Mental health knowledge and training needs among direct care workers: a mixed methods study.

OBJECTIVES: Direct care providers (DCWs) spend the most time with clients in the home, and as such, play an integral role in identifying mental health problems. However, DCWs receive little preparation in mental health and there is little research regarding their role in the mental health care of clients. The purpose of this study was to explore DCWs' knowledge, attitudes, and experiences of caring for clients with mental health problems from the perspectives of DCWs and key administrators (KAs).

METHOD: Mixed method design. Structured interviews were conducted with DCWs. Focus groups were conducted with KAs.

RESULTS: Twenty-nine DCWs and 12 KAs took part in the study. Loneliness and memory problems in clients were the most prevalent challenges identified by DCWs. DCWs' self-reported mental health knowledge was mid to high across all domains, although they had many misconceptions about mental health and aging. Helpful strategies in working with clients included communication skills, rapport-building, behavioral, cognitive, emotion-regulation, and making use of external resources. KAs noted individual differences in DCWs' mental health knowledge and indicated that mental health issues were often viewed by DCWs as dispositional problems or a normal part of aging. KAs viewed DCWs' greatest challenges as personalizing difficult client behaviors, lack of knowledge about how to manage specific behaviors, and difficulties managing their own emotions towards clients.

CONCLUSION: Data from this study suggest important areas for DCW development. However, system issues that affect DCWs such as workload, resources, mental health stigma, and diverse client populations should be addressed concurrently.