29 research outputs found
100 years of British Military Psychology (From Myers to the MoD)
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THE SYRIAN REFUGEESâ NEED FOR TRAUMA-BASED SERVICES, A SURVEY OF MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
Background: Trauma Aid UK (previously HAP UK &Ireland) conducted three EMDR trainings in Turkey: the first was in
Istanbul on 28th November 2013.
Aim: The purpose of this study is to assess the needs of the Syrian Refugees for trauma services training and provision as
assesses by mental health professionals who work with them.
Subjects and methods: Amongst the 62 participants of two Istanbul EMDR trainings organised by HAP, 53% were Syrian. We
felt it is a unique opportunity to assess the needs of Syrian refugees they are working with. We asked all the participants who are all
mental health professionals to complete an Arabic translation of \u27The Need for Trauma-based Services Questionnaire\u27 in these
trainings. The rest of the participants on the course were from Iraq (18%), Jordan (16%), Egypt (7%) and others from Palestine,
Sudan & Libya (6%). All participants completed questionnaires.
Results: The results of comparing the needs reported by Syrian mental health professionals showed higher prevalence of PTSD
seen by the Syrian mental health professionals (72% compared with 56% in the clients seen by the rest of participants). Also, the
Syrian mental health professionals could only meet 34% (SD=17.1) of the needs of their client who suffer from PTSD. The unmet
need for trauma therapy was reported as 100% by these professionals.
Conclusions: This study highlighted the high need for trauma mental health services of the Syrian refugees as reported by
mental health professionals working in the neighbouring countries. The needs of the Syrian refugees, arriving to the UK because of the very difficult situations, these refugees are coming from, may be met with EMDR therapy. EMDR can be used to help these refugees to be a productive part of the British society
PART II: MUSLIMS PERCEPTIONS OF BRITISH COBAT TROOPS
Background: On the 22nd May 2017, suicide bomber Salman Abedi detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) in the
Manchester Arena killing 22 people and injuring 116 others. Following the \u27massacre in Manchester\u27, the leader of the Labour
Party, Jeremy Corbyn, linked UK foreign policy with terrorism on British soil. Controversial and contentious though Corbynâs
claims may be, the terrorists themselves have also reported that what motivates them to carry out their abominable atrocities are British military operations in Muslim majority countries. Indeed, on the 22nd May 2013, British serviceman, Lee Rigby, was brutally attacked and killed by Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale near the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich, southeast London. The perpetrators of this heinous act told passers-by at the scene that they wanted to avenge the killing of Muslims by the British Armed Forces.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional, mixed-methods study on Muslim perceptions of British combat troops and UK foreign policy. Participants were selected by purposive sampling. We crafted a survey that explored Muslim perceptions of the British military and the governmentâs foreign policy. Response items were on a Likert-scale and there was white space for free text comments which were subjected to thematic analyses.
Results: 75/75 (100%) of the participants recruited responded. (75/75 (100%) Muslim participants, 43/75 (57.3%) female
participants, 32/75 (42.7%) male participants, mean age 20.5 years, (Std. Dev. ±2.5)). 66/75 (88%) of respondents either agreed or strongly agreed that British military operations in Muslim majority countries have negatively influenced perceptions towards combat troops. 42/75 (56%) of respondents either agreed or strongly agreed that contact with a combat troops or veterans would positively influence their perceptions towards them. Themes of free text comments included the role that the media plays in demonising Muslims, the transcendental bond that Muslims around the world have for each other and âthe brainwashingâ of British combat troops by the Government.
