The theme 'Barriers to the highest attainable standard of mental health, including substance use, trauma, suicide, physical ill-health, co-morbidities, socio-economic inequalities and intersectionality' refers to the obstacles and challenges that individuals and communities face in achieving and maintaining an optimal level of wellbeing. These barriers can encompass a wide range of factors and circumstances that hinder people from reaching their highest potential in terms of mental health.
Addressing barriers requires a holistic and multi-faceted approach. Mental health care should be accessible, affordable, and tailored to individual needs. Policies, programs, and interventions should consider the diverse experiences and identities of individuals to ensure equitable access to mental health services and support. Additionally, raising awareness, reducing stigma, and promoting early intervention are essential steps in overcoming these barriers and improving overall mental health outcomes.
Our researchers are interested in the different barriers that can prevent people from having the highest level of mental wellbeing and use this to help better support people. Explore research activities relating to this theme. Names shown indicate authors or co-authors involved from the Centre for Mental Health Practice, Policy and Law Research.
It is important that people released from prison get help for mental health and substance use. This will protect their health and help them live life away from crime. People released from prison in Scotland are more likely to die from substance use or suicide than other people. In other countries, people do not get as much help as they should early on, but we do not know if this is happening in Scotland. The project seeks to find out five things: First, how many people are affected by poor mental health and substance use, and how this links to deaths. Second, which NHS services people use and how much. Third, if there are differences between groups, such as men and women. Fourth, how Covid-19 has changed things. Finally, we will ask key people, especially people released from prison, what they think should be researched to make getting help easier.
This project was led by Prof Nadine Dougall. Nadine is a Professor of Data Science and Co-Investigator Jan Savinc is a Research Fellow in Health Data Science at Edinburgh Napier and the Scottish Centre for Administrative Data Science (SCADR).
This
project examined barriers to promotion for Occupational Therapists from ethnic
minority backgrounds. These therapists, who are mostly women, experience a lack
of professional support, racism and inequality in their everyday work. To
address these issues, we are currently exploring how and in what ways mentoring
could meet their needs to progress their careers.
This project was led by Prof Elizabeth McKay who
over her research career, has worked with people who experience mental illness
and the many issues of both stigma and discrimination, as well as, trauma, poor
socio-economic conditions, limited employment and living conditions: who are
often living on the margins.
CPD event: Allied Health Professional (AHP) Rehabilitation with People Living with Dementia 2023
Due to the prevalence of dementia and the nature of the health and social care needs of this population group AHPs, particularly physiotherapists and occupational therapists, are likely to work with someone living with dementia.
Whilst some work has been undertaken to support professional skill and confidence when working with this group of people, evidence indicates that knowledge and awareness of dementia in the AHP workforce could be enhanced. This wider context has therefore informed the development of a continuing professional development (CPD) non-credit bearing two-day short course, entitled: ‘Rehabilitation for people living with dementia: Promoting an Allied Health Professional (AHP) Human-Rights Based Approach’.
This course was delivered for the first time in 2022, in partnership with Alzheimer Scotland, The Scottish Dementia Working Group (SDWG), The National Dementia Carers Action Network (NDCAN) and Brain Health Scotland.
This initiative is led by Dr Fiona Maclean, Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy at Edinburgh Napier University and is a full member of the Centre for Person-centred Practice Research (CPcPR) with Queen Margaret University. She has led the development of a range of innovative educational approaches designed to advance the contribution of the AHPs with people living with dementia, their families and supporters.