Piecing Together the Puzzle of Autism: Aspects of Its Effects on Children with the Condition and their Caregivers

As one of the most prevalent developmental disorders, extensive research exists concerning Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). However, gaps are still evident in a number of areas. Information pertaining to any costs and benefits associated with the experience of caring for a child with autism is inadequate. In Study 1, the lived experiences of married female primary caregivers of children with autism were explored, specifically by examining the costs and benefits of caregiving and its influence on the women’s situations. Furthermore, motor control deficits are apparent in many children with high functioning autism (HFA) and Asperger syndrome (AS), but need to be delineated further to determine the extent and effects of these impairments. As such, Study 2 addressed the areas of fine-motor ability as a function of handedness, in addition to dominance as determined by handedness, footedness and eyedness. As well, motor planning and indices of laterality were examined

Physioacoustic Therapy: Placebo Effect on Recovery From Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage

We evaluated claims that physioacoustic therapy can enhance muscle healing following damaging exercise. Untrained subjects were randomly assigned to control (C), placebo (P) or treatment (T) groups. All groups performed 70 eccentric triceps contractions followed by; no treatment (C), sham physioacoustic treatment (P), or actual physioacoustic therapy (T) on days 1–4 post-exercise. Muscle soreness and isometric and concentric triceps peak torque were determined preexercise and on days 1–4 and 7 post-exercise. The T group received physioacoustic therapy for 30 min/day on the treatment days. The P group believed they received physioacoustic therapy, although the chairs were turned off. Peak torques were depressed (P \u3c 0.05) on days 1–3 in all groups and returned to pre-exercise values by days 4–7 in both P and T groups. C group peak torques remained depressed (P \u3c 0.05) through day 7. Soreness was elevated (P \u3c 0.05) in all groups on days 1–2 post-exercise. P and T groups reported no soreness by day 3 while the C group remained sore (P \u3c 0.05) through days 3–4. The T group recovered soreness and force faster than C but at a similar rate to the P group. The effectiveness of physioacoustic therapy in enhancing post-exercise muscle healing may be attributable to a placebo effect

Physioacoustic Therapy: Placebo Effect on Recovery From Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage

We evaluated claims that physioacoustic therapy can enhance muscle healing following damaging exercise. Untrained subjects were randomly assigned to control (C), placebo (P) or treatment (T) groups. All groups performed 70 eccentric triceps contractions followed by; no treatment (C), sham physioacoustic treatment (P), or actual physioacoustic therapy (T) on days 1–4 post-exercise. Muscle soreness and isometric and concentric triceps peak torque were determined preexercise and on days 1–4 and 7 post-exercise. The T group received physioacoustic therapy for 30 min/day on the treatment days. The P group believed they received physioacoustic therapy, although the chairs were turned off. Peak torques were depressed (P \u3c 0.05) on days 1–3 in all groups and returned to pre-exercise values by days 4–7 in both P and T groups. C group peak torques remained depressed (P \u3c 0.05) through day 7. Soreness was elevated (P \u3c 0.05) in all groups on days 1–2 post-exercise. P and T groups reported no soreness by day 3 while the C group remained sore (P \u3c 0.05) through days 3–4. The T group recovered soreness and force faster than C but at a similar rate to the P group. The effectiveness of physioacoustic therapy in enhancing post-exercise muscle healing may be attributable to a placebo effect

