Stigma is a form of injustice that contributes to the worsening course of the symptoms associated with mental health problems. The paper discusses the conceptualization and development of a contemporary theoretical model of stigma. Building on the findings of an initial scoping review, the author developed a theoretical model after thoroughly analyzing and redefining the key concepts of interest. This article proposes that stigmatized individuals are impacted by the religiocultural and structural violence perspectives embedded within social spaces, leading to stigma perception appraisal and subsequent coping mechanisms, which could be adaptive or maladaptive. Current models of mental illness stigma have gaps. It is time to relook at existing stigma frameworks and fill these gaps that have existed for many years for effective anti-stigma strategies.
The current documented nursing faculty shortage is an important factor affecting our ability to address the nationwide nursing shortage. Occupational burnout is a common phenomenon among nurses that may negatively impact retention of nursing faculty. While research suggests that promoting resilience moderates occupational burnout and relates to occupational satisfaction in practicing nurses, very few investigations have examined resilience among nursing faculty. The purpose of this integrative review is to describe the current state of the science on resilience in nursing faculty and includes an analysis of 14 studies. Three major foci were identified in the literature: 1) descriptions of resilience levels in nursing faculty, 2) examinations of resilience based upon demographic factors, and 3) resilience and related concepts. Existing research indicates there may be demographic differences in resilience levels of nursing faculty, but additional investigation is necessary to confirm these relationships. There is evidence that quality of life (QOL), components of QOL, and support are correlated with resilience in nursing faculty but more rigorous research on these relationships is needed. Understanding more about the relationship between resilience, demographics, and associated factors will guide future development and choice of interventions tailored to promote resilience among nursing faculty.
HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) can reduce the risk of acquiring HIV infection following sexual assault. However, only about half of people offered HIV PEP will initiate the medication. Factors associated with patient readiness for HIV PEP following sexual assault have been attributed to structural and clinical barriers. This study utilized the Theory of Reasoned Action and Planned Behavior to better understand how personal factors, cognitive factors, mental health, barriers and facilitators that could influence a patient's decision to start HIV PEP post sexual assault. A web-based cross sectional survey was conducted from October 2017 to January 2020 and a total of 228 responses were included from participants that had experienced sexual assault in the previous 3 months. Using linear regression modeling fear of HIV, post-traumatic stress symptoms, validating social responses to disclosure, and having someone else pay for HIV PEP were all associated with feeling better prepared for HIV PEP decision making. Results indicate that structural, social, and individual factors impact patient decision making. These findings highlight opportunities for health systems and providers to improve HIV education and the importance of initiating HIV PEP following sexual assault.
Mental health carers are crucial in improving the physical health outcomes of people diagnosed with a mental illness (hereafter referred to as consumers). The long-term and multifaceted mental and physical health support carers provide to consumers can contribute to caregiver burden. Consequently, carers advocate for coordinated and integrated physical healthcare to improve the physical health outcomes of consumers and alleviate caregiver burden. The aim of this qualitative exploratory study is to explore carers' perceptions and experiences with the Physical Health Nurse Consultant role. Semi-structured interviews with nine carers nominated by consumers were conducted. Interviews were transcribed and reflexively thematically analysed. Three main themes were identified: (i) Therapeutic relationship s were a catalyst for health behaviour change; (ii) Overt and covert positive changes were observed by carer and (iii) Cares' involvement in integrated mental health and physical health care. Nine carers who were nominated by consumers to be involved in their physical healthcare planning, preferred to adopt a supporting role as this prevented or reduced caregiver burden. The findings support the adoption and continuation of the Physical Health Nurse Consultant role to facilitate positive physical health outcomes for consumers and a reduction in caregiving burden. The benefits of the Physical Health Nurse Consultant provide a compelling argument to embed the role in routine practice. Mental healthcare services should advocate for continued funding and career development for such positions to provide long term benefits for consumers and carers. Future research is required to explore carer and consumer involvement in co-producing future and localised iterations of the Physical Health Nurse Consultant role. This research should also measure the outputs and outcomes of co-production to clarify how the process worked in practice.
