Sleep is critical to our mental health. Not only do Canadians report having better health if they get more then 6 hours of sleep a night (see the info graphic from stats can), but there is a large body of literature supporting the importance of sleep. To make a start, check out this info sheet on getting a good night’s sleep.

I am one of the coordinators for the Psychology Law Evidence Database (PLED), a comprehensive, continuously updated, freely available database of selected scientific papers about psychology and law for policy makers, stakeholders, the general public, practitioners, and researchers.

One recently published study featured on the PLED, “The aftermath of workplace violence among healthcare workers: A systematic literature review of the consequences” provides a review of the consequences of violence among healthcare workers. The authors highlight that:

“Psychological (e.g., posttraumatic stress, depression) and emotional (e.g., anger, fear) consequences and impact on work functioning (e.g., sick leave, job satisfaction) were the most frequent and important effects of workplace violence.”

Abstract:

Workplace violence is an important health and safety issue. Healthcare workers are particularly at risk of experiencing workplace violence. Despite the research that was conducted in this domain, little is known about the consequences of being a victim of workplace violence, specifically in the healthcare sector. Therefore, this article aims to review the literature regarding the consequences of exposure to workplace violence in the healthcare sector. Sixty-eight studies were included in the review and they were evaluated according to 12 criteria recommended for systematic reviews. The studies identified seven categories of consequences of workplace violence: (1) physical, (2) psychological, (3) emotional, (4) work functioning, (5) relationship with patients/quality of care, (6) social/general, and (7) financial. Psychological (e.g., posttraumatic stress, depression) and emotional (e.g., anger, fear) consequences and impact on work functioning (e.g., sick leave, job satisfaction) were the most frequent and important effects of workplace violence. In conclusion, this paper recommends further research, particularly longitudinal studies, in order to better grasp the direct and indirect effects of workplace violence.

Lanctôt, N., & Guay, S. (2014). The aftermath of workplace violence among healthcare workers: A systematic literature review of the consequences. Aggression and violent behavior, 19(5), 492-501.

For information on the article and other psychology law evidence on various topics see the Psychology Law Evidence Database.

A client of mine brought this to my attention recently. This statement hits the main points on why examining both mental and physical health is so important.

The Role of Sport, Exercise, and Physical Activity in Closing the Life Expectancy Gap for People with Mental Illness: An International Consensus Statement by Exercise and Sports Science Australia, American College of Sports Medicine, British Association of Sport and Exercise Science, and Sport and Exercise Science New Zealand

Check it out here: https://journals.lww.com/acsm-tj/Fulltext/2018/05150/The_Role_of_Sport,_Exercise,_and_Physical_Activity.1.aspx

I recently came across a resource intended for young Canadians called “Walk Along”. Put together by UBC and Bell Let’s Talk, walk along has a new take on internet mental health.

From the site walkalong.ca:

What is WalkAlong?

WalkAlong isn’t your typical mental health website. We are a community where young Canadians can explore their mental health amongst their peers. At WalkAlong we believe wellness comes from empowerment and we like to see WalkAlong as a companion; someone to walk along with you during your journey to better mental health. This portal is a Canadian-based mental health resource that also provides information and links to existing mental health care resources for friends & family members.

Ongoing consultation with young Canadians and expert health care professionals guarantees the continued development of a cutting-edge, robust, comprehensive, and appropriate web resource. We hope that WalkAlong will support you and your support network in taking a more empowering role in the managing your well being.

Check it out! 

The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched training tools for health care workers and those receiving mental health care on human rights within mental health care.

The overview from the WHO website states:

“As part of the QualityRights Initiative, WHO has developed a comprehensive package of training and guidance modules. The modules can be used to build capacity among mental health practitioners, people with psychosocial, intellectual and cognitive disabilities, people using mental health services, families, care partners and other supporters, NGOs, DPOs and others on how to implement a human rights and recovery approach in the area of mental health in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and other international human rights standards.”

All of the tools can be found at this link.

February is Psychology Month!

The BC Psychological Association is hosting 13 free talks on hot topics in psychology in Vancouver, Burnaby, Surrey, and Victoria all through the month of February.

Topics cover a wide range of interested including gender identity, anxiety, suicide, mindfulness, wellness and resiliency, and judgement.

