Community Mental Health Journal[JOURNAL]
Sun
200 papers
"We Get Stuck in our Own Little Bubbles": How Community Mental Healthcare Professionals Acknowledge their Role in Interorganizational Collaboration.
Zabelski S, Hopper LN, Alexander AA … +2 more , Cramer RJ, Reid SE
Community Ment Health J · 2026 Feb · PMID 41045440 · Publisher ↗
Interorganizational collaboration (i.e., organizations working together towards one goal) is one approach that can be used by community-based organizations to ensure marginalized individuals receive needed care. Though t...
Interorganizational collaboration (i.e., organizations working together towards one goal) is one approach that can be used by community-based organizations to ensure marginalized individuals receive needed care. Though there has been some research on the mechanisms of collaboration from the perspective of leadership, less literature has focused on the perspective of staff working in community-based settings. The study aimed to explore staff perceptions of interorganizational collaboration within a North Carolina county and to gather their recommendations for strengthening such collaboration. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with twenty community-based staff that worked with behavioral health clients, were employed in varying roles and occupied different levels of the organization. Employing a generic qualitative methodology, data were analyzed using an inductive coding approach with the help of a research assistant. Thematic analysis was used across codes to generate seven themes. Community-based staff viewed collaboration as primarily driven by historic relationships and being facilitated by the possession of similar technological infrastructure. Staff reflected on the disconnect between interpersonal relationships and organizational relationships when it came to prioritizing client care. Solutions to improving collaboration as a way of strengthening a client's access to care included organizations providing time and space to network, building out technological infrastructure for more organizations, and emphasizing the ability to provide holistic care through collaboration. Using staff-driven solutions to improving collaboration can encourage buy-in and can build sustainable relationships.
"I Just Feel Disconnected": How Feelings of Shame Relate To Experiences of Trauma in People With Psychosis.
Davies K, Isobel S, Steel Z … +2 more , Morgan S, Lappin JM
Community Ment Health J · 2026 Feb · PMID 41034470 · Full text
Research suggests shame plays a mediatory role in the relationship between trauma and psychosis, however, there is limited information on how this may occur. This qualitative study explored how experiences of shame in pe...
Research suggests shame plays a mediatory role in the relationship between trauma and psychosis, however, there is limited information on how this may occur. This qualitative study explored how experiences of shame in people living with psychosis is linked to past trauma. Fourteen adults completed semi-structured interviews. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to develop four themes: (1) shame maintains trauma; (2) trauma-related shame drives disconnection from the self; (3) avoiding shame from trauma leads to disconnection from aliveness; and (4) pervasive shame from trauma leads to isolation. The findings suggest that shame may play a key role in maintaining the influence of trauma on sense of self and on the way people engage with the world, including in the context of psychosis. Future research could explore whether addressing shame through intervention has any impact on the influence trauma has on people experiencing psychosis.
Art as an Agent of Wellbeing and Social -Participation for Mental Health: A Qualitative Study.
Díez-Ríos N, Palacios-Ceña D, Pérez-Corrales J … +3 more , Florencio LL, Rodríguez-Pérez MP, Simó-Algado S
Community Ment Health J · 2026 Feb · PMID 41032143 · Publisher ↗
Art provides a space for expression and personal growth, promoting well-being and reducing stigma, particularly for individuals with mental illness. Museums have shifted to create inclusive experiences for marginalized g...
Art provides a space for expression and personal growth, promoting well-being and reducing stigma, particularly for individuals with mental illness. Museums have shifted to create inclusive experiences for marginalized groups. This study aimed to explore the experiences of people with mental illness who participated in an Art and Museum Intervention program, examining the meanings they attributed to social participation and meaningful occupations through art. A qualitative descriptive study was conducted with 18 participants from a Psychosocial and Occupational Rehabilitation Center in A Coruña, Spain, using purposeful sampling. Data were gathered through focus groups, in-depth interviews, and participant observation, followed by thematic analysis. Participants actively engaged in the study, sharing their experiences of art as a means of social integration. The collaboration between the museum and the rehabilitation center ensured a community-based approach. Two main themes emerged: (1) Art as an agent of socialization, including teamwork, building support networks, community integration, and overcoming stigma; and (2) Well-being and empowerment through meaningful occupation, with subthemes of positive emotions, empowerment, and art as a meaningful activity. The study highlights how museum-led art interventions enhance well-being and social participation, positioning art as a valuable tool in mental health recovery and community inclusion.
