Literacy and Mental Health Across the Globe: A Systematic Review

Purpose: Fourteen percent of the global population has little or no literacy. Literacy skills impact on daily functioning and have been shown to impact on social outcomes. Whilst there has been research examining the potential association between literacy and mental health outcomes in specific populations, there has been no systematic review of this literature to date. Design/Methodology/Approach: A systematic review was carried out using Embase, PsycINFO and PubMed to identify relevant papers that measured both literacy and mental health. Data relating to the association between literacy and mental health were extracted. The papers included were assessed for quality using a bespoke quality rating tool. A narrative synthesis describes the findings. Findings: Nineteen studies from across nine countries were included in the analysis. Seventeen studies showed a significant association between literacy and mental health, those with lower literacy had greater mental health difficulties. Some papers reported factors that interacted with this association, such as age, gender, poverty, and years of education. Originality/Value: This is the first systematic review to look at the global picture of literacy and mental health. It suggests there is a relationship between literacy abilities and mental health outcomes, highlighting the importance of healthcare professionals and services including identification of literacy needs within routine mental health practice

The prevalence of burnout and secondary traumatic stress in professionals and volunteers working with forcibly displaced people: A systematic review and two meta-analyses

Research suggests that professionals and volunteers who work with forcibly displaced people (FDP) experience burnout and secondary traumatic stress (STS) as a result of working with such a highly traumatized population. In the present systematic review and meta-analyses, we report the pooled prevalence rates of burnout and STS in individuals working both professionally and voluntarily with FDP. The CINAHL Complete, E-Journals, ERIC, MEDLINE Complete, OpenDissertations, PsycARTICLES, and PsycINFO databases were searched for articles published historically to September 2019. Studies (N = 15) were included and assessed for quality if (a) their sample comprised individuals working in a professional or voluntary capacity with refugees, asylum seekers, forced migrants, or displaced persons and (b) reported on an outcome of STS or burnout. Two meta-analyses were conducted using random-effects models to assess the prevalence of (a) burnout and (b) STS. The pooled prevalence of high-level burnout was 29.7%, 95% CI [13.8%, 45.6%], with considerable heterogeneity between studies, Q(5) = 112.42, p <.001, I 2 = 95.6%. The pooled prevalence of moderate, high, and severe STS was 45.7%, 95% CI [26.1%, 65.2%] with considerable heterogeneity between studies, Q(12) = 1,079.37, p <.001, I 2 = 98.9%. Significant differences were observed in reported prevalence depending on the measure administered. This review highlights the high prevalence of high-level burnout and moderate-to-severe STS reported by individuals working with FDP. The results have implications for future research, employment support for individuals working with FDP, and measure selection for assessing STS

Acute Stress Disorder in children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence following exposure to a traumatic event.

Background: Acute stress disorder (ASD) was proposed to encapsulate traumatic stress reactions within the first few months of exposure to trauma. The present systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the prevalence of ASD in children and adolescents, and the extent to which assessment, demographic and trauma variables moderate this. Method: Searches of EMBASE, MEDLINE (PubMed), PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES and PILOTS were conducted to identify studies published between 1 st January 1994 and 1 st January 2018. Seventeen studies were identified as meeting inclusion criteria (N=2918 participants). Results: The pooled prevalence estimate for ASD was 16.5% (95% CI 10.6–23.4%), with considerable heterogeneity between studies (Q[16]=261.12, p < .001, I 2=95.3%). Risk of bias was unrelated to prevalence estimates. Studies that used a clinical interview (k=8) yielded a higher estimate (24.0%, 95% CI 13.8–36.0%) than those that used a questionnaire which adhered to the diagnostic algorithm for DSM-IV ASD (k=6; 6.8%, 95% CI 3.6–10.9%). Studies comprising older participants yielded greater prevalence estimates. Prevalence was significantly greater in studies where the majority of participants had been exposed to interpersonal trauma (27.9%, 95% CI 15.1–42.8%; k=5) compared to non-interpersonal trauma (12.8%, 95% CI 7.2–19.7%; k=12). Conclusions: This review suggests that a significant minority of trauma-exposed children and adolescents meet criteria for ASD (in particular youth exposed to interpersonal trauma), but the findings are limited by a large degree of heterogeneity. DSM-IV ASD-specific self-report questionnaire measures may be too insensitive for identifying youth with this disorder

Foregrounding the perspectives of mental health service users during the COVID-19 pandemic

This viewpoint highlights the critical importance of the perspectives of mental health service-users during the COVID-19 pandemic. This viewpoint is based on a review of recent research and literature and draws on consultations with experts by experience, including the lead author. We argue that expertise-by-experience is critical to policy, service development and research; but there is a risk it will be neglected at a time of rapid and reactive clinical development. Understanding and responding to the nuances of individual need can only be achieved through coproducing service strategy design, delivery and research with mental health service users. The consultation outlined in this viewpoint gives some indication of the type of valuable insights that can be gained through seeking and listening to the perspectives of experts by experience. Our discussions revealed that experience of managing severe and complex mental health conditions can actually be advantageous when facing a crisis such as COVID-19

