Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Use Of The Index Of Partner Abuse With Incarcerated Women, Janette Taylor, M. Eliason

Janette Y. Taylor

No abstract provided.

Mothers With Severe Mental Illness Caring For Children, Carla White, Joanne Nicholson, William Fisher, Jeffrey Geller

Joanne Nicholson

This research identifies and describes the Massachusetts population of Department of Mental Health (DMH) case-managed women with severe mental illness who are caretakers of their minor children (N = 314), and compares their demographic and clinical characteristics and service utilization with those of a matched, randomly selected group of DMH case-managed noncaretaking women (N = 328) using the Client Tracking System database. Caretakers were significantly younger, had less formal education, and had higher rates of marriage than did noncaretakers. They are diagnosed more often with major affective disorders and less often with psychotic disorders. Caretakers demonstrate higher levels of functioning …

Mothers With Mental Health Disorders: Mental Health Promotion In The Context Of Parenting, Joanne Nicholson, Elizabeth Aaker, Michael Agar, Karen Albert, Steven Banks, Kathleen Biebel, Bernice Gershenson, Antonia Seligowski, Valerie Williams, Brenda Warren, Sierra Williams, Katherine Woolsey

Joanne Nicholson

Parenting is a meaningful role for the majority of American women, including those with mental health disorders. Success in this role, particularly for women with mental health disorders, would seem to be intimately related to mental health promotion, the recovery process, and successful functioning in other major life domains (e.g., employment, community living, and personal health and well-being). The achievement of maximum social participation for women with mental health disorders may hinge on addressing the challenges they face as parents. Presented at Margins to Mainstream: World Congress on Mental Health Promotion and Prevention. Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, September 2008.

Fathers With Severe Mental Illness: Characteristics And Comparisons, Joanne Nicholson, Margaret Nason, Anne Calabresi, Regina Yando

Joanne Nicholson

Among patients with severe mental illness attending a large, urban, outpatient mental health clinic, fathers are described and compared with nonfathers and with mothers on demographic, clinical, and child-related characteristics, and on resources and service needs. While fathers and nonfathers with mental illness differed significantly on most variables, fathers and mothers with mental illness were remarkably similar except on child-related characteristics. Issues regarding fathers' experiences and service needs are discussed.

Achieving The Goal Of Evidence-Based Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practices For Mothers With Mental Illnesses, Joanne Nicholson, Alexis Henry

Joanne Nicholson

There is a growing commitment to evidence-based practices in mental health. There is no well-articulated evidence base for interventions for mothers with mental illnesses. Parenthood is common among women with mental illnesses. Women themselves report motherhood is an important role. The risks of parental mental illness to children have been demonstrated; the challenges that motherhood brings to people with mental illnesses have been described. Because outcomes for both children and adults are multiply determined, there are many intervention opportunities. Recommendations for intervention are drawn from a focus group study and from the existing literature on parent training and support, exemplary …

A Comparison Of The Health And Mental Health Status Of Homeless Mothers In Worcester, Mass: 1993 And 2003, Linda Weinreb, John Buckner, Valerie Williams, Joanne Nicholson

Joanne Nicholson

OBJECTIVES: We assessed background characteristics, health status, and prevalence rates of mental health disorders in 2 studies of homeless mothers conducted in Worcester, Mass, one in 1993 and the other in 2003.

METHODS: We compared the women taking part in the 2 studies, which involved similar methodologies, on the key variables of interest over time.

RESULTS: Homeless families taking part in the 2003 study were poorer than those taking part in the 1993 study, and female heads of household in that study reported more physical health limitations, major depressive illness, and posttraumatic stress disorder.

