bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adolescent Drinking Problems: Urban Vs. Rural Differences in Nova Scotia
Authors: Mitic Wayne R.
Published: October 2014

The purpose of this study is to examine the nature and extent of alcohol-related problems experienced by adolescents residing in an urban (n = 1132) and rural (n = 987) area of Nova Scotia. These problems are divided into three categories: social consequences, early dependency symptoms, and vandalism or violence. A significantly greater number of subjects in the rural as compared to urban junior-high grades reported problems with school (χ2 = 7.21, p < .007), the police (χ2 = 4.5, p < .03), and money (χ2 = 4.23, p < .03), whereas a significantly greater number (χ2 = 5.04, p < .020) of high-school seniors from the urban area reported pre-party drinking as compared to their rural counterparts. The small-town environment of a rural area appears to provide little insulation against the risks and problems associated with teenage alcohol consumption. Health professionals need to become aware of the prevalence of adolescent drinking problems and take an active role in supporting enlightened public policies.
The Effects of Self-Help on Health Status and health-Services Utilization
Authors: Nicholaichuk Terry P. , Wollert Richard
Published: October 2014

The present study was designed to assess whether the health-protective effects of membership in supportive primary networks, such as reduced illness and distress, extend to membership in self-help groups.

In Study 1, the self-help sample was compared to acute and chronically ill controls on measures of health status and attitudes toward health-services utilization. Study 2 was an examination of how self-help group processes related to a variety of outcomes in a sample of chronically ill or disabled self-help group members.

Self-help group members demonstrated levels of distress about health problems equal to the acute controls and were less distressed than the chronically ill controls who were not involved in mutual-aid organizations. Self-helpers also felt themselves more likely to take action in the face of concerns about health issues than acute controls. Finally, supportive group processes were associated with perceptions of positive outcome among self-help group members.
Associations Entre L'Orientation Pedagogique de L'Enseignant et Les Difficiultes D'Adaptation Psychosociale Chez Les Eleves de Maternelle
Authors: Royer N. , Tremblay R. E. , Gagnon C. , Vitaro F. , Piche C.
Published: October 2014

Les comportments sociaux de plus de 2000 enfants de maternelle sont évalués par deux adultes, soit l'éducatrice et la mére (ou la personne qui la remplace). Les indices d'inadaptation retenus sont l'agressivité, le retrait, et l'absence de comportements prosociaux. Le présent article traite des associations possibles entre l'attitude pédagogique de l'éducatrice sur un continuum autonomie-contrmle et la présence dans sa classe d'enfants aux comportements aberrants sur le plan social. Tous les sujects éducatirices se situent plus près du pmle autonomie que du pmle contrmle. Il ressort qu'une attitude moins autonomiste de la part de l'enseignante est associée à la présence d'èlèves jugés agressifs-hyperactifs et ce, particulièrement dans les écoles de statut socio-économique faible ou élevé. Aucune association n'est relevée entre l'attitude de l'éducatrice et la présence dans sa classe d'enfants jugés anxieux ou non prosociaux. Les resultats sont présentés et analysés sous les traits d'une étude épidèmiologique.
Homeless Women and Freedom of Choice
Authors: Farge Brenda Doyle
Published: October 2014

This paper looks at the issue of freedom of choice as it relates to women who chronically use hostels for single women in Toronto. The paper reviews the systemic and “personal” factors which underlie the homelessness of some women and examines the conditions in which transient women live while a part of the hostel circuit. Finally, the paper discusses the physical and psychological needs which hostels meet for such women even as they limit the range of their patrons' areas of self-determination. It is concluded that any concept of “freedom of choice” for homeless women must be viewed within a context of extreme caution.
L'Habitation Social Au Canada: Le Desengagement De L'Etat Face a Des Besoins Croissants
Authors: Morin Richard
Published: October 2014

Ce n'est qu'après la Seconde Guerre mondiale que le gouvernement canadien instaure son premier programme d'habitation sociale visant la construction de logements publics. Peu efficace, celui-ci est suivi, au milicu des années 1960, par un autre programme d'habitation à loyer modique plus performant, puis, au début des années 1970, par un programme d'aide aux logements communautaires favorisant, entre autres, la mixité sociale. L'intervention du gouvernement en matiére d'habitation sociale reste cependant trés marginale. De plus, au tournant des années 1980. l'Etat commence à se retirer de ce domaine. Ce désengagement est confirmé en 1985, alors que le problème de l'accessibilité au logement s'accentue, ce qui laisse présager un avenir difficile pour les ménages à faible revenu et plus particuliérement pour les jeunes habitant seuls, les jeunes ménages monoparentaux à chef féminin, et les personnes ágées vivant hors famille.
Politique Familiale Ou Politique Nataliste: Un Enjeu De Taille Pour Les Femmes
Authors: Le Bourdais Celine
Published: October 2014

