Frontline experiences of delivering remote mental health supports during the COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland: innovations, insights and lessons learned from mental health workers

Griffith, Bethany; Archbold, Heather; Berruga, Isabel Sáez; Smith, Samantha G.; Deakin, Karen; Cogan, Nicola; Tanner, Gary; Flowers, Paul

doi:10.1080/13548506.2022.2148698

Cited by 3 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…A study in the Netherlands (12) focusing on experiences of psychotherapists, both positive and negative, found that insufficient technological infrastructure both on the side of the therapist psychotherapists and an insufficient support of psychotherapists (18). A Scottish study (19) also found that MH workers are less able to receive support from colleagues. In addition to an increased stress and a lack of support, a lack of common therapeutic skills in teletherapy compared to in-person therapy is reported by psychotherapists (20).…”

Section: Mental Health Services: Insufficient Technological Infrastru...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Tele-psychotherapy during the COVID-19 pandemic: a mini-review

2023

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The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically changed psychotherapy practices. Psychotherapy around the world has shifted from predominantly face-to-face settings to overwhelmingly online settings since the beginning of the pandemic. Many studies have been published on this topic, but there has been no review of the literature focused on the experience of psychotherapists. Our goal was to identify the challenging issues of teletherapy, including the efficiency of online consultations and the extent to which they are accepted by therapists and patients. A PubMed literature search using the [(“Teletherapy” OR “Telebehavioral health” OR “telepsychotherapy”) AND (“COVID-19”)] search string retrieved 46 studies focused on mental health professionals, as detailed in a PRISMA flow diagram. Two reviewers independently screened the abstracts and excluded those that were outside the scope of the review. The selection of articles kept for review was discussed by all three authors. Overall, the review contributes to the description and evaluation of tele mental health services, including teletherapy, online counseling, digital mental health tools, and remote monitoring.

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Section: Mental Health Services: Insufficient Technological Infrastru...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Tele-psychotherapy during the COVID-19 pandemic: a mini-review

2023

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“…Art therapy discipline has increasingly welcomed opportunities offered by digital technology for both online therapy and digital art making (26). Most recently, similarly to other mental health practitioners in Scotland (27,28) and beyond (29)(30)(31), art therapists embraced digital technologies enabling them to connect remotely with clients during the Covid-19 pandemic and ensuring continuity of treatment (32). A survey of UK-based art therapists gathered practitioners' early experiences of their transition to online practice, with as many as 90% art therapists reporting that they intended to honour their clients' preferences for mode of delivery and would expect to be working online at least to some extent in the future (33).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Online art therapy pilot in the Western Isles of Scotland: a feasibility and acceptability study of a novel service in a rural community

Zubala

Kennell²,

MacInnes

et al. 2023

Front. Psychiatry

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IntroductionArt therapy, despite being an evidence-based, safe and acceptable intervention, is not widely available to clients in Scotland. Online delivery has the potential to expand the reach and accessibility, but special considerations need to be given to designing successful online art therapy services, due to the unique emphasis on the role of an image and artmaking alongside the therapeutic relationship.MethodsA pilot online art therapy service was developed and delivered in the Western Isles of Scotland to individual adult clients wishing to increase their psychological wellbeing. This research aimed to assess feasibility and acceptability of the novel service, identify enablers and challenges in setting up and delivering the service, explore participants’ expectations and experiences of art therapy and identify any impacts of the service. Mixed-method evaluation incorporated questionnaires, focus groups, interviews and Audio Image Recordings (AIRs). Findings were grouped into themes across several key areas: service setup, research procedures, intervention design and impacts and insights. Recommendations were developed for the first three areas and the last section presents indications of change and gives voice to client experience primarily.ResultsOnline art therapy was described by clients as a judgement-free zone which allowed freedom to experiment, express, feel and immerse themselves in the creative flow. Other benefits included readiness to accept emotions, increased understanding of self and others and being able to see things from a new perspective. Clients recognised the unique nature of art therapy in relation to other psychological treatments and valued the freedom of expression it offered, including the non-verbal.DiscussionThis project demonstrated that online art therapy is not only a feasible an acceptable intervention, but potentially also a powerfully impactful one, capable of instilling a positive change in a surprisingly short period of time. Exploring ways to expand current and introduce new art therapy services is highly recommended. Refinement of an intervention design, tools and research procedures is recommended through further feasibility studies of a larger scale.

