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Community Mental Health
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Community Mental Health

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Mental Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2023) | Viewed by 9817

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Zoe Rutherford

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, The Park Centre for Mental Health Treatment, Research and Education, Locked Bag 500, Archerfield, QLD 4074, Australia
2. School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
Interests: evaluation; implementation; practice-based-evidence; public health; community mental health

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Community mental health has historically been associated with the deinstitutionalization of mental health treatment and recovery of people with severe and persistent mental illness, which has taken place to a lesser or greater extent internationally over the last ~60 years. This process has been based on the notion of community integration (i.e., the extent to which individuals live, participate, and socialize in their community), which continues to be a challenge for mental health systems, particularly as services face inadequate resourcing, operate within outdated legal and regulatory frameworks, and the experience overreliance on the biomedical model (WHO, 2021). To that end, care typically neglects the full range of social determinants that impact people’s mental health and is not successful in achieving community integration, resulting in inadequate care and hindering the recovery process. 

Across the continuum of care, community is also a valuable space for the prevention and treatment of mild to moderate mental illness, which has become more evident during the recent global pandemic. There is therefore a need for innovation and research into how we can provide better community mental health services across the ecosystem in order to support mental health services to provide quality care and support. Given the diversity of communities, it is vital that people who have lived experience of mental health in a given community have a voice within it.

This Special Issue of the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH) focuses on the current and emergent state of knowledge of the community mental health ecosystem. New research papers, reviews, case reports, and conference papers are welcome in this issue. Papers dealing with the translation of evidence into practice and the role of lived experience in the design, delivery, and/or improvement of community mental health programs or interventions are particularly welcome. Other accepted manuscript types include epidemiological and modeling papers, methodological papers, position papers, brief reports, and commentaries.

Dr. Zoe Rutherford
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • mental health ecosystem
  • mental health recovery
  • integrated care
  • rural mental health
  • mental health workforce
  • non-government organizations
  • health inequalities
  • children and youth
  • older adults
  • disability
  • outcome measures
  • digital health
  • lived-experience

Published Papers (5 papers)

