Researcher Links Iran-UK Workshop: Dubai May 2017
An event entitled 'Joint Workshop: Building resilience in mental health across the lifespan' was hosted by Bangor University and held in Dubai, UAE on the 24th to the 28th of April, 2017. The development of this workshop was a collaboration between the British Council and Bangor University with support from the Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, to bring together academics, service deliverers, stakeholders and policymakers in order to identify strategic priorities for mental health research and intervention in South Asia.
Three mentors from the UK and three from Iran led workshops on three specific themes within mental health; cognitive neuroscience methods in mental health research, child mental health treatment and prevention, adult mental health treatment and prevention, and behaviour, motivation, and prevention of mental health issues. The objective of the workshop was to facilitate the sharing of knowledge in both directions and to build links for future collaboration. The specialist sessions focused on providing theory underlying aspects of mental health treatment, prevention, and interventions.
There were also sessions on the process of conducting research, identifying and applying for research grants, training on academic networking and capacity building for international research- based collaboration.
The event was a success, attended by delegates from both the UK and Iran representing 17 institutions, and has resulted in a number of ongoing collaborations.
This event represented a crucial step in developing long-lasting collaborative links between researchers and practitioners from the UK and Iran.
Mentors:
- Dr Fatemah Ahmadi (British Council)
- Professor W. Miles Cox (Bangor University, UK)
- Dr Javad Fadardi (Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran)
- Dr Kami Koldewyn (Bangor University, UK)
- Dr Mohammad Nami (Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Iran)
- Professor John Parkinson (Bangor University, UK)
- Mr James Pike (Claremont Graduate University)
- Dr Sayyed Ali Samadi (Ulster University, UK)
- Dr Rebecca Sharp (Bangor University, UK)
Workshop Themes
Theme 1
Behaviour and motivation in prevention work and cognitive neuroscience methods in mental health research
Mentors: Professor John Parkinson, Dr Rebecca Sharp, & Dr Mohammad Nami
There is a rich diversity of approaches and methods to prevent and address mental health issues. Clinicians and researchers acknowledge the importance of both behaviour (including functional relations and behavioural contingencies) and cognition in mental health (including attributional processes and cognitive biases). Appreciating the reciprocal interactions between cognition and behaviour allows for an understanding of how resilient mental health might be supported.
In addition to positive and behavioural psychology approaches, there are a number of tools developed in cognitive neuroscience that can be used to effectively support people to develop resilience in mental health (e.g., Integrated Cognitive Rehabilitation Platforms; ICRPs). An example of such a tool in practice is the BrainCheck initiative in the neuroscience laboratory at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences.
The focus of this theme was to demonstrate the diverse approaches to mental health research, using positive psychology, behavioural psychology, and cognitive neuroscience to illustrate how diverse approaches might be used in complementarity.
Theme 2
Diagnosis, research, and intervention in developmental disorders (child mental health) Mentors: Dr Kami Koldewyn and Dr Sayyed Ali Samadi
Neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism are becoming more commonly understood. It is important for researchers to understand the role, strengths, and limitations of neuroscience approaches to neurodevelopmental disorders. Additionally, there are a number of factors (including cultural factors) that must be considered when designing and evaluating interventions for children with neurodevelopmental disorders.
It is important for researchers to know what services are available in the local community to support children with neurodevelopmental disorders, and to be able to evaluate these services critically. Understanding the parents' role in intervention will help researchers and clinicians to coordinate effective services, and more research in this area is warranted.
Designing research into neurodevelopmental disorders can be complex and challenging, however is vital to ensure ongoing high quality developmental research and collaborative research across cultures.
The focus of this theme was to explore cross-cultural research approaches into mental health using neurodevelopmental disorders as a worked example.
Theme 3
Adult mental health treatment and prevention
Mentors: Professor Miles Cox and Dr Javad Fadardi
The Theory of Current Concerns, under which having a goal influences processing priorities, can be used as an underpinning approach to treatment of mental health issues in adults. The theory allows for the relationships between goals, success, health, and disorder to be identified and evaluated, leading to targeted treatment.
