Why do people with mental distress have poor social outcomes? Four lessons from the capabilities approach

Macro level data indicate that people experiencing mental distress experience poor health, social and economic outcomes. The sociology of mental health has a series of dominant competing explanations of the mechanisms at personal, social and structural levels that generate these poor outcomes. This article explains the limitations of these approaches and takes up the challenge of Hopper (2007) who in this journal proposed the capabilities approach as a means of normatively reconceptualising the experiences of people with mental distress, with a renewed focus on agency, equality and genuine opportunity. Using an innovative methodology to operationalise the capabilities approach, findings from an in-depth qualitative study exploring the lived experiences of twenty-two people with recent inpatient experience of psychiatric units in Scotland are presented. The paper demonstrates that the capabilities approach can be applied to reconceptualise how unjust social outcomes happen for this social group. It distinguishes how the results of using a capabilities approach to analysis are distinct from established dominant analytical frameworks through four added features: a focus on actual lived outcomes; the role of capabilities as well as functionings; being normative; and incorporating agency. The capabilities approach is found to be an operationalisable framework; the findings have implications for professionals and systems in the specific context of mental health; and the capabilities approach offers a fertile basis for normative studies in wider aspects of health and wellbeing

Operation Modulus: Putting Christie into Practice in Gorbals

As part of its exploration of public service reform What Works Scotland carried out an evaluation of Operation Modulus, a highly successful, innovative, award winning violence and anti-social behaviour intervention targeted at a gang of young people in the Gorbals area of Glasgow, exploring why it was such a success. The aim of this case study was not to focus on how best to tackle issues related to young people and crime, but rather to show how the principles of public service reform as highlighted by the Christie Commission (2011) can best be operationalised. Operation Modulus is an exemplar of such reform, demonstrating what it means for public services in Scotland to put Christie into practice

Narrowing the achievement gap : what and how schools learn through involvement in the specialist schools achievement programme – Part 1

This report was commissioned by the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust (SSAT) to find out how schools used the Specialist Schools Achievement Programme (SSAP) to narrow the gap between the academic attainment and wider achievements of students from disadvantaged and more advantaged backgrounds. The study was undertaken by gathering short case studies from 70 schools participating in the programme and identifying 6 schools that had made notable progress for in-depth case study

Risk-based supervision of pension funds : a review of international experience and preliminary assessment of the first outcomes

This paper provides a review of the design and experience of risk-based pension fund supervision in several countries that have been leaders in the development of these methods. The utilization of risk-based methods originates primarily in the supervision of banks. In recent years it has increasingly been extended to other types of financial intermediaries including pension funds and insurers. The trend toward risk-based supervision of pensions is closely associated with movement toward the integration of pension supervision with that of banking and other financial services into a single national authority. Although similar in concept to the techniques developed in banking, the application to pension funds has required modifications, particularly for defined contribution funds that transfer investment risk to fund members. The countries examined provide a range of experiences that illustrate both the diversity of pension systems and approaches to risk-based supervision, but also a commonality of the focus on sound risk management and effective supervisory outcomes. The paper provides a description of pension supervision in Australia, Denmark, Mexico and the Netherlands, and an initial evaluation of the results achieved in relation to the underlying objectives.Debt Markets,,Insurance&Risk Mitigation,Emerging Markets,Banks&Banking Reform

Disabled parents' involvement in their children's education: an examination of good practice

This report comes at the end of an 11 month study exploring disabled parents' experiences of involvement in their children's education. Supporting parents' participation in their children's schooling has been a government goal for decades. However, previous research has shown that some groups of parents face particular barriers to involvement. This includes disabled parents - although few studies (Joseph Rowntree Foundation 20031, Wates 20042, Morris 20043, Robinson et al4) have focused on their experiences. The focus of this research is very much on identifying and exploring examples of good practice in involving disabled parents within schools and local education authorities. These case studies of individuals' positive experiences are set alongside a review of relevant literature, a critical analysis of wider policy and practice frameworks across the UK, and an analysis of key informant interviews. The report begins with a brief resumé of the project aims and methods. It goes on to present the key findings of the research and finishes with a conclusion which draws out implications for policy and practice

Disabled parents' involvement in their children's education : an examination of good practice. Summary for parents

This leaflet sets out the main findings from research about disabled parents' involvement in their children's education. The research, completed in August 2009, was conducted by a team from Strathclyde University

Supporting disabled parents' involvement in their children's education. Good practice guidance for schools

In this guidance you will find the voices of a range of disabled parents describing how good practice in schools has helped them to be involved in their children's education. The guidance is based on the findings of a research project. It is intended for people working in schools, especially heads and teachers seeking to improve parental participation and inclusion. Education policy makers and Inspectorates may find it helpful for informing their reviews of policy and practice. It may also be of interest to disabled parents and the disability voluntary sector. The document contains information about current UK policies on parental involvement and describes the research project which investigated the perceptions of disabled parents. It looks at five different aspects of parental involvement, giving examples of good practice and highlighting suggestions as these emerged from the research project. Key points are summarised in the conclusion, while the appendices include useful resources and contacts

"Challenge Current Practice and Assumptions! Make waves!!” : What Works Scotland Collaborative Learning Event 23 & 24 February 2016 Queens Hotel, Perth

No abstract available

Characterization of Biofilms Formed by Mycobacterium aviumn subspecies paratuberculosis in Psychologically Relevant Conditions

Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (Mpt) is the cause of Johne\u27s disease, a gastrointestinal disease that mainly affects ruminants. Despite being an obligate intracellular pathogen, Mpt can survive in the environment for months. How Mpt survives in the environment has yet to be determined, but one tactic Mpt may use is the formation of biofilms. Biofilms may provide sufficient protection and allow Mpt endure in the environment until a new host is encountered. The conditions affecting Mpt biofilm formation have not been investigated. Both in the host and in the environment, Mpt experiences physiological stresses that may induce biofilm formation including suboptimal pH, oxidative stress and hypoxic stress. Mpt was subjected to various levels of pH, oxidative stress or hypoxia and cultured for 20 or 30 days. Adherent biofilms were characterized for biomass, viability, cellularity and metabolic activity. Biofilm biomass was measured by staining biofilms with crystal violet, destaining with ethanol and measuring the crystal violet-ethanol solution for optical density. Viability and cellularity were measured using the fluorescent DNA dyes SYTO 9 and propidium iodide to differentially stain cells based on membrane integrity. Metabolic activity was assessed using a bioluminescence reaction to measure ATP. Under standard conditions for culturing Mpt, biofilms were the most robust. Alkaline conditions inhibited biofilm formation. Oxidative stress limited biofilm formation. Hypoxic shock may have forced Mpt into early stationary phase or dormancy. In conclusion, Mpt will form single species biofilms and do so under conditions optimal got planktonic growth in vitro

Ideal Linear Chain Polymers with Fixed Angular Momentum

The statistical mechanics of a linear non-interacting polymer chain with a large number of monomers is considered with fixed angular momentum. The radius of gyration for a linear polymer is derived exactly by functional integration. This result is then compared to simulations done with a large number of non-interacting rigid links at fixed angular momentum. The simulation agrees with the theory up to finite size corrections. The simulations are also used to investigate the anisotropic nature of a spinning polymer. We find universal scaling of the polymer size along the direction of the angular momentum, as a function of rescaled angular momentum.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figure