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13 pages, 283 KiB  
Article
Navigating Mental Health: Community Members’ Insights into Social Support and Inclusion in Matsafeni Village in Mbombela, Mpumalanga Province—A Qualitative Study
by Nkhensani Eseldah Mboweni, Mabitsela Hezekiel Mphasha and Linda Skaal
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(1), 32; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph21010032 - 25 Dec 2023
Viewed by 1395
Abstract
Mental health illnesses are increasingly prevalent worldwide, and South Africa is no exception. The research investigates the vital significance of social support in enhancing the welfare of individuals dealing with mental disorders. An essential aspect involves comprehending the interplay of emotional and practical [...] Read more.
Mental health illnesses are increasingly prevalent worldwide, and South Africa is no exception. The research investigates the vital significance of social support in enhancing the welfare of individuals dealing with mental disorders. An essential aspect involves comprehending the interplay of emotional and practical supports provided by both families and the larger community. This study aims to explore community perceptions regarding social support and the involvement of individuals diagnosed with mental illnesses in Matsafeni Village. The research employed the qualitative method and descriptive exploratory research design, enabling the researchers to explore social support and the involvement of individuals with mental health disorders. Data were collected through unstructured, open-ended interviews, and participants were selected using a convenience sampling method. A total of only 15 participants were enrolled in this study, with variations in their educational backgrounds. Notably, only two participants had firsthand experiences with family members facing mental disorders. The study underscored the critical roles of family and community supports for individuals diagnosed with mental health disorders. The participants emphasized the necessity of mentally ill individuals receiving support from their loved ones and the broader community. Furthermore, they highlighted the importance for including individuals with mental health disorders in community activities as a means of better managing their conditions. The findings of this study can serve as a foundation for developing interventions to assist and support individuals affected by mental health disorders. Policymakers can also utilize the information to formulate strategies and best practices for promoting mental health awareness within the community. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Community Mental Health)
16 pages, 1364 KiB  
Article
A Community-Engaged Approach to Understanding Suicide in a Small Rural County in Georgia: A Two-Phase Content Analysis of Individual and Focus Group Interviews
by Kimberly Beth Roth, Eleni Gaveras, Fatima Ghiathi, Eric Kendall Shaw, Melanie Shanlin Shoemaker, Nicholas Adam Howard, Meena Dhir, Genesis Rebeca Caiza and Hannah Selene Szlyk
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(24), 7145; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph20247145 - 05 Dec 2023
Viewed by 1666
Abstract
Suicide is a significant public health problem, with disproportionate rates in rural areas. Rural communities face substantial structural and cultural barriers to suicide prevention. This study aimed to gain a deeper understanding of the need for suicide prevention and gauge the appropriateness of [...] Read more.
Suicide is a significant public health problem, with disproportionate rates in rural areas. Rural communities face substantial structural and cultural barriers to suicide prevention. This study aimed to gain a deeper understanding of the need for suicide prevention and gauge the appropriateness of prevention efforts in the context of a rural Georgia county by leveraging existing community resources and knowledge. Twenty one-on-one, semi-structured interviews and two focus groups were conducted, with participants recruited via purposive snowball sampling. Data analysis included qualitative deductive and inductive content analysis from individual interviews and focus groups with community stakeholders. The findings highlight how rural contexts exacerbate drivers of death by suicide and how the substantial loss of community members to suicide contributes to the ongoing crisis and reduces available support. Access to mental health care often depended on a connection to an established public system such as schools, a military base, or Veterans Administration. There were perceived gaps in crisis and post-crisis services, with participants actively trying to address these gaps and build community support through coalition building. This study contributes knowledge to contextual drivers of suicide in rural areas beyond individual-level risk factors. Community-engaged suicide prevention research in rural areas is promising, but there is a need to develop interventions to best support coalition building and capacity development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Community Mental Health)
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9 pages, 289 KiB  
Article
Family Perspectives Related to Caring for Mental Health Care Users: A Case Study in the Long-Term Mental Health Institutions of Limpopo Province, South Africa
by Nkhensani F. Mabunda, Mutshinyalo L. Mangena-Netshikweta, Rachel T. Lebese and Foluke C. Olaniyi
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(17), 10511; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph191710511 - 24 Aug 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1608
Abstract
Family involvement in long-term mental health care is a significant therapeutic aspect in managing mentally ill patients. This study aimed to determine the perspectives of family members about caring for mental health care users at selected long-term mental health institutions in Limpopo Province. [...] Read more.
