Social connectedness and self-perceived mental health in Canadian transitional aged youth

Introduction:Transitional aged youth (TAY; ages 15-24) is a vulnerable age group that face several life changes which contribute to many forms of distress in their lives. Objective:To assess the impact social connectedness has on self-perceived mental health in Canadian TAY. Methods:The dataset provided by the Canadian Community Health Survey 2016 cycle was used. Listwise deletion was used to handle missing data. The final sample size for the study was 5,378 youth between the ages of 15-24. Linear and ordinal logistic regressions were conducted for the statistical analysis of the dataset. Results:With every point decrease in social connectedness, Canadian TAY have 12% more odds to rate their self-perceived mental health as good or fair/poor in comparison to excellent/very good. Conclusion:A better understanding of social connectedness and its association with mental health in TAY may allow for implementation of programs and policies that can address lack of social connectedness across the country

Social connectedness and mental well-being in transitional aged youth: A comparison between Canada and London-Middlesex region

Issue/Problem: As outlined by Mental Health Commission of Canada, one in five Canadians experience a mental illness or addiction problem at some point in their lifetime. In Canada, 70% of mental health problems have their onset during childhood or adolescence. Additionally, transitional aged youth (ages 15-24) are more likely to experience mental illness and substance use disorders than any other age group. Furthermore, adolescence and young adulthood is a time where there is an increased risk for the development of psychiatric disorders, many of which are associated with social dysfunction. Previous studies on social support and sense of belonging have shown that the structure of transitional aged youth’s relationships can have strong impacts on health and development. In order to approach this epidemic in a more holistic manner, the concept of mental well-being is gaining increasing recognition as an important health indicator. Objectives/Methods: In this proposed study, the relationship between social connectedness and mental well-being among Canadian transitional aged youth will be examined using cross-sectional data from the 2011, 2012 Annual Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) and also the 2012 CCHS Mental Health (MH) edition. Results: The expected completion date of the data analysis is March 2019. We expect to report on the findings related to the relationship analyzed between social connectedness and the impact it has on mental well-being. Potential impact: A better understanding of social connectedness and its association with mental well-being in transitional aged youth may allow for implementation of programs and policies that can address lack of social connectedness in London-Middlesex and across the country

Evaluating the feasibility and potential impacts of a recovery-oriented psychosocial rehabilitation toolkit in a health care setting in Kenya: A mixed-methods study

OBJECTIVES: This pilot study evaluated the feasibility and potential impacts of delivering the Psychosocial Rehabilitation (PSR) Toolkit for people with serious mental illness within a health care setting in Kenya. METHOD: This study used a convergent mixed-methods design. Participants were people with serious mental illness (n = 23), each with an accompanying family member, who were outpatients of a hospital or satellite clinic in semirural Kenya. The intervention consisted of 14 weekly group sessions of PSR cofacilitated by health care professionals and peers with mental illness. Quantitative data were collected from patients and family members using validated outcome measures before and after the intervention. Qualitative data were collected from focus groups with patients and family members, and individual interviews with facilitators, after the intervention. RESULTS: Quantitative findings indicated that patients experienced moderate improvement in illness management and, in contrast to qualitative findings, family members experienced moderate worsening in attitudes toward recovery. Qualitative findings revealed positive outcomes for both patients and family members, as reflected in greater feelings of hope and mobilization to reduce stigma. Factors that facilitated participation included: helpful and accessible learning materials; committed and involved stakeholders; and flexible solutions to promote continued involvement. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: This pilot study found that delivery of the Psychosocial Rehabilitation Toolkit was feasible within a health care setting in Kenya and associated with overall positive outcomes among patients with serious mental illness. Further research on its effectiveness on a larger scale and using culturally validated measures is needed

Using the WHO-AIMS to inform development of mental health systems: the case study of Makueni County, Kenya

Background In order to develop a context appropriate in mental health system, there is a need to document relevant existing resources and practices with a view of identifying existing gaps, challenges and opportunities at baseline for purposes of future monitoring and evaluation of emerging systems. The World Health Organization Assessments Instrument for Mental Health Systems (WHO-AIMS) was developed as a suitable tool for this purpose. Our overall objective of this study, around which research questions and specific aims were formulated, was to establish a baseline on mental health system as at the time of the study, at Makueni County in Kenya, using the WHO-AIMS. Methods To achieve our overall objective, answer our research questions and achieve specific aims, we conducted a mixed methods approach in which we did an audit of DHIS records and county official records, and conducted qualitative interviews with the various officers to establish the fidelity of the data according to their views. The records data was processed via the prescribed WHO-Aims 2.2 excel spreadsheet while the qualitative data was analyzed thematically. This was guided by the six domains stipulated in the WHO AIMS. Results We found that at the time point of the study, there were no operational governance, policy or administrative structures specific to mental health, despite recognition by the County Government of the importance of mental health. The identified interviewees and policy makers were cooperative and participatory in identifying the gaps, barriers and potential solutions to those barriers. The main barriers and gaps were human and financial resources and low prioritization of mental health in comparison to physical conditions. The solutions lay in bridging of the gaps and addressing the barriers. Conclusion There is a need to address the identified gaps and barriers and follow up on solutions suggested at the time of the study, if a functional mental health system is to be achieved at Makueni County