. We have entered a new planetary epoch - the Anthropocene - in which human-induced global changes are occurring at an unprecedented scale. There are multiple health crises facing humanity - widening inequity, climate change, biodiversity loss, diminishing resources, persistent poverty, armed conflict, large-scale migration, and others. These global challenges are so far-reaching, and call for such extensive, large-scale action, that solidarity is a sine qua non for tackling these challenges. However, the heightened need for solidarity has received little attention in the context of the Anthropocene and, in particular, how it can be created and nurtured has been overlooked. In this commentary, we explore the concept of solidarity from inter-species, intra-generational and inter-generational perspectives. We also propose strategies to enhance solidarity in the Anthropocene.

Sociālā darba vārdnīca

Book

Full-text available

Jan 2023

Sociālā darba vārdnīca ir tapusi, apzinoties nepieciešamību pēc informatīva un atbalstoša rīka sociālā darba praksē, sociālā darba izglītības nodrošināšanā un sociālās politikas veidošanā, lai veicinātu vienotu izpratni sociālā darba terminoloģijas lietojumā latviešu valodā. Pastāvot kopējām globālā sociālā darba attīstības tendencēm, katrā pasaules reģionā un katrā valstī sociālais darbs attīstās, ņemot vērā vietējās vajadzības, kultūru, sociālekonomisko situāciju un labklājības valsts modeli. Attīstoties profesijai, attīstās arī profesijā lietotā valoda un terminoloģija, kas ir nozīmīga kā sociālā darba speciālistu saskarsmē ar pakalpojumu lietotājiem, tā arī savstarpējā komunikācijā un starpprofesionālajā sadarbībā. Profesijā lietotā valoda, tāpat kā valoda kopumā, gan atspoguļo, gan konstruē noteiktu pasaules ainu, tā ir būtisks instruments profesionālās darbības interpretācijā, speciālistu sadarbībā un profesijas pašizpratnē. Sociālā darbinieka lietotā valoda var ievirzīt to, kādā veidā sociālais darbinieks redz noteiktu problēmu vai tās risinājumu, kā arī to, kā izprot cilvēkus, kuriem palīdz. Vārdi ir valodas pamatvienības, tie apzīmē priekšmetus un parādības, to attiecības, vārdi palīdz izprast pasauli, bet, aplam lietoti, tie var arī maldināt. Tāpēc ir svarīgi iedziļināties lietoto vārdu nozīmēs, lai noskaidrotu, ko tie atklāj par sociālā darba būtību.

Filling a gap: virtual clinician-led support groups for disordered eating

Article

Mar 2023

For people with disordered eating, support groups can play an important role in treatment and recovery journeys. Such resources became crucial during COVID-19, as people with disordered eating reported increased isolation, symptomology, and decreased treatment access. This study examines participants’ experiences of nine, rolling, clinician-led, free, virtual support groups for disordered eating. Participants (207 attenders and 70 nonattenders (individuals who signed up for groups and never attended)) completed an online survey. Codebook thematic analysis of open response items generated topics and themes including: reasons for signing up (“community connection and seeking support,” “filling a treatment gap,” “behavior and support changes due to COVID-19”), barriers to participation (“interpersonal dynamics,” “accessibility factors,” “group structure”), and benefits of attending group (“feeling less alone,” “identifying new treatment needs,” “coping skills and reduction of symptoms”). Participants discussed lack of accessible, identity-aware treatment options outside of these groups, particularly for those with minoritized identities. This paper highlights the role of groups in participants’ eating disorder recoveries and explores how virtual clinician-led support groups fit into the constellation of eating disorder care that increasingly includes virtual resources. Group psychotherapy specialists could consider bringing skills to facilitate spaces for community-based healing to complement conventional treatment approaches.

An Intensive Care Unit peer support group: Participants’ views on format, content and the impact on recovery journeys

Article

Jun 2022

Background Peer support groups reduce psychological morbidity and increase social support for Intensive Care Unit (ICU) survivors. Group formats differ and research, although emerging, is limited. This study explores a continuously running ICU Expert by Experience group, which has a dual role of support and service-user consultative, from attendees’ perspectives. Methods A thematic analysis was conducted on interviews with current and past members of an ICU Expert by Experience group. 11 participants took part in online and telephone interviews. Three provided written responses. Final themes were created following a process of data validation with participants. Results Four main themes emerged: (1) Support in the difficult recovery journey (2) Relationships and shared experiences (3) Value of professional facilitation (4) Practical considerations. Conclusion Patients highlighted the help gained from the group as an integral part of their recovery journey. Results also identified practical implications for those considering setting up similar support groups.

Launching support groups for informal caregivers of people living with dementia within participatory action research

Article

Full-text available

Jun 2021

Support groups are one possibility to empower informal carers and accordingly have spread across many countries because of their informal, inexpensive nature and because of their effectiveness. This paper aims to reflect on the viewpoints and experiences of the lessons learned from the participatory action research (PAR) conducted from 2016 to 2019. During PAR, several support groups in different regions of Estonia were launched to empower the informal caregivers. In the study, the stakeholders and researchers participated as partners and developed new knowledge and 17 support groups were launched in different regions of Estonia. In conclusion, our experiences highlighted the stakeholders’ collaboration which resulted in creating the knowledge needed to launch support groups. Based on our experience, we recommend launching support groups in countries where they do not exist yet, and to apply participatory action research.