Refugees, Higher Education, and Informational Barriers

The purpose of the qualitative study was to explore the experiences, needs, barriers, and expectations of survivors of torture and/or war interested in entering post-secondary education in Canada. We conducted 38 interviews with participants from the Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture (CCVT), 10 interviews with CCVT staff, and 1 focus group with 3 participants, which followed a semi-structured interview guide, and were analyzed using a constant comparative method. Survivors of torture and/or war report experiencing informational barriers to navigating educational pathways, accessing professional supports, evaluating credentials, financing education, navigating immigration systems, using online resources, delaying their educational progress, and contributing to mental health distress.L’objectif de cette étude qualitative était d’étudier les expé-riences, les besoins, les obstacles et les attentes de survivants à la torture et/ou à la guerre souhaitant faire des études postsecondaires au Canada. Nous avons réalisé 38 entretiens avec des participants provenant du Centre Canadien pour Victimes de la Torture (CCVT) et 10 entretiens avec des membres du personnel de ce centre; nous avons également travaillé avec un groupe cible de trois participants qui ont suivi les consignes d’un guide d’entretien semi-structuré et ont été évalués à l’aide d’une méthode comparative constante. Les survivants à la torture et/ou à la guerre ont fait état d’obstacles à type de manque d’information sur l’orientation dans les filières d’études, l’accès à des soutiens professionnels, l’évaluation des diplômes, le financement des études, l’orientation dans les systèmes d’immigration et l’utilisation des ressources en ligne, l’ensemble de ces insuffisances retardant leur progression sur le plan des études et contribuant à des difficultés de santé mentale

The Social Relations of Accessibility: Explicating the Work of Accommodation for Students with Mental Health Problems in University

Providing accessible education for students with mental health problems is an important aspect of social inclusion, as it increases educational attainment, subsequent employment opportunity and community participation. In universities, accommodations are provided where necessary with the intent of ensuring equal opportunity for all students. Despite the availability of accommodations, students with mental health problems continue to experience difficulty achieving academic success, suggesting a disjuncture between accommodations and their expected favourable outcomes within the social organization of the university. This Institutional Ethnography explores the social organization of university accessibility for students with mental health problems. Sixteen students with mental health problems and eight staff members of a large university in an urban setting participated in interviews focusing on the processes of seeking and implementing accommodations. I explored institutional texts for their ability to coordinate the actions of people in this setting, as the social organization of this university is informed by numerous texts that guide participants' work. Data analysis focused on asking questions of the data and mapping work processes, in order to develop an understanding of the social organization of accessibility and accommodation for these students. In the findings, I map and explicate what I have termed an "institutional accessibility mechanism", the set of work and texts that guide the university's social relations around accommodation and accessibility. These social relations involved staff and student work processes that maintained the mechanism and preserved institutional relations. Through the Institutional Accessibility Mechanism, the university appeared to place a focus on accommodation over accessibility and created work for individual students seeking access. This Mechanism also operated under assumptions of mental wellness and presented challenges for students with mental health problems. These findings have important implications for the development of higher education policies, which can enable students with mental health problems to have better chances of success in their academic endeavours. Promoting the inclusion of students with mental health problems in university can improve their educational and employment opportunities and further the prosperity of society as a whole.Ph.D

The needs and service preferences of caregivers of youth with mental health and/or addictions concerns

Abstract Background Caregivers experience significant strains as a result of navigating the complex mental health and/or addiction (MHA) system for their youth with MHA issues. We examined the characteristics of Ontario families with youth with MHA issues and their service needs. Methods A cross-sectional survey study investigated the characteristics and service needs of families with youth with MHA issues across the province of Ontario, Canada. A total of 840 caregivers were recruited. Results 259 participants (Mage = 45.94, SD = 7.11) identified as caregiving for at least one youth with MHA issues. The majority of the participants were female (70.7%), married (73.4%), and completed at least some college/Bachelor degree (59.1%). The mean age of youth was 16.72 years (SD = 5.33) and the most frequently reported diagnoses were Depression (30.1%), ADHD (27.8%) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (21.2%). Regression results demonstrated that presently accessing services, presently seeking services, and higher levels of barriers MHA services were significantly predictive of identifying navigation as helpful for finding appropriate MHA services (χ2(7) = 28.69, p < .001, Nagelkerke R2 = .16). Furthermore, presently accessing services was significantly predictive of identifying case management as helpful (χ2(7) = 29.59, p < .001, Nagelkerke R2 = .156), and of identifying a primary healthcare provider as helpful (χ2(7) = 38.75, p < .001, Nagelkerke R2 = .197) for finding appropriate MHA services. Conclusion Identifying the nature and extent of youth MHA issues, service needs, and family preferences can inform the development of services that address families’ needs and lend vital support for accessing services within a complex system