There is limited investigation about psychiatric symptoms experienced by older adults with mental health conditions or neurocognitive ones residing in a skilled nursing facility during the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of this descriptive-design study was to describe the psychiatric symptoms from the year before COVID-19 pandemic to the 1st year of the pandemic for older adults with a mental health condition or a neurocognitive one residing in a skilled nursing facility. A database (n = 84) was established from the extraction of already collected data on the assessment of older adults (n = 84) with mental health conditions or neurocognitive ones living in one skilled nursing facility. The timeframe was from March 1, 2019 to February 28, 2021, eight quarters of extracted data. Psychiatric symptoms were impaired decision making, altered level of consciousness, disorganized thinking, understanding or comprehension, disruptive behaviors, delirium, delusions, hallucinations, inattentiveness, impaired cognition, and depression. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics. Participants had a mean age of 74.2 ± 10.8. A description of the psychiatric symptoms over the 2 years was a decrease in the level of understanding along with an increase in delusions, disruptive behaviors (physical and verbal), impaired decision making, cognitive impairment, and inattentiveness. The findings focus on the description of the psychiatric symptoms associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings relate to the first step to address a gap in the literature about psychiatric symptoms and COVID-19 for nursing home residents. Future longitudinal and multisite studies are warranted to expound on these findings and the described psychiatric symptoms over time.
Psychiatric and mental health (PMH) nurses integrate the concept of trauma-informed care into practice, policy, and education. Despite the frequency of PMH nurses practicing in a trauma-informed manner, there is a paucity of literature focused on integrating trauma-informed principles into research methods. Professions outside of the nursing sphere, specifically social work and social sciences, predominate the discourse around trauma-informed research. The authors of this manuscript provide detailed methods on a project using trauma-informed qualitative research methods with a feminist perspective. Semi-structured interviews with ten individuals with an experience of sexual violence answered the research question: what is the retrospective experience of women who encountered sexual violence in post-secondary education? An important part of the research design was an informal debrief with the audio recorder off, after the interview. Field notes were taken within this debrief, and participants reviewed these field notes as part of the member-checking process. By explaining the methods used in detail, referencing the available literature, and using the critical reflection of participants captured in the field notes, the authors of this manuscript explore strengths, conflicts, and boundary issues PMH nurses need to consider when integrating trauma-informed research methods into their research practices.
This is a focused review of the most current publications and direct experiences of Military Sexual Trauma (MST) among veteran women and the lasting impact on this population's mental and physical health. This review covers the span of the last 5 years (2018-2023). Additionally, the review seeks to fill a gap in the literature to understand better how and if veteran women who have experienced MST use social media and online talk to form meaningful connections. A total of 13 studies were included in the final review. This review found many studies (5) further investigated the roles of gender, race, and interpersonal relationships in relation to MST experiences. This review did not find any current publications that sought to understand MST experiences that women veterans have shared through social media platforms. This type of online research in the future could help provide valuable new insight into the unique needs of MST survivors.
Animals are increasingly being utilized to assist with therapies for people with various health conditions. Horses are often used as a mechanism of engagement and development for autistic children and adolescents. Horses offer a unique opportunity for interaction as the child or adolescent can physically ride and interact with the animal, thus creating a therapy that involves contact that is different to other animals. Benefits derived from equine-assisted therapies can be physical, social, behavioral, emotional, sensory, and cognitive. However, a current and specific research gap exists in understanding the potential mental health impacts of horse riding on autistic children and adolescents, as perceived and experienced by their parents, carers, and horse-riding service providers. This scoping review examined research on parents' and service providers' perceptions of the benefits of horse-related therapies, with a particular focus on perceptions of positive mental health impacts. A comprehensive electronic search across PubMed, Scopus and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature identified 16 articles from 15 studies which met the inclusion criteria. Findings included non-mental health-related benefits (as perceived by parents and service providers), mental health-related benefits (as perceived by parents and service providers), benefits for those other than the child/adolescent, and limitations of equine-assisted therapies. With the increased use of equine therapy, and the mounting evidence of its positive impacts on mental health, it is timely to expand research on how to better harness interventions and maximize the mental health benefits for autistic children and adolescents.