Ian Morrison and Stephen Clift
Changes in government policies threaten to remove an important source of funding that enables people with mental health problems to be supported to enter and progress from further…
Abstract
Changes in government policies threaten to remove an important source of funding that enables people with mental health problems to be supported to enter and progress from further education to employment and university. Ian Morrison and Stephen Clift describe one such scheme whose future is in doubt, and the journeys undertaken by some of the people it has supported.
Many corporations in America today are facing a dilemma. They are moving along on their first curve of growth, but they have a sneaking suspicion that what they're doing today is…
Abstract
Many corporations in America today are facing a dilemma. They are moving along on their first curve of growth, but they have a sneaking suspicion that what they're doing today is going to be superseded by the second curve—a radically new way of doing business. All their current profit is coming from the first curve, but their future growth will be on the second curve. (See the sidebar, Comparing the Curves, on page 9.)
The Strategic Leadership Forum's Conference in Washington, D.C. (April 27–30, 1997) was a showcase of advanced leadership insights. More than 30 top management experts told of…
Abstract
The Strategic Leadership Forum's Conference in Washington, D.C. (April 27–30, 1997) was a showcase of advanced leadership insights. More than 30 top management experts told of their most recent experiences and their latest theories about meeting the management challenges of the next decade. There were many real‐life examples of how the old, “control” style of leadership, which grew out of the Industrial Era, is being replaced by the newer leadership styles that match the realities of the Knowledge Era.
Stephen Clift and Ian Morrison
This paper aims to describe the development and evaluation of an innovative community singing initiative with mental health services users and supporters in East Kent, UK.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to describe the development and evaluation of an innovative community singing initiative with mental health services users and supporters in East Kent, UK.
Design/methodology/approach
A network of seven singing groups was established between September 2009 and June 2010. The choirs met weekly in three terms with breaks for Christmas and Easter, and joined together for two public performances in February and June 2010. In total, 137 participants were involved in the evaluation processes over this period. Of these, 42 provided complete data on the CORE questionnaire, a widely used clinical measure of mental distress, at baseline and eight months later.
Findings
Clinically significant improvements were observed in response to the CORE. These changes, together with qualitative feedback from participants, demonstrate that group singing can have substantial benefits in aiding the recovery of people with a history of serious and enduring mental health problems. A limited body of research has also shown that singing can be helpful for people with existing mental and physical health problems.
Originality/value
The research finds marked improvements in mental wellbeing on a clinically validated measure for people with a range of enduring mental health issues participating in a network of small choirs. Qualitative evidence indicates that group singing can offer a wide range of emotional and social benefits for mental health service users.
Details
Keywords
Electronic ink and reusable electronic paper technology are painting their way out of R&D labs and into the world of signage, e‐books, and other hand‐held devices. This paper…
Abstract
Electronic ink and reusable electronic paper technology are painting their way out of R&D labs and into the world of signage, e‐books, and other hand‐held devices. This paper examines the evolving technology, the companies leading the efforts, and the possible applications and implications for publishing and academia. It offers some insights on market speculation from members of the professional and academic publishing community, industry analysts and venture capitalists. The paper concludes by making a few observations on current and future technological trends and their impact on the higher education market and society.
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Laetitia Livesey, Ian Morrison, Stephen Clift and Paul Camic
The aim of this study is to explore the benefits of choral singing for mental wellbeing and health as perceived by a cross‐national sample of amateur choral singers.
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this study is to explore the benefits of choral singing for mental wellbeing and health as perceived by a cross‐national sample of amateur choral singers.
Design/methodology/approach
Data consisted of written responses to open‐ended questions. These were derived from 169 participants selected from a larger dataset reporting high and low levels of emotional wellbeing on the WHOQOL‐BREF questionnaire. A majority of participants were female and aged over 50. A thematic analysis was followed by a content analysis and Pearson chi square analyses. Comparisons were made between different ages, genders and nationalities and participants with high and low reported emotional wellbeing.
Findings
The analysis revealed multiple themes covering perceived benefits in social, emotional, physical, and cognitive domains. There were no significant differences in frequency of themes across any of the participant sociodemographic and wellbeing categories. The results indicate that benefits of singing may be experienced similarly irrespective of age, gender, nationality or wellbeing status.
