Social Support: From 1 Different Sources
Emotional, instrumental and financial assistance obtained from an individual’s social network. Social support provided by family, friends and neighbours is referred to as ‘informal support’, whereas social support provided by formal service agencies is called ‘formal support’.
See PUBLIC HEALTH.... social medicine
Services provided by government to improve the social welfare of those who need them.... social services
See “decision analysis”.... decision support system
Any previously existing mental-health problems may worsen under the stress of pregnancy and childbirth, and a woman’s socio-economic circumstances may be an in?uential factor. Mood swings are common in pregnant women and mothers of new babies; sympathetic support from sta? and relations will usually remedy the situation. If postnatal depression lasts for more than a week or two the use of mild ANTIDEPRESSANT DRUGS may be justi?ed. If depression persists, referral to a psychiatrist may be advisable. Rarely, severe psychiatric problems – puerperal psychosis – may develop during or after pregnancy and referral to an appropriate psychiatric unit is then essential. If the mother’s social circumstances are unsatisfactory, advice should be sought from social services departments. Mothers may also need advice on bene?ts to which they are entitled and how to claim them. Bene?ts Agency o?ces or Citizens’ Advice Bureaux as well as antenatal clinics are useful sources of information.... psychological and social problems
is aimed at stabilising and strengthening the psychological defence mechanisms of those patients who are confronted by a crisis which threatens to overwhelm their ability to cope, or who are struggling with the aftermath of major life events.... short-term supportive psychotherapy
Kin and other sources of support available to an individual.... social capital
Assistance with the activities of daily life (personal care, domestic maintenance, self-direction) delivered by a personal care helper, home helper or social worker and aimed at supporting older people who experience disabilities in functioning.... social care service
A process within society which both formally, through law, and informally, through customs, norms and mores, attempts to influence and order the actions of social groups and their members and thus maintain public order.... social control
A situation in which individuals are prevented from fully participating in society by factors such as age, poverty, disability or ethnicity.... social exclusion
Any set of persons within society with particular demographic, economic or social characteristics.... social group
The extent to which individuals are engaged with their families, friends, neighbours and communities.... social integration
A condition in which an individual has extremely limited social networks and supports.... social isolation
An individual’s web of kinship, friendship and community ties.... social network
See “informal care”.... social network care
Benefits that include income for eligible persons from social security, old age, disability, and survivors’ pension schemes.... social security benefits
An intervention designed to enhance an individual’s physical, mental and social functioning through improved coping skills and use of social supports and community health care services. Those who practise social work are generally called social workers. There are many different types, specialties and grades of social worker. Those who specialize in care of older adults are often called geriatric or gerontological social workers.... social work
A group of people who share a common bond (e.g. caregivers, patients, families of patients) who come together on a regular basis to share problems and experiences or keep in contact in other ways (e.g. the Internet).... support group
Accommodation providing varying levels of support for people with impaired functioning, ranging from residential care facilities to occasional assistance for people living independently.... supported accommodation
Accommodation where there is a degree of daily living support for its residents to enable them to live independently.... supported housing
See “assisted living facility”.... supported residential service
An environment that reduces risks to people’s health and promotes healthy living.... supportive environment for health
In the UK, this NHS authority (UKTSSA) provides a 24-hour service for matching, allocating and distributing organs. It is also responsible for keeping the records of all patients awaiting transplants. Established in 1991, the authority allocates donor organs without favour, following protocols set by advisory groups. It also administers the Human Organ Transplant Act on behalf of the Department of Health. (See TRANSPLANTATION.)... transplant support services authority
A collective term for disorders such as Asperger’s syndrome and autism, which begin in childhood. Problems tend to persist throughout life.... social and communication disorders
(ALS) a structured and algorithm-driven method of life support for use in the severest of medical emergencies, especially cardiac arrest. Doctors, nurses, and paramedic personnel involved in ALS receive special training in the use of equipment (e.g. defibrillators and appropriate drugs). Paediatric advanced life support (PALS) is ALS for use in severe medical emergencies in children, while advanced trauma life support(ATLS) is specifically for patients who have been subjected to major trauma, such as a serious road accident. Compare basic life support.... advanced life support
the provision of treatment designed to maintain adequate circulation and ventilation to a patient in *cardiac arrest, without the use of drugs or specialist equipment. Compare advanced life support.... basic life support
(HSCIC) formerly, an executive nondepartmental public body set up in April 2013 to collect, analyse, and publish UK national health data and supply IT systems and services to health-care providers nationwide. It was rebranded as *NHS Digital in August 2016.... health and social care information centre
a social worker employed to assist hospital patients with social problems that may arise through illness. See also social services.... hospital social worker
an income-related benefit payable to those whose income and savings do not exceed a specified maximum level and who do not work full-time. It is currently being replaced by *universal credit.... income support
an extreme fear of humiliating or embarrassing oneself in social situations (e.g. dating, parties, eating with other people, asking questions, etc.). Symptoms include shaking, blushing, gastrointestinal disturbances, sweating, and other signs of anxiety; people with social anxiety disorder may avoid social situations. Treatment includes cognitive behavioural therapy, occupational therapy, and medication (e.g. antidepressants, anxiolytics, or beta blockers).... social anxiety disorder
(in Britain) an allowance payable to people under state retirement age who are unable to work because of illness or disability. Entitlement depends on either an adequate record of National Insurance contributions or satisfying income-related criteria. An assessment-phase allowance is paid during the first 13 weeks of a claim, and eligible claimants are paid the main-phase rate following a work capability assessment. The part of this allowance based on income is currently being replaced by a component of *universal credit; the part based on National Insurance contributions will remain in place.... employment and support allowance
see National Statistics Socio-economic Classification.... social class
the application of marketing techniques to achieve behaviour change for a social benefit, for example reduction in *health inequalities.... social marketing
see social services.... social worker
adj. (of treatment) aimed at reinforcing the patient’s own defence mechanisms in overcoming a disease or disorder.... supportive
Health Encyclopedia