Discussion: The fact that many of the participants in our sample agreed or strongly agreed that social contact with service
personnel or veterans would positively influence perceptions towards them is encouraging. The results of our survey lend support for future intervention studies investigating whether contact between Muslims residing in the UK and British combat troops would promote unity and community cohesion
THE NEED FOR TRAUMA THERAPY FOR VICTIMS OF MAN-MADE TRAUMA COMPARED TO THOSE OF NATURAL DISASTER, A SURVEY OF HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
Trauma Aid UK (previously HAP UK & Ireland) conducted three EMDR trainings in Turkey: the first was in Istanbul on 28th November 2013. Since then, 3 groups of mental health trainees attending part 1 of 3 parts EMDR training. In total, 86 clinicians were trained. Also, in June 2016, the first part of a three-part EMDR training in Nepal was completed following the Nepal Earthquake in 2015. The purpose of this study is to assess, analyse and understand the needs of Syrian refugees, who have
being experiencing man made trauma since 2011, with Nepalese people who were exposed to the earthquake on 25/4/2015, in their needs for trauma services, training and provision as assessed by mental health professionals working with both groups of people
Outdoor recreational activity experiences improve psychological wellbeing of military veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder: Positive findings from a pilot study and a randomised controlled trial
Exposure to the natural environment is increasingly considered to benefit psychological health. Recent reports in the literature also suggest that outdoor exposure that includes recreational pursuits such as surfing or fishing coupled with opportunities for social interaction with peers may be beneficial to Armed Forces Veterans experiencing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Two studies were conducted to evaluate this possibility. In particular, these studies aimed to test the hypothesis that a brief group outdoor activity would decrease participantsâ symptoms as assessed by established measures of PTSD, depression, anxiety and perceived stress, and increase participantsâ sense of general social functioning and psychological growth. Experiment one employed a repeated measures design in which UK men and women military veterans with PTSD (N = 30) participated in a group outdoor activity (angling, equine care, or archery and falconry combined). Psychological measures were taken at 2 weeks prior, 2 weeks post, and at 4 month follow up. We obtained a significant within participant main effect indicating significant reduction in PTSD symptoms. Experiment two was a waitlist controlled randomised experiment employing an angling experience (N = 18) and 2 week follow up. In experiment 2 the predicted interaction of Group (Experimental vs. Waitlist Control) X Time (2 weeks pre vs. 2 weeks post) was obtained indicating that the experience resulted in significant reduction in PTSD symptoms relative to waitlist controls. The effect size was large. Additional analyses confirmed that the observed effects might also be considered clinically significant and reliable. In sum, peer outdoor experiences are beneficial and offer potential to complement existing provision for military veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Physician heal thyself (Luke 4:23)
The performance culture of the health service means
that the psychological well-being of staff is becoming
paramount in maintaining the workforce and in sustaining
psychological health and morale. A Charter for Psychological
Staff Wellbeing and Resilience is introduced that puts the
onus on us and on employers to make the necessary
adjustments to their workplace cultures and encourage
professionals â us â to break through the barrier of stigma
A KINGâS COLLEGE LONDON UNDERGRADUATE PSYCHIATRY SOCIETY EVENT TO CHALLENGE THE STIGMA ATTACHED TO PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS IN HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS AND STUDENTS
Background: There are higher levels of psychological distress in healthcare professionals and students compared to the general
population. Yet, despite the availability of effective treatment, many in this group continue to suffer in silence. Fear of exposure to stigmatization has been identified to be a major barrier to accessing and using mental health services. Kingâs College London Undergraduate Psychiatry Society (KCL PsychSoc) organized an event entitled, \u27What does bipolar disorder even mean? Psychological distress: How can we challenge the stigma?\u27. Healthcare professionals who themselves recovered from psychological problems and a mental health advocate with first-hand experience of psychological distress were invited to deliver talks followed by an interactive question and answer session.
Design: We conducted a single-arm pre-post comparison study. People who attended the KCL Psych Soc event were recruited to participate. Validated stigma scales on knowledge (Mental Health Knowledge Schedule (MAKS), attitudes (Community Attitudes towards the Mentally Ill) and behavior (Reported and Intended Behavior Scale (RIBS)) were administered on participants before and immediately after exposure to the event.
Results: 44/44 of the participants recruited completed the study (100% response rate). There were statistically significant
changes in the respondentsâ scores for all 3 stigma scales (p value MAKS <0.0001, p value CAMI<0.0001, p value RIBS=0.0011).
Discussion: As far as the authors are aware, this is the first study to date of an anti-stigma intervention comprised of healthcare
professionals with first-hand experience of psychological distress. The KCL PsychSoc event was associated with statistically
significant changes in the respondents\u27 scores in all three of the stigma scales. More robust research in this area is needed before scaling up similar anti-stigma initiatives
The prevalence of common mental disorders and PTSD in the UK military: using data from a clinical interview-based study
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The mental health of the Armed Forces is an important issue of both academic and public interest. The aims of this study are to: a) assess the prevalence and risk factors for common mental disorders and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, during the main fighting period of the Iraq War (TELIC 1) and later deployments to Iraq or elsewhere and enlistment status (regular or reserve), and b) compare the prevalence of depression, PTSD symptoms and suicidal ideation in regular and reserve UK Army personnel who deployed to Iraq with their US counterparts.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Participants were drawn from a large UK military health study using a standard two phase survey technique stratified by deployment status and engagement type. Participants undertook a structured telephone interview including the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) and a short measure of PTSD (Primary Care PTSD, PC-PTSD). The response rate was 76% (821 participants).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The weighted prevalence of common mental disorders and PTSD symptoms was 27.2% and 4.8%, respectively. The most common diagnoses were alcohol abuse (18.0%) and neurotic disorders (13.5%). There was no health effect of deploying for regular personnel, but an increased risk of PTSD for reservists who deployed to Iraq and other recent deployments compared to reservists who did not deploy. The prevalence of depression, PTSD symptoms and subjective poor health were similar between regular US and UK Iraq combatants.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The most common mental disorders in the UK military are alcohol abuse and neurotic disorders. The prevalence of PTSD symptoms remains low in the UK military, but reservists are at greater risk of psychiatric injury than regular personnel.</p