{"title":"Selected Meeting Abstracts From 2024 International Workshop on Psychology and Mental Health","authors":"","doi":"10.1111/inm.13461","DOIUrl":"10.1111/inm.13461","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":14007,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Mental Health Nursing","volume":"33 S3","pages":"3-98"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2024-11-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/inm.13461","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142634999","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Abstract","authors":"","doi":"10.1111/inm.13447","DOIUrl":"10.1111/inm.13447","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":14007,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Mental Health Nursing","volume":"33 S2","pages":"3-46"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2024-11-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/inm.13447","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142592042","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
<p>Mental health nurses and clinicians frequently work with people experiencing suicidal distress and there are established ways of assessing and working with this suicide risk; however, the assessment of suicidal mental imagery is one area of risk assessment that is significantly underutilised.</p><p>Suicidal ideation is a critical area of concern for mental health professionals, encompassing a range of thoughts and mental planning related to self-harm. Traditionally, the focus has been on verbal expressions and cognitive patterns associated with suicide risk. However, an often overlooked but equally significant aspect of this assessment is suicidal mental imagery. Suicidal mental imagery consists of vivid, self-generated visualisations that can be as diverse as the individuals experiencing them. These images might include scenes of jumping off a building, drowning or lying in a coffin, often accompanied by a sensory richness that includes colour, sound and emotional undertones. The experience of suicidal mental imagery may increase a person's risk of suicide as it promotes suicidal behaviour more than verbal thought. Despite its potential impact on an individual's mental state, the assessment of suicidal mental imagery remains underutilised in clinical practice. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can be used to target suicidal mental imagery directly by identifying relevant suicidal images, grading their emotional and behavioural intensity and intervening by changing the image to offset suicidal behaviour and ultimately, to its end, develop stabilising lifeward goals, thoughts and action. This editorial aims to highlight the importance of incorporating the evaluation of suicidal mental imagery into standard suicide risk assessments and therapeutic interventions.</p><p>The concept of suicidal mental imagery was first highlighted by Holmes et al. (<span>2007</span>), who emphasised that these mental pictures are not mere thoughts but sensory experiences that can significantly influence an individual's emotional state. These images are idiosyncratic, varying widely among individuals in terms of content, detail and associated emotions. For instance, while some individuals may find these images distressing, others may perceive them as comforting, providing an imagined escape from their painful life experiences (Holmes and Butler <span>2009</span>).</p><p>Current assessment methods predominantly focus on cognitive aspects of suicidal ideation, often neglecting the sensory and emotional dimensions captured by suicidal mental imagery. This oversight can result in incomplete risk assessments and missed opportunities for targeted interventions. Mental imagery generates stronger emotional responses compared to verbalised thinking and is integral to the maintenance of most psychological disorders (Paulik et al. <span>2023</span>), often associated with being suicidal. Mental health nurses and clinicians need to be equipped with the tools and knowledge to
{"title":"Why Are We Not Asking About Suicidal Mental Imagery?","authors":"Marie Carey, Brian Keogh, Louise Doyle","doi":"10.1111/inm.13470","DOIUrl":"10.1111/inm.13470","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Mental health nurses and clinicians frequently work with people experiencing suicidal distress and there are established ways of assessing and working with this suicide risk; however, the assessment of suicidal mental imagery is one area of risk assessment that is significantly underutilised.</p><p>Suicidal ideation is a critical area of concern for mental health professionals, encompassing a range of thoughts and mental planning related to self-harm. Traditionally, the focus has been on verbal expressions and cognitive patterns associated with suicide risk. However, an often overlooked but equally significant aspect of this assessment is suicidal mental imagery. Suicidal mental imagery consists of vivid, self-generated visualisations that can be as diverse as the individuals experiencing them. These images might include scenes of jumping off a building, drowning or lying in a coffin, often accompanied by a sensory richness that includes colour, sound and emotional undertones. The experience of suicidal mental imagery may increase a person's risk of suicide as it promotes suicidal behaviour more than verbal thought. Despite its potential impact on an individual's mental state, the assessment of suicidal mental imagery remains underutilised in clinical practice. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can be used to target suicidal mental imagery directly by identifying relevant suicidal images, grading their emotional and behavioural intensity and intervening by changing the image to offset suicidal behaviour and ultimately, to its end, develop stabilising lifeward goals, thoughts and action. This editorial aims to highlight the importance of incorporating the evaluation of suicidal mental imagery into standard suicide risk assessments and therapeutic interventions.</p><p>The concept of suicidal mental imagery was first highlighted by Holmes et al. (<span>2007</span>), who emphasised that these mental pictures are not mere thoughts but sensory experiences that can significantly influence an individual's emotional state. These images are idiosyncratic, varying widely among individuals in terms of content, detail and associated emotions. For instance, while some individuals may find these images distressing, others may perceive them as comforting, providing an imagined escape from their painful life experiences (Holmes and Butler <span>2009</span>).</p><p>Current assessment methods predominantly focus on cognitive aspects of suicidal ideation, often neglecting the sensory and emotional dimensions captured by suicidal mental imagery. This oversight can result in incomplete risk assessments and missed opportunities for targeted interventions. Mental imagery generates stronger emotional responses compared to verbalised thinking and is integral to the maintenance of most psychological disorders (Paulik et al. <span>2023</span>), often associated with being suicidal. Mental health nurses and clinicians need to be equipped with the tools and knowledge to ","PeriodicalId":14007,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Mental Health Nursing","volume":"33 6","pages":"1609-1614"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2024-10-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/inm.13470","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142559859","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
