Suchergebnisse

The aim of this article is to examine the impact of some of the major European institutions on mental health law and policy formation, with a view to establishing whether or not the European 'project' has made a difference in protecting individuals with mental disorders from interference or neglect by national governments. The discussion is divided into two parts: first, the role of Europe in protecting the human rights of people with mental disorders through the work of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR); and second, the role of Europe in ensuring standards of mental health care through the work of the European Commission (EC) and the European Parliament (EP). Focusing in the first instance on cases brought before the ECHR, and in the second on the policy directives of the EC and the EP, it is clear that while in the area of protecting human rights, the European 'project' has indeed made a positive impact on national laws and procedures. However, in the area of monitoring and raising standards of mental health care, there is little evidence of a similar impact.

Introduction -- PART 1: MENTAL DISORDER Defining Mental Disorder -- The Population at Risk -- Treatment Approaches -- Gender and Normality -- PART 2: MENTAL HEALTH POLICY Defining Mental Health Policy -- Mental Health Services -- The Law and Mental Disorder -- Crime and Mental Disorder -- Conclusion.

An exploration of the pages of two psychiatric hospital magazines, Speedwell from Holywell Hospital, Antrim, and The Sketch from Downshire Hospital, Downpatrick, reveals the activity filled lives of patients and staff during the 1960s and 1970s. This was a time of great change in mental health care. It was also a time of political turbulence in Northern Ireland. With large in-patient populations, both hospitals had a range of occupational and sporting activities available to patients and staff. The magazines formed part of the effort to promote the ethos of a therapeutic community. While hospital magazines may be viewed as one aspect of an institutional system that allowed people to cut themselves from the wider society, they also provided opportunities for budding writers to express their views on life in a hospital from the service user perspective. As such they offer some valuable insights into the lives of psychiatric patients.

Based on census materials collected in England and Wales from 1921 to 1991, this study focuses on gender differences in occupancy rates in hospitals and other mental health facilities in Britain. The results suggest that since 1991, or for the first time in the twentieth century, there are more males than females in residential mental health facilities in Britain. Furthermore, this pattern of association holds for all age groups except those aged 65 years and over. Second, there are currently two distinct subpopulations in mental health facilities—a male group which is predominantly of working age, and a female group, which is predominantly of retirement age. The existence of these two "care" populations will impact significantly on current and future resourcing of mental health services. The policy implications of the research findings are discussed within the context of the debates on the changing relationship between gender and mental health.

Cover -- Half-Title -- Title -- Copyright -- Dedication -- Contents -- List of Figures -- List of Tables -- List of Boxes -- Acknowledgements -- List of Abbreviations -- 1 Researching Gender and Health Care -- Introduction -- Different ways of looking at gender and health -- Measuring health - the problem -- Data sources -- Census data - the inclusion of the institutionalised population -- Overview of the book -- Part I Health Care in the Uk -- 2 A Historical Account -- Introduction -- Mothers in the spotlight -- The NHS - the increasing role of medicine in the lives of women -- Community care - an increasing burden for women -- Thatcherism - a retreat from universal health care -- A renewed NHS - empty promises or gender equity? -- Summary -- 3 An Empirical Overview -- Introduction -- Primary care -- Secondary care -- Mind or body? -- On the question of gender -- Summary -- Part II Stereotypes Fulfilled? -- 4 Gender and Physical Health -- Introduction -- Mortality rates - men die quicker? -- Morbidity rates - women are sicker? -- Sociological perspectives on gender differences in health -- Secondary care services - women replace men -- Gender differences in health service use - the importance of region -- Summary -- 5 Marriage is Good for Health -- Introduction -- Marriage and health - the debate -- Theoretical perspectives on marriage and health -- Gender, marriage and health -- Health service use - the benefits of marriage -- Marriage and health service use - are there gender differences? -- Gender and the health benefits of marriage - the importance of age -- Summary -- 6 Older Women are Most Vulnerable -- Introduction -- Health care needs of older people - the debate -- The impact of ageing on health -- A gendered service -- Independence versus care -- The mediating effect of age on independent living -- Health or social care? -- Summary.

Cover -- Half Title -- Title -- Copyright -- Dedication -- Contents -- List of Figures and Tables -- Foreword -- Acknowledgements -- Notes on the Contributors -- List of Abbreviations -- 1. Challenges and Change: Issues and Perspectives in the Analysis of Globalization and the European Welfare States -- PART I GLOBALIZATION CHALLENGES -- 2. Globalization and Welfare States: Some Unsettling Thoughts -- 3. Globalization, Economic Change and the Welfare State: 'Vexatious Inquisition of Taxation'? -- 4. International Organizations, the EU and Global Social Policy -- PART II EUROPEAN WELFARE STATE CHANGES -- 5. Globalization and the Bismarckian Welfare States -- 6. Globalization and the Southern Welfare States -- 7. Welfare and 'Ill-Fare' Systems in Central-Eastern Europe -- 8. Globalization and the Nordic Welfare States -- 9. Globalization and the Liberal Welfare States -- PART III CONCLUSION -- 10. Globalization and the European Welfare States: Evaluating the Theories and Evidence -- Bibliography -- Index.