Women post-recession: moving towards insecurity

After the recession, the rise in casual and precarious contracts is entrenching gender inequality in the UK

In Their Own Voice: Family Caregivers Speak About Chronic Mental Illness

The shift in the United States’ treatment of individuals with chronic mental illnesses from a hospital to community-based system, a process that has come to be known as deinstitutionalization, has markedly impacted mental health service delivery. Family members of people with a chronic mental illness have often had to assume critical caregiving roles in order to provide care to their relatives with a chronic mental illness within the context of their own community. This study examined the needs of family members, often referred to as family caregivers, who have a relative with a chronic mental illness for whom they provide care. Family members were recruited through the National Alliance of Mental Illness’ (NAMI) Family-to-Family Program and NAMI newsletter. Using a qualitative design, five family caregivers discussed their needs in their role as a family caregiver to someone with a chromic mental illness, and how they have been able to get these needs met within the context of the current mental health system. Family caregivers experienced both benefits and burdens due to their role in their family member’s life. Benefits included an increased sense of compassion for others with chronic mental illness, an expanded knowledge base about mental health issues, and a personal sense of reward and accomplishment. Participants identified burdens associated with their role as family caregiver such as increased levels of stress, worry, and sadness and strained relationships. Participants noted that limited amounts of time inhibited their ability to serve effectively in their role, and highlighted the importance of having social support and case management services. Participants spoke highly of their experience with the NAMI Family-to-Family program. They identified other resources through which they have gotten their needs met in their role as a family caregiver and provided suggestions to improve service delivery

Examining the potential for information and communication technology to support patients with cardiovascular disease

The overall goal of this work was to investigate the potential of information and communication technology (ICT) to support patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). There were two specific aims: (1) to determine access to and willingness to use technology for health-related information in patients with CVD; and (2) to develop and pilot test a text-messaging intervention to support patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) following discharge from the hospital. The first aim was done with a cross-sectional survey (n=169). ICT ownership was common, as 98% of participants owned at least one ICT device. Computers were the most commonly owned device (88%), the device most commonly used for health information (74% of computer owners), and the device participants had the most interest in using for health information (72% of computer owners). Participants with lower incomes and education levels were less interested in receiving health information on at least one of their devices. The second aim was done with a mixed-methods, assessor-blinded, pilot randomized controlled trial (n=76). An advisory committee composed of patients, researchers, and clinicians developed 48 one-way text messages to send over 60 days to patients with ACS. There were no statistically significant differences between the intervention and usual care groups for self-management domains, medication adherence, health-related quality of life, self-efficacy, and healthcare resource use except for one self-efficacy domain. The study protocol was feasible, except recruitment took longer than anticipated. Ninety-three percent reported they were satisfied with the text messages. In the semi-structured interviews, many participants reported the program made them feel normal, perceived the program to be a source of social support, reinforced they were on the right track, and reminded them of their condition. However, some participants felt they did not need the messages, wished for a more tailored experience, or did not change their behaviours as a result. Learnings from the pilot study should be addressed prior to proceeding to a larger trial. Overall, these two studies indicate that ICT can be acceptable to patients with CVD. Further work needs to be done to determine how to best use ICT to support patients

In Their Own Voice: Family Caregivers Speak About Chronic Mental Illness

The shift in the United States’ treatment of individuals with chronic mental illnesses from a hospital to community-based system, a process that has come to be known as deinstitutionalization, has markedly impacted mental health service delivery. Family members of people with a chronic mental illness have often had to assume critical caregiving roles in order to provide care to their relatives with a chronic mental illness within the context of their own community. This study examined the needs of family members, often referred to as family caregivers, who have a relative with a chronic mental illness for whom they provide care. Family members were recruited through the National Alliance of Mental Illness’ (NAMI) Family-to-Family Program and NAMI newsletter. Using a qualitative design, five family caregivers discussed their needs in their role as a family caregiver to someone with a chromic mental illness, and how they have been able to get these needs met within the context of the current mental health system. Family caregivers experienced both benefits and burdens due to their role in their family member’s life. Benefits included an increased sense of compassion for others with chronic mental illness, an expanded knowledge base about mental health issues, and a personal sense of reward and accomplishment. Participants identified burdens associated with their role as family caregiver such as increased levels of stress, worry, and sadness and strained relationships. Participants noted that limited amounts of time inhibited their ability to serve effectively in their role, and highlighted the importance of having social support and case management services. Participants spoke highly of their experience with the NAMI Family-to-Family program. They identified other resources through which they have gotten their needs met in their role as a family caregiver and provided suggestions to improve service delivery

Letter from Emily Lindsley Ross to John Muir, 1907 Aug 7.

Portland, Oregon, August 7, 1907.Mr. John MuirMy Dear Sir:Perhaps you remember the trip in 1879 you took on the same steamer with my parents, Dr. and Mrs. Lindsley, to Alaska. On your return I had the honor of meeting you as a young girl in my father’s home. Since then we have always read with intense interest anything from your pen.I am now the proud mother of a fourteen-year old ([illegible] there are others) son, who is collecting autographs of distinguished people, and he desired that I should write to you and beg the favor of yours. Perhaps I may admit that his mother is greatly interested in this collection, also.Yours most respectfully,[illegible] Rose(Mrs. [illegible] R-)590 Main St.0390

Trauma-Informed Practice in K-12 Schools: An Evidence-Based Practice Guide for School Administrators

This guide will assist K-12 school administrators in implementing better trauma-informed practices in their schools. School administrators consist of leaders and decision-makers in a school system. Specifically, this information is directed toward principals, vice principals, and any other key personnel. Of course, administrators should direct trauma-informed practices with the guidance of school counselors who have the proper training regarding trauma-informed interventions. School counselors’ efforts to promote positive mental health outcomes and social emotional learning will be significantly more impactful with the support of school administrators. The following recommendations are not all inclusive but will lay the groundwork for implementing trauma-informed practices in K-12 schools

Scottish government equality outcomes:pregnancy and maternity evidence review

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Innovations in Opioid Law and Policy Interventions Workshop: Summary of Proceedings

In 2017, Indiana University, in cooperation with Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb and community partners, launched the Grand Challenge: Responding to the Addictions Crisis initiative, a university-wide effort to advance interdisciplinary research and interventions in response to the substance abuse crisis affecting Indiana and the nation. The “Legal and Policy Best Practices in Response to the Substance Abuse Crisis” project is one of sixteen funded under Phase 1 of the Grand Challenge. In July 2018, and as part of this project, the research team convened a group of national experts to discuss legal and policy innovations to respond to the opioid use disorder (OUD) crisis. This report summarizes the proceedings of this workshop and updates some of the recommendations made by the team in their March 2018 Preliminary Report. During the workshop, experts answered targeted questions relating to the challenges in implementing law and policy recommendations to respond to the addiction crisis, as well as identified gaps in the current research. Participants provided examples of innovative interventions to respond to this crisis across four primary topic categories: (1) Criminalization; (2) Public Health; (3) Treatment; and (4) Effectuating Change