Facebook as a Strategy To Deliver a Peer Navigation Intervention for Recently Incarcerated Women with Opioid Use Disorder: A Mixed Methods Descriptive Profile.
Tillson M, Annett J, Webster MA … +7 more , Fallin-Bennett A, Webster M, Clemons A, Robinson C, Crabtree K, Baker-Romans C, Staton M
Community Ment Health J · 2026 Jan · PMID 40973897 · Full text
Recovery support and treatment linkages are critical during transitions from incarceration to community but can be challenging to deliver to hard-to-reach populations. This paper will examine Facebook contacts between pe...
Recovery support and treatment linkages are critical during transitions from incarceration to community but can be challenging to deliver to hard-to-reach populations. This paper will examine Facebook contacts between peer navigators (PNs) and women with opioid use disorder (OUD) following jail release to explore women's use of PN services, including purpose and content of Facebook messages. As part of a larger clinical trial under the Justice Community Opioid Innovation Network (JCOIN), PNs provided OUD treatment navigation and recovery support for 12 weeks following women's release from jail, using remote options such as Facebook. Facebook Messenger transcripts between PNs and participants were qualitatively coded by general and specific conversation topic, and described using quantitative measures (e.g., number of messages). Of the 231 women contacted by PNs through Messenger, 53.7% (n = 124) interacted with their PN. About a third of participants who interacted through Messenger (31.6%) were provided with resource referrals (M = 2.9 resources sent). Most conversations were coded generally as needs/struggles (70.7%) or successes (24.2%). Conversations most frequently discussed family, friends, or partners (15.8%), financial and work matters (14.7%), or housing (13.0%). Analyses indicated that PNs used similar supportive strategies over Facebook as they would in other modalities, including sharing lived experience and providing motivation or encouragement. Peer recovery supports are valuable for women, particularly at critical transitions, like jail release. Social media platforms like Facebook can be a viable strategy to engage participants and provide remote support, especially in areas that may lack in-person resources (e.g., rural regions).
Quality of Life of People with Mental Health Challenges and Problematic Substance Use while Engaged with an Exercise Physiology Service.
Kugelman J, Doohan M, Dyer B … +3 more , O'Brien J, Kayal M, Chapman J
Community Ment Health J · 2026 Feb · PMID 40963048 · Full text
People with mental health challenges and problematic substance use may experience low quality of life (QoL) because of illness-related factors and psychosocial stressors. Evidence indicates that regular exercise can impr...
People with mental health challenges and problematic substance use may experience low quality of life (QoL) because of illness-related factors and psychosocial stressors. Evidence indicates that regular exercise can improve QoL for people with a range of mental health and substance use issues, and Accredited Exercise Physiologists (AEPs) provide evidence-based exercise interventions for people with a range of health conditions. This study examined QoL changes in people with mental health challenges and problematic substance use while engaged in an AEP service. The service was implemented over three years and involved weekly group exercise sessions and health education. Linear mixed-effects models were used to evaluate trajectories of QoL total score and each dimension (independent living, pain, senses, relationships, mental health, coping). A total of 295 participants were inducted, with 161 completing at least two assessments. QoL improved by 5.8% per year (95%CI: 1.8-9.8%), predominantly in mental health and coping dimensions. This study demonstrates the feasibility and adoption of AEP services to inform service planning for improving QoL in people with mental health challenges and problematic substance use.
Burnout and Job Satisfaction among U.S. Peer Recovery Support Specialists: Personal Resilience and Satisfaction with Supervisor and Organizational Support as Mediating Mechanisms.
