Mental Health Benchmarking Project: Technical Appendix

Mental Health Benchmarking Project: Technical Appendix

APPENDIX F: AVON

Table 1: PHYSICAL

A	B	C	D	E	Letter chosen	Comments - further explanation if needed	Do you feel you need help to change things, if so what sort of help?
FOOD Frequently have little or no food for extended period (most of day) OR frequently abuse food	FOOD Almost never eat regularly	FOOD Often skip meals or make do with snacks	FOOD Almost always eat regularly	FOOD Always eat regularly
Abuse of food in A includes any problems with Anorexia or Bulimia. Not eating for long periods because you cannot afford to, or you are not able to prepare and/or get food should be counted as A or B
SHELTER/ACCOMMODATION Roofless or night shelter	SHELTER/ ACCOMMODATION Short term accommodation, e.g. friend's floor, or bed-sit	SHELTER/ACCOMMODATION Accommodation unsuitable or poor quality	SHELTER/ACCOMMODATION Accommodation could be better	SHELTER/ACCOMMODATION Good accommodation. No worries about rent or security
Quality refers to safety, warmth, lighting, sanitation etc.
PHYSICAL HEALTH Physical health is very poor, e.g. severe breathing/circulation problems	PHYSICAL HEALTH Often have physical health problems which cause regular difficulty	PHYSICAL HEALTH Some difficulties present most of the time	PHYSICAL HEALTH Occasional health problems	PHYSICAL HEALTH Physically fit and well
Problems may include sight, hearing, moving about, breathlessness, epilepsy, skin problems, circulation problems etc. or generally feeling under the weather and having frequent colds or other infections
SELF-CARE Unable to fully care for myself	SELF-CARE I hardly look after myself at all	SELF-CARE I sometimes neglect to look after myself	SELF-CARE I look after myself most of the time	SELF-CARE I always take care of myself and appearance
e.g. unable to get out of bed. Self-care refers to hygiene, being able to wash, dress, presentation etc.
ILL EFFECTS OF TREATMENT Severe effects which are very upsetting. May include feeling 'foggy', slowed down, or having bad physical effects such as very dry mouth, constipation	ILL EFFECTS OF TREATMENT Side effects are definite or marked and are sometimes upsetting	ILL EFFECTS OF TREATMENT Mild side effects e.g. dry mouth, but not upsetting	ILL EFFECTS OF TREATMENT Very occasional side effects	ILL EFFECTS OF TREATMENT Do not notice any unwanted side-effects
Only include side effects of treatments for mental health problems. Treatment includes medication, ECT and any talking treatment, e.g. talking about your problems may be upsetting

Table 2: SOCIAL

A	B	C	D	E	Letter chosen	Comments - further explanation if needed	Do you feel you need help to change things, if so what sort of help?
SOCIAL SUPPORT Not supported at all by contact with family or friends OR in abusive or destructive relationship with above	SOCIAL SUPPORT Verry little contact with family or friends - provides almost no emotional or practical support	SOCIAL SUPPORT Little contact with family or friends offers some practical support only	SOCIAL SUPPORT Has some contact with family or friends which provides practical and emotional support	SOCIAL SUPPORT Supportive contact with family and/or friends which provides emotional and practical help
DISCRIMINATION Experience severe discrimination which has ongoing affect on daily life and/or mental health	DISCRIMINATION Frequent experience which has some effect on daily life and/or mental health	DISCRIMINATION Sometimes experience discrimination	DISCRIMINATION Rarely experience discrimination	DISCRIMINATION No discrimination experienced
Discrimination means unfair treatment because of your illness, disability, age, religion, race or sex, sexual orientation etc.
DAILY ROUTINE No fulfilling day time activities, causes real discontentment	DAILY ROUTINE Limited and/or unfulfilling day time activities, causes frustration	DAILY ROUTINE Daytime occupation is not sufficient and is largely unfulfilling	DAILY ROUTINE Daytime occupation is sufficient, but not very fulfilling	DAILY ROUTINE Happy with current level of daytime activities
Daily routine can be paid or unpaid work, daycentre or drop-in activity etc. See also back page
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT No opportunities for recreation or leisure activities outside of home Cannot take part in cultural, sport or spiritual activities	COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT Few opportunities for recreation or leisure activities outside of home Take part in very little cultural, sport or spiritual activities	COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT Some opportunities for recreation or leisure activities outside of home Take part in limited number of cultural, sport or spiritual activities	COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT Good opportunities for recreation or leisure activities outside of home Cannot always take part	COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT Very happy with opportunities for leisure, cultural, sport and/or spiritual activities Take an active part

