Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Consumers’ Perspectives Of The Meaning Of Safety In Acute Mental Health Inpatient Services, Natalie A. Cutler, Lorna Moxham, Moira Stephens

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

Background and Aim: Safety is a priority in the acute mental health inpatient setting (ACQSHC 2014). Safety is commonly represented in government policy as the reduction or elimination of risk (AIHW 2018). Defining safety as the reduction or elimination of risk means this is where funding and resources are likely to be directed. This has limitations however, as it can lead to environments and processes considered by mental health services to be safe, but are not aligned with what people with lived experience of mental illness deem to be safe (Cutler, Moxham & Stephens 2015). This PhD study explored the …

A Multidisciplinary Learning Experience Contributing To Mental Health Rehabilitation, Lorna Moxham, Christopher F. Patterson, Ellie K. Taylor, Dana J. Perlman, Susan Sumskis, Renee M. Brighton

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

Purpose People who access health services often have a range of needs that require the involvement of members from a multidisciplinary team. Teaching future health professionals about the importance of a multidisciplinary approach can be challenging. The aim of this paper is to describe a project called Recovery Camp that enhanced multidisciplinary health education through experiential and immersive engagement with people experiencing mental illness.

Method Future health professionals and people with a lived experience of mental illness took part in Recovery Camp - an innovative five-day therapeutic recreation initiative in the Australian bush. Results are presented in a case study …

Goal Setting Among People Living With Mental Illness: A Qualitative Analysis Of Recovery Camp, Lorna Moxham, Ellie K. Taylor, Christopher F. Patterson, Dana J. Perlman, Renee M. Brighton, Tim Heffernan, Susan Sumskis

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

People living with mental illness (consumers) often experience difficulty in achieving life goals, particularly those important for their recovery. An innovative approach to address consumers' goals for recovery can be found in the form of therapeutic recreation (TR) initiatives. Recovery Camp is a five-day TR program, bringing together people with a serious mental illness, undergraduate health students, and staff members. This paper aims to examine the types of goals set by consumers in the context of Recovery Camp, and to what extent the self-identified goals were attained. The consumers (n = 27) were invited to set goals that they wished …

A 6-Month Randomised Controlled Trial Investigating Effects Of Mediterranean-Style Diet And Fish Oil Supplementation On Dietary Behaviour Change, Mental And Cardiometabolic Health And Health-Related Quality Of Life In Adults With Depression (Helfimed): Study Protocol, Dorota M. Zarnowiecki, Jihyun Cho, Amy Wilson, Svetlana Bogomolova, Anthony Villani, Catherine Itsiopoulos, Theo Niyonsenga, Kerin O'Dea, Sarah Blunden, Barbara J. Meyer, Leonie Segal, Natalie Parletta

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

Background: Modern diets, characterised by excess consumption of processed foods, are accompanied by an epidemic of chronic diseases. Cardiovascular disease and depression carry a large burden of disease and often occur together. Poor dietary patterns have been identified as an independent risk factor for depression while healthy diets with minimally processed food are protective. Traditional Mediterranean diets have been shown to reduce risk of cardiovascular disease; however there is a need for clinical trials in people with depression. This paper reports the study protocol of a Mediterranean-style diet intervention conducted in adults with self-reported depression. Methods/design: HELFIMED is a parallel …

Mental Health Research Projects: A Practical Integration Of Mental Health Into A Medical Curriculum, Judy Mullan, K M. Weston, P L. Mclennan, W C. Rich, N B. Pani

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

Abstract of a paper presented at the 65th Annual National Conference of Indian Psychiatric Society, Bangalor, 10-13 Jan, 2013. Aims aJld Objectives: The University of Wollongong (UoW) graduate-entry medical course embeds research and critical analysis within the curriculum, concluding with students undertaking a regional/ nlrsl conmlUnity-based ro earch project. Students are encouraged to design a research project of interest to them and the local community. T.his Indy analyzed whether conducting research projects enhanced learning/understanding about rural/regional mental health issues amongst UoW medical students.

Facilitating Better Health Care For Mental Health Consumers: Complexities Of Establishing A Partnership Program, Christopher Patterson, Alex Gagan, Sarah Watson, Angela Douglas

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

Abstract of paper that presented at the Australian College of Mental Health Nursing 39th International Mental Health Nursing Conference, 22-24 October, 2013, Perth, Australia.