La famille suscite, depuis quelques annees, un regain d'interet. Elle est devenue un des sujets privilégiés de la recherche scientifique et des médias québécois, et elle marque de plus en plus le discours politique. Depuis plusieurs années, le gouvernement québécois promet l'élaboration d'une politique familiale. A la fin de l'annéc 1987, il annoncait la création d'un Conseil de la famille; dans la měme foulée, il présentait en 1988 un budget destiné à mieux aider les familles, suivi d'un Enoncé de politiques sur les services de garde. Si l'intervention de l'Etat répond aux demandes maintes fois exprimées par les divers groupes de femmes et associations familiales, certaines des mesures mises de l'avant dans les discussions entourant le développement de cette politique, telles le recours au temps partiel et l'extension des congés de maternité, sont susceptibles de faire reculer les femmes sur le terrain glissant de l'emploi où elles se trouvent si elles ne s'accompagnent pas d'une politique ènergique d'égalité en emploi. Dans ce sens, la politique familiale pourrait bien passer à coté de son objectif avoué d'aide aux familles existantes et, pis encore, contribuer à l'appauvrissement d'un nombre grandissant de femmes et d'enfants.
Canadian Health-Care Policy and the Elderly: Will Rationing Rhetoric Become Reality in an Aging Society?
Authors: Clark Phillip G.
Published: October 2014

Providing health-care services to an aging population is increasingly seen by government as creating fundamental problems with the balance among competing claims of access, quality, and cost. Although Canada has established a health-care system based on equity and universal access, questions are being raised about whether aging and the development of new and costly technology will force a re-examination of this policy. Canada's response to a potential geriatric “crisis” provides insight into new priorities and directions for health-care policy in the future. This analysis centres on the following elements. First, the British experience with rationing medical care and the recent U.S. discussions on setting aged-based limits will be reviewed. Second, Canadian demographic and economic projections of the impact of aging on the future use and cost of health-care services will be summarized. Third, the major values underlying the development of Canadian health-care policy as they relate to the emerging geriatric challenge will be examined, including a discussion of the relationship between political process and public debate on health-care policy, Finally, the implications for the development of new directions for geriatric policies and programs, including an increased emphasis on health-promotion activities, will be explored.
Maintaining Successful Interventions In Social, Vocational, and Community Rehabilitation
Authors: Paquin Michael J. R. , Perry Garry P.
Published: October 2014

This paper will review techniques for promoting the durability of interventions designed to address the return to the community of the chronically mentally disabled client. Specific practitioner techniques are identified, described, and evaluated both in terms of the authors' clinical practice and the research literature. the focus is on social-skills training in general, and in particular, job training, rehabilitation, and community adaptation. They argue that clinicians and researchers should focus on Generalization, Maintenance, and Transfer. This paper presents trainer guidelines and techniques, identifies promising developments, and points to evaluative gaps in our knowledge.
Personal Needs and Social Goals: Issues in Professional Involvement with Victims' Self-Help Groups
Authors: Kowaz Andrea M. , Roesch Ronald , Friessen Walter J.
Published: October 2014

The past decade has seen an upsurge in the development of self-help groups encompassing mutual assistance and/or social advocacy dimensions. Although considerable analyses of the sociological functions of such groups have been conducted, the literature concerning psychological benefits and costs of membership, particularly in victim support groups which commonly combine these two dimensions, is sparse. The present article reports on a group therapy experience, where group participants were all active members of a self-help organization and had all lost family members in accidents involving drunk drivers. This experience highlighted the importance of a number of issues located at the intersection of social goals and individual needs, a grey area the authors believe will become a matter of increasing concern and challenge. Rising costs of health care and the search for alternate treatment models make these issues of special interest to those involved in community mental health. This article is addressed to clinicians and researchers, both of whom will be needed to bring greater understanding to issues emerging from the growth of victims' support groups.
Employee Assistance Programs: Emerging Trends
Authors: MacDonald Scott , Dooley Stephen
Published: October 2014

Ninety-one Employee Assistance Program (EAP) policies were examined to assess factors associated with temporal changes and union endorsement. It was found that recent policies and policies with union participation were significantly more likely to: (a) emphasize mechanisms for promoting voluntary referral, (b) contain more procedures to protect confidentiality, and (c) mention the importance of informing employees about the EAP.
Implantation Et Evaluation D'Un Programme D'Aide Par Les Pairs a L'Ecole Secondaire: Bilan D'Une Premiere Annee D'Operation
Authors: Laurendeau Marie-Claire , Tourigny Marc , Gagnon Gilbert
Published: October 2014

