Preventing mental ill-health : informing public health planning and mental health practice / Jennifer Newton.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Newton, Jennifer, 1953-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Mental illness--Prevention.

Mental illness.

Physical Description:

ix, 269 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Abingdon, Oxon ; New York, NY : Routledge, 2012.

Summary:

Is there any evidence that we can reduce the incidence of mental-ill health? Is it possible to prevent recurrence of mental ill-health?

Aspirations to achieve both these goals have featured in mental health policy and practice for over 100 years. This comprehensive and accessible book draws on research on the development and persistence of behavioural problems in childhood, adult depression and schizophrenia. The association between social disadvantage and mental ill-health, as well as the need for preventive care to start from conception and the crucial importance of maternal mental health, is discussed.

A variety of prominent programmes which have good evidence of efficacy are described. These include:

targeted approaches with individuals and families;

macro policies affecting housing and employment;

lifestyle contributions such as diet and exercise.

However, some attempts to achieve preventive benefits have not succeeded, and reflecting on these problems is an important feature of this review.

Jennifer Newton has written extensively on these issues for over 20 years, and her careful examination of the research literature provides a succinct overview of the state of current knowledge which will benefit mental health professionals, and students of health psychology and public health. It also takes a life course perspective and considers how, when and why vulnerability persists through childhood into adult life, so it will interest those whose work focuses on child well-being. Book jacket.

Contents:

1 Introduction 1

Why so much interest in prevention now? 1

What have we Med in the past, and what did we learn? 4

Conclusion, and focus of this book 11

2 Labels, and why they matter 13

Problems - reliability, validity, medicalization 14

Problems - stigma and discrimination 17

Categories and cut-points - essential for research 19

Some service user perspectives 21

How might stigma and discrimination be reduced? 22

Summary and implications for prevention 24

3 Prevalence and distribution of mental ill-health 25

Measuring disorder 26

What do the surveys tell us about prevalence? 27

Clues to aetiology: Comparing those with and without symptoms 29

What proportion seek treatment? 31

Following up the clues: More complex studies needed 34

Conclusion 37

4 Preventing ill-health or promoting wellbeing? 39

Risk reduction and resilience promotion 41

Universal prevention: A whole-population strategy 47

Promoting positive mental health 51

Cost-effectiveness 54

5 Depression 57

Variations in rates: Between-population comparisons 58

Stressful events and long-term social difficulties cause onset 60

Vulnerability and resilience 63

Why do some people remain depressed, while others recover quickly? 73

A multifactorial model of depression 75

Implications for prevention 76

6 Psychosis 80

Within- and between-population differences in incidence and prevalence 82

Exploration of potential causal factors 84

Is it possible to recognize a predisposition? 91

Is early intervention effective? 92

Psycho-social evidence: Course 95

Summary and conclusion 100

7 Events, coping and support 102

The process of coping 102

Resources that assist coping 107

Support from close others: Does it help us cope with adversity? 112

Can intervention address poor support and reduce vulnerability? 115

Conclusion 121

8 Mind and body 123

Mental and physical ill-health often coexist 125

A bio-behavioural model: Stress, social support and immunity 126

Mind affecting body 131

Body affecting mind 134

Conclusions 140

9 Childhood: Secure foundations 142

Between-population comparisons in childhood experience: Some statistics 143

Differing rates of mental ill-health: Some possible explanations 145

Threats to security 150

Childhood adversity and the young person's resources when becoming a parent 159

What factors contribute to resilience? 162

Breaking the chain later: Turning points 164

Conclusions 165

10 Strengthening support for children: Effective interventions 167

Does it work? 168

The challenge of delivering preventive support 182

Conclusion 186

11 Society, status and participation 188

High socio-economic status is associated with good mental health 189

Employment, unemployment and mental health: Some implications 195

Help those recovering from mental ill-health to gain work 196

Status: Housing and neighbourhood disadvantage 200

Conclusions 207

12 Ready to change 208

What matters? 209

A strong constitution/resilience: Developed through life 210

Effective intervention to build resilience: Does it work? 212

Implications for policy and practice: Targeted or universal strategies? 219

Some solutions: Start earlier? 221

Society and government: Ready to change? 224

Conclusion 225.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 226-257) and index.

ISBN:

9780415455404

0415455405

9780415455411

0415455413

OCLC:

548660428