Complementary and Integrative Health Practices for Depression

Evaluation of a Veterans Health Administration Whole Health for Mental Health Course for Clinicians

Objectives: Veterans experience mental health disorders at higher rates than their civilian counterparts and also experience multiple barriers to mental health services. The Veterans Health Administration (VA) has implemented a Whole Health approach to make health care more person-focused and oriented toward promotion of health-sustaining behavior. We conducted an evaluation to investigate the effects of a Whole Health for Mental Health (WHMH) course for clinicians that focuses on shifting the perspective to a system of care in which mental health is incorporated as a core part of whole-person care. Design: We collected surveys before the course, immediately after the course, and at a 2-month follow-up. Settings/Location: The course was implemented in non-clinical settings in two VA medical centers (one in the Northeast and one in the Mountain West). Subjects: Our sample consisted of VA staff who enrolled in WHMH and completed a pre- and post-survey (n = 100) and follow-up survey (n = 99). Intervention: The WHMH is a 2-day face-to-face course that covers multiple aspects of mental health through a Whole Health lens. The course includes evidence-based practices within each aspect of mental health. The course also emphasizes implementation of Whole Health in clinicians' lives, their practice, and the health care system. Outcome measures: Attitudes were measured at pre-, post-, and follow-up assessments. The WHMH behaviors were measured at pre- and follow-up assessments. Results: There were statistically significant, large changes toward improvement from pre-test to post-test for all attitudes examined. These changes remained significant at follow-up, and the magnitude of change remained at least medium to large. Statistically significant, medium magnitude or larger improvements were found at follow-up for four of the five WHMH behavior outcomes examined. Conclusions: Our results suggest that clinicians can increase their attitudes and use of Whole Health concepts and both conventional and complementary approaches related to mental health issues.

Reiki practitioners' perceptions of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the experience, practice and future of Reiki

OBJECTIVES

This study examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the experience, practice and future of Reiki in the UK, including the personal impact of the pandemic on practitioners and their work, practitioner perceptions of the future of the profession and Reiki delivery, and practitioner experiences and views of distant Reiki in comparison to hands on or near the body treatments.

METHOD

A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews was carried out with 10 Reiki practitioners. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Three themes were identified: adapting and growing with the challenges of COVID-19, Reiki for individual and community resilience, and moving from the mainstream hands on to lesser known distant Reiki.

CONCLUSION

While the COVID-19 pandemic personally impacted Reiki practitioners, they focused on turning adversity into opportunity, to overcome a sense of disconnectedness and social isolation, by providing social support and promoting individual and community resilience. Practitioners focused on self-care, personal development and reaching out to the community. Personal Protective Equipment was perceived as necessary for infection control but a potential barrier to the client's experience of Reiki. They saw value in adapting their practice as part of the future of the profession by utilising new technology and distant Reiki healing, but were clear this could not replace in person contact.