Krueger DK, Zerden LS, Jensen TM … +1 more , Lombardi BM
Community Ment Health J · 2026 Feb · PMID 40956564 · Publisher ↗
Peer Recovery Support Specialists (PRSS) play a crucial role in the behavioral health (BH) workforce, assisting individuals in their recovery from substance use and mental health challenges. Despite their essential contr...
Peer Recovery Support Specialists (PRSS) play a crucial role in the behavioral health (BH) workforce, assisting individuals in their recovery from substance use and mental health challenges. Despite their essential contributions to the BH field, research on resilience among peers remains limited. To address the literature gap, this study examined how PRSS' personal resilience and workplace satisfaction with supervisor and organizational support mediate the relationship between burnout and job satisfaction. Secondary analysis was conducted using cross-sectional survey data of U.S.-based PRSS (N = 454). Validated measures of burnout, personal resilience, job satisfaction, and workplace support were utilized. Path analysis was used to test the hypothesized mediating roles of personal resilience and satisfaction with supervisor and organizational support. The hypothesized model accounted for 42% of the variance in job satisfaction and yielded excellent model fit: χ (14) = 14.52, p = .41, RMSEA = 0.01 (90% CI = 0.00-0.05), CFI = 1.00, and TLI = 1.00. All three variables were statistically significant mediators. Burnout was directly and negatively associated with job satisfaction. Personal resilience and satisfaction with supervisor and organizational support were positively associated with job satisfaction and negatively with burnout. This study identified key mediating pathways through which burnout impacts job satisfaction among PRSS, underscoring the dual importance of personal resilience and workplace supports and demonstrating the multilevel conditions that can shape PRSS' professional well-being. Results highlighted the need for organizations, policymakers, and researchers to collaboratively develop and assess PRSS-centric interventions that foster supportive and well-resourced work environments.
"Is the Service Ready?": Integrating Peer Support Workers Within Community Mental Health: An Ethnographic Study from Trieste and its Region.
Pollice G, Bodini CF, Menchetti M … +5 more , Da Mosto D, Negrogno L, Betti L, Furlan M, Quaranta I
Community Ment Health J · 2026 Jan · PMID 40956563 · Full text
Peer support, endorsed by WHO and national guidelines, is increasingly recognised as a key component of mental health care innovation. However, while peer support has gained increasing attention, the effective integratio...
Peer support, endorsed by WHO and national guidelines, is increasingly recognised as a key component of mental health care innovation. However, while peer support has gained increasing attention, the effective integration of Peer Support Workers (PSWs) within mental health services-and the systemic challenges it involves-remains a relatively under-investigated area. This study investigates the integration of PSWs in Trieste and its region, a pivotal site of Italy's psychiatric reform, where the deinstitutionalisation movement fostered the transition to a community-based care model. The present study adopted an ethnographic methodology, encompassing a six-month field study involving participant observation and 22 semi-structured interviews with 12 PSWs and 10 mental health professionals. PSWs contribute to enhancing empathy, user engagement, and social inclusion, while also fostering a recovery and community-oriented approach to care. However, challenges have emerged, including role ambiguity, institutional under-recognition, and professional resistance. These tensions often reflect broader issues around power dynamics and the epistemic legitimacy of lived experience. The study also identifies strategies to support PSW integration, including safeguarding practices, interprofessional training, and institutional recognition. In addition to their clinical and relational contributions, PSWs offer an opportunity for mental health services to critically reflect on their practices, assumptions, and power structures. Their meaningful inclusion can catalyse a shift towards more participatory, rights-based, and recovery-oriented care.
Predictors of Engagement in Community-based Residential Mental Health Rehabilitation: Modelling of a cross-sectional Statewide Benchmarking Dataset from Queensland, Australia.
Falvey O, Jones D, Stedman T … +1 more , Parker S
Community Ment Health J · 2026 Jan · PMID 40928720 · Full text
Engaging residents with the support available at community-based residential mental health rehabilitation facilities is an ongoing challenge for health services. This study explored factors associated with residential re...