<p>Homelessness is an issue across the world with countries of all economies having numbers of homeless people. Globally, in 2020 it was estimated that more than 1.6 billion people were homeless (McWilliams et al. <span>2022</span>). Australian census data indicate an increase in homelessness in Australia, especially among women, with recent estimates reporting 44.1% of homeless people in Australia were women (Australian Bureau of Statistics <span>2018</span>). According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (<span>2018</span>), Indigenous Australians comprise 20% of people who are homeless in Australia. International literature suggests that homeless populations are ageing, with more and more older people unable to find and afford suitable housing (Hargrave et al. <span>2022</span>).</p><p>The path to homelessness is often complex but is associated with several factors including economic hardship and a lack of affordable housing. People with chronic and complex mental health issues, substance use issues (AIHW <span>2024</span>), and those fleeing from domestic and family violence are at higher risk of being unhoused (AIHW <span>2023</span>). Because of the meaning of home and its importance to health and social wellbeing, the issue of homelessness is of central importance to mental health nurses. In this call to action, we consider the issue of homelessness, and the role of mental health nurses in ensuring access to health and social services for unhoused people, and as advocates for safe and affordable housing for all and especially for those with complex mental health issues.</p><p>The word ‘home’ holds profound existential meaning. Ideally, home represents a place of shelter, safety and comfort, as well as a site for storage of essential items such as food, clothing, medications and treasured personal items. In addition to the physical dimensions, home implies a sanctuary, where a person can be their true self, let their guard down and relax. Home should also be a place of belonging, providing a means of connection with family and friends; and continuity, with links to the past and hopes for the future. Home can represent security and a focus of identity; and is often a strong thread in the narratives people weave of their lives.</p><p>However, for many people, ‘home’ is not a safe space, with domestic and family violence being a leading cause of homelessness in Australia and internationally. Furthermore, Australia is currently in the grip of a severe housing crisis with both home rental and home ownership becoming increasingly difficult and unaffordable for many people. There are no indications that this crisis is short term, and as it continues, it is likely to result in even more people experiencing homelessness. Furthermore, with the current rental crisis and ensuing competition for rental properties, people with mental health issues will find it even more difficult to compete for the few properties that are available.</p><p>Homelessness
{"title":"Homelessness: A Health and Social Crisis","authors":"Debra Jackson, Kim Usher","doi":"10.1111/inm.13437","DOIUrl":"10.1111/inm.13437","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Homelessness is an issue across the world with countries of all economies having numbers of homeless people. Globally, in 2020 it was estimated that more than 1.6 billion people were homeless (McWilliams et al. <span>2022</span>). Australian census data indicate an increase in homelessness in Australia, especially among women, with recent estimates reporting 44.1% of homeless people in Australia were women (Australian Bureau of Statistics <span>2018</span>). According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (<span>2018</span>), Indigenous Australians comprise 20% of people who are homeless in Australia. International literature suggests that homeless populations are ageing, with more and more older people unable to find and afford suitable housing (Hargrave et al. <span>2022</span>).</p><p>The path to homelessness is often complex but is associated with several factors including economic hardship and a lack of affordable housing. People with chronic and complex mental health issues, substance use issues (AIHW <span>2024</span>), and those fleeing from domestic and family violence are at higher risk of being unhoused (AIHW <span>2023</span>). Because of the meaning of home and its importance to health and social wellbeing, the issue of homelessness is of central importance to mental health nurses. In this call to action, we consider the issue of homelessness, and the role of mental health nurses in ensuring access to health and social services for unhoused people, and as advocates for safe and affordable housing for all and especially for those with complex mental health issues.</p><p>The word ‘home’ holds profound existential meaning. Ideally, home represents a place of shelter, safety and comfort, as well as a site for storage of essential items such as food, clothing, medications and treasured personal items. In addition to the physical dimensions, home implies a sanctuary, where a person can be their true self, let their guard down and relax. Home should also be a place of belonging, providing a means of connection with family and friends; and continuity, with links to the past and hopes for the future. Home can represent security and a focus of identity; and is often a strong thread in the narratives people weave of their lives.</p><p>However, for many people, ‘home’ is not a safe space, with domestic and family violence being a leading cause of homelessness in Australia and internationally. Furthermore, Australia is currently in the grip of a severe housing crisis with both home rental and home ownership becoming increasingly difficult and unaffordable for many people. There are no indications that this crisis is short term, and as it continues, it is likely to result in even more people experiencing homelessness. Furthermore, with the current rental crisis and ensuing competition for rental properties, people with mental health issues will find it even more difficult to compete for the few properties that are available.</p><p>Homelessness","PeriodicalId":14007,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Mental Health Nursing","volume":"33 6","pages":"2382-2385"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/inm.13437","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142335206","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Recognising and responding to loneliness in older people","authors":"Debra Jackson, Mark Hayter","doi":"10.1111/inm.13420","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.13420","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":14007,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Mental Health Nursing","volume":"12 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142209917","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}