Facilitating Better Health Care For Mental Health Consumers Through Engagement: Complexities Of Establishing A Partnership Pilot Program Between Mental Health Professionals And University Exercise Physiology Students, Angela Douglas, Alex Gagan, Keirin Mccormack, Sarah Lisle

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

Abstract of the oral presentation.

Is A Good Idea Enough?' Engaging Mental Health Professionals And University Of Wollongong Students To Facilitate Sustainable Change In Health Care For Mental Health Consumers, Angela Douglas, Alex Gagan, Keirin Mccormack, Sarah Lisle

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

Abstract of paper that presented at the 2013 Engagement Australia Conference, 15-17 July, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne.

Family And Carer Mental Health Program: Reflections On Gaps In Educational Needs (Poster), Megan Green, Kerry Dawes, Nagesh B. Pai

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

Abstract of poster presentatio presented at the ACHMN's 39th International Mental Health Nursing Conference Collaboration and Partnership in Mental Health Nursing, 22-24 October 2013, Pan Pacific Hotel, Perth, Western Australia.

Solution Based Teaching Methods In A Problem Based Curriculum: The Role Of A Mental Health Nurse In Addressing The Challenges Of Curriculum Delivery In A Regional Medical School, Kerry Dawes

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

Abstract of poster presentatio presented at the ACHMN's 39th International Mental Health Nursing Conference Collaboration and Partnership in Mental Health Nursing, 22-24 October 2013, Pan Pacific Hotel, Perth, Western Australia.

A Pilot Study Of Mental Health And Quality-Of-Life Of Caregivers Of Children With Cleft Lip/Palate In India, Mahesh R. Gowda, Nagesh B. Pai, Shae-Leigh C. Vella

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

Background: There has been insufficient and contradictory research to date on the impacts of caring for a child with cleft lip/palate. Therefore this pilot study sought to investigate the mental health and quality of life of primary caregivers of children with cleft lip/palate. Materials and Methods: Seventy-nine primary caregivers of children with cleft lip/palate awaiting a surgical procedure in India completed questionnaires to measure their mental health, quality of life, and demographic variables. Results: The results indicated that half of the sample suffered from poor mental health and a reduced quality of life. Overall perceptions of quality of life were …

It's Time To Examine The Status Of Our Undergraduate Mental Health Curricula, Susan J. Thomas, Brahmavar N. Pai, Kerry Dawes

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

To the Editor: Review of undergraduate mental health education is timely, given the growing disease burden of mental disorders and the need to better equip doctors for their central role in treatment. Curricula should prepare all doctors with competencies in recognising and treating mental health problems,1 because these occur frequently in patients across all branches of medicine, leading to poorer outcomes.2 Curricula should also prepare a minority of doctors for specialist psychiatry training.

Nutritional Modulation Of Cognitive Function And Mental Health, Natalie Parletta, Catherine M. Milte, Barbara J. Meyer

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

The important role of diet in cardiometabolic health is generally well recognised; for mental health, it is not so well understood. However, lifestyle risk factors for poor physical health are the same risk factors for mental illness, including poor diet. This is reflected by the high level of poor physical health in people with mental illness. Mediterranean, whole food diets have been associated with reduced risk for chronic disease, but very little research has investigated their mental health benefits. We provide a model for the pathways by which food components provided by a Mediterranean-style diet can facilitate healthy brain function. …

Defining The Importance Of Mental Preparedness For Risk Communication And Residents Well-Prepared For Wildfire, Christine Eriksen, Timothy Prior

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

Building on a recognised information-to-action gap in wildfire risk communication, this paper examines what being physically and mentally 'well prepared' actually means to wildfire agency staff and volunteers in charge of disseminating risk information. Using the results of an open-ended survey conducted in southeast Australia, we examine how a set of preparedness messages is interpreted. The paper demonstrates that the concept of wildfire preparedness is ambiguous, and that being 'well prepared' is a complex mix of practical and mental preparedness measures. Many of the individual interpretations of preparedness messages are found to not align with the official outlined intent. In …

Recovery And Mental Health Care: Views Of Ed Nurses, Donna Marynowski-Traczyk, Lorna Moxham, Marc Broadbent

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

The demand for acute and emergency mental health care exceeds current supply of available services and it is well documented that registered nurses are increasingly caring for consumers with a mental illness as part of their daily work.