CONCLUSION: Data from 2003 suggest that …

State Policies And Programs That Address The Needs Of Mentally Ill Mothers In The Public Sector, Joanne Nicholson, Jeffrey Geller, William Fisher, George Dion

Joanne Nicholson

OBJECTIVE: The authors sought to determine whether state departments of mental health have specific policies and programs addressing the needs of mentally ill women served in the public sector who have preschool-age children. METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to the commissioner of mental health for each state and the District of Columbia. Questions addressed whether information was routinely collected on the parenting status of women who receive public-sector psychiatric services, whether services targeting mentally ill women with young children were available, and whether the state had policies concerning hospitalized women who are pregnant or who have young children. RESULTS: Sixteen …

A Comparison Of Mothers With Co-Occurring Disorders And Histories Of Violence Living With Or Separated From Minor Children, Joanne Nicholson, Norma Finkelstein, Valerie Williams, Jennifer Thom, Chanson Noether, Megan Devilbiss

Joanne Nicholson

Data from the Women with Co-occurring Disorders and Histories of Violence Study are used to examine characteristics distinguishing mothers currently providing care for all their minor children (n = 558) from mothers separated from one or more minor children (n = 1396). Mothers are described and compared on background characteristics and experiences, well-being and current functioning, situational context, and services used. Analyses control for number of children, race, and years of education. Mothers separated from children have more children, less education, have more often been homeless, in juvenile detention or jail, and have lower incomes than mothers living with all …

Mothers With Mental Illness: I. The Competing Demands Of Parenting And Living With Mental Illness, Joanne Nicholson, Elaine Sweeney, Jeffrey Geller

Joanne Nicholson

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to understand the parenting experiences of women with mental illness from the perspectives of mothers and case managers employed by the state department of mental health. METHODS: Six focus groups of mothers and five focus groups of case managers met to discuss the problems facing mothers with mental illness and to recommend solutions. Focus-group transcripts were coded and items grouped by themes in qualitative analyses to explore the conflicts mothers face in meeting the dual challenges of parenting and living with mental illness. RESULTS: Mothers and case managers identified sources of conflict in …

Integrating Behavioral Health Services For Homeless Mothers And Children In Primary Care, Linda Weinreb, Joanne Nicholson, Valerie Williams, Frances Anthes

Joanne Nicholson

This article describes an innovative trauma-informed care management model in which mental health, substance abuse, and support services are integrated for homeless families in primary care. The rationale for service integration in a health care setting is discussed and the conceptual underpinnings of the model are elaborated, drawing from the literature and clinical experience. Service encounter data collected by each staff member over a 1-year period (N = 7,214 encounters) allow for description of program functions and provider roles and activities, an essential step in developing the fidelity indicators necessary for future program replication and rigorous testing in additional settings. …

Mothers With Mental Illness: Ii. Family Relationships And The Context Of Parenting, Joanne Nicholson, Elaine Sweeney, Jeffrey Geller

Joanne Nicholson

OBJECTIVE: This study explores the experiences of mothers with mental illness regarding their family relationships.

METHODS: Six focus groups of mothers with mental illness and five focus groups of case managers met to discuss problems facing mothers with mental illness and to recommend solutions. Focus groups were audiotaped, and transcripts were coded and analyzed qualitatively to describe ways in which husbands and partners, grandparents, and other family members contribute to the context of parenting for mothers with mental illness.

RESULTS: Mothers with mental illness and case managers described a range of relationships and attitudes of family members and provided examples …

Commentary On "Community Mental Health Care For Women With Severe Mental Illness Who Are Parents" - The Tragedy Of Missed Opportunities: Of Missed Opportunities: What Providers Can Do, Joanne Nicholson, Kathleen Biebel

Joanne Nicholson

Women and men who meet criteria for psychiatric disorder are likely to be parents. Many go undiagnosed and untreated, putting themselves and their children at risk of poor outcomes. Adults with mental illness may fear disclosing their status as parents; providers may not ask. Practices can be modified to promote the well being of parents with mental illness and their children.

Parenting And Recovery For Mothers With Mental Disorders, Joanne Nicholson

Joanne Nicholson

Citation: Nicholson, J. (2010) Parenting and Recovery for Mothers with Mental Disorders. In Levin, B.L. & Becker, M. (Eds.) A public health perspective of women’s mental health. New York: Springer, pp. 359-372. ISBN 1441915257, 9781441915252. DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4419-1526-9_19.

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