Title: Using physical activity within mental health services: the important role of mental health professionals.
1Using physical activity within mental health
services the important role of mental health
professionals.
2Mental health professionals and the promotion of
physical activity
- Research has highlighted the important role of
MHP in.. - Facilitating access (Crone and Guy, in-press)
- Providing support (Carless and Douglas, 2004)
- Encouraging uptake (Faulkner and Biddle, 2002)
- Understanding the demands relating to the
specific group (Crone, 2007)
3- Although there is growing awareness of the
benefits of PA amongst MHP, it is believed that
its role is still not fully understood or
appreciated (Faulkner and Biddle, 2002). - PA education for MHP has been put forward as
essential for effective promotion (Blaber, 2005
Jones and OBeney, 2004)
4In order to educate...
- We need a better understanding of
- The impact of PA on service users
- The impact of PA for carers
- The impact of PA for MHP
5Background
- Service users
- Mental health professionals
- Carers
- Walking group
- Sport group
6Background
- Interviewed 6 mental health professionals
- Early intervention for psychosis
- Mental health charity
7Case studies!
8Findings
- Four key themes developed from interviews
- Providing opportunity (identifying a need,
support) - Facilitating community integration (promoting
independence, access to local facilities) - Working together (shared experiences, engagement
and user-led service) - Observed benefits (physical, psychological and
social benefits)
9Providing opportunity
I actually go round and pick people up as well
because of the sort of geographical location of
country park its not easy for people to get to
by public transport (Maria186-88).
to encourage them to attend its hard to make
that initial step sometimes, to actually come to
the group, but you can often see when people have
made that effort and how much better they feel at
the end of the session (Maria774-77).
10Facilitating community integration
Its not just a mental health resource, its a
resource that is used bythe local community
(Emily495-96).
its perhaps about making more of an effort to
use the groups as a sort of springboard perhaps
for people to go on and do their own things
(Edward792-96)
its about getting service users alongand know
whats in the community for them (Claire29-30).
11Working together
one of the key issues is engagement, we need to
get young people to work with us and to meet with
usit is about finding the hook, something they
wantand are interested in (Emily88-98).
we have a percentage of users who may not wish
to access anything else that we offer, but will
come along to the sport group (Edward214-18).
sport group does provide afocus for
conversationa shared experience (James446-47).
12Observed benefits
for the duration of sport group and sometimes
for a bit longer afterwards, theyre less
distracted by psychotic symptoms such as auditory
hallucinations (Emily202-5).
theyve lost weighthad problems with their
joints and, that theyve felt better from
thatpoint of view (Caroline1004-9).
they get a lot of umm enjoyment and satisfaction
from it, its quite clear so you know that is
very valuable (Edward253-55).
13Benefits for service users
- Reduction in symptoms
- Enjoyment
- More energy and motivation
- Improved fitness
- Social interaction / similar experiences
- Getting out of the house
- Purpose
- Hope
14Benefits for carers
- A break from their caring role
- Routine
- Transport provision
- Knowledge of meaningful, healthy activity in
supervised environment - Perceived benefits for service user
15Summary
- Viewed positively by all involved
- Key benefits for MHP engagement with them and
service, supports other therapies, shared
experience, rewarding - Benefits observed in service users increased
mood and confidence, reduced stress and anxiety,
decrease in symptoms, enjoyment!
16Implications for practice
- Educate MHP about the benefits of PA groups for
all parties (e.g., service users, carers, MHP) - Provide practical advice and guidance about how
to include PA within care plans - Consider evaluation (important within
evidence-based practice) - Ensure all service users are provided with an
opportunity to take part in PA - PA needs to be tailored to service user needs
17Implications for practice
- Using local or community facilities for PA
groups, promoting integration and independence - Creating a shared experience is important for
building relationships and monitoring in a
non-clinical environment - Transport provision
- Establishing routine
- .therefore, training of MHP should raise
awareness of such issues
18Thank you for participating!
n.j.ellis_at_staffs.ac.uk