HUBUNGAN PEER GROUP SUPPORT DENGAN KUALITAS HIDUP PENDERITA SKIZOFRENIA

Article

Full-text available

Feb 2022

Lingkungan yang sehat dan mendukung seperti peer group support membuat penderita skizofrenia merasakan sense of belonging dan rasa aman terhadap lingkungannya, sehingga penderita skizofrenia dapat menjalin dan menjaga hubungan yang dimana mereka dan lingkungan dapat saling memberikan kontribusi. Rasa saling memiliki inilah yang membantu mereka mengembangkan fungsi sosial umtuk saling mendukung yang akhirnya dapat meningkatkan kualitas hidup penderita skizofrenia, Metode: yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah studi kepustakaan atau literatur review. Dimana pengumpulan data menggunakan metode dokumentasi dimana data yang diperoleh berupa buku, jurnal, majalah, skripsi, tesis dan laporan yang berkaitan dengan pembahasan. Tujuan: dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui hubungan peer group support dengan kualitas hidup penderita skizofrenia. Hasil: hasil yang didapatkan bahwa terdapat hubungan antara peer group support dengan kualitas hidup penderita skizofrenia. peer group support (dukungan sesama kelompok) mempunyai peranan penting terhadap kualitas hidup pada penderita skizofrenia, karena peer group support dapat memberikan kesempatan untuk mengurangi isolasi, meningkatkan proses pemulihan pada ODS serta peningkatan ingklusi sosial dan kualitas hidup. Hal ini mendorong untuk ODS mengekspresikan pikiran, perasaan, dan masalah pribadi mereka dalam lingkungan. Kata kunci : Peer Group Support, Kualitas Hidup dan Penderita Skizofrenia. ABSTRACT A healthy and supportive environment such as peer group support makes people with schizophrenia feel a sense of belonging and a sense of security in their environment, so that people with schizophrenia can build and maintain relationships where they and the environment can contribute to each other. This sense of belonging helps them develop social functions to support each other, which in turn can improve the quality of life for people with schizophrenia. Methods: The research used literature study or literature review. Where the data collection uses the documentation method where the data obtained is in the form of books, journals, magazines, theses, theses and reports related to the discussion. Purpose: This study was to determine the relationship between peer group support and the quality of life of people with schizophrenia. Results: The results showed that there was a relationship between peer group support and the quality of life of people with schizophrenia. Peer group support has an important role in the quality of life of people with schizophrenia, because peer group support can provide opportunities to reduce isolation, improve the recovery process in ODS and increase social inclusion and quality of life. This encourages ODS to express their personal thoughts, feelings and problems in the environment.

Patients' perspectives of the feasibility, acceptability and impact of a group-based psychoeducation programme for bipolar disorder: A qualitative analysis

Article

Full-text available

Aug 2015
BMC PSYCHIATRY

Background: Although there is some quantitative evidence to suggest the benefits of group psychoeducation for people with bipolar disorder, patients' perspectives and experiences of group psychoeducation require in-depth exploration to enable us to better understand the feasibility, acceptability and impact of these interventions, the potential facilitators and barriers to engagement, and how to improve these interventions in the future. Methods: In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 participants of a psychoeducation programme for bipolar disorder in Wales, following their involvement in the programme. The data were recorded and transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Findings demonstrate that group psychoeducation may impact on participants' perceived social support, knowledge and acceptance of bipolar disorder, personal insights, attitude towards medication and access to services. Key recommendations for improvement included: allowing more time for group discussions, offering group sessions to family members and avoiding use of hospital or university venues for the groups. Conclusions: This is the first qualitative study of patients' perspectives of a UK-based group psychoeducation programme for people with bipolar disorder, and findings present an in-depth account of how group psychoeducation may be experienced by patients. The recommendations for improving the content and delivery of group psychoeducation for bipolar disorder may enhance engagement and widen access to such programmes. Future research into psychoeducation for bipolar disorder should explore how to target and engage people of diverse ethnic backgrounds and those in lower socioeconomic groups who are less likely to access healthcare services.

Social Network Intervention in Patients With Schizophrenia and Marked Social Withdrawal: A Randomized Controlled Study

Article

Full-text available

Nov 2013
CAN J PSYCHIAT

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of actions intended to implement or improve patients' social network within the Italian National Health Service community mental health services. Methods: We conducted a randomized clinical trial through a network of 47 community mental health services on patients with a diagnosis in the schizophrenia spectrum (F20 in the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision), who were young (aged younger than 45 years), and with a poor social network (less than 5 relationships). In addition to routine treatments, for the experimental group, the staff identified possible areas of interest for individual patients and proposed social activities taking place outside the services' resources and with members of the community. The main outcome was an improvement in the patients' social network; secondary end points were clinical outcome, abilities of daily living, and work. Results: One- and 2-year outcomes of 345 and 327, respectively, of the 357 patients randomized were analyzed by intention-to-treat. A social network improvement was observed at year 1 in 25% of the patients allocated to routine treatment and in 39.9% of those allocated to the experimental arm (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.3 to 3.1; adjusted OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.4 to 3.9). The difference remained statistically significant at year 2. No significant differences emerged for any of the other end points. However, patients with 1 or more other areas of improvement at year 1 and 2 showed a statistically significant social network improvement. Conclusions: The activation of social networks as an activity integrated with standard psychiatric care is practicable, without added economic and organizational costs, and appears to produce an effect persisting well beyond its implementation.

Statewide Implementation of Recovery Support Groups for People with Serious Mental Illness: A Multidimensional Evaluation

Article

Full-text available

Jun 2013
J BEHAV HEALTH SER R

This study evaluated a statewide demonstration project to implement a group-based intervention called Procovery in selected inpatient and community mental health centers. Procovery is a facilitated mutual support group designed to build hope and a sense of social inclusion by raising consciousness and helping people develop an understanding of the ways one can move toward recovery in their own lives. This evaluation sought to determine both consumer outcomes and perceptions of the program and implementation efforts held by consumers and the facilitators of the intervention. A multidimensional approach was used, including a quasi-experimental design with consumers, questionnaires and focus groups with the intervention facilitators, and individual interviews with administrators. The Procovery model was shown to have a positive impact on consumers' recoveries and was viewed favorably by consumers, facilitators, and administrators. Several barriers to effective implementation were identified. These findings and their implications for future practice and research are discussed.

