Mental health presentations to the emergency department: A perspective on the involvement of social support networks

Donna Marynowski-Traczyk; Marc Broadbent; Stuart A Kinner; Gerard FitzGerald; Ed Heffernan; Amy Johnston; Jesse T Young; Gerben Keijzers; Paul Scuffham; Emma Bosley; Melinda Martin-Khan; Ping Zhang; Julia Crilly

doi:10.1016/j.auec.2019.06.002

Mental health presentations to the emergency department: A perspective on the involvement of social support networks

Australas Emerg Care. 2019 Sep;22(3):162-167. doi: 10.1016/j.auec.2019.06.002. Epub 2019 Jul 10.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Griffith University, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, QLD, Australia; University of the Sunshine Coast, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine, QLD, Australia. Electronic address: d.marynowski@griffith.edu.au.
² University of the Sunshine Coast, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine, QLD, Australia.
³ Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Centre for Adolescent Health, VIC, Australia; University of Melbourne, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, VIC, Australia; University of Queensland, Mater Research Institute-UQ, QLD, Australia; Griffith University, Griffith Criminology Institute, QLD, Australia; Monash University, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, VIC, Australia.
⁴ Queensland University of Technology, School of Public Health and Social Work, QLD, Australia.
⁵ Queensland Forensic Mental Health Service, Queensland Health, QLD, Australia.
⁶ University of Queensland, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, QLD, Australia; Department of Emergency Medicine, Princess Alexandra Hospital, QLD, Australia.
⁷ Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Centre for Adolescent Health, VIC, Australia; University of Melbourne, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, VIC, Australia; University of Western Australia, School of Population and Global Health, WA, Australia; Curtin University, National Drug Research Institute, WA, Australia.
⁸ Department of Emergency Medicine, Gold Coast Health, QLD, Australia; Bond University, School of Medicine, QLD, Australia; Griffith University, School of Medicine, QLD, Australia.
⁹ Griffith University, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, QLD, Australia; Griffith University, School of Medicine, QLD, Australia.
¹⁰ Queensland Ambulance Service, Information Support, Research and Evaluation, QLD, Australia.
¹¹ University of Queensland, Centre for Health Services Research, QLD, Australia.
¹² Griffith University, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, QLD, Australia.
¹³ Griffith University, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, QLD, Australia; Department of Emergency Medicine, Gold Coast Health, QLD, Australia.

PMID: 31300299
DOI: 10.1016/j.auec.2019.06.002

Abstract

The involvement of families, carers and significant others (i.e. social support networks) has a positive corollary for a person experiencing mental health problems. Accordingly, in Australia involvement of social support networks within mental health services is endorsed in national health policy and service guidelines. Despite the endorsement, this is yet to be fully realised in all areas that provide mental health services, including emergency departments. Social support networks are integral in the provision of mental health consumers' care. Supporting the involvement of social support networks in the emergency department can provide healthcare services with opportunities for enhanced and cost-effective care, contributing to improved outcomes for consumers. An overview of some of the barriers and facilitators of social support network involvement is provided. The intention of this paper is to encourage reflection and dialogue on this important area of mental health service provision and support the evolution of a new paradigm of research into social support network involvement in the emergency department.

Keywords: Consumer; Emergency department; Mental health; Social support network.

MeSH terms

Emergency Service, Hospital / organization & administration
Emergency Service, Hospital / statistics & numerical data*
Humans
Mental Disorders / epidemiology
Mental Disorders / psychology
Mental Disorders / therapy*
Mental Health Services / statistics & numerical data*
Psychosocial Support Systems*
Queensland / epidemiology