Engaging residents with the support available at community-based residential mental health rehabilitation facilities is an ongoing challenge for health services. This study explored factors associated with residential rehabilitation engagement across Queensland, Australia through regression modelling of cross-sectional data from a statewide benchmarking activity completed in 2023 (n = 208). The Residential Rehabilitation Engagement Scale (RRES) assessed each resident's rehabilitation engagement. A broad range of potential predictors were considered, including resident and unit-level variables. Only 45.2% of residents had an average RRES score consistent with being engaged with rehabilitation support usually or always. Higher levels of rehabilitation engagement were significantly associated with lower levels of psychosocial disability (B = - 0.413, p < .001), length of treatment (B = - 0.165, p = .008), care under the integrated staffing model (B = 0.156, p = .012), higher staff recovery knowledge and attitudes (B = 0.138, p = .037), and physical illness or disability (B = 0.129, p = .045). In conclusion, engagement in residential rehabilitation was associated with both resident and staff factors. The observation that engagement was higher where unit staff endorsed recovery knowledge and attitudes, and under the integrated staffing model is important. This suggests potential modifiable service characteristics that may support improved rehabilitation engagement in the future.
The Development of Stakeholder-Driven and Theory-Informed Depression Care Decision Aid for Ethnoracially Diverse Communities in Primary Care.
Patel SR, Little V, Baca S … +4 more , Aryee V, Dixon LB, Pincus HA, Lewis-Fernández R
Community Ment Health J · 2025 Nov · PMID 40924374 · Publisher ↗
Guided by the Ottawa Decision Support Framework, we created a depression care decision aid for Latinx and African American individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD) at a network of Federally Qualified Health Cente...
Guided by the Ottawa Decision Support Framework, we created a depression care decision aid for Latinx and African American individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD) at a network of Federally Qualified Health Centers. We surveyed 94 African American and Latinx individuals with MDD about their decision making needs. Focus groups elaborated on these preferences. Results show that about half of the sample preferred a collaborative role in decision making. Respondents report greater preference for receiving information about care compared to lower preferences for shared decision making. Focus group themes included fear of judgment, importance of being informed of care options and exploring care preferences, value of a provider who is a trusted friend and medical expert, and the importance of flexible decision making. Survey and focus groups results were used to iteratively develop a depression care decision aid. Future work will evaluate acceptability, feasibility, and effect of the depression care decision aid.
The Technology Use Survey: An Actionable Digital Literacy Assessment that Matches Clients to Training Resources.
Dwyer B, Mikkelson J, Diaz-Pacheco V … +2 more , Myrick KJ, Torous J
Community Ment Health J · 2026 Jan · PMID 40921981 · Publisher ↗
Digital literacy, the ability of an individual to use and interact with technology, is increasingly recognized as a social determinant of health, especially for accessing healthcare today. Despite the proliferation of di...
Digital literacy, the ability of an individual to use and interact with technology, is increasingly recognized as a social determinant of health, especially for accessing healthcare today. Despite the proliferation of digital health tools, a digital divide remains concerning the ability of everyone to benefit from these digital resources, disproportionately impacting individuals with serious mental illnesses. Many existing digital literacy assessments, such as e-HEALS, SPIDER, and DHLS, identify gaps in digital literacy but do not offer actionable steps to address them. To bridge this divide, we developed the Technology Use Survey and Matching Guide, an actionable tool designed to assess digital literacy and align individuals' needs with tailored training resources through the Digital Outreach for Obtaining Resources and Skills program. Piloted with diverse populations, including individuals in inpatient psychiatric units, community health centers, and mental health clubhouses, this new scale and matching tool were able to identify knowledge gaps, address learning barriers, and enhance digital health engagement. Case studies demonstrate how targeted interventions improved functional outcomes and access to healthcare. By merging assessment with actionable education, our framework promotes digital equity and allows all individuals to engage meaningfully with technology. Future research will refine these tools and evaluate long-term outcomes.
Understanding Violent Behavior in Early Psychosis Through the Fluid Vulnerability Theory: an Exploratory Qualitative Study.