Internet-based psychoeducation for bipolar disorder: A qualitative analysis of feasibility, acceptability and impact

Article

Full-text available

Sep 2012
BMC PSYCHIATRY

Background In a recent exploratory randomised trial we found that a novel, internet-based psychoeducation programme for bipolar disorder (Beating Bipolar) was relatively easy to deliver and had a modest effect on psychological quality of life. We sought to explore the experiences of participants with respect to feasibility, acceptability and impact of Beating Bipolar. Methods Participants were invited to take part in a semi-structured interview. Thematic analysis techniques were employed; to explore and describe participants’ experiences, the data were analysed for emerging themes which were identified and coded. Results The programme was feasible to deliver and acceptable to participants where they felt comfortable using a computer. It was found to impact upon insight into illness, health behaviour, personal routines and positive attitudes towards medication. Many participants regarded the programme as likely to be most beneficial for those recently diagnosed. Conclusions An online psychoeducation package for bipolar disorder, such as Beating Bipolar, is feasible and acceptable to patients, has a positive impact on self-management behaviours and may be particularly suited to early intervention. Alternative (non-internet) formats should also be made available to patients.

Benefits of Support Groups for Families of Adults with Mental Illness

Article

Full-text available

Apr 1997

Examined predictors of benefits derived from participating in support groups for families of persons with mental illness. A questionnaire was administered to 131 families (with members aged 25–82 yrs) who had a relative (aged 17–88 yrs) with a severe mental illness. Data were gathered from Ss on demographic characteristics, external support resources, level of group involvement, and group structure. Results indicate that social support resources outside the group, as well as support received from and provided by the group, were associated with information acquired by the participant. Improved relationships with family and the mentally ill relative were predicted by the participant's health and provision of support in the group.

Empowering caregivers: Impact analysis of FamilyLink Education Programme (FLEP) in Hong Kong, Taipei and Bangkok

Article

Full-text available

Feb 2013
INT J SOC PSYCHIATR

Background Education and support for caregivers is lacking in Asia and the peer-led FamilyLink Education Programme (FLEP) is one of the few provisions to address this service gap. This study aims to evaluate quantitatively its efficacy in reducing subjective burdens and empowering the participants. Method One hundred and nine caregiver participants in three Asian cities were successfully surveyed at pre-intervention, post-intervention and six-month intervals with a number of standard inventories. Mixed analysis of variance (ANOVA) procedures showed significant programme impact over time intervals for all sites, and subsequently an empowerment measurement model was tested. Results FLEP was found effective in reducing worry and displeasure, significantly improving intra-psychic strain, depression and all empowerment measures. The measurement model had an acceptable good fit. Baseline difference showed no interference with the programme efficacy. Conclusions Apart from the initial support for FLEP, the current study also provides some hindsight on the empowerment practice in mental health for Asia, whose sociocultural political contexts are vastly different from that of the developed countries. It remains to be seen whether qualitative data or more stringent research design will yield consistent results and whether FLEP can also work in rural areas.

Group-based psychosocial intervention for bipolar disorder: Randomised controlled trial

Article

Full-text available

May 2010
BRIT J PSYCHIAT

Psychosocial interventions have the potential to enhance relapse prevention in bipolar disorder. To evaluate a manualised group-based intervention for people with bipolar disorder in a naturalistic setting. Eighty-four participants were randomised to receive the group-based intervention (a 12-week programme plus three booster sessions) or treatment as usual, and followed up with monthly telephone interviews (for 9 months post-intervention) and face-to-face interviews (at baseline, 3 months and 12 months). Participants who received the group-based intervention were significantly less likely to have a relapse of any type and spent less time unwell. There was a reduced rate of relapse in the treatment group for pooled relapses of any type (hazard ratio 0.43, 95% CI 0.20-0.95; t(343) = -2.09, P = 0.04). This study suggests that the group-based intervention reduces relapse risk in bipolar disorder.

Benefits of support groups for families of adults with severe mental illness

Article

Full-text available

May 1997

Predictors of benefits derived from participating in support groups for families of persons with mental illness were examined. A survey of 131 families indicated that social support resources outside the group, as well as support received from and provided by the group, were associated with information acquired by the participant. Improved relationships with family and the ill relative were predicted by the participant's health and provision of support in the group.

One-Year Follow-up of a Multiple-Family-Group Intervention for Chinese Families of Patients With Schizophrenia

Article

Full-text available

Dec 2004

This study tested the effectiveness of a mutual support multiple-family-group intervention for schizophrenia in terms of improvements in patients' psychosocial functioning, use of mental health services, and rehospitalization compared with a psychoeducation intervention and standard care. A controlled trial was conducted in a sample of 96 Chinese families who were caring for a relative with schizophrenia in Hong Kong. The families were randomly assigned to one of three groups: mutual support (N=32), psychoeducation (N=33), and standard care (N=31). The interventions were delivered at two psychiatric outpatient clinics over a six-month period. The mutual support and psychoeducation interventions consisted of 12 group sessions every two weeks, each lasting about two hours. The mutual support group was a peer-led group designed to provide information, emotional support, and coping skills for caregiving in stages. The psychoeducation group was a professional-led group designed to educate families about the biological basis of schizophrenia and treatment and to improve illness management and coping skills. The standard care group and the other two groups received routine psychiatric outpatient care during the intervention. Data analyses of multiple outcomes over one-year follow-up were conducted on an intention-to-treat basis. Multivariate analyses of variance showed that the mutual support intervention was associated with consistently greater improvements in patients' functioning and rehospitalization and stable use of mental health services over the follow-up period compared with the other two interventions. The study provides evidence that mutual support groups can be an effective family intervention for Chinese persons with mental illness in terms of improving patients' functioning and hospitalization without increasing their use of mental health services.

