Just Published through CES4Health! Engaging the Underserved: Personal Accounts of Communities on Mental Health Needs

[Announcement from Comm-engagedscholarship listserv]

Dear community-engaged scholarship colleagues,

Just published through CES4Health! Engaging the Underserved: Personal Accounts of Communities on Mental Health Needs for Prevention & Early Intervention Strategies.  Developed by engaging diverse communities in 10 counties across California, these reports identify mental health and health needs, concerns, strengths, assets and resources, as well as recommendations for prevention and early-intervention programs.

See abstract below - the full product & accompanying application can be accessed at http://bit.ly/q9ERz6

If you have a product of community-engaged work that's in a form other than a journal article, consider submitting it for peer-reviewed publication & dissemination through CES4Health!  A conference call for prospective authors is scheduled for Mon Sept 12 from 12-1:30 pm ET. Learn more about CES4Health and register for the call at http://CES4Health.info. Follow the latest CES4Health developments at http://twitter.com/CES4Health

Engaging the Underserved: Personal Accounts of Communities on Mental Health Needs for Prevention & Early Intervention Strategies

Abstract: The UC Davis Center for Reducing Health Disparities (CRHD), with funding from the California Department of Mental Health, collected accounts with communities underserved by mental health services. These community members identified mental health and health needs, concerns, strengths, assets and resources, as well as developed recommendations for prevention and early-intervention programs. Using a community engagement process, we interviewed key informants and conducted focus groups with Latinas/os (including agricultural workers), African Americans, Asian/Pacific Islanders, Native Americans and other underserved groups in 10 counties across California. Participants identified social determinants such as poverty and discrimination as major factors affecting mental health and the quality of life of those living with mental illness and recommended that the improvement of social conditions be a key objective of prevention efforts. County, state and national mental health policy makers will need to consider delivering not only traditional mental health services, but also services that address the inequities and social exclusion experienced by members of underserved communities. The reports that summarize the community voices through this project are appropriate for use by any health policy maker, health provider, advocate or community member, as evidence of the need for equity and full inclusion of vulnerable populations as measured by access to necessary quality services that promote mental health, wellness, resiliency, and recovery in these communities.

Thanks,

Rahma Osman
Program Assistant

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