Dr. Donal O'Keeffe’s Post

We are currently witnessing a transformative era in mental and behavioral health care. Traditional care models are being rethought, highlighting a pressing need for programs that are not only clinically effective but also widely accessible and deeply empathetic. As entrepreneurs and innovators in this field, we are presented with a unique and exciting opportunity to design and implement care models that truly have the power to change lives. Here are a few approaches that I am deeply passionate about: ⭐ Personalized Care: We're championing the development of individualized treatment plans, meticulously informed by data and patient feedback. This approach is key to enhancing treatment efficacy, ensuring that each person receives care that is as unique as they are. ❤️🩹 Cultivating Empathy: It's imperative to train mental health professionals in empathy and cultural competence. This training ensures that care resonates with people from all walks of life, honoring and embracing their diverse backgrounds. 🌿 Integrating Holistic Approaches: We're combining traditional methods with holistic therapies, such as mindfulness practices and art therapy, all tailored to individual preferences. This fusion creates a more rounded and fulfilling treatment experience. 💬 Collaborative Care Models: By building partnerships with other healthcare providers and community organizations, we're fostering a comprehensive and collaborative approach to mental health. This unity strengthens the support network available to those in need. 🌍 Strengthening Community Ties: Engaging in community outreach is close to our hearts. By participating in these efforts, we aim to destigmatize mental health issues and educate the public, fostering a community that supports mental well-being. By wholeheartedly adopting these strategies, we, as mental health professionals, can play a pivotal role in creating a new landscape of mental health care. One that is more effective, empathetic, and accessible to all. What other approaches are you passionate about? Let's learn from each other and grow together in this journey towards better mental health care for everyone. #behavioralhealth #wellnessentrepreneur #mentalhealth #healthcare #FoundationStone

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and at Asé Analytics, we recognize that mental health is not just an individual concern but a profound community and social justice issue. As we delve deeper into understanding the complex interplay between mental health and societal factors, it becomes clear that addressing mental health disparities is crucial to achieving health equity. Our commitment at Asé Analytics goes beyond mere awareness; we are actively working to dismantle the barriers that prevent equitable mental health care. Through rigorous research and community-led strategies, we are tackling the root causes of mental health disparities, such as socioeconomic inequalities, racial discrimination, and limited access to quality care. This month, and every month, we advocate for: - Inclusive Policies: Crafting policies that address the specific mental health needs of marginalized communities. - Community Engagement: Ensuring that mental health initiatives are community-informed and that local voices lead the conversation. - Integrated Care: Promoting holistic approaches that incorporate mental health into overall health care and social services. At Asé Analytics, we are more than researchers; we are allies and advocates in the movement for health justice. Our mission is to transform how societies understand and address mental health, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to achieve mental well-being. Join us in spreading awareness and catalyzing change. Together, we can create a world where mental health is recognized as a fundamental right, not a privilege. #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth #HealthEquity #SocialJustice #AséAnalytics

Redefining public health: investing in mental health. Mental health is public health, but for too long, it’s been sidelined, stigmatized, and underfunded. With nearly 1 in 8 people worldwide living with a mental health disorder, it’s clear that we must bring mental well-being to the forefront of the public health agenda. Investing in mental health isn’t just about increasing access to care—it’s about reshaping our communities to support psychological well-being, reducing stigma, and ensuring that mental health services are culturally and socially relevant to everyone. A few ways to tackle this: - Prevention over cure: we can make strides by investing in early intervention programs that focus on mental health education, school-based support, and community awareness initiatives. - Accessible and inclusive services: addressing inequities that make mental health services hard to reach, especially for marginalized communities, is key. Access should not depend on income or geography. - Community resilience: building strong, supportive networks where people feel safe to speak about their challenges can change the entire narrative around mental health. It’s time we recognize that there is no health without mental health. Let's prioritize it like the essential aspect of public health that it is. What are your thoughts on integrating mental health into our broader public health strategies? #publichealth #mentalhealth #healthequity #wellbeing #communityhealth

🧠 💡 Mental Health Awareness Week  This year's theme of co-creating the future of mental health is more important than ever. At Spark, we're committed to fostering innovation to address mental health concerns and have been actively involved in supporting #mentalhealth initiatives over the years. One such project is #EmpowerYourself – a psychoeducational program aimed at providing essential psychological skills to address common mental health issues, particularly in primary care settings.  Current mental health policies emphasize that over 90% of interventions should occur at the primary care level. However, lengthy waiting lists persist nationwide for adults seeking access to Primary Care Psychology services. Empower Yourself, developed by Dr. Jennifer Edgeworth, Senior Clinical Psychologist, has shown significant benefits in a randomised controlled trial, including improvements in mental health and well-being measures compared to waitlisted individuals. Moreover, participants who required onward referral to secondary mental health teams were transitioned sooner, armed with knowledge and skills acquired through the program. Through collaborative efforts by Spark Innovation and Jennifer and team, details of the program have been disseminated to psychologists throughout Ireland, ensuring nationwide delivery. Dr. Jennifer Edgeworth's innovation journey has been remarkable, and her dedication to improving mental health services is truly commendable. She was awarded Spark Ignite funding in 2022 for her project Empower Yourself. Let's continue to prioritise mental health and work together to create an inclusive future. If you’re interested in #healthcareinnovation, have an idea or want to get inspired then join us on June 20th at the Mansion House for our hashtag #SparkSummit Frontline Innovation Conference. Register Today: https://lnkd.in/gEtv5Vg7 #europeanmentalhealthweek #bettertogether