For more information see the BCPA website: https://www.psychologists.bc.ca/blog/psychologymonth

Over 100 organizations support mental health and substance use in BC.

The government publishes this list, making up professional organizations, health authorities, research organizations and organizations dedicated generally to mental health and substance use or specific populations or problems, like anxiety.

Check it out!

I am one of the coordinators for the Psychology Law Evidence Database (PLED), a comprehensive, continuously updated, freely available database of selected scientific papers about psychology and law for policy makers, stakeholders, the general public, practitioners, and researchers.

One recently published study featured on the PLED, “Meta-synthesis of qualitative research on return to work among employees with common mental disorders” provides a synthesis of qualitative research for factors that are barriers to successful return to work and things that promote a successful return to work.

Some findings include:

• ongoing impairments from mental and physical symptoms
• difficulty setting limits after returning to work, even if gradual, despite knowing the accommodation/modification to their position was important for effective coping
• reduced work hours alone was not sufficient for a successful return to work, other accommodations were needed (e.g., modified responsibilities and workload).

I particularly appreciate the authors efforts to frame the barriers and promotors of successful returns in the biopsychosocial model. The authors state (pp. 100-101):

Our meta-synthesis identified obstacles in all three components of the [biopsychosocial] model: i) exhaustion, reduced concentration, and forgetfulness can be seen as an obstacle at the biological level; (ii) perfectionism, a high sense of responsibility and low self-efficacy can be seen as obstacles at the psychological level; and (iii) low social support and lack of coordination between the systems can be seen as obstacles at the social level.”

Abstract:

Objectives The purpose of this study was to investigate which opportunities and obstacles employees with common mental disorders (CMD) experience in relation to return to work (RTW) and how they perceive the process of returning to work. In addition, the study explores what characterizes an optimal RTW intervention and points to possible ways to improve future interventions for employees with CMD. Methods A systematic literature search was conducted, and eight qualitative studies of medium or high quality published between 1995-2011 were included in this systematic review. The eight studies were synthesized using the meta-ethnographic method.
Results This meta-synthesis found that employees with CMD identify a number of obstacles to and facilitators of returning to work related to their own personality, social support at the workplace, and the social and rehabilitation systems. The employees found it difficult to decide when they were ready to resume work and experienced difficulties implementing RTW solutions at the workplace.
Conclusions This study reveals that the RTW process should be seen as a continuous and coherent one where experiences of the past and present and anticipation of the future are dynamically interrelated and affect the success or failure of RTW. The meta-synthesis also illuminates insufficient coordination between the social and rehabilitation systems and suggests how an optimal RTW intervention could be designed.

Andersen, M. F., Nielsen, K. M., & Brinkmann, S. (2012). Meta-synthesis of qualitative research on return to work among employees with common mental disorders. Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health, 93-104.

For information on the article and other psychology law evidence on various topics see the Psychology Law Evidence Database.

I am one of the coordinators for the Psychology Law Evidence Database (PLED), a comprehensive, continuously updated, freely available database of selected scientific papers about psychology and law for policy makers, stakeholders, the general public, practitioners, and researchers.

One recently published study featured on the PLED, “Forensic risk assessment and cultural diversity: Contemporary challenges and future directions” highlights the importance of cultural diversity in violence risk assessments.

Abstract:

A Canadian Federal court recently impugned the administering of 5 risk assessment instruments with Canadian Aboriginal prisoners. The ramifications of the ruling for the field are notable given the universal employment of risk instruments with Indigenous offenders and patients. Effectively, forensic clinicians and researchers can no longer overlook the role of culture in risk assessment–a robust academic dialogue on this subject matter is consequently warranted. This article explores how culture can shape the entire risk assessment process; from instrument construction and validation, to risk marker sensitivity, symptom articulation, and client-clinician interaction. Future directions for cross-cultural assessment are discussed

Shepherd, S. M., & Lewis-Fernandez, R. (2016). Forensic risk assessment and cultural diversity: Contemporary challenges and future directions. Psychology, Public Policy, And Law, 22(4), 427-438. doi:10.1037/law0000102

For information on the article and other psychology law evidence on various topics see the Psychology Law Evidence Database.