Development and Pilot Testing of a New Psychosocial Intervention for Older Latinos With Chronic Psychosis

Article

Full-text available

Nov 2005
SCHIZOPHRENIA BULL

Latinos constitute the largest minority in the United States, and there is an increasing number of Latino patients with schizophrenia and other psychoses living into old age. However, few specific behavioral interventions have been developed aimed at improving the functioning of this group. We evaluated a psychosocial intervention designed to improve the everyday living skills of middle-aged and older outpatients with very chronic psychotic disorders. Three psychiatric clinics, specializing in care of Latinos, were randomly assigned to (1) a 24-session intervention entitled Programa de Entrenamiento para el Desarrollo de Aptitudes para Latinos (PEDAL) group therapy (n = 21) targeting areas identified in our previous work as being problematic for this population (e.g., using public transportation) or (2) a time-equivalent friendly support group (SG; n = 8). Compared to the patients randomized to SG, PEDAL-treated patients' performance on everyday living skills improved significantly postintervention and was still significantly better at a 6-month maintenance follow-up period and at a 12-month no-treatment follow-up period. There was no significant change in psychopathology. Limitations of this pilot study are discussed. Results suggest that participation in this skills training program, designed specifically for older Latino patients with long-standing psychotic disorders, has the potential to significantly increase the patients' independence and improve functional skills.

Some Recovery Processes in Mutual-Help Groups for Persons with Mental Illness; II: Qualitative Analysis of Participant Interviews

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2006

Previous research suggests that consumer operated services facilitate recovery from serious mental illness. In part I of this series, we analyzed the content of the GROW program, one example of a consumer operated service, and identified several processes that Growers believe assists in recovery. In this paper, we review the qualitative interviews of 57 Growers to determine what actual participants in GROW acknowledge are important processes for recovery. We also used the interviews to identify the elements of recovery according to these Growers. Growers identified self-reliance, industriousness, and self-esteem as key ingredients of recovery. Recovery was distinguished into a process-an ongoing life experience-versus an outcome, a feeling of being cured or having overcome the disorder. The most prominent element of GROW that facilitated recovery was the support of peers. Gaining a sense of personal value was also fostered by GROW and believed to be important for recovery. The paper ends with a discussion of the implications of these findings for the ongoing development of consumer operated services and their impact on recovery.

Perceived Benefits and Difficulties Experienced in a Mutual Support Group for Family Carers of People With Schizophrenia

Article

Full-text available

Sep 2006
QUAL HEALTH RES

In this qualitative study, the authors explore from the participants' perspective the benefits and difficulties experienced by participants in a mutual support group for Chinese family carers of patients with schizophrenia in Hong Kong. Thirty family carers and 10 patients who had participated in a 12-session mutual support group were interviewed, and the 12 group sessions were audiotaped for content analysis. Three main themes emerged from the data: (a) positive personal changes attributed to group participation, which included enhanced self-identity and acceptance of the caregiving role, increased knowledge of the illness, and adoption of new coping skills; (b) positive characteristics of the mutual support group, including the explicit group ideology and consensus, perceived social climate of the group, and informational support and empowerment; and (c) major inhibitors of group development, specifically low or irregular group attendance, negative pressure from dominant members, and overexpression of intense and negative feelings. These findings contribute to our understanding of the therapeutic components and limitations of mutual support groups for family carers.

Self-Help and Serious Mental Illness

Article

Full-text available

Feb 2006
Medsc Gen Med

Edward Knight

The findings from research on self-help groups for people with serious mental illness consistently show: (1) reduced symptoms and substance abuse over time[4-7,9-121]; (2) concomitant reductions in crises, hospitalizations, and use of services[5-7,12-14]; (3) improved social competence and social networks[4,9,10,13,15]; and (4) increased healthy behaviors and perceptions of well-being. [3,7,10,12,14,15]. Healthy behaviors and perceptions of well-being include: medication compliance; acceptance of illness; better coping and management of illness; improved quality of life and sense of well-being; greater sense of security and self-esteem; acceptance of problems without blame; creation of one's own meaningful structure; and changes in what mental healthcare consumers wanted from time spent with family.

Evaluation of A Peer- Led Mutual Support Group for Chinese Families of People with Schizophrenia

Article

Full-text available

Jul 2008

Family interventions in schizophrenia have shown positive effects on patients but little attention has been paid to their effects on family members, particularly those in non-Western countries. This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effectiveness of a bi-weekly, 12-session, family-led mutual support group for Chinese caregivers of schizophrenia sufferers over 6 months compared with standard psychiatric care. It was conducted with 76 families of outpatients with schizophrenia in Hong Kong of whom 38 were assigned randomly to either a mutual support group or standard care. Families' psychosocial health status and patients' symptom severity and length of re-hospitalizations at recruitment, one-week and 12-month post-intervention were compared between groups. Results of repeated-measures mixed model indicated that the mutual support group experienced significantly greater improvements in families' burden, functioning and number of support persons and length of patients' re-hospitalizations at two post-tests. The findings provide evidence that mutual support groups can be an effective family-initiated, community-based intervention for Chinese schizophrenia sufferers.