Stimulating An Interest In Mental Health Nursing, Lorna Moxham, Renee Brighton, Terry Froggatt, Susan Liersch, Patrea Andersen

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

A team of researchers at the University of Wollongong are currently examining the experiences of Bachelor of Nursing (BN) students as they engage in a stimulating learning experience in mental health.

Recovery In Mental Health: A Movement Towards Well-Being And Meaning In Contrast To An Avoidance Of Symptoms, Samantha Clarke, Lindsay G. Oades, Trevor Patrick Crowe

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Objective: This paper examines the types of goals being set by individuals in the context of Australian mental health services and whether goal type differs across the stages of recovery. Methods: Goal records of 144 individuals accessing services were reviewed to examine goal content, ratio of approach and avoidance oriented goals and changes across stages of psychological recovery. Results: Individuals further along in their recovery set significantly more approach goals and types of goals set appeared to reflect broader life roles. Conclusions and Implications for Practice: Setting approach goals and goals that reflect broader life roles tends to support the …

Predicting Clinically Signficant Change In An Inpatient Program For People With Severe Mental Illness, Talia Gonda, Frank P. Deane, Ganapathi A. Murugesan

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Objective: The first aim of this study was to assess the proportion of patients who achieved reliable and clinically significant change over the course of treatment in an inpatient psychosocial rehabilitation program. The second aim was to determine whether age, gender, length of stay, and diagnosis and co-morbid diagnosis predicted those who were classified as improved or not improved, using clinical significance criteria. Method: Three hundred and thirty-seven patients from inpatient units at Bloomfield Hospital, Orange, New South Wales, Australia were assessed at admission, 3-month reviews and discharge using the expanded Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, the Health of the Nation …

Do Therapeutic Homework Assignments Address Areas Of Need For Individuals With Severe Mental Illness?, Peter Kelly, Frank P. Deane

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

The current study explores the types of homework assignments used in a recovery orientated case management approach. It also examines the relationship between the types of homework used and the clients’ area of need as rated on the CANSAS. There were 129 client and mental health case manager dyads that participated in the study. Written copies of all homework assignments administered during the 12-month research period were collected (N = 1,054). The homework assignments were categorised according to the ‘type’ and the ‘need domain addressed by the task’. The majority of these tasks were behavioural in nature. On a group …

Improving Therapeutic Use Of Homework: Suggestions From Mental Health Clinicians, Peter Kelly, Frank P. Deane

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Background. The majority of mental health clinicians report the use of homework to support their case management, but practitioner surveys indicate that homework is not routinely used. Aims. To examine barriers that mental health case managers experience in implementing homework and to identify strategies to promote successful homework administration. Method. One hundred thirty-four surveys were completed by mental health case managers. The survey examined their use of homework for individuals diagnosed with a severe mental health problem. It also asked them to identify barriers to regularly implement homework and describe strategies to promote more regular use of homework. Results. On …

Hope, Meaning And Responsibility Across Stages Of Recovery For Individuals Living With An Enduring Mental Illness, Vedrana Copic, Frank P. Deane, Trevor P. Crowe, Lindsay G. Oades

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

This study reports on the relationship between stage of recovery and hope, meaning and responsibility for individuals diagnosed with severe mental illness. Methods: Seventy-seven people with a diagnosis of a psychotic disorder of at least 6 months’ duration participated in the study. Participants completed the Self-Identified Stage of Recovery (SISR) scale, measures of component processes of recovery (Hope Scale; Positive Interpretation of Disease, SpREUK; Active Involvement, Personal Health Management Questionnaire (PHMQ) and the Recovery Assessment Scale-short (RAS). Results: Hope, meaning, Personal Confidence and Hope and Not Being Dominated by Symptoms varied significantly across stages of recovery; however, neither in a …

A Strong Commitment To Mental Health Nursing, Renee Brighton, Angela Brown, Terence Froggatt, Susan Liersch