Cet article décrit la première année d'opération d'un programme d'aide par les pairs à l'école secondaire implanté simultanément dans deux quartiers de Montréal ainsi que la démarche d'évaluation qui a accompagné l'implantation du programme. L'objectif de l'évaluation était de documenter le processus d'implantation et les effets du programme en faisant ressortir les conditions favorables ou défavorables à sa réalisation. Les résultats montrent que les modalités d'implantation ont varié beaucoup d'un territoire à l'autre. Les jeunes ayant reču la formation ont démontré une amélioration significative de leur capacité d'empathie et de leur sentiment de compétence dans un seul des deux territoires. Bien que le programme ait connu une bonne notoriété auprès des élèves, peu de contacts d'aide ont été observés dans les deux territoires. La discussion porte sur le róle des caractéristiques culturelles des clientèles et des milieux visés dans l'implantation des programmes d'aide par les pairs.
Du Rapport Castonguay Au Rapport Rochon: Le Developpement Du Systeme De Sante Au Quebec
Authors: Belanger Jean-Pierre
Published: October 2014

The present article is a critical account of the official report from the Commission of Inquiry on Health and Social Services in Quebec (la Commission Rochon). This report is first examined in light of the socio-political context of Quebec society in the '80s with a particular emphasis on factors which directly influenced the development of the Commission's work. The author then presents the main elements of the report. He stresses the quality and appropriateness of studies bearing on Quebec social evolution during the last 20 years and on the identification of health and social problems in the present time. He reminds us of the radical diagnosis made on the organization of health services. The principal options for more adequate health system orientations are then studied in the context of debates following the report publication, two years ago, particularly concerning issues of regional decentralization and financing. The author finally stresses the new challenges of today in social health management, while showing the profound continuity existing between the Commission's works and those of the Castonguay Commission, at the beginning of the '70s.
Attitudes of Community Mental-Health Staff Toward Computers
Authors: Peters Ron
Published: October 2014

Staff attitudes are an important determinant of success or failure when implementing new technologies. Attitudes toward computers were generally very positive among 207 staff of a community mental-health service, but there was notable variation across professions. Attitudes were least positive among physicians and psychologists; social workers held more intermediate views; nursing, clerical, and other (administrative, rehabilitation, and support) staff held the most positive attitudes toward computers. Younger staff were more positively disposed to computers than staff older than 50 years, and attitudes were more positive among staff with higher levels of previous experience with computers.
Personal Services: A Challenge for the Nineties
Authors: D'Aubin April
Published: October 2014

The lifestyles of people with disabilities have been changing rapidly during the last two decades. While in the past people with disabilities tended to remain within the confines of institutions for most of their lives, disabled citizens are now participating in all aspects of community life. Today disabled women and men are marrying, raising families, pursuing a variety of career options, doing volunteer work, and travelling. Many disabled people who lead challenging lifestyles also require personal services which are provided by readers, attendants, homemakers, resource facilitators, and job-site coaches. Consumers are finding that existing delivery systems either fail to meet their needs or unduly constrain their lifestyles. Consequently, people with disabilities have developed a strategy for how personal services should be delivered, and the Coalition of Provincial Organizations of the Handicapped's (COPOH) perspective on this issue is elucidated in this article. This report attempts to convey the concerns which have been raised at various consumer forums in personal testimonies by men and women with disabilities. This is in keeping with COPOH's role as the disabled consumer's voice in Canadian society.
La Qualite De Vie Des Personnes Handicapees: Vers Une Perspective Ecologique
Authors: Boudreault Paul , Bouchard Jean-Marie
Published: October 2014

The integration of people with disabilities into the community challenges us to offer these citizens a quality of life comparable to that of the rest of society. Until now, quality of life in the community has been assessed using measures which compared it to life in institutional settings. Today we are beginning to recognize that the quality of life of handicapped persons should be evaluated using the standards applied to others living in the same neighbourhood. The assessment of quality of life varies over time and is influenced by the family circle, community interactions, and personal development. Thus, quality of life should be measured using criteria which respect human and social ecological principles. The issue of quality of life for handicapped persons is a collective responsibility, representing a major challenge in this decade.
Changing Special Education Practice: Law, Advocacy, And Innovation
Authors: Porter Gordon L. , Richler Diane
Published: October 2014

The development of integrated school programs in Canadian schools is described. The article identifies three factors that have produced progress which is unique to Canada (i.e., the application of law, advocacy, and innovation). The legal factors are linked to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Schools Act in New Brunswick, and two cases, the Elwood case in Nova Scotia and the Robichaud case in New Brunswick. Developments in New Brunswick since the passage of Bill 85 in 1986 that mandates integration are recounted. Advocacy is described in relation to the vision parents have articulated for their children's futures and the collective and individual advocacy of those committed to integrated education. The innovative changes made in a number of schools and school districts and factors linked to districts that have implemented innovative programs are described. Recommendations are made for collaborative action by parents and professionals to achieve exclusionary school programs.
L'utilisation De L'Ordinateur En Readaptation Cognitive
Authors: Braun Claude M. J. , Ethier Marc , Baribeau Jacinthe M. C.
Published: October 2014