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“…Numerous studies have considered how adaptations made to existing needs during the pandemic (in reference to social distancing, socioeconomic effects etc.) may present pathways for concrete shifts in how care and care systems are structured (Griffith et al, 2022;Moeti et al, 2022;Rodriguez-Moreno et al, 2020). For instance, tele-psychiatry was found to improve service flexibility and reduce barriers for those with social anxiety or impaired mobility (Griffith et al, 2022) This initial variation is further complicated by the findings of chapter 8, where service needs were shown to be defined not only by these contextual factors but also by the phase or nature of treatment.…”

Section: Levels Of Complexity: Contextualising Needsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…may present pathways for concrete shifts in how care and care systems are structured (Griffith et al, 2022;Moeti et al, 2022;Rodriguez-Moreno et al, 2020). For instance, tele-psychiatry was found to improve service flexibility and reduce barriers for those with social anxiety or impaired mobility (Griffith et al, 2022) This initial variation is further complicated by the findings of chapter 8, where service needs were shown to be defined not only by these contextual factors but also by the phase or nature of treatment. Where initial needs in relation to severe symptoms can provide the drive to seek treatment, the desire for normalcy in relation to stigma, symptom alleviation and patient identity changes the nature of treatment needs over time.…”

Section: Levels Of Complexity: Contextualising Needsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Co-creating Mental Health services that prevent a descent into Homelessness

Rajan

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Homelessness is a global issue exacerbated by poverty, forced migration, rapid urbanization, and lack of affordable housing. In India, around 1.8 million people were homeless in the 2011 Census, with many forced to sleep on the streets or in unofficial settlements. The link between homelessness, poverty, and mental illness is complex and uncertain. The increased risk of mental illness from poverty creates a greater risk of homelessness, with approximately 25% of homeless people experiencing serious mental health issues in India. The Poverty, Mental Illness & Homelessness (PMIH) nexus is particularly relevant in India due to its large homeless population, high resource inequalities, and high prevalence of mental illness. This thesis aims to understand the factors influencing homelessness in the population attending the clinic and find ways to leverage them in improving services. It focusses on the experiential knowledge of diverse stakeholders, including primarily women with severe mental illness, and identify pathways otherwise left unseen. By addressing the research gap and focusing on the experiences of women with severe mental illness, the Banyan better solutions may be found to address the complexities of poverty, mental illness, and homelessness in India. The interactive research approach and mixed methods are used to address the persistent problem of PMIH in outpatient clinics. The study focuses on understanding factors of homelessness among people with mental illness and the service needs and usage of those accessing outpatient facilities. It finds that 32.65% of women with mental illness accessing outpatient clinics reported experiencing homelessness, with low educational attainment and relational disruptions being associated with higher odds. Eliminating gender-based differences in education could be a crucial policy and practice direction to reduce homelessness risks among women with mental illness. The study examines the lived experiences of women with mental health issues in Tamil Nadu who have been treated by The Banyan. Six themes related to protective factors against homelessness were identified: resilience emerging from trauma, treatment adherence, responsibility and purpose, family and relationships, spirituality, and employment and living space. 95% felt they were not at risk of becoming homeless, indicating hopefulness about future prospects. However, the majority struggled in terms of quality of life, highlighting the complex relationship between resilience and challenges. In part 2, the study discusses the service needs of clients during the Covid-19 pandemic situation, emphasizing the need for expanding mental health interventions to include individuals with psychosocial disabilities. Social work practitioners play a crucial role in crisis intervention, providing clinical services and coordinating interdepartmental liasoning work. Key recommendations include involving trained community-level workers, involving non-government organizations, creating a single window system for all social protection measures, including mental illness as an eligibility category in disability social protection schemes, and continuing useful mechanisms implemented during the pandemic in the post-pandemic world. In conclusion, this thesis emphasizes the integration of information and reflexive practice in preventing homelessness among vulnerable individuals, emphasizing the importance of social entitlement policies, greater flexibility in support and institutionalization of practices, and exploring the experiences of men and their narratives.

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Frontline experiences of delivering remote mental health supports during the COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland: innovations, insights and lessons learned from mental health workers

Cited by 3 publications

References 58 publications

Tele-psychotherapy during the COVID-19 pandemic: a mini-review

Tele-psychotherapy during the COVID-19 pandemic: a mini-review

Online art therapy pilot in the Western Isles of Scotland: a feasibility and acceptability study of a novel service in a rural community

Co-creating Mental Health services that prevent a descent into Homelessness

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