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

The School of Nursing, Midwifery and Indigenous Health (SNMIH) at the University of Wollongong, places great emphasis on providing nursing students with fundamental education and knowledge in mental health nursing. There are two dedicated undergraduate mental health subjects delivered within the Bachelor of Nursing (BN) program. Both subjects are placed in adjacent sessions to provide a consolidated speciality experience for all BN students. The two subjects incorporate core values and principles to guide the teaching of mental health nursing, learning outcomes that reflect the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council (ANMC) competencies and are based on recommendations from the Mental Health …

Implementation Of A Major In Mental Health Nursing In Australian Universities, Brenda Happell, Lorna Moxham, Karen-Ann Clarke

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

The difficulty recruiting and retaining an adequate mental health nursing workforce is acknowledged. The major in mental health nursing has been identified as a strategy to promote this specialist area of practice as desirable for students’ future careers. Measuring its success requires the collection of detailed data about the structure, content, and uptake of these programmes. A survey was specifically developed to elicit descriptive information about the structure and content of a major in mental health nursing programmes. Fourteen universities participated in this research. Eight had implemented a major, one intends to do so in 2011, and five had abandoned …

Australian Mental Health Consumers' Contributions To The Evaluation And Improvement Of Recoveryoriented Service Provision, Sarah L. Marshall, Lindsay G. Oades, Trevor P. Crowe

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

No abstract provided.

Hope And Improvements In Mental Health Service Providers' Recovery Attitudes Following Training, Janaka D. Salgado, Frank P. Deane, Trevor P. Crowe, Lindsay G. Oades

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

No abstract provided.

Exploring Identity Within The Recovery Process Of People With Serious Mental Illnesses, Kellie Buckley-Walker, Trevor P. Crowe, Peter Caputi

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Objective: To examine self-identity within the recovery processes of people with serious mental illnesses using a repertory grid methodology. Method: Cross-sectional study involving 40 mental health service consumers. Participants rated different "self" and "other" elements on the repertory grid against Constructs related to recovery, as well as other recovery focused measures. Results: Perceptions of one's "ideal self" represented more advanced recovery in contrast to perceptions of "a person mentally unwell." Current perceptions of self were most similar to perceptions of "usual self" and least similar to "a Person who is mentally unwell." Increased identification with one's "ideal self" reflected increased …

A Psychometric Analysis Of The Mental Health Consumer Participation Questionnaire, Brenda Happell, Lorna Moxham, Chris Platania-Phung

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

If consumer participation is to be translated from rhetoric into reality, the attitudes of health professionals need to be addressed. Educational strategies can play an important role, but measures of attitudes are needed to determine the effectiveness of these strategies. This paper seeks to establish the Mental Health Consumer Participation Questionnaire (MHCPQ) on psychometric grounds, and explore attitude levels. Overall, the 150 nursing students who participated saw consumer participation in a favourable light, although this varied with the nature and extent of involvement. Psychometric properties, attitude structure, and attitude differences are reported. The MHCPQ displays good face validity and can …

Increasing Research Familiarity Amongst Members Of A Clubhouse For People With Mental Illness, Sarah Louise Marshall, Frank Deane, Nicola Hancock

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

No abstract provided.

Therapeutic Homework To Support Recovery From Severe Mental Illness, Peter Kelly, Frank P. Deane

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Therapeutic homework refers to activities that clients complete between their visits with mental health workers. The aim of such homework is to facilitate progress toward h'eatment goals. There is an increasing body of research indicating that homework completion is associated with improved outcomes of psychotherapy across a wide range of clinical disorders (such as depression and anxiety). However, there is limited research into the role of homework in mental health case management for people with severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia.

Mental Health Consumers' Perceptions Of Receiving Recovery-Focused Services, Sarah Marshall, Lindsay G. Oades, Trevor P. Crowe

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Method: A self-report questionnaire was developed drawing on key aspects of the Collaborative Recovery Model (CRM) (responsibility, collaboration, autonomy, motivation, needs, goals, homework). Ninety-two adult consumers from metropolitan, regional and rural non-government organizations and public mental health services in eastern Australian states completed the questionnaire. Results: Consumers using services provided by CRM trained workers identified significant changes to service delivery in relation to frequency with which they were encouraged to take responsibility for their recovery, degree to which they collaborated with staff and the extent to which they were encouraged to complete homework activities to assist them to achieve their …