Identifying the key features and outcomes of family navigation services for mental health and/or addictions concerns: a Delphi study

Abstract Background Family navigation in mental health and addictions is a mode of support aimed at helping families through the complex mental health and addictions system, making well-informed service matches, and engaging with families throughout their care journeys. As family navigation services emerge and grow, understanding their unique features and impacts is essential to defining evaluation measures and driving good outcomes for families. Methods This Delphi study investigated the defining features of family mental health and addictions navigation, factors involved in a successful service match, and important outcomes of the process through perspectives of clients and team members of a family navigation program, as well as those of local mental health and/or addictions service providers. In the first phase, participants (n = 41), were asked to respond to a series of prompts pertaining to 1) the key features of a successful family navigation process, 2) the features of good matches between youth or families and the services to which they are navigated, and 3) the outcomes of importance in family navigation. In Phase 2, findings from Phase 1 were presented to participants (n = 32) to select and rank their top ten responses to each prompt. Responses which passed a cut-point were carried into Phase 3, in which participants (n = 20), rated the importance of the remaining items. Items rated as “very” or “extremely” important by 80% or more of participants in Phase 3 had achieved consensus. Intra-class correlation coefficients were calculated to confirm participant agreement on all items having achieved consensus. Results Sample items with 100% consensus were as follows: navigator determines the best fit by understanding and considering the youth and families’ needs, by collaborating with team members and service providers, and by providing individualized suggestions; navigation involves knowledge and understanding of mental health and addictions system and existing services; referred service providers are knowledgeable and up-to-date on evidence-based practice and have multidisciplinary perspectives in service. Overall ICC across all finalized statements following Phase 3 was .84. Conclusions Exploring the key features of successful navigation, outcomes of importance to stakeholders, and elements of successful matches can inform the development of navigation services that address families’ needs, can support service providers in ensuring well-matched services, and lend vital support to families seeking services within a complex system

Transitions in mental health and addiction care for youth and their families: a scoping review of needs, barriers, and facilitators

Abstract Introduction Transitional-aged youth (TAY) with mental health and/or addictions (MHA) concerns and their families experience significant challenges finding, accessing, and transitioning through needed MHA care. To develop appropriate supports that assist TAY and their families in navigating MHA care, their experiences of transitions in the MHA care system must be better understood. This scoping review identifies and explores the needs, barriers, and facilitators for TAY and their families when transitioning through MHA care. Methods This scoping review commenced with a search of five relevant databases. Three research team members were involved in title, abstract, and full-text scanning and data extraction. Sources focusing on TAY anywhere between the ages of 12–29 years and meeting the study objectives were included. Extractions compiled background and narrative information about the nature and extent of the data. Analysis and synthesis of findings involved numerical description of the general information extracted (e.g., numbers of sources by country) and thematic analysis of narrative information extracted (e.g., family involvement in TAY help-seeking). Results A total of 5894 sources were identified. Following title and abstract scanning, 1037 sources remained for full-text review. A total of 66 sources were extracted. Findings include background information about extracted sources, in addition to five themes that emerged pertaining to barriers and facilitators to access and transitions through care and the needs and roles of TAY and families in supporting help-seeking and care transitions: holistic supports, proactive preparation, empowering TAY and families, collaborative relationships, and systemic considerations. These five themes demonstrate approaches to care that can ensure TAY and families’ needs are met, barriers are mitigated, and facilitators are enhanced. Conclusion This review provides essential contextual information regarding TAY with MHA concerns and their families’ needs when seeking care. Such findings lend to an enhanced understanding of how MHA programs can support this population’s needs, involve family members as appropriate, reduce the barriers experienced, and work to build upon existing facilitators