🧠 **May is Mental Health Month!** It is essential to highlight the distinct mental health issues experienced by minority cultures as we observe Mental Health Month. Even though mental health disorders don't care about who you are, getting the help you need can be a challenge. Social determinants of health, cultural stigmas, and systemic barriers all work together to make it difficult for minority populations to get the care they need. For minority groups, how does mental health manifest? Minorities may face systemic barriers that hinder their ability to access and receive effective mental health care, such as a lack of insurance coverage, a shortage of culturally competent care providers, and socioeconomic issues. 2. Ignorance Based on Culture: Because of the stigma and lack of understanding around mental health concerns, many members of minority groups choose to suffer in silence instead of getting treatment. 3. Racism, prejudice, and trauma: These experiences can add stress and worry to mental health conditions, making them worse. How can we locate the issue and provide assistance with it? 1. Raise Knowledge: Educate underrepresented groups about mental health issues and where to get help. Myths and stigmas can be more easily dispelled through education. 2. **Foster Better Access to Care:** Push for legislation that guarantees everyone can get the mental health help they need. Encourage programs that provide culturally competent care at a reasonable price. 3. Engage the community: Work with local leaders and groups to provide welcoming environments where people can freely talk about their mental health and get the support they need. 4. **Provider Support and Training:** Prompt mental health practitioners to acquire cultural competency training so they can comprehend and meet the specific requirements of their minority patient populations. A more welcoming and accommodating mental health system that takes into account the unique needs of underrepresented groups can be achieved if we all pitch in. Let us all work together to ensure that mental health is a top concern. This month, we are focusing on mental health and the importance of health equity. Let's end the stigma by providing community care and advocating for mental health. #mentalhealth #minorities #mentalhealthmonth #healthequity #sdoh #endthestigma

They really should give me prescribing powers. Not literally, philosophically. Mental health is in crisis, especially among our youth. 42% of students report feeling persistently sad or hopeless. 21% of adults experienced mental illness in 2020. But don't worry; I have a prescription for the country. You ready? 👨👩👧👦 Use social policies to strengthen our safety net. Reduce the gap between the rich and the poor; ensure that the future looks bright for every person, even those from lower socioeconomic statuses. That means strong employment laws, paid parental leave, and anything else that can lift the stress on families. Chronic stress makes minds more susceptible to mental illness. 🧠 Universal mental healthcare. Mental health care shouldn't be tied to employment. Anyone and everyone should have access whenever they need it. Especially if we're going to blame school shootings on it. 💰 Address the mental health clinician shortage. We need to pay therapists what they're worth and make it easier for them to get licensed and trained. That means offering education support and increasing wages to attract and retain the best talent. By investing in our mental health professionals, we can ensure that everyone has access to quality care when they need it most. 🏡 Embed trained community therapists in every neighborhood. These therapists are not only responsible for addressing mental health issues, but also for building strong relationships within the community, preventing crises before they occur, and providing brief counseling to those who need it. By establishing trust and rapport with community members, they can better understand their unique needs and tailor interventions to meet them. ✨ Reject the idea that our worth is tied to our financial success. The truth is that our worth is inherent. We are valuable simply because we exist, and nothing can ever change that. Our true significance is found in the connections we make, the love we give and receive, and the way we show up for ourselves and others. It's found in the moments of vulnerability and courage, in the way we learn from our mistakes, and in the way we strive to be better. 🤝 Learn to love our neighbors. This can't be implemented via policy, but it's an essential part of my treatment plan. We need to lean into our communities. We need to view our neighbors- yes, even those who disagree with us or who have different lifestyles- as equally important as ourselves. I think I'm gonna need a bigger prescription pad... #mentalhealth #community #change

Our new paper, «A step towards community inclusion for individuals experiencing mental health challenges: promoting social inclusion and social recovery through physical activity» has just been published. You can check it out here: https://lnkd.in/dBYdBkpu. Looking forward to your thoughts. Thanks for the teamwork Adam Benkwitz and Kirsty!

It’s about the synergism between people to understand lived experiences and journeys to support individual needs and how we take the journey together. Vital at Able ARTS Work

Amid the shortage of mental health providers, digital therapeutics and peer support are essential for meeting the high demand for mental health care. Discover how psychologists are leveraging technology to support underserved communities and why their role is more crucial than ever. Read the full article by American Psychology Association: https://lnkd.in/gnd5Jh4r. #MentalHealthMatters #SupportEachOther #BreakTheStigma #InclusiveHealers

Let's go more in depth with the 6 social determinants of health starting with Mental Health Support. Social determinants of health and mental health use a biological, psychological and social models to consider health outcomes through the lens of physical and social environmental factors, such as income, education, nutrition and housing. Research has consistently demonstrated that lower socioeconomic status [SES] has a strong association with poor overall health and prevalence of many chronic diseases such as depression. The link between SES and mental health can have large, long-lasting, often generational health effects. Better mental health equity is unlikely without a deeper understanding and targeting of the causal factors related to social determinants of health (SDOH). The importance of income, housing security, education, unemployment, child abuse and neglect, neighborhood conditions, and social support have repeatedly been demonstrated to influence mental health outcomes. If we can gather better data and analysis it may allow for the development of new strategies to direct individual patients to appropriate community services, target care toward population-level needs, and reduce barriers to mental health care through informed policy-level decisions. #sdoh #mentalhealth #ses #healthcareproblems