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Gillian O'Brien

Bio: Gillian O'Brien is an academic researcher. The author has contributed to research in topics: Mental health & Psychology. The author has an hindex of 2, co-authored 4 publications receiving 33 citations.

Papers
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Emerging evidence is provided that Jigsaw is an accessible and effective service which plays a key role in the continuum of mental health care for young people in Ireland.
Abstract: Objectives: Jigsaw is an early intervention mental health service developed by Headstrong which provides support to young people, aged 12–25 years, in 10 communities across Ireland. This study aimed to profile young people who availed of Jigsaw, in one calendar year, and to provide evidence that Jigsaw’s model facilitates the reduction of psychological distress. Methods: Participants were 2420 young people who received support, directly or indirectly, from Jigsaw. Demographic details, including age, gender, presenting issues and referral pathways, captured on the Jigsaw Data System were described and psychological distress was assessed using the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation (CORE) questionnaires. Results: A gender balance was almost observed and the majority of participants were between 15 and 17 years old. The most common presenting issue was anxiety and the most common referral sources were self, parent, general practitioner, school and Adult Mental Health Services (AMHS). Participants reported high levels of psychological distress pre-intervention and levels were significantly lower post intervention. Conclusions: Although a lack of control group limits interpretation of the study findings, this study provides emerging evidence that Jigsaw is an accessible and effective service which plays a key role in the continuum of mental health care for young people in Ireland.

42 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors describe the evolution of Jigsaw services, which are now firmly embedded in the Irish system of care for young people, and recognized internationally as an established service network.
Abstract: Aim There has been a global movement towards transformation of youth mental health services, but limited information on the core principles and characteristics of these new services is available. Jigsaw is one such service, established in Ireland in 2006, with the intent of creating change in Ireland's system of mental healthcare for 12-25 year olds. The aim of this paper is to describe the evolution of Jigsaw services, which are now firmly embedded in the Irish system of care for young people, and recognized internationally as an established service network. Methods This paper describes provides an up-to-date description of the Jigsaw service model, key areas of evolution that have shaped this model, and identifies future directions in service development. Results Key attributes of the Jigsaw service model including therapeutic service, scope of practice, youth mental health promotion, youth participation, and monitoring/evaluation are described in this paper. Information on key enablers (funding and governance/quality) and service providers is also included. Conclusions Information on the core principles and characteristics of youth mental health services is important. This paper addresses a gap in the literature by describing the Jigsaw service model, which continues to evolve so that it is responsive to the needs of young people.

8 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Overall, parents had high levels of satisfaction with Jigsaw and their level of satisfaction did not vary depending on the parent or young person’s age and/or gender.
Abstract: Measuring parent satisfaction is regarded as essential but there is a paucity of research reporting on parental satisfaction with community youth mental health services. This study aims to examine parent satisfaction with Jigsaw – a primary care youth mental health service.,A measure of parent satisfaction was developed and administered to parents in 12 Jigsaw services over a two-year period (n = 510, age range: 28 to 70 years) when young people and parents were ending their engagement with these services.,Overall, parents had high levels of satisfaction with Jigsaw and their level of satisfaction did not vary depending on the parent or young person’s age and/or gender. Examination of qualitative feedback revealed three overarching themes relating to growth and change in young people, parents and their families; strengths of the service and; suggestions for future service development. Analysis of the psychometric properties of the measure provided evidence for a two-factor structure examining satisfaction with the intervention and outcomes and service accessibility and facilities.,This study represents one of the first efforts to measure parent satisfaction with primary care youth mental health services. It has resulted in the development of a brief measure that can be more widely administered to parents engaging with primary care youth mental health services.

3 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article , recordings of 40 individual supervision meetings over six months for five supervisory dyads in an Irish, transdisciplinary youth mental health service were analyzed and illustrated according to the Seven-Eyed model of supervision.
Abstract: ABSTRACT In this observational study, recordings of 40 individual supervision meetings over six months for five supervisory dyads in an Irish, transdisciplinary youth mental health service were analyzed and illustrated according to the Seven-Eyed model of supervision. Results offer empirical support regarding the model’s relevance for supervision practice, provide practice-based evidence to elaborate aspects of the model, and show the model’s value in identifying areas of practice that may benefit from development. Illustrations of some supervision exchanges are shared which contribute to our understanding of the complexity of working at the personal-professional boundary, particularly in workplace, transdisciplinary supervision involving dual roles.

2 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper , a longitudinal, naturalistic, observational case study design is presented to analyze and illustrate the usefulness of the six category intervention framework as a guide for supervisory practice.
Abstract: Heron's six category intervention framework, delineating key intervention styles within helping relationships, was developed to guide therapeutic work but has also been applied to supervisory work. Some previous research has investigated this framework's relevance for practice but there has been no previous research analyzing its application to supervision. Following a longitudinal, naturalistic, observational case study design, this study aimed to analyze and illustrate the usefulness of the six category intervention framework as a guide for supervisory practice. Individual meetings of five supervisory dyads in an Irish transdisciplinary, brief-intervention, public youth mental health service were recorded for 6 months. A codebook applying Heron's intervention framework to supervision was developed inductively and deductively, good interrater reliability was established, and transcripts of 20 of the dyads' supervision meetings were coded and analyzed. Informative interventions were found to be most dominant, followed by supportive and prescriptive interventions. Catalytic interventions were seldom used, and confronting and cathartic interventions were rare. It is concluded that the high use of informative interventions fitted the needs of early-career supervisees and the high pace of a brief-intervention service. However, a greater balance of interventions is recommended in supervisory practice, particularly more catalytic, cathartic, and confronting interventions, in order to foster supervisee autonomy and capability. Detailed illustrations of seldom-used interventions are presented and analyzed, and opportunities for their greater use are considered. It is concluded that the six category intervention framework offers a useful guide for supervisor training and ongoing development of supervisory practice in workplace settings. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

