Irena Makivić

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic posed significant challenges for mental health, requiring many mental health services to reorganise. The aim of this study was to develop a set of consensus-based recommendations outlining measures and activities for the operation of mental health services during a potential pandemic in Slovenia. Methods: To develop a preliminary list of measures, relevant literature, existing guidelines, and COVID-19 response practices were reviewed. These measures were then evaluated using a modified Delphi method. Eleven Slovenian mental health experts participated in 4 Delphi rounds to determine which measures should be implemented and at which stage of a potential future pandemic. Results: Consensus was reached on 47 measures and activities. The majority were classified for implementation before or at the onset of a potential pandemic, with only a small number designated for implementation during the pandemic. Conclusions: The identified measures and activities are discussed in relation to existing research and international frameworks. They represent consensus-based preparedness guidance for the organisation of mental health services during a pandemic or similar public health emergency and may inform the future development of national guidelines and strategic frameworks.

How can we understand today's mental health problems and challenges? The OMRA program's scientific monograph offers diverse perspectives on contemporary mental health issues and presents the impact of the program's implementation over the past three years. It brings together seventeen original and review articles that highlight the latest research, lessons learned and best practice - from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and demographic changes to the challenges of treating depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and dementia. The authors emphasize the importance of raising awareness, reducing stigma and increasing mental health literacy, which has been shown to be a key factor in seeking professional help in a timely manner. Particular attention is paid to young adults, older people and vulnerable groups, as well as new forms of psychotherapeutic diagnosis and the use of digital technologies. The book shows that high-quality mental health care is only possible through the integration of disciplines, accessible psychoeducation and consideration of the broader context of the individual's life. The monograph is aimed at professionals, researchers, policy makers and anyone who wants to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges of modern times and help create a more compassionate and effective environment for mental health maintenance.

Aim: To analyse the relationships between individual social networks and selected indicators of mental health among Slovenian adolescents aged 15 and 17. Methods: Data from the international Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey in 2018 were used. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was used to calculate the reliability of the scales. Data were presented using descriptive statistics and frequency distributions. Differences between the two groups were determined using the chi-square or t-test. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to test the associations. Multiple linear regression was also used to explain adolescents’ mental health. Results: The mental health of adolescents is statistically significantly related to the experience of support in their social networks (p≤0.05). Adolescents with better mental health differ from those with poorer mental health in the degree to which they experience support from their social networks. Support from a greater number of social networks is statistically significantly associated with lower perceived stress and the risk of depression. In explaining adolescents’ good mental health, the support of the school environment, i.e. classmates and teachers, proved to be more important than the support of the family. Conclusions: The support of personal social networks is essential for good mental health in young people. In practice, it would be reasonable to strengthen the support of teachers and classmates, as the school environment proved to be a very important source of support at that age.

Needs assessment in mental health is a complex and multifaceted process that involves different steps, from assessing mental health needs at the population or individual level to assessing the different needs of individuals or groups of people. This review focuses on quantitative needs assessment tools for people with mental health problems. Our aim was to find all possible tools that can be used to assess different needs within different populations, according to their diverse uses. A comprehensive literature search with the Boolean operators “Mental health” AND “Needs assessment” was conducted in the PubMed and PsychINFO electronic databases. The search was performed with the inclusion of all results without time or other limits. Only papers addressing quantitative studies on needs assessment in people with mental health problems were included. Additional articles were added through a review of previous review articles that focused on a narrower range of such needs and their assessment. Twenty-nine different need-assessment tools specifically designed for people with mental health problems were found. Some tools can only be used by professionals, some by patients, some even by caregivers, or a combination of all three. Within each recognized tool, there are different fields of needs, so they can be used for different purposes within the needs assessment process, according to the final research or clinical aims. The added value of this review is that the retrieved tools can be used for assessment at the individual level, research purposes or evaluation at the outcome level. Therefore, best needs assessment tool can be chosen based on the specific goals or focus of the related needs assessment.

Background: Needs assessment enhance patient-centered care quality and is important within evaluation process, as well as for implementation of new services. Needs assessment tools can help clinicians to plan treatment and also to assess subsequent service impacts. Aim of the present research was to review quantitative tools for mental health needs assessment, that are either self-reported or can be used by professionals or researchers. Methods: A comprehensive literature search in two bibliographic databases was carried out following the PRISMA protocol. Additional search was performed in specific review papers. Included papers are quantitatively assessing the needs of people with mental health problems and exclude people with dementia or disabilities. Also other inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied. Results: The majority of all studies were published in English (n = 234). The majority of research papers (n = 163) were conducted in Europe between 2000-2010, while in other countries the trend followed the year 2011. Preliminary results are showing that there are 29 different tools for needs assessment and 17 of them can be used at the system level also as an outcome measure. The most frequently used tool for assessing the needs that can be also used as an outcome measure was Camberwell Assessment of Needs (CAN) also in combination with Health of the Nation Outcome Scales (HoNOS). As well Cardinal needs schedule (CNS) and Resident Assessment Instrument Mental Health (RAI-MH) were used more than once. Conclusions: When choosing an appropriate assessment tool, it is vital to use the most widely used ones, focusing on validated tools (culturally adapted), tools modified for specific populations (elderly, children, etc.) and also to bear in mind the ultimate goal that the service is aiming. CAN, HoNOS and CNS are assessing psychiatric and social care needs comprehensively. While RAI-MH is also a tool that is supporting seamless approach to person-centered care. Key messages: • When choosing an appropriate assessment tool, it is vital to use the most widely used ones, focusing on validated tools and tools modified for specific populations. • When choosing an appropriate assessment tool, it is important to focus on the ultimate goal the service is aiming.

Background and Objective: Needs assessment is important especially during the times of change within the health care system, aiming to prepare good evaluation and valuable implementation of practices that best suit the people in need. It is also an important factor within a continuous process of...

Background and Objective: The rapid rise of internet related technologies has made gambling accessible to a wider audience. The risk for Gambling Disorder (GD), i.e. excessive, problematic or uncontrolled gambling behaviour, has been established as a key concern by non-substance addiction...

This multi-authored monograph of review articles and original research papers is part of the innovative prevention and promotion programme, Increasing Mental Health Literacy to Manage Mood Disorders (acronym OMRA). The OMRA practitioners have contributed 16 research papers in the fields of mental health, personality disorders, the stigma of mental disorders, and evaluating the impact of the OMRA programme. Three papers were written by external authors based on their own knowledge and experience in the field of mental health. The authors of the publication are aware that health is not only the absence of disease, but also physical and mental well-being. This does not mean constant elation and happiness, but a state in which a person can cope well with the challenges of everyday life. In contrast to physical illnesses such as diabetes, mental health is much harder to define, which is why this book also aims to raise awareness of the importance of mental health among readers. Everyone will find something interesting and informative in this book and will be able to put this knowledge into practice.