A phenomenological inquiry into the lived experience of adults diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) employed by the NHS

Purpose: Approximately 3.5% of the workforce is diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). With a greater risk of work-related stress and absences, work-based social interactions and environments are significant factors. The purpose of this study was to identify the professional challenges and benefits of living with ADHD in healthcare settings. Design/methodology/approach: Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to explore how employees with ADHD both experience and make sense of their employment and professional relationships. Participants self-identified from two NHS trusts and participated in semi-structured interviews. Findings: A total of seven interviews contributed to the final analysis. A total of four themes emerged: social environment (relationships), physical environment, behaviour and work tasks. Complex interactions were observed between individuals’ internal constructs and overall employment experience. Practical implications: The findings can be used to inform local NHS management frameworks for supporting workforce with ADHD. Originality/value: This is a novel study that explores the psychodynamic and physical presentations of ADHD providing a unique perspective on the challenges and strengths of employees with ADHD

Building an initial understanding of UK Recovery College dementia courses: A national survey of Recovery College and memory services staff. Journal: Working with Older People Working with Older People

PurposeRecovery Colleges were developed to support the recovery of people with mental health difficulties through courses co-produced by professionals and people with lived experience. This study aims to examine the use of Recovery Colleges to support people with dementia.Design/methodology/approachA survey was circulated to UK Recovery College and memory service staff, exploring provision, delivery and attendance of dementia courses. Open responses provided insight into participant views about recovery in post-diagnostic support and the practicalities of running dementia courses.FindingsA total of 51 Recovery College staff and 210 memory service staff completed the survey. Twelve Recovery College dementia courses were identified across the UK. Three categories emerged from the qualitative data: post-diagnostic support, recovery in the context of dementia, challenges and areas of innovation

Data Collection for the Study on Climate Change and Migration in the MENA Region

A large part of this study is based on data collected in 2011 in five focus countries of the MENA region. In addition, other existing data sources were used as well, as documented in the various chapters that follow, but this need not be discussed in this chapter. This chapter documents the process followed and some of the choices made for new data collection, both quantitative and qualitative, for the study on climate change and migration in the MENA region. After a brief introduction, we explain the nature of the household survey questionnaire, what it enables us to document, as well as some of its limits. Next, we explain how the household survey sites were selected and how the samples were constructed in each of the five focus countries. We also provide a few comments on the challenges encountered during survey implementation. The chapter finally explains the process used for the focus group discussions and in-depth interview, as well as for the interviews with key informants conducted in each country

Data Collection for the Study on Climate Change and Migration in the MENA Region

A large part of this study is based on data collected in 2011 in five focus countries of the MENA region. In addition, other existing data sources were used as well, as documented in the various chapters that follow, but this need not be discussed in this chapter. This chapter documents the process followed and some of the choices made for new data collection, both quantitative and qualitative, for the study on climate change and migration in the MENA region. After a brief introduction, we explain the nature of the household survey questionnaire, what it enables us to document, as well as some of its limits. Next, we explain how the household survey sites were selected and how the samples were constructed in each of the five focus countries. We also provide a few comments on the challenges encountered during survey implementation. The chapter finally explains the process used for the focus group discussions and in-depth interview, as well as for the interviews with key informants conducted in each country

Mapping of modifiable barriers and facilitators of medication adherence in bipolar disorder to the Theoretical Domains Framework: a systematic review protocol

Introduction: People with bipolar disorder require long-term treatment but it is estimated that 40% of these people do not adhere to prescribed medication regimens. Non-adherence increases the risk of relapse, hospitalisation and suicide. Some evidence syntheses report barriers to mental health treatment adherence but rarely delineate between modifiable and non-modifiable barriers. They also fail to distinguish between the patients’ perspective and that of other stakeholders such as clinicians despite of their different understanding and priorities about adherence. Facilitators of adherence, which are also important for informing adherence intervention design, are also lacking from syntheses and few syntheses focus on medications for bipolar disorder. This systematic review aims to identify modifiable barriers and facilitators (determinants) of medication adherence in bipolar disorder. We also plan to report determinants of medication adherence from perspectives of patients, carers, healthcare professionals and other third parties. A unique feature of this systematic review in the context of mental health is the use of the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) to organise the literature identified determinants of medication adherence. Methods and analysis: The protocol adheres to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols and ENhancing Transparency in REporting the synthesis of Qualitative research (ENTREQ) guidelines. This review will include both qualitative and quantitative primary studies exploring determinants of medication adherence in bipolar disorder. We will search the following databases using a preplanned strategy: CINAHL, Cochrane Library (CENTRAL), Embase, LiLACS, Medline, PsychINFO, PubMed without date restrictions. We will report the quality of included studies. We will use framework synthesis using the TDF as an a priori ‘framework’. We will map the literature identified modifiable determinants to the domains of TDF. Ethics and dissemination: Ethical approval is not required as primary data will not be collected. The results will be disseminated through a peer-reviewed publication. PROSPERO registration number:CRD42018096306