Psychopathologie et qualité de vie chez les personnes ayant des troubles mentaux : comparaison d’échantillons pris en Angleterre et aux États-Unis

Soixante-neuf personnes ayant des troubles mentaux, traitées dans le cadre d'un système rigoureux de soutien communautaire à Boulder au Colorado, ont été évaluées à l'aide des mêmes mesures de psychopathologie et de qualité de vie que celles utilisées pour l'évaluation de personnes similaires traitées dans des services hospitaliers et communautaires à Manchester, en Angleterre. La psychopathologie était plus grande dans l'échantillon de Boulder. Toutefois, sur le plan de la qualité de vie, les résultats des patients étatsuniens n'étaient pas moins bons que ceux des patients anglais. Nous examinons ici la relation entre ces conclusions, les systèmes de soins et la disponibilité des lits dans les hôpitaux psychiatriques.Sixty-nine mentally ill patients in treatment in an intensive community support system in Boulder, Colorado, were evaluated using the same measures of quality of life and psychopathology as were used in assessing mentally ill patients in hospital and community facilities in Manchester, England. Psychopathology was greater in the Boulder samples, but quality of life scores were no worse for the American patients. The relationship of these findings to systems of care and psychiatric hospital bed availability is discussed

Islamic social work in the UK: the service user experience

There has been growing interest in religion and spirituality within social work literature. However, little empirical research has explored Islamic welfare organisations and especially their significance for service users. This article presents findings from an evaluation of a British Islamic social work organisation (Ihsaan Social Support Association (ISSA) Wales), drawing on qualitative interviews with Muslim service users (n = 8) and quantitative findings from the service user database (n = 495), a quality-of-life assessment (n = 42) and a satisfaction survey (n = 36). In discussing the qualitative findings, religious authority, authenticity, culture, gender and the role of mosques are considered in analysing why the organisation’s services were perceived as beneficial to their Muslim service users. Over three-quarters of those responding to a satisfaction survey reported that the help from the organisation had improved their well-being, but quantitative data from assessment and review showed no evidence of either improvement or deterioration in quality of life over time, with the exception of social life, where there was a significant improvement. Overall, in exploring the experiences of these service users, the findings highlight the diversity within the category of the ‘Muslim service user’ and the potential contribution that Islamic social welfare organisations may make in meeting the needs of British Muslims

Social care legislation as an act of integration

The purpose of this paper is to investigate health and social care integration in North Wales in a short window of time between the assent of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 and its implementation in 2016

Labor Supply, Disability Benefits and Mental Illness

In this paper we build and estimate a structural labor supply model that explicitly models the budget constraint facing mentally ill individuals eligible for SSI benefits. Our results suggest that the labor supply behavior of this group is not very responsive to wage changes. This suggests that it may be non-economic factors that drive labor supply behavior of this group. Our structural model allows for policy simulations. These simulations indicate that raising the implicit tax rate on earnings of subsidizing wages may increase labor supply among this group, albeit by modest amounts.Disability; Labor Supply; Policy

The nature, characteristics and associations of care home staff stress and wellbeing: a national survey

Abstract Background The majority of residents in care homes in the United Kingdom are living with dementia or significant memory problems. Caring in this setting can be difficult and stressful for care staff who work long hours, have little opportunity for training, are poorly paid and yet subject to high expectation. This may affect their mental and physical wellbeing, cause high rates of staff turnover and absenteeism, and affect the quality of care they provide. The main objective of this survey was to explore the nature, characteristics and associations of stress in care home staff. Methods Staff working in a stratified random sample of care homes within Wales completed measures covering: general health and wellbeing (SF-12); stress (Work Stress Inventory); job content (Karasek Job Content); approach to, and experience of, working with people living with dementia (Approaches to Dementia Questionnaire; and Experience of Working with Dementia Patients); and Productivity and Health Status (SPS-6). Multiple linear regressions explored the effects of home and staff characteristics on carers. Results 212 staff from 72 care homes completed questionnaires. Staff from nursing homes experienced more work stress than those from residential homes (difference 0.30; 95% confidence interval (CI) from 0.10 to 0.51; P < 0.01), and were more likely to report that their health reduced their ability to work (difference -4.77; CI -7.80 to -1.73; P < 0.01). Psychological demands on nurses were higher than on other staff (difference = 1.57; CI 0.03 to 3.10; P < 0.05). A positive approach to dementia was more evident in those trained in dementia care (difference 8.54; CI 2.31 to 14.76; P < 0.01), and in staff working in local authority homes than in the private sector (difference 7.75; CI 2.56 to 12.94; P < 0.01). Conclusions Our study highlights the importance of dementia training in care homes, with a particular need in the private sector. An effective intervention to reduce stress in health and social care staff is required, especially in nursing and larger care homes, and for nursing staff. Trial registration ISRCTN registry: ISRCTN80487202 . Registered 24 July 201

A re-examination of William Hann's Northern Expedition of 1872 to Cape York Peninsula, Queensland

William Hann’s Northern Expedition set off on 26 June 1872 from Mount Surprise, a pastoral station west of Townsville, to determine the mineral and agricultural potential of Cape York Peninsula. The expedition was plagued by disharmony and there was later strong criticism of the leadership and its failure to provide any meaningful analysis of the findings. The authors (a descendent of Norman Taylor, expedition geologist, and a descendent of Jerry, Indigenous guide and translator) use documentary sources and traditional knowledge to establish the role of Jerry in the expedition. They argue that while Hann acknowledged Jerry’s assistance to the expedition, his role has been downplayed by later commentators

Alleviating staff stress in care homes for people with dementia: protocol for stepped-wedge cluster randomised trial to evaluate a web-based Mindfulness- Stress Reduction course

BACKGROUND: There has been continuing change in the nature of care homes in the UK with 80 % of residents now living with some form of dementia or memory problem. Caring in this environment can be complex, challenging and stressful for staff; this can affect the quality of care provided to residents, lead to staff strain and burnout, and increase sickness, absence and turnover rates. It is therefore important to find interventions to increase the wellbeing of staff that will not only benefit staff themselves but also residents and care providers. Mindfulness training is known to be effective in treating a variety of physical and mental health conditions. METHODS AND DESIGN: The study uses mixed methods centred on a stepped-wedge cluster randomised trial. Thirty care homes in Wales are implementing a brief web-based mindfulness training course, starting in random sequence. Four to ten consenting staff from each facility undertake the course and complete validated questionnaires at baseline and after eight and 20 weeks. We shall also interview a stratified sample of ten trained staff and analyse the transcripts thematically. The primary outcome is stress; secondary outcomes include job satisfaction, attitudes towards residents and sickness absence rates. DISCUSSION: With increasing numbers of people living with dementia in care homes and causing stress in their carers, it is important to evaluate support strategies for staff. Mindfulness-based therapies may be of potential benefit and need detailed examination. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN registry. ISRCTN80487202. Registered 24 July 2013