This paper is a review of the state of the art in the field of computer-assisted cognitive intervention with people with cerebral dysfunction. A sharp distinction is drawn between the “special education” and “neuro psychological” models of rehabilitation. This facilitates a better understanding of the fact that microcomputers were initially introduced into the general field of cognitive clinical intervention in a brash and unfortunately atheoretical manner. The early published estimations of efficacy of such practices have not been very encouraging. However, it becomes obvious that within a context of intelligent application of microcomputers by professionals well trained in cognitive and neural science, certain highly specific but clearly interesting clinical results have been obtained and should be on the increase. The advantages and disadvantages of using computers in clinical congnitive intervention are discussed. A brief survey of currently useful hardware and software is provided, and developments expected to occur in the near and more remote future are discussed.
The Economic, Social, and Environmental Obstacles Which Seniors With Disabilities Confront In Canada
Authors: Dunn Peter A.
Published: October 2014

This paper presents data about the demographics of disabled seniors in Canada and the range of economic, social, and environmental barriers which they confront. Issues are highlighted connected with the independent living paradigm, marginalization, and the multiple social problems of being elderly, disabled, female, and/or a member of a visible minority. The author then describes the implications for future action research, theory development, policy formulation, and social change.
Le Processus De Production Des Handicaps: Vers Un Cadre Conceptuel Renouvele
Authors: Fougeyrollas Patrick
Published: October 2014

Since the mid-1970s the development of a specific conceptual framework for the consequences of disease and trauma has been occurring at the international level. A growing awareness among health professionals of the chronic physical, intellectual, and emotional problems which are reducing the abilities and social autonomy of a large percentage of the population have led the World Health Organization (WHO) to work on this matter. In this paper, the author explains the conceptual evolution of the field of disabilities. He defines the challenges and potential uses of an international classification of consequences of disease and trauma. This article proposes an interactive conceptual framework for the identification of handicaps and directions for the revision of the WHO's International Classification of Impairments, Disabilities, and Handicaps (ICIDH). It is an invitation for the Canadian mental-health field to express points of view on the present process of the harmonization of terminology and concepts on the Canadian and international scenes. The English version of the proposal to revise the third level of the ICIDH (handicaps) can be obtained from the Canadian Society for the ICIDH, 1399, rue Thibodeau, Lac St-Charles, Québec GOA 2H0, Canada.
Stakeholders As Partners: The Challenges Of Partnership In Quebec Mental Health Policy
Authors: Boudreau Françoise
Published: October 2014

The notion of partnership has swept our society's image makers' imagination and invaded our policy designers' conception of the desirable, the rational, and the marketable. This is particularly true in the field of mental health which is now earnestly investing in its operationalization. This paper presents the case of Quebec, a province which has legislated partnership within its recent mental health policy. The author examines the many responses this concept has provoked among the key stakeholders involved. Such an analysis provides us with a unique and direct insight into the many challenges government-legislated partnership is to meet in the human services, if it is ever to be viable.
Developing Services for Lesbian and Gay Adolescents
Authors: Schneider Margaret
Published: October 2014

The needs of lesbian and gay adolescents for service provision are discussed in this paper. These needs are identified through research investigating milestones in the coming-out process. In addition, the way in which the research results influenced community development initiatives is described. The social context in which the research was conducted is also described.
Soutien Conjugal Et Bien-Etre Des Conjoints Ages, Proposition D'Un Mecanisme D'Action
Authors: Ducharme Francine
Published: October 2014

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to test the relationship between conjugal support, family coping behaviours, and the well-being of community-dwelling elderly marital partners. A multi-stage sample of 135 couples, 65 years of age and over, was drawn from users and non-users of the health and social systems in a large metropolitan area. A series of questionnaires, presented within an interview format, were used to measure the variables of conjugal support, family coping behaviours, well-being (self-assessed health, life satisfaction, and marital satisfaction), and selected demographic and control variables. Each spouse was separately interviewed at home by a trained interviewer. Stepwise multiple regressions were performed. Results revealed for both husbands and wives, a direct effect and an indirect effect of conjugal support on well-being through cognitive family coping strategies, namely “reframing” and “active appraisal” of the problem. A model linking the major variables is proposed. These findings suggest psychosocial interventions to improve cognitive coping strategies and conjugal support with the ultimate aim of enhancing the quality of life of the increased number of elderly marital partners living in the community.
Revue Critique D'Etudes Sur Le Soutien Social Et Sa Relation Avec Le Bien-Etre De Personnes Atteintes De Demence
Authors: Levesque Louise , Cossette Sylvie
Published: October 2014