1 citations


Cited by
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Book ChapterDOI
19 Dec 2005

1,788 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The best available data indicate that many young people who may not otherwise have sought help are accessing these mental health services, and there are promising outcomes for most in terms of symptomatic and functional recovery.
Abstract: Although mental health problems represent the largest burden of disease in young people, access to mental health care has been poor for this group. Integrated youth health care services have been proposed as an innovative solution. Integrated care joins up physical health, mental health and social care services, ideally in one location, so that a young person receives holistic care in a coordinated way. It can be implemented in a range of ways. A review of the available literature identified a range of studies reporting the results of evaluation research into integrated care services. The best available data indicate that many young people who may not otherwise have sought help are accessing these mental health services, and there are promising outcomes for most in terms of symptomatic and functional recovery. Where evaluated, young people report having benefited from and being highly satisfied with these services. Some young people, such as those with more severe presenting symptoms and those who received fewer treatment sessions, have failed to benefit, indicating a need for further integration with more specialist care. Efforts are underway to articulate the standards and core features to which integrated care services should adhere, as well as to further evaluate outcomes. This will guide the ongoing development of best practice models of service delivery.

160 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The recent advances and evidence supporting an innovative integrated model of youth mental health care and look to the future are discussed.
Abstract: Early intervention is a fundamental principle in health care and the past two decades have seen it belatedly introduced into the field of mental health. This began in psychotic disorders, arguably the least promising place to start. The steady accumulation of scientific evidence for early intervention has eventually overwhelmed the sceptics, transformed thinking in psychotic disorders and created an international wave of service reform. This paradigm shift has paved the way to a more substantial one: early intervention across the full diagnostic spectrum. 75% of mental illnesses emerge before the age of 25 years, and young people bear the major burden for those disorders that threaten the many decades of productive adult life. The paradox is that young people aged between 12 and 25 years have had by far the worst levels of access to mental health care across the whole lifespan. Health services are poorly designed, grossly under-resourced and typically unfriendly to, and untrusted by, young people. Furthermore, until recently there has been a quite striking lack of interest in this transitional age group from clinicians and researchers alike, who had unthinkingly accepted the paediatric-adult split of mainstream medicine without questioning its utility and validity for our field and our young patients. Over the past decade, however, a major shift in momentum has occurred to take early intervention in youth mental health more seriously. Here we discuss the recent advances and evidence supporting an innovative integrated model of youth mental health care and look to the future.

143 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Evidence that several countries are now engaged in transformation of youth mental health services and in evaluation of these initiatives is reported, showing progress in the field of early intervention in psychotic disorders, research in deficiencies in the current system and social advocacy.
Abstract: The objective of this review is to report on recent developments in youth mental health incorporating all levels of severity of mental disorders encouraged by progress in the field of early intervention in psychotic disorders, research in deficiencies in the current system and social advocacy. The authors have briefly reviewed the relevant current state of knowledge, challenges and the service and research response across four countries (Australia, Ireland, the UK and Canada) currently active in the youth mental health field. Here we present information on response to principal challenges associated with improving youth mental services in each country. Australia has developed a model comprised of a distinct front-line youth mental health service (Headspace) to be implemented across the country and initially stimulated by success in early intervention in psychosis; in Ireland, Headstrong has been driven primarily through advocacy and philanthropy resulting in front-line services (Jigsaw) which are being implemented across different jurisdictions; in the UK, a limited regional response has addressed mostly problems with transition from child–adolescent to adult mental health services; and in Canada, a national multi-site research initiative involving transformation of youth mental health services has been launched with public and philanthropic funding, with the expectation that results of this study will inform implementation of a transformed model of service across the country including indigenous peoples. There is evidence that several countries are now engaged in transformation of youth mental health services and in evaluation of these initiatives.

128 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Evidence suggests that it would be unrealistic to consider promotion and prevention in mental health responsibility of mental health professionals alone, and Integrated and multidisciplinary services are needed to increase the range of possible interventions and limit the risk of poor long-term outcome.
Abstract: Similar to other health care sectors, mental health has moved towards the secondary prevention, with the effort to detect and treat mental disorders as early as possible. However, converging evidence sheds new light on the potential of primary preventive and promotion strategies for mental health of young people. We aimed to reappraise such evidence. We reviewed the current state of knowledge on delivering promotion and preventive interventions addressing youth mental health. Half of all mental disorders start by 14 years and are usually preceded by non-specific psychosocial disturbances potentially evolving in any major mental disorder and accounting for 45% of the global burden of disease across the 0–25 age span. While some action has been taken to promote the implementation of services dedicated to young people, mental health needs during this critical period are still largely unmet. This urges redesigning preventive strategies in a youth-focused multidisciplinary and trans-diagnostic framework which might early modify possible psychopathological trajectories. Evidence suggests that it would be unrealistic to consider promotion and prevention in mental health responsibility of mental health professionals alone. Integrated and multidisciplinary services are needed to increase the range of possible interventions and limit the risk of poor long-term outcome, with also potential benefits in terms of healthcare system costs. However, mental health professionals have the scientific, ethical, and moral responsibility to indicate the direction to all social, political, and other health care bodies involved in the process of meeting mental health needs during youth years.

121 citations