The Journal of Mental Health Training Education and Practice

Agyekum, Mary Pomaa; Odopey, Selase Adjoa; Asiamah, Sabina; Wallis, Lucy; Williams, John E.O.; Locke, Rachel

2023 The Journal of Mental Health Training Education and Practice

doi: 10.1108/jmhtep-03-2022-0014

The purpose of this study explores the perspective of key informants (educators, preceptors and former students) of the Kintampo Project, on the perceived effectiveness, gains and challenges in delivering this large-scale training innovation in Ghana. The problem of mental health care neglect in Ghana is gradually improving. The Kintampo Project which trained mental health workers in Ghana has played a critical role in increasing access to mental health care.Design/methodology/approachThis qualitative study explored participants' perspectives on the Kintampo Project in three broad areas: perceived effectiveness, gains and challenges. In all, 17 interviews were conducted with former students, preceptors and educators from the project. The interviews were digitally audio-recorded, transcribed, coded and analysed using deductive and thematic methods.FindingsThe participants perceived the project to have been successful in increasing the number of mental health workers in Ghana. The project provided a route for career progression for those involved. However, the Kintampo Project faced accreditation issues, low recognition, improper integration and remuneration of trained staff in the Ghana Health Service. This study points to the fact that the sustainability of mental health training in Ghana can be obstructed, because of this career path being less attractive. Further research is needed to explore how best to achieve sustainability of similar mental health innovations.Originality/valueThis paper shares the views of participants in the Kintampo Project.

Sweileh, Waleed

2023 The Journal of Mental Health Training Education and Practice

doi: 10.1108/jmhtep-04-2022-0019

The purpose of this study is to provide a bibliometric analysis of global research publications on virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) technologies in the understanding, diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders.Design/methodology/approachThe SciVerse Scopus database was used to retrieve relevant documents using a validated search strategy for the study period from 1980 to 2021.FindingsIn total, 1,233 research articles were found. Research in this field has experienced steep growth since 2017; was disseminated by journals in the fields of clinical psychology, neuroscience, psychiatry and computer sciences; was mainly carried out by scholars in high-income countries with advanced digital technology; has a relatively high number of authors per article but with a relatively poor cross-country research collaboration; was led by researchers and institutions mainly from the USA, Spain and Italy; and has received the highest number of citations for articles on anxiety and phobias.Research limitations/implicationsBibliometric methodology is a useful tool for identifying evolution growth patterns and research hot topics in the use of emerging technologies in clinical practice. Research on implementing AR/VR technologies in medicine will be enhanced by strengthening international research collaboration. More research attention should be paid to new emerging technologies in the mental health field.Practical implicationsThe use of VR/AR technologies became popular as an alternative to or adjunct to traditional therapy in mental health practice. The rapid increase in research publications in recent years suggested that AR and VR technologies were both acceptable and simple to use. A wide range of mental health disorders could be managed by AR/VR technologies. Training medical and nursing students on various new technologies is important to cope with the digital revolution.Originality/valueBased on the volume and growth patterns of research publications, there is a promising future for the use of VR/AR technologies in the field of mental health. Teaching and training health-care professionals on the proper use of VR/AR are needed to support their potential future use.

Levene, Tamara; Stock, Lisanne

2023 The Journal of Mental Health Training Education and Practice

doi: 10.1108/jmhtep-06-2021-0061

Doctors are more likely to suffer from mental illness in comparison to the wider population. This is particularly true for junior doctors, who are at increased risk in comparison to their senior colleagues. This study aims to identify whether junior doctors in North London are comfortable discussing mental health problems with their peers and supervisors and to compare how comfortable they are discussing mental and physical health problems.Design/methodology/approachAn anonymous online questionnaire was designed with demographic data, multiple-choice questions and free-text boxes. This was distributed via email to core psychiatry trainees and foundation doctors in North London. Drug- and alcohol-related disorders were excluded from our definition of mental illness in this survey, as these are reportable to the General Medical Council.FindingsA total of 51 junior doctors responded to the survey. The respondents were significantly more likely to discuss mental health problems with their peers in comparison to their supervisors. They were also less likely to discuss mental health problems in comparison to physical health problems with their peers, supervisors or general practitioner. Qualitative analysis of the free-text comments elucidated several themes including the stigmatisation of mental health.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, there has been no prior research in the UK comparing the attitudes of junior doctors towards physical and mental ill-health. The questionnaire highlights the continued stigma towards mental health within the medical profession. The difference in attitudes towards physical and mental ill-health has important implications for the training and well-being of junior doctors.