The Role of Referent and Expert Power in Mutual Help

Article

Jun 2000
AM J COMMUN PSYCHOL

This study explored the roles of referent power (i.e., influence based on sense of identification) and expert power (i.e., influence based on knowledge and expertise) in Schizophrenics Anonymous (SA), a mutual‐help group for persons experiencing a schizophrenia‐related illness. The study describes SA participants' experience of referent and expert power with SA members, SA leaders, and with mental health professionals. It also examines whether or not referent and expert power ascribed to fellow SA participants predicts the perceived helpfulness of the group. One hundred fifty‐six SA participants were surveyed. Participants reported experiencing higher levels of referent power with fellow SA members and leaders than with mental health professionals. They reported higher levels of expert power for mental health professionals and SA leaders than for SA members. The respondents' ratings of their SA group's helpfulness was significantly correlated with ratings of referent and expert power. Although expert power was the best independent predictor of helpfulness, a significant interaction between referent and expert power indicated that when members reported high referent power, expert power was not related to helpfulness. These results are interpreted to suggest that there are multiple forms of social influence at work in mutual help.

Mutual-Help Groups

Chapter

Dec 2008

This chapter describes the goals and key therapeutic processes of mutual-help groups (MHGs) presumed to facilitate improvement and/or maintenance of functioning. It reviews and evaluates available outcome data pertaining to MHGs' effectiveness in helping individuals manage or recover from their respective disorders, including any evidence in support of the key therapeutic processes. It describes the role MHGs plays in a formal treatment plan and describes how professionals facilitate and coordinate participation in these groups. It concludes by describing opportunities for further research and what might be done to help disseminate knowledge about MHGs and their potential utility. It provide information about various MHGs divided into three distinct problem areas—i.e., substance dependence (e.g., alcohol, cocaine), mental illness (e.g., schizophrenia, depression), and dual diagnosis (i.e., substance dependence in combination with mental illness). It provides summary tables containing brief descriptions of the MHGs, website and contact information, degree of evidence for the MHGs, and several other indices that facilitate easy comparisons of organizations along multiple lines. It also provides detailed MHG information in the text regarding other compulsive behaviors (e.g., gambling, sex, eating behaviors) and family-related MHGs.

An RCT With Three-Year Follow-Up of Peer Support Groups for Chinese Families of Persons With Schizophrenia

Article

Jul 2013
PSYCHIAT SERV

Objective: This study was conducted to test the effects of a nine-month family-led peer support group for Chinese people with schizophrenia in Hong Kong over a three-year follow-up and to compare outcomes with those of psychoeducation and standard psychiatric outpatient care. Methods: A randomized controlled trial of 106 Chinese families of patients with schizophrenia was conducted between August 2007 and January 2011 in three psychiatric outpatient clinics. Families were randomly assigned to peer support (N=35), psychoeducation (N=35), or standard care (N=36). In addition to standard care received, peer support and psychoeducation consisted of 14 two-hour group sessions, with patients participating in six to 14 sessions. Multiple patient and family outcomes--including families' support service utilization and functioning and patients' functioning mental state and rehospitalization rate--were measured at recruitment and one week, 18 months, and 36 months after completion of the interventions. Results: Patients and families in the peer support group reported consistently greater improvements over three years in overall functioning (family p<.005; patient p<.001) and reductions in duration and number of hospitalizations (p<.01 for both), without any increase in service utilization. Conclusions: Family-led peer support groups were an effective intervention for Chinese people with schizophrenia, resulting in long-term effects of improving patient and family functioning and reducing rehospitalizations.

The contribution of self-help/mutual aid groups to mental well-being

Article

Feb 2013
HEALTH SOC CARE COMM

This article explores the contribution of self-help/mutual aid groups to mental well-being. Self-help/mutual aid groups are self-organising groups where people come together to address a shared a health or social issue through mutual support. They are associated with a range of health and social benefits, but remain poorly understood. This article draws on data from stage one of ESTEEM, a project which runs from 2010 to 2013. Stage one ran from 2010 to 2011 and involved participatory, qualitative research carried out in two UK sites. Twenty-one groups were purposively selected to include a range of focal issues, longevity, structures and ethnic backgrounds. Researchers carried out 21 interviews with group coordinators and twenty group discussions with members to explore the groups' purpose, nature and development. Preliminary analysis of the data suggested that mental well-being was a common theme across the groups. Subsequently the data were re-analysed to explore the groups' contribution to mental well-being using a checklist of protective factors for mental well-being as a coding framework. The findings showed that groups made a strong contribution to members' mental well-being by enhancing a sense of control, increasing resilience and facilitating participation. Group members were uplifted by exchanging emotional and practical support; they gained self-esteem, knowledge and confidence, thereby increasing their control over their situation. For some groups, socio-economic factors limited their scope and threatened their future. The article provides an evidence-base which illustrates how self-help/mutual aid groups can enhance mental well-being. If supported within a strategy for social justice, these groups enable people with varied concerns to develop a tailored response to their specific needs. The authors suggest that policy-makers engage with local people, investing in support proportionate to the needs of different populations, enabling them to develop their own self-help/mutual aid groups to enhance their sense of mental well-being.

Peers and Peer-Led Interventions for People with Schizophrenia

Article

Sep 2012
PSYCHIAT CLIN N AM

This article provides a snapshot of the nature, guiding philosophy, and empiric status of interventions for people with schizophrenia that go beyond traditional psychopharmacological and psychosocial treatments to include peer-led interventions. The authors discuss the nature and principles of peer-led interventions for people with schizophrenia and the types of peer-led interventions along with evidence of their effectiveness in fostering the recovery of people with schizophrenia and other severe mental illnesses. Focus is on 3 types of peer-led interventions: (1) mutual support/self-help, (2) consumer-operated services, and (3) peer support services.