Many people suffering from dementia live at home, in spite of the demands that such a situation puts on those who care for them. The role of helper is usually assumed by a particular family member who is therefore more likely to feel the impact of the caregiving responsibility. Researchers are concerned with the relationship between the well-being of these helpers and their informal social support. This article presents a critical review of 21 studies of that relationship. The various dimensions of social support considered in the studies are analyzed, as are the methodological limits. A discussion of findings about the relationships between social support and wellbeing completes the analysis. It appears that researchers have a limited conception of social support and assess only a few of its many dimensions in a variety of ways. Very few authors explicitly specify underlying assumptions or a theory relevant to their conceptualization of social support. The weakness and the diversity of this conceptualization are reflected in the measurement tools which consist of a few ad hoc questions on social support in nearly 50% of the studies. Few studies consider the support availability, duration, conflict, and reciprocity. The buffering effect model of support is examined in one study. Inadequate sample size, unrepresentative samples, and lack of control in regard to confounding variables are among the methodological problems identified. When researchers use an evaluative approach to measure social support, the relationships between support and well-being are more often significant than when a descriptive approach is used. In future studies, researchers should be careful to better articulate the theoretical notions proposed in studies on caring for a family member with dementia at home with those coming from studies on social support in general. It is important for researchers to strengthen their study design and to carry out longitudinal studies; they must also try to understand how the influence of society works. From this perspective, one avenue for the future might involve studying the sequence of relationships between stress, support, coping strategies, and well-being. This is all the more important because at the present time certain studies on the caring of persons with dementia are based on a conceptual framework of stress. Such a framework considers support as a mediating factor.
Social Support Functions of Group Reminiscence
Authors: Wong Paul T. P.
Published: October 2014

This paper integrates two major domains of gerontological research, namely, social support and reminiscence, within the conceptual framework of social resources. It reviews the health benefits of informal social support in the elderly and then examines the social support functions of group reminiscence. Although the literature on the social support benefits of group reminiscence is very scanty, available data show it is an effective means of expanding social resources and facilitating socialization, which are essential to the mental health of the aging population.
Sexual Abuse by Therapists: Maintaining the Conspiracy of Silence
Authors: Penfold P. Susan
Published: October 2014

The mental health professions are reluctant to admit, and quick to minimize or deny, therapist sexual abuse. Constructive action will be facilitated by understanding the ingredients of this “conspiracy of silence”: the belief that it only happened in the '60s and '70s, a we-they attitude to abusers, professional protectionism, denial of sexual attraction to clients, trivialisation, idealization of therapist-client sexual contact, victim-blaming, and the myriad fears and other feelings that hinder client disclosure.
The Gatekeeping Process of the DSM
Authors: Larkin June , Caplan Paula J.
Published: October 2014

In this article we examine a series of letters written by members of the DSM-IV Revisions Task Force and by Paula Caplan, who co-authored the proposal for Delusional Dominating Personality Disorder (DDPD), and had been asked to serve on the Self-Defeating Personality Disorder (SDPD) and Late Luteal Phase Dysphoric Disorder (LLPDD) subcommittees. Through this process we identify the gatekeeping techniques used by the DSM Task Force to determine who is, and who is not, normal. In doing so, we unmask the process that guarantees the continuation of a diagnostic manual based on sexist biases.
Adversité Familiale et Troubles du Comportement au Début de la Période de Fréquentation Scolaire
Authors: Vitaro Frank , Tremblay Richard E. , Gagnon Claude
Published: October 2014

The aims of this research were twofold: to investigate the relationship between family adversity (based on a composite index) and the number of teacher-rated behaviourally disordered children in kindergarten and to examine the relationship between family adversity and the stability of behavioural disorders from kindergarten to grade one. The sample was comprised of 3,026 children who were rated by their kindergarten and grade one teachers on three behavioural dimensions (aggressiveness-disruptiveness—13 items; anxiety-withdrawal—6 items; prosociality—10 items) using the Preschool Behavior Questionnaire (Behar & Stringfield, 1974) and the Pro-social Behavior Questionnaire (Weir & Duveen, 1981). The Family Adversity Index (FAI) was based on information provided by mothers pertaining to family structure, parents' occupation, parents' education level, and parents' age at the birth of the child. According to teacher ratings, children who obtained a score of 1.5 standard deviations above the mean of their same-gender classmates on the aggressiveness-disruptiveness and anxiety-withdrawal scales or 1.5 standard deviations below the mean of their same-gender classmates on the prosociality scale were classified as extremes on each of these dimensions. These were termed the “extreme cases.” Results showed that the number of extreme cases on the aggressiveness-disruptiveness scale in kindergarten was significantly related to FAI for both genders. Moreover, the number of extreme aggressive-disruptive cases who remained extreme after making the transition to grade one (i.e., stable cases) was also significantly related to FAI. For both genders, twice more stable aggressive-disruptive cases had a high FAI (i.e., top third) compared to transient extreme cases (i.e., extreme in kindergarten only). Discussion underlines the link between family adversity and incidence and persistence of behavioural problems during the early school years. It also stresses the need to consider family adversity to screen stable extreme aggressive-disruptive cases in kindergarten for early intervention purposes.
Community-Based Economic Development: A Strategy for Primary Prevention
Authors: Bennett Edward M.
Published: October 2014

