Books, Articles and Research

Outcomes Framework for Mental Health Services
This framework--adopted as a number of health and social services in the United Kingdom redirect their efforts to advance social inclusion-- focuses on working-age adults with mental disorders. The framework serves as a resource to government officials and providers to help monitor, evaluate, and document progress made toward implementing socially inclusive practices and meeting nationally established standards.

Racial Disparity in Mental Health Services: Why Race Still Matters
This book explores ways in which various factors such as racial identity, substance abuse, and socioeconomic conditions relate to differences in health and behavioral health services provided to different racial groups. Throughout this book, a number of experts from different disciplines discuss how various populations, including adolescents, the elderly, and minorities in general, experience inequality in today's system. Some specific topics discussed include, culture and race in provider-client relationships, cultural competence and improving mental health in African American women, and race/ethnicity and adolescent substance abuse.

Social connectedness and health: A literature review
This literature review focuses on the link between social isolation and well-being in the elderly, youth, individuals with disabilities, and the severely ill. It also provides an overview of strength-based community development strategies and the community development projects that have used these strategies.

Stigma experience among adolescents taking psychiatric medication
This study found that adolescents with a diagnosed mental health problem experienced stigma as a result of taking their psychiatric medications. Specifically, they experienced secrecy and shame, and they limited their own social interactions. Only four of the 40 adolescents in the study experienced no negative self-perception as a result of taking the medication. The study also found that family members and school environments can accentuate the experience of stigma or serve as a protection against it.

Action towards healthy living-for all
This journal article suggests that remedial measures are necessary to ensure that public policies become more closely aligned with the findings of biomedical and social research regarding the key essentials of health and well-being.

Behavioral health needs and problem recognition by older adults receiving home-based aging services
The aims of this study were to examine behavioral health problems in a sample of older adults receiving home-based aging services, their recognition of behavioral health problems, and covariates of problem recognition.

Self-stigma, self-esteem and age in persons with schizophrenia
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between self-stigma and self-esteem in people with schizophrenia in both younger and older age groups.

The effect of healing gardens and art therapy on older adults with mild to moderate depression.
This study evaluated the effect of garden walks alone, garden walks with guided imagery, and art therapy on mild to moderate depression in older adults. Focus group interviews at the end of the 6-week intervention suggest that all 3 interventions were helpful to participants with mild to moderate depression.

Reducing stigma and discrimination against older people with mental disorders: A technical consensus statement
This technical consensus statement is jointly produced by the Old Age Psychiatry section of the World Psychiatric Association and the World Health Organization, and other non-governmental organizations. It is intended to be a tool for (i) promoting debate at all levels on the stigmatisation of older people with mental disorders; (ii) outlining the nature, causes and consequences of this stigmatisation; and (iii) promoting and suggesting policies, programmes and actions to combat this stigmatisation.

Community integration for older adults with mental illnesses: Overcoming barriers and seizing opportunities
This report is the third in a series of reports prepared by the National and Statewide Coalitions to Promote Community-Based Care under Olmstead project. It is designed to help State and local Olmstead coalitions understand the barriers that older adults face and learn about the innovative solutions being adopted and adapted across the country.

Chapter 5 of "Mental health: A report of the Surgeon General": Older adults and mental health
This chapter of the Surgeon General's report on mental health addresses various areas of interest for the older adult population, specifically considering mental disorders in older people - their diagnosis and treatment, and the various risk factors that may complicate the course or outcome of treatment.

American with Disabilities Act of 1990
The current text of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 [?ADA?], as amended.

Overlooked and underserved: Elders in need of mental health care
A brief article providing information on the needs of the elder community.