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Biomedical subjects

M P Van Hook

Publications and source records attributed to M P Van Hook.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Women's help-seeking patterns for depression.

Depression tends not to be accurately identified and treated in primary care settings. Women of color are especially likely to use these settings for mental health issues but are less likely to be diagnosed appropriately. A study was conducted within four Florida primary care clinics serving primarily low-income families. Participants included 321 women (Black, 22%, Hispanic, 23.5%, White, 38.6%) who completed a confidential questionnaire while waiting to be seen by clinic staff. Ten percent reported recent major depression, with 26.7% indicating depressive symptoms during the past two years. Depressed women were significantly more likely to report physical violence during the past year. Respondents turned primarily to family, friends, and medical clinics for their depression. They found turning to clinic staff to be helpful and described psychosocial interventions as useful. Members of all ethnic/racial groups reported barriers to seeking help, including perceived separation between mental health and general health and stigma. Implications are discussed in terms of appropriate community education and screening procedures.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

The linkage model for delivering mental health services in rural communities: benefits and challenges.

Growing recognition of the interconnections between physical and mental health has generated interest in finding ways to link these sectors of care. An interorganizational linkage model that places mental health staff within general health care settings potentially can improve the linkage between mental and general health care. This article presents the results of a study involving 28 mental health staff placed in these arrangements in rural health centers. Staff identified roles, benefits, and barriers to linkages. Benefits included increased access and coordination and promotion of a more holistic sense of health care. Barriers were lack of space, differences among health disciplines, and administrative logistic problems. Social workers need good clinical and communication skills to work effectively in these programs.

Allied Health Personnel↗
PubMed1996

Challenges to identifying and treating women with depression in rural primary care.

Many women seeking help from rural primary care providers are experiencing major or other types of depression. Women typically do not discuss their depression with their primary care providers although those who did reported finding it very helpful. Feeling understood and advice were particularly viewed as helpful. Major barriers to discussing depression with primary care providers include stigma about depression, lack of time, and perceptions that the primary care providers were not interested in these concerns. Depressed women tend to seek help for certain somatic problems, especially headaches, backaches, muscle pains, sleep problems, feeling tired, and abdominal pains.

Adult↗