Bengt G Eriksson

To live as mentally disabled in the risk society

The contemporary society is to some extent characterized by longitudinal changes, towards individualization, uncertainty, and risk. Numerous risks and dangers in modern society have been mastered, while others have emerged, often created by human actions. The individuals freedom of choice has increased, but also the responsibility for the choices made. In this society, the risk society, there is a greater need for formative and situation-related knowledge to manage risks. The aims of this paper are to discuss the concept of risk society in the light of everyday experiences made by people with mental disabilities, how challenges can be mastered and positive possibilities can be utilized. Data collection was made through a multistage focus group, and the data were analysed by qualitative content analysis. The results show that characteristics of the risk society are identified by people with mental disabilities. Change and uncertainty, obstacles created by societal institutions, lack of trust, and the need of adapted working conditions are frequently experienced, impersonal relations and feelings of loneliness as well. However, these conditions can be partly counteracted by belonging to an alternative fellowship, which might lead to quality of life-related personal improvements.

Children’s participation and experiential reflections using co-operative inquiry for developing a learning programme for children with asthma

The aim of this article is to discuss methodological issues based on experiences involving the use of co-operative inquiry in a paediatric ward and to describe how the children’s own perspectives were taken into account. This project, which was conducted in Norway between 2004 and 2007, involved children, parents and health care professionals meeting in a mutual working process to apply a new pedagogic approach for children with asthma. Ninety individuals (children, parents, health care professionals, teachers and students) participated in the study that had a qualitative approach. The findings indicate that the adults considered the child perspectives throughout the project, while the children’s own perspectives were taken into account during the period of intervention. The children participated actively, which can support empowerment processes. Health care professionals and researchers responded to the children’s views using communication and research techniques adapted to the children’s age, development and sensitivity. Critical choices related to the project were made because of recruitment challenges involving children and families. Children between 7 and 10 years of age are competent actors who can be involved in research and thus represent activated sources of knowledge. Bringing about change requires endurance and a long-term perspective.

Coping and Meaning in Everyday Life: Living with Mental Disabilities in Late-Modern Society

Coping and Meaning in Everyday Life : Living with Mental Disabilities in Late-Modern Society

Promoting Personal Growth and Balancing Risk of Violence in Community-Based Mental Health Care: A Professional Perspective

The aim of this study was to investigate how municipal mental health care workers develop professional strategies, taking the risk of service user violence into account. Factors that professionals regard as hindering or furthering personal growth among the service users are particularly focused. Data were collected through focus group interviews. The analysis resulted in two main categories: working where the clients live their lives and focus on growth and development. Offering opportunities for restraint and growth for people with serious mental health disorders and risk of violence represents the basic factors for improving desirable processes. The health-promoting focus was managed through a resource-oriented and growth-oriented focus, where available services and workers’ qualities and attitudes appear to be crucial.

Reablement in Mental Health Care and the Role of the Occupational Therapist: A Qualitative Study:

So far, reablement is mainly developed in care for the elderly. This study adds knowledge about reablement in mental health care and the contribution of occupational therapists to this field. Qualitative interviews with 10 occupational therapists were conducted and analyzed using a qualitative content analysis. Reablement is built around everyday activities, used as systematic tools for stepwise improvement of mastery and bettered mental health. The findings support a greater emphasis on reablement and recovery in mental health care. Reablement demands multidisciplinary teams, where occupational therapists can bring important skills and perspectives. Occupational therapists can contribute substantially to further reablement. Their knowledge about—and therapeutic use of—everyday life activities seem to be a useful approach to helping people with mental illness. The occupational therapy foundations are highly related to the elements of recovery.

Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing Care of the Older Adult: Mental Health in Old Age

It is well documented that Europe and the Occidental world face pressing mental health-care challenges that are linked to their ageing populations. Moreover, in addition to the current and projected alarming rise in diagnosis of dementia, this population also often simultaneously face multiple pathological, psychological and experiential health challenges. Accordingly, this chapter focuses on providing psychiatric/mental health nursing care to and for older adults, from a humanistic and holistic perspective. The chapter outlines developments in Europe’s demography and examines different gerontological theories and theoretical approaches to ageing and mental health, with an emphasis on psychosocial views and theory, resting on the conviction that both mental well-being and mental ill health are closely related to and dependent on one’s social environment and personal story. Commonly occurring mental health problems among older people are considered, including those that are related to particular lived experiences such as social losses, crises and transitions of old. The chapter then concentrates on psychiatric/mental health nursing and how theories of gerontological mental health care can be operationalized for this population, focusing on ecological and local community perspectives.

Green Care From the Provider’s Perspective: An Insecure Position Facing Different Social Worlds

Green Care is an international concept, where utilization of agricultural farms is a base for promoting human mental and physical health, as well as quality of life for a variety of client groups. The purpose of this study was to improve knowledge and understanding of opportunities and difficulties faced by providers of Green Care services, and to discuss the role of being a Green Care service provider. Data were collected by three qualitative multi-stage focus group interviews with seven providers of Green Care services (five women, two men). The findings indicated that running Green Care services means different kinds of challenges such as low predictability and complicated cooperation with authorities and stakeholders. Efforts toward increased quality assurance are regarded positive. Being a Green Care service provider means that the farmer’s function is extended, that is, by shaping a therapeutic environment and being a role model, which takes a genuine interest and belief in the idea of Green Care, and ability to think creatively and innovatively. To watch the users grow as persons and master new tasks is rewarding to the service provider. Providers of Green Care Services have to face different and sometimes incompatible social worlds. Their role is sometimes indistinct and they find themselves in a border position. Perhaps some of the potential in Green Care will get lost with a more professionalized provider role.

Normalization and mental health support: a comparative study on day-activity facilities for people with mental disabilities in Japan and Sweden

In many countries, including Japan and Sweden, societal help and support for people with mental disabilities have been reformed, with the aim of achieving a more normalized life and closer integration in the local community for this group. Day-activity facilities may be one tool for such a transition. In this article, three day-activity facilities in Japan and Sweden respectively are examined and compared. Managers at all six units were interviewed and given identical – qualitative and quantitative – questions. The data were systematically cross-culturally compared, and the results presented in seven categories: general conditions, activities, participants, organization/management/staff, finances, ideological features, and factors of success and failure. There is an overarching similarity between the two countries, but there are also differences in some respects. The Japanese units are private, while the Swedish units are publicly run. In both countries a broad range of activities are offered in the units. The Japanese units seem to stress factors of friendship, a calm environment and feeling comfortable and safe, while the Swedish units are somewhat more directed towards personal relations, support in daily life and job preparation. Day-activity facilities seem to facilitate normalization and integration in the local community, but need to be continuously scrutinized and improved.