Research limitations/implications
Implications for further research include future use of validated instruments to measure outcomes and research into the benefits of singing in other cultures. The results of this study suggest that choral singing could be used to promote mental health and treat mental illness.
Originality/value
This study examines a cross‐national sample which is larger than previous studies in this area. These findings contribute to understanding of the complex and interacting factors which might contribute to wellbeing and health, as well as specific benefits of singing.
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Jamie Murphy, Pearlin Ho and Calvin Chan
Internet characteristics — enhanced distribution customer relationships and information access in an information intensive industry — fit the tourism industry. There is little…
Abstract
Internet characteristics — enhanced distribution customer relationships and information access in an information intensive industry — fit the tourism industry. There is little sense having an Internet presence though if visitors cannot find and use the website or receive answers to their e‐mail inquiries. Research lauds online tourism initiatives, yet little research investigates Internet use in wine tourism. Given the competitive nature of wine tourism, an important research area is what website features and e‐mail policies do wine tourism operations use for better site navigation site popularity and relationship marketing? Two online analyses of eight wine tourism operations, within and outside Western Australia, illustrate a methodology and dozens of possible metrics for analysing the competition and marketing electronic wine tourism. The results give wine tourism managers insights into short‐term competitive advantages via website features and e‐mail policies, and add to the academic literature and future research of the Internet's role in wine tourism.
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Ian Morrison and Stephen M. Clift
The purpose of this research is to report on an evaluation of a programme of supported education in a Further Education context for students with long‐term mental health problems…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this research is to report on an evaluation of a programme of supported education in a Further Education context for students with long‐term mental health problems, based on Antonovsky's Salutogenic model of health. The students are referred by the Community Mental Health Team.
Design/methodology/approach
Three consecutive cohorts of students (n=148, 93 male, 55 female; average age 39.5 years) undertaking the programme, completed Antonovsky's Short‐form Sense of Coherence scale (the SOC13) on entry to the programme, and when exiting from it. Qualitative feedback from the second cohort of students was examined to establish the processes at work in the programme. This identified a number of themes relating to the processes at work in the programme and its outcomes (Peer Support, Learning Support, Learning Effects, Symptom Reduction and Positive Affect) and provided a basis for designing short questionnaires, which were completed by the second cohort. Data from these questionnaires and the SOC13 were used to build a causal model of the processes at work in the programme.
Findings
The overall change between the entry and exit SOC13 scores was not significant. However, students with SOC13 scores below 52 (total n=81, 52 male, 29 female; average age 42.8 years) made statistically significant positive gains. In this initially low scoring group, 70 per cent improved their exit SOC13 score, 2 per cent remained constant, and 28 per cent reported lower exit SOC13 scores. The causal model from the whole of the second cohort of students suggests that peer support is the initial factor contributing to the success of the programme by positively influencing learning effects of the programme and the uptake of learning support. In turn, learning effects reduced symptoms and this had the effect of raising positive affect. Raised positive affect reduced the need for learning support and was positively linked to entry and exit SOC13 scores.
Practical implications
This research has implications for budget holders, health promotion staff and allied professionals in the collaborative use of resources to help people recovering from or managing mental health difficulties move forward in their lives.
Originality/value
This study highlights the need for community collaborative social initiatives to be properly funded and validated. Approaches to evaluation could usefully be formulated on the basis of Antonovsky's model. Professionals need to consider investing in creating peer support and positive affect when working with people with mental health needs.
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THE Newcastle school, like most others, was established after the second world war to provide full‐time education in librarianship as an alternative to the part‐time system which…
Abstract
THE Newcastle school, like most others, was established after the second world war to provide full‐time education in librarianship as an alternative to the part‐time system which until 1946 was the only one available to the majority of librarians. At first most of the students were returning servicemen whose library careers had been interrupted by the war and they were followed by students direct from libraries, universities and schools. From a handful of students and one full‐time member of staff in the first year the school has grown steadily until there were 53 students and five staff during the session 1962–3 which was the last course held for the Registration Examination.