Rolin SA, Flores MG, Caffrey D … +5 more , Mootz J, Dixon LB, Appelbaum PS, Stanley B, Pope LG
Community Ment Health J · 2026 Jan · PMID 40921980 · Full text
Compared to the general population, young adults with early psychosis are at increased risk of violent behavior. Existing research has found contextual similarities between violent behavior and suicidal behavior. Therefo...
Compared to the general population, young adults with early psychosis are at increased risk of violent behavior. Existing research has found contextual similarities between violent behavior and suicidal behavior. Therefore, this study examines the drivers and consequences of violent ideation and behavior among young adults with early psychosis by applying frameworks developed for suicide prevention. This research was conducted at OnTrackNY, a network of early intervention services (EIS) that provides coordinated specialty care services to young adults with non-affective psychosis that began within the past two years. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 6 EIS participants and 12 EIS staff members. The interview guide applied the "suicide narrative" format from the Stanley-Brown Safety Planning Intervention by asking EIS staff and EIS participants detailed questions about a specific episode of violent ideation or behavior. Participant responses were then categorized using Fluid Vulnerability Theory (FVT). This study found that it was feasible to discuss information about a specific violence-related crisis for young adults with early psychosis and their treatment teams by eliciting violence narratives. In doing so, EIS participants and staff identified several risk factors from the FVT domains that previously sparked either violent ideation or behavior. In addition to identifying potential target mechanisms for future interventions, these narratives may lead to more compassionate and therapeutic understandings of violence for young adults with early psychosis. Future research is recommended to explore how best to incorporate violence narratives in the treatment of early psychosis.
Administrative Burdens as Distinct Barriers to Accessing Mental Health Services in Community Mental Health Centers and Federally Qualified Health Centers: A Mixed-Methods Assessment.
Adams DR
Community Ment Health J · 2026 Jan · PMID 40913690 · Publisher ↗
Increasingly, adolescents are struggling with poor mental health outcomes, making it essential to improve access to high-quality mental health services. Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) and Federally Qualified Hea...
Increasingly, adolescents are struggling with poor mental health outcomes, making it essential to improve access to high-quality mental health services. Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) act as key "safety-net" health centers for low-income youth seeking mental health services, as the majority accept Medicaid. This study examines how administrative burdens, i.e., challenges citizens face when interacting with a government agency, may act as barriers to accessing mental health services, especially for adolescents and their caregivers. This exploratory sequential mixed-methods study uses data from semi-structured interviews with hospital- and community-based social workers, and from a mystery shopper study conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic with CMHCs and FQHCs in a large metropolitan county in the United States. It addresses three questions: (1) what kinds of administrative burdens exist in accessing mental health care for adolescents and their families at FQHCs and CMHCs? (2) how do these burdens convey potential learning, compliance, and psychological costs to prospective clients? (3) how do these burdens act as distinct barriers to accessing mental health services for adolescents and their families within safety-net health centers? Moreso than CMHCs, FQHCs implemented a variety of administrative burdens on prospective clients, such as a requirement to designate their primary care physician into the FQHCs network through their insurance prior to scheduling, difficult-to-navigate phone trees, unanswered voicemails, rude or discriminatory interactions with schedulers, and complex referral processes. This study finds that administrative burdens may act as distinct barriers to accessing mental healthcare. Recommendations to reduce administrative burdens at the organizational- and system-levels are discussed.
Perspectives on the Low Demand Transitional Model in Engaging and Housing hard-to-reach Veterans Experiencing Unsheltered Homelessness.
Kinney RL, Haley G, Misedah-Robinson L … +3 more , Young MS, Johnson EE, Tsai J
Community Ment Health J · 2026 Jan · PMID 40890549 · Publisher ↗
Nationwide around 226,080 homeless individuals are unsheltered each night. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Low Demand program is a community-based model which provides supportive transitional housing to hard...