Cyber-support: An analysis of online self-help forums (online self-help forums in bipolar disorder)

Article

Jul 2012
NORD J PSYCHIAT

Background: The Internet is becoming increasingly important in psychiatry and psychotherapy. Aims: The objective of this study was to evaluate if and how online self-help forums are used by patients with bipolar disorders, their relatives and treating professionals. Methods: A total of 2400 postings in two online forums were analysed qualitatively and quantitatively. Results: "Disclosure", "friendship" and "online-group cohesion" were the main self-help mechanisms. The topics most discussed were "social network", "symptoms of the illness" and "medication". Factor analyses revealed three factors concerning self-help mechanisms: "group cohesion", "emotional support" and "exchange of information", as well as three factors concerning fields of interest: "illness-related aspects", "social aspects" and "financial and legal issues". Conclusion: We infer that the main interest in participating in online forums for patients with bipolar disorders and their relatives is to share emotions and to discuss their daily struggles with the illness. Our study also reveals that social networking is very important for patients coping with bipolar disorders. Psycho-educative programmes should focus on those aspects.

Internet peer support for individuals with psychiatric disabilities: A randomized controlled trial

Article

Jan 2011
SOC SCI MED

Despite the prevalence of Internet support groups for individuals with mental illnesses little is known about the potential benefits, or harm, of participating in such groups. Therefore, this randomized controlled trial sought to determine the impact of unmoderated, unstructured Internet peer support, similar to what is naturally occurring on the Internet, on the well-being of individuals with psychiatric disabilities. Three hundred individuals resident in the USA diagnosed with a Schizophrenia Spectrum or an Affective Disorder were randomized into one of three conditions: experimental Internet peer support via a listserv, experimental Internet peer support via a bulletin board, or a control condition. Three measurement time points, baseline, 4- and 12 months post-baseline, assessed well-being by examining measures of recovery, quality of life, empowerment, social support, and distress. Time × group interactions in the repeated measures ANOVA showed no differences between conditions on the main outcomes. Post-hoc repeated measures ANOVAs found that those individuals who participated more in Internet peer support reported higher levels of distress than those with less or no participation (p = 0.03). Those who reported more positive experiences with the Internet peer support group also reported higher levels of psychological distress than those reporting less positive experiences (p = 0.01). Study results therefore do not support the hypothesis that participation in an unmoderated, unstructured Internet listserv or bulletin board peer support group for individuals with psychiatric disabilities enhances well-being. Counterintuitive findings demonstrating those who report more positive experiences also experienced higher levels of distress are discussed but we also point to the need for additional research. Future research should explore the various structures, formats, and interventions of Internet support, as well as the content and quality of interactions. Knowledge generated from such research can help to inform policies and guidelines for safely navigating online resources and supports to gain maximum benefit.

Pathways to Recovery (PTR): Impact of Peer-Led Group Participation on Mental Health Recovery Outcomes

Article

Jul 2010

This study examined the positive effects on recovery outcomes for people with severe and persistent mental illness using peer-led groups based on Pathways to Recovery: A Strengths Recovery Self-Help Workbook (PTR). PTR translates the evidence-supported practice of the Strengths Model into a self-help approach, allowing users to identify and pursue life goals based on personal and environmental strengths. A single-group pretest-posttest research design was applied. Forty-seven members in 6 consumer-run organizations in one Midwestern state participated in a PTR peer-led group, completing a baseline survey before the group and again at the completion of the 12-week sessions. The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the General Self-Efficacy Scale, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, the Spirituality Index of Well-Being, and the Modified Colorado Symptom Index were employed as recovery outcomes. Paired Hotelling's T-square test was conducted to examine the mean differences of recovery outcomes between the baseline and the completion of the group. Findings revealed statistically significant improvements for PTR participants in self-esteem, self-efficacy, social support, spiritual well-being, and psychiatric symptoms. This initial research is promising for establishing PTR as an important tool for facilitating recovery using a peer-led group format. The provision of peer-led service has been emphasized as critical to integrating consumers' perspectives in recovery-based mental health services. Given the current federal funding stream for peer services, continued research into PTR and other peer-led services becomes more important.

Capturing Dynamic Processes of Change in GROW Mutual Help Groups for Mental Health

Article

Nov 2009
AM J COMMUN PSYCHOL

The need for a model that can portray dynamic processes of change in mutual help groups for mental health (MHGMHs) is emphasized. A dynamic process model has the potential to capture a more comprehensive understanding of how MHGMHs may assist their members. An investigation into GROW, a mutual help organization for mental health, employed ethnographic, phenomenological and collaborative research methods. The study examined how GROW impacts on psychological well being. Study outcomes aligned with the social ecological paradigm (Maton in Understanding the self-help organization: frameworks and findings. Sage, Thousand Oaks 1994) indicating multifactorial processes of change at and across three levels of analysis: group level, GROW program/community level and individual level. Outcome themes related to life skills acquisition and a change in self-perception in terms of belonging within community and an increased sense of personal value. The GROW findings are used to assist development of a dynamic multi-dimensional process model to explain how MHGMHs may promote positive change.

The effectiveness and active ingredients of mutual support groups for family caregivers of people with psychotic disorders: A literature review

Article

Jun 2009

To explore the literature through a systematic search to assess the effectiveness of mutual support groups for family caregivers of people with schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. This review of the research literature was based on the procedures suggested by the National Health Service Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (2001) Report Number 4 in the UK [National Health Service Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, 2001. Undertaking Systematic Reviews of Research on Effectiveness: CRD's Guidance for those Carrying out or Commissioning Reviews (CRD Report Number 4). 2nd ed., University of York, York, UK]. A combined free-text and thesaurus approach was used to search relevant research studies within electronic databases, including Medline, Embase, CINAHL, OVID full-text, PsycINFO, the Cochrane Library, the British Nursing Index, the NHS National Research register, and System for Info on Grey literature for the period 1980-2007. Reference lists of all retrieved literature were also searched to identify studies that may have been missed. Twenty-five research studies were selected for inclusion in the analysis on the basis that they were either family led or professional-facilitated support group programmes for family caregivers of people with schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders. The review identified that most studies on this group programme used qualitative, exploratory cross-sectional surveys and quasi-experimental study designs (n=19); six were experimental studies or randomised controlled trials. There were only a few small-scale, single-centre controlled trials with the findings supporting the significant positive effects of mutual support groups on families' and patients' psychosocial well-being. A number of non-experimental studies conducted in Western countries reported benefits of group participation up to 1 year, such as increased knowledge about the illness, reduced burden and distress, and enhanced coping ability and social support. However, many of these studies lacked rigorous control and did not use standardised and valid instruments as outcome measures or schedule follow-up to examine the long-term effects of support groups on families and/or patients. With increasing recognition of benefits from mutual support, this review highlights the dearth of evidence for the effects and active ingredients of mutual support groups. Mutual support may have significant impacts on long-term psychosocial and nursing interventions for both patients with severe mental illness and their families in community mental health care. Further research is recommended to investigate the therapeutic components and effects of mutual support groups for family caregivers of people with schizophrenia and psychotic disorders across cultures.