Ranjbar Noei, Fatemeh; Atashi, Vajihe; Ashouri, Elaheh

2023 The Journal of Mental Health Training Education and Practice

doi: 10.1108/jmhtep-08-2022-0068

High levels of depression and anxiety in the family caregivers of a patient with cancer affect their quality of life. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a mindful self-compassion (MSC) training program on self-compassion in the family caregivers of patients with cancer.Design/methodology/approachIn 2020, this quasi-experimental study used convenience sampling to select 92 family caregivers of patients with cancer presenting to the oncology ward of Seyed-Al-Shohada Hospital, Isfahan, Iran. The subjects randomly assigned to two groups participated in an online MSC program for 1.5 months. All the participants completed a self-compassion scale (Neff) before, immediately after and one month after the intervention. The data were analyzed using the Mann–Whitney U test, the Chi-squared test, the LSD test, the t-test and repeated measures ANOVA.FindingsThe total mean score of self-compassion, respectively, obtained as 64.64 ± 8.23 and 64.44 ± 4.94 in the experimental and control groups before the intervention significantly increased to 81.15 ± 7.94 and 64.06 ± 5.22 immediately after and 78.94 ± 8.22 and 64.22 ± 4.85 one month after the intervention (P < 0.001).Practical implicationsGiven the potential for negative psychological impacts for patients, caregivers and clinicians in cancer care, the online MSC program can be recommended to support and reduce psychological distress in them.Originality/valueThis paper examined the effect of the online MSC program on self-compassion in the family caregivers of patients with cancer and can contribute to our understanding of the value of integrating mental health of caregivers and care of patients with cancer.

Richardson, Hannah; Ernst, Julian; Drill, Rebecca; Gill, Annabel; Hunnicutt, Patrick; Silver, Zoe; Coger, Mikaela; Beinashowitz, Jack

2023 The Journal of Mental Health Training Education and Practice

doi: 10.1108/jmhtep-06-2022-0041

This study aims to examine what patients say is helpful in psychodynamic psychotherapy by analyzing responses to an open-ended question at two time points: three months into treatment and termination.Design/methodology/approachParticipants in this naturalistic study were a diverse group of patients seeking treatment at a psychodynamic psychotherapy training clinic (within a public hospital system). The authors used thematic analysis to categorize patient responses to an open-ended question about what is helpful in their treatment.FindingsThe authors found that a majority of patients found their psychotherapy helpful, and patient responses broke down into 16 categories. Themes that emerged from categories were what patients experience or feel, what therapists/therapy provides and what patients do in therapy. The most frequently endorsed category at both three months and termination was embedded within other categories, “mention of an other,” which captured when patients specifically mentioned another person (i.e. the therapist) in their response. The next most frequently endorsed categories were “talking/someone to talk with,” “feeling better/experiencing well-being/improved functioning” and “having regularity/structure” (at three months) and “having attention directed at experience,” “having regularity/structure” and “experiencing the professional role of the therapist” (at termination).Originality/valueFindings shed light on factors contributing to helpful psychotherapy from patients’ perspectives in their own words. While previous research has shown that the therapy relationship is an important factor in effective therapy, the findings of this study highlight this ingredient in a personal, spontaneous way.

Witte, Tricia H.; Mumba, Mercy Ngosa; Jaiswal, Jessica; Evans, Teairra; Mugoya, George C.T.

2023 The Journal of Mental Health Training Education and Practice

doi: 10.1108/jmhtep-07-2022-0053

Peer Support Specialists (PSS) play an integral role in substance use disorder treatment and aftercare services. PSS training programs vary in format and need to be evaluated for continued improvement. The purpose of this study was to gather feedback about course delivery and instruction from PSS trainees in a PSS training program in Alabama.Design/methodology/approachFocus groups were conducted with 15 PSS trainees after they completed two training courses delivered in an online university format. There were four men and 11 women. Four were black, 10 were white and one was Hispanic/Latinx. Participants ranged in age from 20 to 70.FindingsThrough content analysis of focus group content, four themes emerged: (1) issues with online navigation, (2) desire for an orientation to university-level education, (3) instructor qualities (e.g. approachability and availability) and (4) course structure considerations (e.g. balance between online and in-person learning, more frequent class meetings).Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to evaluate a new PSS training program in Alabama. Findings help inform future PSS training programs and assist in the development of best practices in PSS training.