Betty Tableman

Stress management training for women on public assistance.

A life-coping skills training package for women supported by public assistance was designed to enhance self-esteem and teach life planning and stress management strategies. Ten weeks of training resulted in significant changes in scores on measures reflective of psychological distress, depression, anxiety, inadequacy, self-confidence, and ego strength. A rationale for the impact of the training is suggested.

Early outcomes of a pilot psychoeducation group intervention for children of a parent with a psychiatric illness

OBJECTIVE This study reports early findings of a still-developing Youth Education and Support (YES) pilot intervention of multifamily group psychoeducation for youth with a parent with a psychiatric illness. METHODS Hypotheses predicted YES participants would increase pre-to-post: 1) Knowledge of psychiatric illness and recovery, and 2) Coping. A purposive sample of 17 youth, ages 10-16, participated in six lively, activity-focused, two-hour sessions within four groups facilitated by the PI and professionals employed within two public mental health agencies. Data revealed a significant increase in pre-to-post youth-reported knowledge (p= less than .001) and no significant change in overall coping. At post-intervention, youth reported significantly increased use of the coping skills of avoiding problems and relaxing, as indicated within these coping subscales. CONCLUSIONS Study limitations merit interpretation caution. They are useful for future research, including development and testing of youth psychoeducation programs with longer interventions, more emphases on coping, parent-inclusion, and larger samples using randomized, experimental designs. Suggestions for research, practice, and policy are provided.

Installing prevention programming in the public mental health system

Development of prevention programming in Michigan since 1975 has involved developing good service models for county mental health boards and establishing the infrastructure, tools, and processes to sustain these services as an ongoing part of its public mental health system. Advocacy as a core component and the facilitating state framework are described. The structure and anticipated outcome for recently developed coordinated community planning projects are outfined. I am most appreciative of this recognition for my efforts and for the persons who have made possible the development of prevention programming in Michigans public mental health system.3 I have considered Division 27 my professional home ever since Myrna Shure recruited me as an associate member. Members of Division 27 have contributed to my growth and un