Nationwide around 226,080 homeless individuals are unsheltered each night. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Low Demand program is a community-based model which provides supportive transitional housing to hard-to-reach, unsheltered veterans who often have complex needs and may be unable or unwilling to participate in supportive services which aim to prevent or rapidly re-house veterans when facing housing instability or homelessness. The goal of this study was to examine Low Demand community providers' perceptions of the facilitators and barriers to Low Demand model engagement and effectiveness among unsheltered homeless veterans. Semi-structured interviews, composed of 20 open-ended questions, were conducted with a convenience sample of VA Low Demand community providers and VA staff affiliated with the programs. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, and an inductive approach was employed allowing the data to determine the main categories and subthemes. Three coders independently summarized, coded, and compared transcripts. Qualitative analyses were performed in Atlas.ti. Forty-five Low Demand community providers completed the interview. Providers reported an average four years (range: 3 weeks-14 years) of experience in their current role. Five categories were identified from the qualitative data: (1) Barriers to Low Demand model success, (2) Facilitators of Low Demand model success, (3) Collaborative assessments with VA guide Low Demand program resident retention, (4) Recommendations to reduce returns to homelessness among Low Demand residents, and (5) Low Demand model areas for improvement. Community providers consider the Low Demand model to be an effective option for housing unsheltered veterans who have complex needs. Barriers to retaining and transitioning Low Demand residents to permanent housing were noted. In-facility basic life skills education, financial planning, and relationship reconstruction along with onsite mental health services may support positive program exits. Engaging veterans in aftercare programs and/or retention case management is crucial in the prevention of returns to homelessness. Strong community and VA collaborations are essential to maximizing positive Low Demand program outcomes.
Types of Coercive Practices, Disability and Days in Crisis in People With Suicide Attempts in Latin American.
Agudelo-Hernández F, Mejía-Chaves M, Acuña-Mejía PA … +2 more , Plata-Casas LI, Cuadrado L
Community Ment Health J · 2026 Jan · PMID 40884620 · Publisher ↗
The present study aimed to identify the types of coercive practices in healthcare services and to analyze their relationship with psychosocial disability and days in crisis among individuals with suicide attempts in Colo...
The present study aimed to identify the types of coercive practices in healthcare services and to analyze their relationship with psychosocial disability and days in crisis among individuals with suicide attempts in Colombia. A mixed-methods design was adopted. The quantitative component consisted of an analytical cross-sectional study with a stratified sample of 622 individuals, using validated instruments to assess depressive symptoms, resilience, subjective well-being, loneliness, continuity of care and psychosocial disability. The qualitative component involved 30 semi-structured interviews, analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Multivariate analysis explained 45.1% of the variance in days in crisis. Coercive practices were significantly associated with higher levels of psychosocial disability, more severe depressive symptoms, and lower scores in resilience and subjective well-being (p <.001). Qualitative findings revealed perceptions of dehumanizing treatment, normalization of coercion by health personnel and disruption of the therapeutic relationship. Coercive practices represent a risk factor for psychosocial recovery.
"Where are we on the Road Towards Family-focused Practice in Mental Healthcare?" - Perspectives from a Swedish/Norwegian Research Collaborative.
Aass LK, Weimand B, Ewertzon M … +5 more , Skundberg-Kletthagen H, Lindholm I, Moen ØL, Schröder A, Andfossen NB
Community Ment Health J · 2026 Jan · PMID 40853518 · Full text
As a Norwegian/Swedish research network based on a family-focused practice in mental healthcare, we recognise the need to highlight this approach for the future quality and sustainability of the care and services provide...
As a Norwegian/Swedish research network based on a family-focused practice in mental healthcare, we recognise the need to highlight this approach for the future quality and sustainability of the care and services provided. The role of family members in caring for individuals with mental health conditions is situational and diverse, encompassing several support areas such as emotional support, continuation of social and living skills, economic assistance, and monitoring for signs of illness and relapse prevention. In this context, volunteers have also been encouraged to contribute as partners in the support and follow-up of individuals with mental health issues. Although mental health services were primarily hospital-based in the past, there has been a shift in recent decades towards community-based care with support from specialist services. The aim has been to foster a respectful partnership between patients, families, and professionals, including a commitment to increasing family involvement and providing greater support to family members. Despite the recommendation for family-focused practice, we believe that health professionals still prioritise their alliance with the patient as their foremost responsibility. In this article, we advocate for an enhanced emphasis on family-focused approaches and underscore the importance of utilising knowledge-based family-focused practice models.
