Are mental health professionals prepared and comfortable to provide services to people with disabilities? An exploratory analysis.

IF 2.9 4区医学 Q2 PSYCHIATRY

Journal of Mental Health Pub Date : 2025-06-02 DOI:10.1080/09638237.2025.2512315

Kelly E Ferreira, Tara M Lutz, Mary Beth Bruder

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background: People with disabilities (PWD) are more likely to report experiencing more mental distress than those without disabilities. Previous research suggests a general lack of knowledge and experience limits a mental health professional's ability to provide quality mental health services to PWD.

Aims: To examine self-reported preparedness and comfort of licensed mental health professionals in providing services to PWD with co-occurring mental health issues in Connecticut.

Methods: Mental health professionals were identified by the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) and 640 professionals completed the 23-item online survey related to their experiences providing mental health services to PWD.

Results: Most participants felt prepared (79%) and comfortable (80%) in providing mental health services to PWD, however, only 59% reported receiving formal training in providing mental health services to PWD. Increased years of experience and receiving professional training were significantly related to feeling more prepared and comfortable in treating PWD for mental health issues (all p-values <.001).

Conclusions: Results support the need for professional training programs to include disability content and develop disability competence among current and future providers. Additional work is needed to address other systemic barriers to quality, effective mental health care for PWD.

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精神卫生专业人员是否准备好并愿意为残疾人提供服务？探索性分析。

背景：残疾人（PWD）比非残疾人更有可能报告经历更多的精神痛苦。先前的研究表明，普遍缺乏知识和经验限制了精神卫生专业人员为残疾人士提供高质量精神卫生服务的能力。目的：研究康涅狄格有执照的心理健康专业人员在为患有双重心理健康问题的残疾人提供服务时自我报告的准备程度和舒适度。方法：由康涅狄格州公共卫生部门（DPH）确定心理卫生专业人员，640名专业人员完成与他们为残疾人提供心理卫生服务的经历相关的23项在线调查。结果：大多数参与者对为残疾人士提供心理健康服务感到准备（79%）和舒适（80%），然而，只有59%的人报告接受过为残疾人士提供心理健康服务的正式培训。经验年数的增加和接受专业培训与在治疗PWD的心理健康问题时感到更准备和更舒适显著相关（所有p值）。结论：结果支持当前和未来的提供者需要专业培训计划，包括残疾内容和发展残疾能力。需要开展更多的工作，以解决为残疾人士提供优质、有效的精神卫生保健的其他系统性障碍。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of Mental Health PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL-

CiteScore

6.40

自引率

3.00%

发文量

117

期刊介绍： The Journal of Mental Health is an international forum for the latest research in the mental health field. Reaching over 65 countries, the journal reports on the best in evidence-based practice around the world and provides a channel of communication between the many disciplines involved in mental health research and practice. The journal encourages multi-disciplinary research and welcomes contributions that have involved the users of mental health services. The international editorial team are committed to seeking out excellent work from a range of sources and theoretical perspectives. The journal not only reflects current good practice but also aims to influence policy by reporting on innovations that challenge traditional ways of working.