Community mental health journal
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A questionnaire was distributed to 190 psychiatry residents to analyze the impact of three factors on residents' perceptions of their transcultural practice: cultural identity of residents; degree of exposure to patients from different cultures; and training in cultural psychiatry. Results suggest that residents' perceptions vary according to the resident's cultural origin. The training in psychiatry and the degree of exposure to patients from different cultures had no significant influence on the residents' perceptions. Overall these results emphasize the necessity to revise the cultural content of residents' psychiatry curriculum to, among other things, raise residents' awareness of their own cultural identity.
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Primary prevention seeks to lower the rate of new cases of psychosocial disorder in a high risk population by reducing the impact of pathogenic life stressors, and by increasing psychosocial supports that enable people to master their adversity in healthy ways. The organization of such a program in Jerusalem is described. It seeks to prevent psychosocial disorders in children of divorced parents. The entire population at risk is contacted in order to reach out to the subpopulation who are unable to cope on their own, but who can be helped to master their difficulties by the coordinated efforts of community caregivers.
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Community Ment Health J · Oct 1991
Developing and maintaining a coordinated system of community-based services to children.
The Child and Adolescent Service Systems Program (CASSP) encourages the development of "systems of care" for disturbed children and their families, based on interagency collaboration and community involvement. The experience of the South Shore mental health catchment area near Boston points to several principles for promoting effective collaboration: 1) mobilization of concerned and influential community members, 2) respect for the autonomy and interdependence of systems, 3) appreciation of divergent perspectives, and 4) commitment to shared goals. The realization of these principles depends on certain supports: staff training, flexible agency structure, sanction from a strong community and state and federal legislative support.
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Community Ment Health J · Jan 1985
Predictors of self-sufficiency for the mentally ill in long-term care.
A growing interest of mental health professionals is the community adjustment of former mental hospital patients. Recognition of the influence of environmental factors on adjustment has led to attempts to determine the specific environmental factors that are influential. The present study of 87 former mental hospital patients in long-term care indicates that the type of management practices used, together with the facility director's attitudes toward social services are major predictors of clients self-sufficiency. Implications for administrators, staff and consultants to long-term care facilities are noted.