Family involvement in long-term mental health care is a significant therapeutic aspect in managing mentally ill patients. This study aimed to determine the perspectives of family members about caring for mental health care users at selected long-term mental health institutions in Limpopo Province. A qualitative explorative and contextual descriptive design was used. Purposive sampling was used to select family members with mental health care users admitted in long-term health institutions in Limpopo Province. Data were collected with in-depth individual interviews aided by an audio recorder and field notes. Data were qualitatively analysed. Trustworthiness and ethical considerations were ensured. Two themes yielded from the interviews: Perspectives of family members about their involvement in the care of mental health care users and difficulties in caring for mental health care users at home when granted leave of absence or discharged. Sub-themes: Caring for mental health care users leads to an understanding of mental illness; Lack of skill and inability to monitor mental health care users at home; Mental health care users abuse substances during leave of absence which makes family reluctant to request them for visit; Caring for mental health care users at home viewed as a difficult task and stigma from the community. The challenges experienced by family members contribute to poor interaction with mentally ill patients. We recommend that family members of mental health care users be educated about mental illnesses and encouraged to participate in the care of the patients. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Community Mental Health)
10 pages, 1279 KiB  
Article
Impact of High-Intensity Interval Training on Body Composition and Depressive Symptoms in Adults under Home Confinement
by Diego Alonso-Fernández, Rosana Fernández-Rodríguez, Yaiza Taboada-Iglesias and Águeda Gutiérrez-Sánchez
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(10), 6145; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph19106145 - 18 May 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2153
Abstract
The home confinement derived from the COVID-19 pandemic has led to drastic changes in people’s habits. This situation has influenced their eating, rest, physical activity and socialization patterns, triggering changes in their mental stability. It was demonstrated that physical activity is beneficial for [...] Read more.
The home confinement derived from the COVID-19 pandemic has led to drastic changes in people’s habits. This situation has influenced their eating, rest, physical activity and socialization patterns, triggering changes in their mental stability. It was demonstrated that physical activity is beneficial for people’s physical and mental health. By its moderate volume and requiring little space or material, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) could prove to be a valid alternative in a situation of confinement. The aim of the present study was to observe the impact of an 8-week HIIT protocol on the body composition and the depressive symptoms of adults in strict home confinement. A total of 21 healthy adults, both male and female, (35.4 ± 5.6 years old; 70.50 ± 12.1 kg; 171 ± 10 cm) were divided into an experimental group (EG, n = 11) who carried out an 8-week Tabata protocol, based upon calisthenic exercises with their own weight in their homes, and a control group (CG, n = 10) who did not carry out any systematic physical activity over the same period. Following the intervention, the EG experienced a significant reduction in percentage (t = 3.86, d = 0.57, p < 0.05) and in kg (t = 4.62, d = 0.29, p < 0.05) of body fat mass (BFM) and body fat mass index (BFMI) (t = 4.61, d = 0.31, p < 0.05), as well as a reduction in depressive symptoms (t = 6.48, d = 1.3, p < 0.05). These results indicate that HIIT is a potential public health tool that could possibly be prescribed to the population in case of future situations of home confinement. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Community Mental Health)
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15 pages, 828 KiB  
Protocol
Schizophrenia Assessment, Referral and Awareness Training for Health Auxiliaries (SARATHA): Protocol for a Mixed-Methods Pilot Study in Rural India
by John A. Naslund, Vidhi Tyagi, Azaz Khan, Saher Siddiqui, Minal Kakra Abhilashi, Pooja Dhurve, Urvakhsh Meherwan Mehta, Abhijit Rozatkar, Urvita Bhatia, Anil Vartak, John Torous, Deepak Tugnawat and Anant Bhan
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(22), 14936; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph192214936 - 13 Nov 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2067
Abstract
Background: Workforce shortages pose major obstacles to the timely detection and treatment of schizophrenia, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries. The SARATHA (Schizophrenia Assessment, Referral, and Awareness Training for Health Auxiliaries) project involves the systematic development, iterative refinement, and pilot testing of a [...] Read more.
Background: Workforce shortages pose major obstacles to the timely detection and treatment of schizophrenia, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries. The SARATHA (Schizophrenia Assessment, Referral, and Awareness Training for Health Auxiliaries) project involves the systematic development, iterative refinement, and pilot testing of a digital program for training community health workers in the early detection and referral of schizophrenia in primary care settings in rural India. Methods: SARATHA is a three-phase study. Phase 1 involves consulting with experts and clinicians, and drawing from existing evidence to inform the development of a curriculum for training community health workers. Phase 2 consists of designing and digitizing the training content for delivery on a smartphone app. Design workshops and focus group discussions will be conducted to seek input from community health workers and service users living with schizophrenia to guide revisions and refinements to the program content. Lastly, Phase 3 entails piloting the training program with a target sample of 20 community health workers to assess feasibility and acceptability. Preliminary effectiveness will be explored, as measured by community health workers’ changes in knowledge about schizophrenia and the program content after completing the training. Discussion: If successful, this digital training program will offer a potentially scalable approach for building capacity of frontline community health workers towards reducing delays in early detection of schizophrenia in primary care settings in rural India. This study can inform efforts to improve treatment outcomes for persons living with schizophrenia in low-resource settings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Community Mental Health)
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