Economic Aspects of Peer Support Groups for Psychosis

Article

Apr 2009
COMMUNITY MENT HLT J

Peer support groups are rarely available for patients with psychosis, despite potential clinical and economic advantages of such groups. In this study, 106 patients with psychosis were randomly allocated to minimally guided peer support in addition to care as usual (CAU), or CAU only. No relevant differences between mean total costs of both groups were found, nor were there significant differences in WHOQoL-Bref outcomes. Intervention adherence had a substantial impact on the results. It was concluded that minimally guided peer support groups for psychosis do not seem to affect overall healthcare expenses. Positive results of additional outcomes, including a significant increase in social contacts and esteem support, favour the wider implementation of such groups.

Family Therapy and Schizophrenia

Article

Mar 1978
Can Psychiatr Assoc J

Edward M. Waring

The early concepts of family influences in the development of schizophrenic illness have been reviewed. The empirical research which these concepts generated has failed in large measure to confirm many of these hypotheses, but has demonstrated reliable and valid differences between families of schizophrenics and those of patient and non-patient controls. However, these empirical findings have had little impact to date on family therapy as it is practised, and the failure to confirm theoretical concepts from psychoanalysis, systems, and communication theories has not led to a re-examination of family therapy and its theoretical basis. The author suggests that the empirical research on family influences in schizophrenia and particularly those factors which precipitate and perpetuate schizophrenic symptomatology can be applied to evaluation of schizophrenics and their families, specific family therapy with families of schizophrenics, and particularly suggest that evaluative research on the effectiveness of family therapy in schizophrenia will be necessary for family therapy to become more than a highly fascinating and experimental technique in the total management of schizophrenic patients.

Family therapy for schizophrenia

Article

Aug 1989

Self-help groups for families of schizophrenic patients: formation, development and therapeutic impact

Article

Jun 1994

H Schulze Mönking

In recent years, self-help groups for relatives of schizophrenic patients have become a vital organization in Germany. The commitment of group members is often impressive, but an empirical study investigating the impact of the activity in such groups has yet to be published. An initial approach was made possible by the Münster Families Study, a prospective evaluation study designed to register the impact of relatives' self-help schizophrenic patients. Following a 1-year therapeutic phase, two relatives' self-help groups were formed; these were followed for 2 years. The study showed that relatives of severely mentally ill male patients with high levels of expressed emotion (EE) were most likely to join self-help groups. In the 2-year follow-up period, there was a tendency towards a more favourable development among these patients than among the comparably ill patients forming a control group, whose relatives were not involved in self-help. What was more marked, however, was the positive development among involved relatives, whose EE levels remained unchanged but who displayed higher levels of social contacts and fewer physical complaints. When encouraging the formation of such self-help groups, however, it has to be borne in mind that only a small proportion of relatives can be motivated to, or are capable of, active long-term involvement.

The Role of Self-Help Programs in the Rehabilitation of Persons with Severe Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders

Article

Mar 1996

Substance abuse treatment programs in the United States frequently incorporate self-help approaches, but little is known about the use of self-help groups by individuals with dual disorders. This paper brings together several current studies on the role of self-help programs in treating substance use disorders among individuals with severe mental illness. These studies indicate that only a minority of individuals with dual disorders become closely linked to self-help. Psychiatric diagnosis and possibly social skills are correlates of participation. Dually disorders consumers often experience the use of 12-step philosophy and jargon by mental health professionals as alienating and unempathic. The authors propose suggestions for incorporating self-help approaches into the comprehensive community care of individuals with dual disorders.

The Role of Referent and Expert Power in Mutual Help

Article

Jul 2000

This study explored the roles of referent power (i.e., influence based on sense of identification) and expert power (i.e., influence based on knowledge and expertise) in Schizophrenics Anonymous (SA), a mutual-help group for persons experiencing a schizophrenia-related illness. The study describes SA participants' experience of referent and expert power with SA members, SA leaders, and with mental health professionals. It also examines whether or not referent and expert power ascribed to fellow SA participants predicts the perceived helpfulness of the group. One hundred fifty-six SA participants were surveyed. Participants reported experiencing higher levels of referent power with fellow SA members and leaders than with mental health professionals. They reported higher levels of expert power for mental health professionals and SA leaders than for SA members. The respondents' ratings of their SA group's helpfulness was significantly correlated with ratings of referent and expert power. Although expert power was the best independent predictor of helpfulness, a significant interaction between referent and expert power indicated that when members reported high referent power, expert power was not related to helpfulness. These results are interpreted to suggest that there are multiple forms of social influence at work in mutual help.