One of the tools that can be used to measure motivational structure in the therapeutic process is the Personal Concerns Inventory (PCI). The PCI requires clients to identify concerns across a number of life domains, and is underpinned by the theory that all behaviour has a function, and antisocial behaviours such as excessive alcohol use occur because such behaviours serve a purpose for an individual (e.g.., facilitates access to desired social situations or removes unpleasant thoughts and emotions).
Following on from identifying concerns, goal appraisal and revision techniques can be used in diagnosis, prevention, and treatment (e.g., using tools such as a goal matrix or goal ladder). An assessment of what might facilitate or interfere with meeting goals can structure the therapeutic process.
The focus of this theme was to demonstrate how a well- developed theory regarding why people engage in behaviours that might reflect poor mental health can be used to guide intervention.
Output
During the workshop, delegates engaged in a number of interactive session designed to generate ideas for future collaborative projects and ongoing knowledge transfer between UK and Iranian researchers and clinicians.
Additionally, delegates were asked to specifically consider cross-cultural research, and identify barriers and strengths to conducting such research.
Themes identified by the groups of delegates:
1. MENTAL HEALTH IN YOUNG REFUGEES
A project was proposed that would investigate cognitive and psychological interventions for young refugees with poor mental health; a group identified as in need of collaborative research. A goal of intervention for young refugees is often to increase engagement with therapeutic processes. The group discussed measurement of mental health including depression, anxiety, resilience, school attendance, and civic involvement. It was acknowledged that environmental changes can be challenging and that coping strategies that were effective may become inappropriate or problematic in new contexts or as the environment changes.
2. NEUROPSYCHOLOGY
A project was proposed that would explore the cultural underpinnings of neuropsychology including patterns of adaptability and resilience., particularly in populations such as university students. The group discussed exploring how life events interact and predict later factors influencing mental health. In addition, the project prosed to explore different societal attitudes and values to resilience and mental health (including differences in emotional regulation strategies).
3. MEDIA INFLUENCE ON PERCEPTION
The current ubiquitous use of social media such as Facebook and Twitter may result in undesirable behaviours being modelled for young people. A project was proposed how social media might be used to change the stigma that mental health may carry, and to explore this from positive psychology, cognitive psychology, and social psychology perspectives. The effects of social media use on stress and anxiety could be measured, as well as the quality and accuracy of information people gain from social media, how this affects behaviour, and how much of this information is positive.
4. SUBSTANCE USE
A project was proposed to explore the difference between substance use and addiction and how these two might be distinguished from a clinical perspective. Once identified, coping strategies targeted for people who fall into each category could be explored. One such strategy might be to develop mutual aid groups in which strong bonds are developed between attendees. Exploring such groups as an alternative to formal treatment might represent a low-cost and easily-implemented, effective strategy.
5. RESILIENCE
Factors affecting resilience can include problem solving, working memory, attention, and emotional regulation. A cross-cultural experiment assessing resilience (including measures of curiosity, tolerance of frustration, self-acceptance, self-belief, and perspective) was proposed to identify what might be an appropriate target for interventions for people with low resilience.
Delegates:
- Ms Azadeh Attari (Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran)
- Mr Masoud M. Bazzaz (Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran)
- Dr Haneyeh Belyani (University of East London, UK)
- Dr Huseyin Cakal (Keele University, UK)
- Dr Antonios I. Christou (De Montfort University, UK)
- Ms Melissa Girling (Newcastle University, UK)
- Ms Laura-Jean Gresham Stokes (Bangor University, UK)
- Dr Stacey Hunter (Bangor University, UK)
- Dr Judith Johnson (University of Leeds, UK)
- Ms Chathurika Kannangara (University of Bolton, UK)
- Dr Blessing Marandure (De Montfort University, UK)
- Dr Sahar Moghimi (Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran)
- Dr Setareh Mokhtari (Shahid Beheshti University, Iran)
- Ms Hannah Rettie (Bangor University, UK)
- Ms Tara Rezapour (Institute for Cognitive Science Studies, Iran)
- Dr Sahand Riazi-Isfahani (National Institute of Health Research, Iran)
- Ms Mahsa Samiefard (Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran)
- Dr Negar Sammaknejad (Shahid Beheshti University, Iran)
- Dr Alireza Sepehri Shamloo (Royan Research Institute, Iran)
- Dr Ghazal Zahed (Shahid Beheshti Medical University, Iran)