Applying the Research Domain Criteria to Social Determinants of Community Mental Health in Low-Resource Settings: A Contextualized Framework with Insights from the TOPOWA Study.
Swahn MH, Culbreth RE, Palmier J … +2 more , Kavuma A, Jovanovic T
Community Ment Health J · 2026 Jan · PMID 40847084 · Full text
There is increasing recognition of the importance of integrating social determinants of mental health (SDoMH) into research frameworks to better understand how socioeconomic and environmental stressors shape mental healt...
There is increasing recognition of the importance of integrating social determinants of mental health (SDoMH) into research frameworks to better understand how socioeconomic and environmental stressors shape mental health outcomes, particularly in low-resource settings. This paper presents an innovative conceptual approach that combines the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) with a social determinants lens to explore the pathways linking social adversity to mental health challenges. Drawing on insights from the NIH-funded TOPOWA Study, which examines the effects of poverty and social disadvantage on young women's mental health in urban Uganda, the approach integrates diverse data sources, including biomarkers, wearable sensors, and self-report surveys, to capture multilevel influences on mental health. This framework illustrates how RDoC can be adapted for community-based, context-sensitive research and supports the development of more targeted mental health interventions in low resource settings. By situating individual-level processes within broader structural conditions, the model contributes to a more nuanced understanding of mental health risk and resilience. While grounded in a specific study, the framework offers a scalable model for advancing mental health research and intervention in other low-resource or underserved contexts.
"Stop, Think, and Appreciate": A Qualitative Exploration of a Challenge Coin Suicide Prevention Intervention among Farmers.
Ward JM, Perkins M, Blosnich JR
Community Ment Health J · 2026 Jan · PMID 40833660 · Full text
Farmers are at increased risk for suicide compared to the general population, with estimates 56% higher among males in agriculture/forestry/fishing roles than the male working population. This study explored a farmer-dev...
Farmers are at increased risk for suicide compared to the general population, with estimates 56% higher among males in agriculture/forestry/fishing roles than the male working population. This study explored a farmer-developed suicide prevention intervention using an adapted military challenge coin for agriculture. An agricultural community member shared a message of appreciation with the farmer recipient. Farmers recently receiving a challenge coin were purposively sampled. Semi-structured interviews via telephone/videoconference explored farmers' challenge coin experiences and perceptions. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and de-identified before thematic coding. Participants (n = 14) were aged 28-68 years. All interviewees were non-Hispanic White, and 71% had off-farm jobs. Themes included the reception of the challenge coin, feelings elicited, and protective nature of the challenge coin against suicide, encouraging farmer connectedness and demonstrating appreciation. These data provide initial exploration of challenge coins adapted for farmer suicide prevention, developed within a farming community. Additional research regarding the impact is needed.
Community/Crisis Cafés: Perspectives of Service Users and Carers Scoping Review.
Dhoibhilín NN, Doody O, Bohan D … +1 more , Murphy L
Community Ment Health J · 2025 Nov · PMID 40828358 · Full text
Community/Crisis Cafés offer an alternative, out-of-hours mental health support by providing a safe, peer/clinician-supported environment for individuals in crisis. These cafés utilise peer support models that draw on pe...