Some Recovery Processes in Mutual-Help Groups for Persons with Mental Illness; I: Qualitative Analysis of Program Materials and Testimonies

Article

Sep 2002

Outcome research is beginning to suggest that mutual-help programs lead to significant improvements in the quality of life and related factors of members who have serious mental illness. This paper is the first in a series that examines recovery processes that may account for these positive outcomes. In Study 1, a content analysis was completed on one dimension of the written program for GROW, a mutual-help program with more than 40 years of experience. Thirteen reliable recovery processes emerged from this analysis; most prominent among these was to "be reasonable" and to "decentralize from self by participating in community." In Study 2, the recovery processes that emerged from this analysis of one aspect of GROW's written program were applied to 22 written testimonies made by Growers. Results of this analysis again showed being reasonable and decentralizing from self by participating in community were essential processes in this mutual-help program. Analysis of the personal testimonies also showed accepting one's personal value as an important element in the GROW program.

The effects of support groups on caregivers of patients with Schizophrenia

Article

Oct 2002
INT J NURS STUD

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of support groups on caregivers of patients with schizophrenia. This was a time series nonequivalent control group design. Subjects were evaluated in three waves of data collection: before intervention, after intervention and one-month follow-up. The support group's effects were measured using changes in the subjects' perceived levels of burden, depression status and satisfaction about their participation in the program. Professionally led support group had a close and time-limited format. The GEE (generalized estimated equation) revealed differences in caregivers' level of burden and depression status between the support and control groups in the post-test and one-month follow-up. The differences highlighted the fact that participation in support groups provides more effective assistance to caregivers than the control group.

A randomized controlled trial of a mutual support group for family caregivers of patients with schizophrenia

Article

Sep 2004
INT J NURS STUD

This randomized controlled trial examined the effectiveness of a 12-session mutual support group conducted over 3-months for Chinese family caregivers of a relative with schizophrenia compared with routine family support services in Hong Kong. Forty-eight family caregivers from two psychiatric outpatient clinics were allocated randomly to an experimental (mutual support and usual outpatient care) group (n = 24) or a control (usual outpatient care only) group (n = 24). Data were collected prior to, 1 week and 3 months after the intervention. Families allocated to the mutual support group experienced decreased levels of family burden and increased family functioning and these changes were significantly greater than those of the controls at both post-intervention time points. The experimental group also showed a significant decrease in the duration of patient re-hospitalization (the total number of days of psychiatric hospitalization) at 3 months compared with the control group. This suggests that the mutual support group provided a more responsive service for patients than standard care. However, there was no significant difference in family service utilization between the two groups. The findings indicate that a mutual support group can provide benefits for family caregivers of people with schizophrenia that go beyond those provided by routine family support.

Specialized 12-Step Programs and 12-Step Facilitation for the Dually Diagnosed

Article

Mar 2005

Michael P Bogenschutz

The role of 12-step programs and 12-step-oriented treatments for dually diagnosed individuals (DDI) remains unclear. Here are presented the results of a pilot study in which 10 seriously mentally ill patients received a modified 12-step facilitation (TSF) therapy emphasizing engagement of DDI in a specialized 12-step program for DDI. Participants significantly increased their 12-step attendance and decreased their substance use during the 12 weeks of treatment. Larger and longer-term studies are needed to assess the efficacy of modified TSF for DDI relative to other treatments, and to determine what forms of TSF are most effective in this population.

Effectiveness of a mutual support group for families of patients with schizophrenia

Article

Oct 2005

This paper reports a study to examine the effectiveness of a 12-session mutual support group for Chinese families caring for a relative with schizophrenia compared with a psycho-educational group and routine family support services in Hong Kong. Schizophrenia is a disruptive and distressing illness for patients and their families. With the current trend of community care for mental illness, there is evidence that family intervention reduces patient relapse and re-hospitalization, satisfies the health needs of families and enhances their coping capabilities. A randomized controlled trial was conducted from May 2002 to June 2003 with 96 Chinese families of a relative with schizophrenia selected from two psychiatric outpatient clinics in Hong Kong. Families were randomly assigned to receive mutual support (n = 32), psycho-education (n = 33) or standard care only (n = 31). The interventions were delivered at outpatient clinics over a 6-month period. Pre- and post- (1 week and 6 months) testing took place and families' functioning, mental health service utilization, patients' level of functioning and duration of re-hospitalization were measured. At both post-test periods, family caregivers and patients in the mutual support group reported statistically significant improvements on family and patients' level of functioning, when compared with their counterparts in the psycho-education and standard care groups. The findings support the use of mutual support groups as an effective modality of family intervention in a Chinese population caring for a family member with schizophrenia to improve both family and patient functioning.

The effectiveness of peer support groups in psychosis: A randomized controlled trial

Article

Aug 2008
ACTA PSYCHIAT SCAND

To investigate the effect of a (minimally) guided peer support group (GPSG) for people with psychosis on social network, social support, self-efficacy, self-esteem, and quality of life, and to evaluate the intervention and its economic consequences. In a multi-center randomized controlled trial with 56 patients in the peer support group and 50 patients in the control condition, patients were assessed at baseline and after the last meeting at 8 months. The experimental group showed GPSG to have a positive effect on social network and social support compared with the control condition. In the experimental condition, high attenders favored over low attenders on increased social support, self-efficacy, and quality of life. Economic evaluation demonstrated groups to be without financial consequences. The GPSG-intervention was positively evaluated. Peer support groups are a useful intervention for people suffering from psychosis by improving their social network.

Psychiatric hospitalization of growers

Jun 1989

M Kennedy

Kennedy, M. (1989), "Psychiatric hospitalization of growers", Second Biennial Conference of Community Research and Action, East Lansing, MI, June.

Multifamily Groups in the Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders

Jan 2004

W Mcfarlane

McFarlane, W. (2004), Multifamily Groups in the Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders, Guilford Publications, New York, NY.

Living well: a strategic plan for mental health in NSW

Jan 2014

NSW Mental Health Commission

NSW Mental Health Commission (2014), "Living well: a strategic plan for mental health in NSW", Sydney.

The effectiveness of support groups: a literature review

Abstract

No full-text available

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