Session
Workforce Development: Mental Health Service Delivery by Non-Mental Health Professionals
APHA's 2019 Annual Meeting and Expo (Nov. 2 - Nov. 6)
Abstract
PArtners in mental health: Certified PAs addressing national crises
APHA's 2019 Annual Meeting and Expo (Nov. 2 - Nov. 6)
This study collected demographic and practice analysis data regarding how certified PAs are providing mental health services. A practice analysis delineates the knowledge and skills that characterize proficient performance and may also illuminate how particular knowledge and skills are used. The practice analysis survey included diseases and disorders as well as knowledge and skill statements that PAs rated on frequency and criticality scales. Aggregated data was analyzed using descriptive statistics.
The practice analysis was distributed to 93,365 PA respondents, and 15,771 responded. The 16.9% response rate was a representative sample of the PA profession. Descriptive analysis identified the top 10 diseases and disorders seen by PAs practicing in psychiatry and compared the frequency of those diseases and disorders seen by PAs in other practice areas. Further analyses identified the percentage of all PAs (and by practice area) using various knowledge and skills at least weekly: 62% of all PAs are evaluating patients with psychiatric symptoms; 45% are conducting a risk assessment for suicidal/homicidal ideation and violence/harm to self or others; and 73% are conducting education on modifiable risk factors with an emphasis on prevention. Additional analyses looked at substance use disorder.
Certified PAs are addressing mental health across practice settings, and this analysis establishes baselines to track contributions longitudinally. Further, the data informs the PArtners in Mental Health Initiative, which strives to advance the roles of PAs and strengthen partnerships to address issues impacting mental health and substance use disorders. Additional research is needed regarding the initiative’s key focus areas: enhancing educational approaches, strengthening practice integration, and raising awareness of PA models to address these critical needs.
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs Social and behavioral sciences
Abstract
Examining the Associations between Community Health Worker-Rated Health and Depressive Symptomology in Latino Adults
APHA's 2019 Annual Meeting and Expo (Nov. 2 - Nov. 6)
Methods: The current study utilized baseline data from the Linking Individual Needs to Community and Clinical Services (LINKS) study, examining the efficacy of CHW-led community-clinical linkages programs in improving chronic disease risk and emotional wellbeing among Latinos in U.S./Mexico border counties. CHWRH was measured as a CHW’s rating of their clients’ health status (poor – excellent), and SRH was measured as the clients’ rating of their health status (poor – excellent). The outcome, severity of depression symptoms, was measured utilizing the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale Revised (CESD-R). We utilized multilevel linear regression modeling to examine the relationship between CHWRH and depression symptoms, controlling for SRH and demographics.
Results: CWHRH showed a statistically significant and robust association with severity of depression symptoms (p=0.035). SRH was also highly significant with participants’ severity of depression symptoms (p<0.001).
Conclusion: This study suggests that CHWRH could be indicative of depression symptomology above and beyond SRH, particularly within Latino adults. Given the cultural stigma and lower rates of mental health treatment among Latinos, further studies investigating CHWRH as an independent indicator of mental health are important. Future research should examine how CHWs use their cultural competence to rate health in a way that may improve identification of Latinos with depression symptoms.
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education Chronic disease management and prevention Diversity and culture Public health or related research
Abstract
Demographic Differences Among University Faculty and Staff Who Participate in a Mental Health First Aid Training Program
APHA's 2019 Annual Meeting and Expo (Nov. 2 - Nov. 6)
Methods: A longitudinal, pre-, post-, and 3-month follow-up study design was used to assess the impact of MHFA training on faculty and staff participants (data collection ongoing – anticipated completion April 2019). Using an adapted version of the Mental Health Beliefs and Literacy Scale (MBLS), grounded in the Unified Theory of Behavior Change framework, the following constructs were assessed: 1) attitudes and beliefs on difficulty, reward, and positivity of MHFA, 2) personal and perceived social beliefs on MHFA and MH problems, 3) self-efficacy in respect to confidence and control, 4) behavioral intention, 5) knowledge of MH issues, 6) cues to action, 7) behavior, and 8) perceived behavioral change. Chi-Square tests, ANOVA, and regression analysis was conducted to highlight differences in outcomes between participants of varying cultures, identities, and demographics.
Results: Results highlighted outcomes that significantly improve and are retained over time after MHFA training. Preliminary analysis (n = 100) revealed statistically significant improvements across several constructs, including increases in personal beliefs towards others with MH illness (p = .046) and performing MHFA (p = .014), perceptions of difficulty (p = .006), belief in positivity (p = .001), perceptions on reward (p = .017), self-confidence to carry out MHFA actions (p = .001), and perceived control over these actions (p = .026) after MHFA training was received. Demographic differences will be assessed upon completion of data collection.
Conclusions: While MHFA trainings are an effective intervention to train university faculty and staff on recognition of students in distress demographic differences should be considered. MHFA training can be improved to address key components of the training that yield differences between demographic groups.
Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice Diversity and culture Other professions or practice related to public health Public health or related education
Abstract
From silos to integration: Collaborating with psychiatry to provide peer led mental health education for primary care trainees
APHA's 2019 Annual Meeting and Expo (Nov. 2 - Nov. 6)
Administration, management, leadership Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice Ethics, professional and legal requirements