The negative impact of macroeconomics and conventional economic practices on the well being of Canadian rural communities is reviewed and critically analyzed. Community-based economic development (CBED) is proposed as an alternative economic development strategy. CBED is also proposed as a strategy for sustainable development and for primary prevention. A successful case study is examined and useful principles of implementation based on first-hand experience and knowledge of the literature are presented.
Consumer/Survivor Businesses in Ontario: Challenging the Rehabilitation Model
Authors: Trainor John , Tremblay Jacques
Published: October 2014

In recent years the field of vocational programming for people with serious mental health problems has been undergoing major changes. This paper examines one of the new approaches which has emerged: consumer/survivor-run businesses. These models typically feature as key players people who have used the mental health system themselves. Cooperative businesses are set up in which those involved are employees rather than clients. There is little or no input from professional staff. Consumer/survivor-run businesses represent a challenge to the idea that vocational programs should be based on professional rehabilitation service models. Early results indicate that involvement in these programs substantially reduces the use of mental health services such as inpatient hospitalization.
Santé Mentale au Travail: L'Approche Des Programmes D'Aide Aux Employés
Authors: Rhéaume Jacques
Published: October 2014

This paper concerns the main results of an empirical study addressing 129 practitioners involved in Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) in Quebec. The author defines this type of program on the basis of the linkage between work structure and mental health issues. The linkage between health and work can be appraised through four different traditions: the struggle against alcoholism, work counselling, health and safety at work, and the quality of working life. The present EAP orientations, their organizational setting, and their dominant type of intervention can be related to a work counselling model. A union alternative approach, based on “union counselling” practice indicates a more community-based type of intervention. The conclusion is that both types of interventions are still quite far from a more organizational perspective, in which work structure would represent a salient factor influencing workers' mental health.
La Psychopathologie Du Travail: Une Lecture Différente Du Rapport Travail-Santé Mentale
Authors: Roy Marie-Claire Carpentier
Published: October 2014

Research in North American regarding work and mental health has been most concentrated, until now, on stress issues. Another approach has been developed in France, called “work psychopathology” (psychopathologie du travail) which is based mainly on theories stemming from sociology of work and psychoanalysis. This approach is concerned with prevention, before work pathologies develop. It addresses the issue of the worker's mental health and work organization. It studies work organization, social relationships, and collective behaviour at work, trying to discover which factors are negative and which are positive for mental health. Pleasure and suffering are inseparable elements in work situations. It is important to know the sources and conditions of their development so we can avoid negative consequences like depression, burn out, and somatic disorders. Two studies done in Quebec show results revealing the heuristic richness of this approach, and the appropriateness of two main factors related to mental health: the quality of work communities and community-based collective defense strategies.
Sharing Household Labour: “Could You do the Bedtime Story While I do the Dishes?”
Authors: Hannah Jo-Ann , Quarter Jack
Published: October 2014

The Canadian Mental Health Association (1987) identified the double workday as a major source of stress for women. Drawing on a socialist-feminist analysis, we examined the inequalities in the workloads of men and women in different stages of family life. The data from 223 service sector workers in the Canadian airlines industry were analyzed through multivariate analysis of variance techniques. Results indicated gender inequalities in total workloads as well as types of work. Men and women did equal amounts of child care but women did significantly more housework.
La Perception des Professionnels de la Santé Mentale Quant à la Prestation Aux Personnes Âgées du Nouveau-Brunswick des Services de Consultation en Santé Mentale
Authors: Bourque Paul , Blanchard Louis
Published: October 2014

The present survey examines the barriers associated with the delivery of mental health services to the elderly as perceived by mental health professionals. The sample consisted of 139 professionals of the New Brunswick Mental Health Commission. The results reveal that the mean percentage of elderly clients in the practice of mental health professionals is low. The percentage of elderly clients in the practice of mental health professionals was positively correlated with training in gerontology. The attitudes of the respondents toward the elderly were either positive or neutral rather than negative. In addition, the results show that the barriers perceived by the professionals to explain the low utilization rates differ in order of importance from those acknowledged by the elderly. The lack of human resources was identified as the major barrier to the development of specific consultation services to the elderly. Finally, the implications of these results for the development of mental health consultation services for the elderly are examined.
Validation D'un Questionnaire D'évaluation du Fonctionnement Social Des Personnes Ayant Des Troubles Mentaux Chroniques
Authors: Toupin Jean , Cyr Mireille , Lesage Alain , Valiquette Claude
Published: October 2014

