Abstract
Background: interRAI (www.interRAI.org), an international collaboration of researchers, clinicians and policy experts from over 35 counties, has embarked upon an international pilot study of the interRAI Self-reported Assessment for Mental Health (SAMH), that includes questions on strengths and needs of persons in the community using a person-centered approach. The purpose of the SAMH pilot study is to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and appropriateness of using the SAMH in a broad range of populations, service environments, countries, and cultures.
Approach: The SAMH includes questions on the strengths and needs of persons in the community across a variety of topics, including mental and physical well-being, social relationships, substance use, housing, community participation, and support resources. The SAMH has been developed to maximize interoperability with interRAI Community Mental Health (CMH) instrument as well as the interRAI Mental Health (MH) assessment for in-patient care. The purpose of this pilot study is to explore the feasibility, acceptability, and cultural appropriateness of the SAMH for use in a variety of community-based populations of adults with mental health needs. Feedback on the SAMH will also be asked of participants to further improve the SAMH for eventual routine use in mental health service delivery systems internationally. The overall aim of using the SAMH is better mental health services, better outcomes, better quality of life, and improved recovery for persons with mental health needs.
Results: Currently, two sites have completed SAMH assessments: Brazil (N=200), and USA (N=75). Additional participating sites are currently conducting data collection. Preliminary results indicate 74% are female, majority live in a private home/apartment/rented room, 4% are married and 25% have never been married. 46% of persons rated their mental health as fair and 4% rated their physical health as fair. 7% rated both their mental and physical health as poor. Furthermore, 65% indicated that because of financial difficulties they had to make trade-offs between purchasing adequate food, shelter, clothing, prescribed medications, sufficient home heat or cooling or necessary health care. Further discussion around the SAMH, including other participating sites will be presented.
Implications: This project is the first step toward an innovative approach to mental health assessment that will change current assessment practice to respond to strengths, preferences and needs of persons with mental illness, using a person-centered approach to engage them in shared decision-making. If this self-reported assessment is proven feasible and acceptable, then more people will be able to report their symptoms and possibly receive mental health care according to their needs earlier in their health care journey.