The Mental Health of Persons with Disabilities; towards Co-produced Solutions
A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Disabilities".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2024) | Viewed by 677
Special Issue Editors
2. IRIS Centre, School of Nursing, Midwifery & Health Systems, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
Interests: mental health; disability inclusion; health equity; co-production
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Mental health is a human right, and it is important for social and occupational functioning and participation. According to the WHO, mental health is more than the absence of mental disorders or illness, and it entails a state of wellbeing that allows individuals to realize their abilities and cope with the ‘everyday’ stresses in life. Mental health is influenced by the complex interaction of social, psychological, biological, and environmental factors, and experiences may vary from person to person. Global reports indicate that one in four persons experience mental health problems, and according to the Centre for Disease Control in the United States, persons with disabilities experience mental health problems about five times more than those without disabilities. Research evidence highlights the nexus between disability and poverty and the challenges related to realizations of human rights such as education, employment, and health. Additionally, studies suggest that persons with disabilities face several structural and commercial determinants of health. These experiences of persons with disabilities are against the ethos of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which recommends equality in access to ‘public goods’ such health, education, and employment. For persons with disabilities, factors related to intersectionality (e.g., disability type, disability severity, class, gender, and ethnicity) predict an individual’s access to the realization of health rights. In the context of COVID-19, several reports have documented the challenges related to the access of health services for persons with disabilities and the associated mental distress. The identification of factors that may promote mental health and quality of life for persons with disabilities is very relevant for social inclusion. Globalization and technological advancement have created new avenues and opportunities with regard to mental health services. The COVID-19 pandemic has also provided new insights into the relevance of mental health and why persons with disabilities should be prioritized in the provision of services. While this ‘new knowledge’ and understanding exist, it is not apparent what must be done to realize inclusive mental healthcare services for persons with disabilities, especially in low-resource settings. Additionally, proposed interventions often preclude the voices of persons with disabilities and their family care givers. This Special Issue in an open call to document and highlight evidence how equitable mental healthcare for persons with disabilities could be realized. We seek novel ideas that address the problem of mental health for persons with disabilities in collaboration with the affected individuals and their families. Possible topics may include:
- The lived experiences of persons with disabilities seeking mental healthcare;
- Factors that influence participation in mental healthcare;
- Mechanisms for delivering equitable mental healthcare;
- Caregivers’ experience in procuring and supporting mental health services for relatives with disabilities;
- Community-based participatory research;
- Specific disabilities with co-occurring substance use disorders;
- Interventions for improving the wellbeing of persons with disabilities.
Dr. Ikenna Ebuenyi
Dr. Olayemi Akinola
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- mental health
- disability inclusion
- health equity
- co-production
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