Recognition of the crucial role of social adjustment in the assessment and understanding of major mental disorders is now well established. Deterioration of social relations is one of the criteria to diagnose schizophrenia according to the DSM-III-R. Recent findings (Bellack, Morrison, Wixted, & Mueser, 1990) suggest variable correlations between social adjustment and positive symptoms. This may indicate that the impairments in social functioning are not simply consequences of positive symptoms. Adequate assessment of social functioning is also needed to prescribe proper interventions and for planning purposes. This study was conducted in order to examine the psychometric properties of a modified version of the social adjustment scale (SAS-II). The French version of the SAS-II was modified to allow the assessment of social functioning in hospital settings and other supervised settings. Participants were 276 persons suffering from major mental disorders, mainly schizophrenia (57.4%). Respondents were selected in psychiatric hospitals, psychiatric units of general hospitals, and in the community. Five trained interviewers conducted interviews with the participants. Agreement between independent rates was strong, since 42 out of 45 items yielded intraclass correlations or kappa coefficients above .6. Testretest reliability was satisfactory. Alpha values ranged between ,47 and ,81, Validity was mainly assessed through discriminant analyses of the SAS-II scales with diagnostic groups and current program provision. Reliability and validity results confirmed the relevance of the modified version of the SAS-II for assessing individuals with severe psychiatric disorders in contact with psychiatric services. Recommendations for future development of the scale are proposed.
An Evaluation of Supportive Housing: Qualitative and Quantitative Perspectives
Authors: McCarthy Janice , Nelson Geoffrey
Published: October 2014

This paper reports the findings of an evaluation of supportive housing for people who have been hospitalized in psychiatric facilities. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used to inquire into two key processes, social support and control in the residence, and two key outcomes, quality of life and personal growth. Interviews were conducted with 34 residents of small supportive housing programs, and staff of these settings also provided information. While residents were generally pleased with the amount of support and control they had in their residences, there were some areas in which staff exerted unilateral control (i.e., they made decisions without involving residents in the process). With respect to quality of life, residents were satisfied with their housing, but voiced some concerns over a lack of privacy, stigma, and limited opportunities for participation in the community. Residents reported showing personal growth since entering supportive housing in terms of greater independence, more instrumental role involvement, and improved self-esteem and social skills. Staff confirmed these changes. Residents indicated their increased feelings of competence were due to the social support of staff and friends, acceptance by members of their networks and the community at large, and participation in the residence and community activities. The findings expand our understanding of supportive housing in showing that such programs have beneficial effects besides reduced recidivism rates and increased work productivity for residents and in identifying program processes which contribute to residents' increased competence. Moreover, the findings illustrate the value of using qualitative data in program evaluation.
Une Approche Pro-Active D'intervention Communautaire en Milieu Rural
Authors: Chabot Denis , Mercier Céline , Guay Jérome
Published: October 2014

This paper reports an evaluation study of a pilot project held in a “CLSC” (Local Community Health Centre) located in a rural community. The intervention design is based on multidisciplinary teams created to meet specific local community needs. Mental health intervention is part of community-based approach open to all kinds of requests for support. Practitioners in the field give support not only to the individual with a mental health problem, but also to existing self-help networks in the community. The intervention is also designed to change the relationship between a professional, seen as the one who provides services, and a client, defined as a consumer. The term “client” gains a wider meaning, and collaborative work with informal self-help networks induces a closer relationship between the community and the practitioner. The practitioner is more open to local community values and adjusts his or her practice to match variable contexts. The evaluation study has expanded knowledge on this type of intervention design, on its impact upon service demand, intervention modalities, and service management and organization. This project was coupled with a similar project in an urban environment and was financed by the Health and Social Services Ministry in Québec.
An Evaluation of a Self-Help Clearinghouse: Awareness, Knowledge, and Utilization
Authors: Todres Rubin , Hagarty Stephen
Published: October 2014

This paper reports on an evaluation of the Self-Help Clearinghouse of Metropolitan Toronto. The purpose of the Clearinghouse is to facilitate the growth and development of self-help/mutual aid groups, and to inform and educate both the Metropolitan Toronto professional helping community and the larger community of the nature and availability of self-help. This study included: (a) a pre- and post-test assessment of awareness, knowledge, and utilization of the Clearinghouse's services and (b) a descriptive assessment of the perceived value of the Clearinghouse from the perspective of a range of informants. Study information was collected from: (a) a selection of representatives of Metro Toronto self-help groups (pre-test N = 70 and post-test N = 52) and (b) a selection of representatives of Metro Toronto health and social services agencies (pre-test N = 70 and post-test N=55). The findings demonstrated that the awareness, knowledge, and utilization of the Clearinghouse's services by members of the self-help community and human service professionals increased over a 21/2-year period. Statistically significant differences were noted among both groups in terms of increased awareness and utilization of the Clearinghouse. As well, professionals' increased knowledge of information and referral services and the directory and the self-help groups' perception of a need for a unique organization dealing with self-help were statistically significant. Both groups perceived a need for a distinct clearinghouse for self-help groups and were very satisfied with the services of the Self-Help Clearinghouse in Metropolitan Toronto.
Psychosocial Considerations in the Mental Health of Immigrant and Refugee Children
Authors: Hicks Ruthann , Lalonde Richard N. , Pepler Debra
Published: October 2014