Community/Crisis Cafés offer an alternative, out-of-hours mental health support by providing a safe, peer/clinician-supported environment for individuals in crisis. These cafés utilise peer support models that draw on personal experience, fostering connections and aiding in crisis management. Despite the growing global implementation of these cafés, limited research exists on how service users and carers experience and benefit from them. This study aims to explore the perspectives of service users and carers on accessing and utilising support through community/crisis cafés both nationally and internationally. A scoping review was guided by Arksey and O'Malley's framework and included keyword searches of eight databases (Academic Search Complete, APA PsychInfo, CINAHL, Cochrane, Embase, Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science), combined with grey literature searches of LENSUS, Health Service Executive, WHO Global Index, NHS, and Open Grey. Backward and forward chaining of references was also completed to ensure all literature was sourced. Papers were limited to 2010-2023 and in English. Covidence was used for the screening process, ten papers met the review criteria and are reported as per the PRISMA-ScR checklist and PRISMA flow diagram. The findings of ten papers on service users and carers experiences indicate that Community/Crisis Cafés can have a positive impact on mental health management, alleviate social isolation, and reduce emergency department use. However, challenges such as consistency in service delivery and accessibility were noted. Further research and ongoing evaluation are necessary to fully understand the efficacy and limitations of this alternative co-produced, community mental health service delivery model.
"We Have to Evict Certain People Sometimes": A Descriptive Mixed-Methods Study of Service Providers' Perceptions of the Impacts of High-Risk Issues in Supportive Housing and Housing First.
Kerman N, Kidd SA, Aubry T … +6 more , Henwood BF, Marshall CA, Oudshoorn A, Sirotich F, Sylvestre J, Stergiopoulos V
Community Ment Health J · 2026 Jan · PMID 40818013 · Publisher ↗
High-risk issues, such as overdose, suicidality, hoarding, violence, property damage, and apartment takeovers, are known challenges in supportive housing and Housing First programs. However, the effects of these incident...
High-risk issues, such as overdose, suicidality, hoarding, violence, property damage, and apartment takeovers, are known challenges in supportive housing and Housing First programs. However, the effects of these incidents on residents, service providers, and programs have been minimally studied. The objective of this mixed-methods study was to understand what service providers perceived as the impacts of various high-risk issues in supportive housing and Housing First programs, with an emphasis on housing tenure. This descriptive study used an exploratory sequential mixed-methods design, with unequal weighting (QUAL→quan). In-depth interviews were held with 32 service providers working in supportive housing and Housing First programs, followed by an online survey of 202 additional service providers across Canada. In the qualitative dataset, high-risk issues were identified as having three types of potentially harmful impacts: [1] "we have to evict certain people sometimes" (residents' housing stability); [2] "we're exposed to these traumas as well" (service providers' mental health); and [3] "we're losing our stock, basically" (organizational relationships with landlords and access to housing units). Convergence was generally found in the quantitative findings, with high-risk issues affecting other individuals and property being perceived as more likely to cause housing loss. Service providers working in scattered-site programs reported that hoarding, overdose, and apartment takeovers were significantly more likely to cause housing loss than did participants of single-site programs. Overall, study findings underscore how high-risk issues, particularly those affecting others and property, can be potential housing trajectory-altering events and that this is further shaped by housing and support models.
The Role of the Neighborhood Social Environment on Adulthood Depression: Insights from Midlife in the United States III.
Rogers BJ, Deng Y, Moniruzzaman M … +1 more , Tamura K
Community Ment Health J · 2026 Jan · PMID 40773113 · Full text
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a serious public health concern in the United States. Prior research has shown that neighborhood characteristics serve as protective factors against depression in adolescents. Few studi...
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a serious public health concern in the United States. Prior research has shown that neighborhood characteristics serve as protective factors against depression in adolescents. Few studies have examined the association between perceived neighborhood characteristics and depression during middle and older adulthood. We examined the association between each perceived neighborhood social environment (i.e., social cohesion and safety) and the presence of MDD among Midlife in the United States III (MIDUS) participants (n = 2,435, mean age = 63.6 years, Female = 54.4%). Moreover, we investigated whether these associations were moderated by sex and income, separately. All models were adjusted for demographic variables. Overall, perceived neighborhood social cohesion and safety were negatively associated with the presence of MDD. The associations varied when analyses were stratified by sex and income. Findings offer support for the perceived neighborhood social environments as protective factors against depression during middle and older adulthood.
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