Recent empirical research with immigrant and refugee children is reviewed to identify issues related to the adaptive experiences of these populations. While all migrating children experience stresses associated with change and their adjustment to a new country, the expectation that these stresses invariably lead to higher rates of emotional problems and maladaptive behaviours cannot be supported. Instead, research indicates that a variety of adaptive experiences are encountered, with outcomes determined by a combination of risk and protective factors. Risk and protective factors residing in three interacting systems, the child, the family, and the larger community, are discussed in relation to prevention and intervention.
La Participation Des Communautés Culturelles à L'Intervention et à La Recherche en Santé Mentale
Authors: Mercier Céline , Rousseau Cécile
Published: October 2014

Les programmes d'intervention et de recherche dans le domaine de la santé mentale s'adressent de plus en plus fréquemment à des milieux constitués de communautés culturelles diverses. Intervenants et chercheurs doivent déveloper de nouvelles habiletés pour saisir la complexité de ces nouveaux contextes de pratique. Le travail avec les populations concernées, caractérisées par une forte proportion d'immigrants et de réfugiés et une représentation ethnique diversifiée exige une implication accrue des populations cibles. L'objectif de cet article est de proposer des jalons pour une démarche de recherche qui permettrait de tenir compte de ces paramètres. Cette démarche utilise de façon complémentaire l'approche orientée vers les groupes d'intérét, la recherche participative et l'ethnographic. Dans une première partie, cet article décrit les orientations générales d'une telle démarche. La deuxième partie propose quelques stratégies pour guider le travail sur le terrain en milieu multi-ethnique.
The Immigration Experience of Latin American Families: Research and Action on Perceived Risk and Protective Factors
Authors: Prilleltensky Isaac
Published: October 2014

The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, to contribute to the understanding of risk and protective factors involved in the adaptation of immigrants and refugees. Second, to report on a collaborative, community-driven, action-research project. Both goals were incorporated into a conceptual framework aimed at integrating general knowledge on the topic with the unique experiences of a group of refugees, for the purpose of generating action. The study began addressing three weaknesses of the literature: (a) the lack of investigations on the adaptation of immigrant and refugee children, (b) the need to explore protective mechanisms within refugee families, and (c) the paucity of unity between research and practice.
Adolescent Motherhood: An Application of the Stress and Coping Model to Child-Rearing Attitudes and Practices
Authors: Kurtz Linda , Derevensky Jeffrey L.
Published: October 2014

In the past two decades there has been a significant increase in adolescent pregnancy and childbearing across North America. Research has shown that both mother and child remain at high risk for physical, psychological, social, and economic consequences of premature parenthood and its accelerated role transition. Although considerable research has examined adolescent parenthood, the literature lacks theoretical integration. The stress and coping model is proposed as a theoretical context to explain development outcomes of adolescent motherhood. This model suggests that diminished psychological and social coping resources of adolescent mothers influence negative parent-child interactions and result in ineffective parenting behaviours concomitant with parenting stress, thus increasing the likelihood of high risk outcomes for both parents and children.
Évaluation Apprès Trois ans D'une Intervention Précoce de Soutien au Rôle Parental
Authors: Laurendeau Marie-Clarie , Desjardins Nicole , Kishchuk Natalie
Published: October 2014

Cet article rapporte les résultats d'une évaluation rélisisée au terme de trios années de distribution d'un bulletin péridique adapté à l'âge de l'enfant et distribué aux parents dès la naissance. L'étude portait sur l'appréciation et les effets de l'intervention après trios ans. Par comparaison avec l'évaluation antérieure, réalisée après un an, les résultats indiquent que le bulletin continue d'avoir une très grande pénétration auprès des familles et de leur réseau proche au terme des trois années de distribution. De plus, bien qu'ils soient limités au groupe des mères, les effets du bulletin se sont non seulement maintenus mais intensifiés. Les mères du groupe expérimental connaissent mieux les ressources de soutien aux familles et ont des attitudes plus positives à l'égard de ces ressources que les mères du groupe de comparaison. De plus, elles tendent à afficher une meilleure connaissance du développement de l'enfant. La discussion porte sur les implications de cette étude pour la recherche de měme que sur l'intérél de diffuser l'intervention à plus large échelle.