Table 3: BEHAVIOUR

A	B	C	D	E	Letter chosen	Comments - further explanation if needed	Do you feel you need help to change things, if so what sort of help?
SLEEP DISTURBANCE Experience problems a lot of the time	SLEEP DISTURBANCE Causes problems some of the time	SLEEP DISTURBANCE Rarely causes problems	SLEEP DISTURBANCE Do not have problems with sleeping	SLEEP DISTURBANCE Severe and long-lasting problems with sleeping	GOOD DAY
SLEEP DISTURBANCE Experience problems a lot of the time	SLEEP DISTURBANCE Causes problems some of the time	SLEEP DISTURBANCE Rarely causes problems	SLEEP DISTURBANCE Do not have problems with sleeping		BAD DAY
RISK TO SELF Often deliberately injure myself or get into dangerous situations	RISK TO SELF Likely to injure myself or put myself into dangerous situations either accidentally or deliberately	RISK TO SELF Occasionally take risks or put myself in a situation where I am vulnerable	RISK TO SELF Rarely take risks or put myself into dangerous situations	RISK TO SELF I am very careful and do not get into dangerous situations where I might get injured or harmed	GOOD DAY
					BAD DAY
Risk to self includes self-harm or cutting or being likely to fall or injure yourself or taking risks with what you do e.g. drug use, unsafe sex, or being around other people who behave dangerously
SUBSTANCE MISUSE Dependent on non-prescription drugs or alcohol every day	SUBSTANCE MISUSE Take drugs or drink alcohol heavily, and find it difficult to cut down when I want to	SUBSTANCE MISUSE Drink alcohol moderately or take drugs sometimes/ most weeks. I can cut down when I want	SUBSTANCE MISUSE Occasionally drink alcohol or take drugs	SUBSTANCE MISUSE Rarely or never get drunk, do not take non-prescribed drugs	ALCOHOL
					DRUGS
SUICIDE Have recently* attempted to take my own life *within the last few months	SUICIDE Thinking seriously about taking my own life	SUICIDE Have been or am thinking about the possibility of taking my own life	SUICIDE Occasionally think about taking my own life	SUICIDE I have no suicidal thoughts	GOOD DAY
	SUICIDE Thinking seriously about taking my own life		SUICIDE Occasionally think about taking my own life	SUICIDE I have no suicidal thoughts	BAD DAY
ANGER Frequently get angry and use violence against people or property	ANGER Often get angry - isolated incidents may cause damage to people or property	ANGER Sometimes get angry and use violent language, shout or threaten people	ANGER Get angry in some circumstances - do not easily show this	ANGER Generally do not get angry with people or things	GOOD DAY
				ANGER Generally do not get angry with people or things	BAD DAY

Table 4: ACCESS

A	B	C	D	E	Letter chosen	Comments - further explanation if needed	Do you feel you need help to change things, if so what sort of help?
TRANSPORT No private transport is available	TRANSPORT Public and private transport available on some days	TRANSPORT Transport is generally available	TRANSPORT I use public or private transport	TRANSPORT I have my own transport	GOOD DAY
TRANSPORT No private transport is available		TRANSPORT Transport is generally available	TRANSPORT I use public or private transport	TRANSPORT I have my own transport	BAD DAY
I am unable to use pubic transport even when it is available	My use of transport is very limited because of lack of confidence or health difficulties	I can use some forms of transport	I mostly find it easy to get about	I have no problems getting about	GOOD DAY
		I can use some forms of transport	I mostly find it easy to get about	I have no problems getting about	BAD DAY
Use of transport - may be limited by lack of money, need for child transport or care, mobility difficulties, geographical local etc.
INFORMATION Unable to get hold of any information or advice	INFORMATION Difficult to get hold of information or advice	INFORMATION Only some information is readily available	INFORMATION Information is mostly available	INFORMATION Information is readily available	GOOD DAY
		INFORMATION Only some information is readily available	INFORMATION Information is mostly available	INFORMATION Information is readily available	BAD DAY
I am not able to understand information	I have a limited amount of understanding	I can understand a fair amount of information	I understand most information and advice	I understand most information	GOOD DAY
I am not able to understand information	I have a limited amount of understanding	I can understand a fair amount of information	I understand most information and advice	I understand most information	BAD DAY
Information can be about benefits, housing, health or about your illness or what help there is available. You may need information in another language or as Braille or on tape, or need help with reading or writing
COMMUNICATION Hardly talk to anyone on most days	COMMUNICATION Usually talk to only a few people	COMMUNICATION Have some difficulty with talking and communicating on most days	COMMUNICATION I am able to talk and communicate in most situations	COMMUNICATION No problem talking and communicating	GOOD DAY
COMMUNICATION Hardly talk to anyone on most days	COMMUNICATION Usually talk to only a few people			COMMUNICATION No problem talking and communicating	BAD DAY
INCOME - PAID WORK ALLOWANCE OR BENEFIT No regular income or benefits OR lack of income causes severe distress	INCOME - PAID WORK ALLOWANCE OR BENEFIT Income or benefits unclaimed or inadequate - not sufficient for all reasonable daily needs	INCOME - PAID WORK ALLOWANCE OR BENEFIT Income is uncertain, sometimes enough to meet needs, sometimes not	INCOME - PAID WORK ALLOWANCE OR BENEFIT Income is regular but only just enough to meet needs	INCOME - PAID WORK ALLOWANCE OR BENEFIT Secure income, sufficient to meet most needs
MANAGING MONEY Daily financial affairs chaotic - require a great deal of outside help	MANAGING MONEY Severe difficulties coping with daily personal financial matters - need much help	MANAGING MONEY Able to look after personal finances with help from someone else	MANAGING MONEY Sometimes able to deal with personal finances on my own	MANAGING MONEY I am able to keep a check on my own personal finances	GOOD DAY
					BAD DAY
You may find that you spend money in an unpredictable or chaotic way when you are ill

Table 5: MENTAL HEALTH

A	B	C	D	E	Letter chosen	Comments - further explanation if needed	Do you feel you need help to change things, if so what sort of help?
MOOD SWINGS Severe, long-lasting and uncontrollable for most of the time	MOOD SWINGS Experience these problems a lot of the time	MOOD SWINGS Experience mood swings some of the time	MOOD SWINGS Occasionally have these problems	MOOD SWINGS Do not have problems with mood changes	GOOD DAY
	MOOD SWINGS Experience these problems a lot of the time	MOOD SWINGS Experience mood swings some of the time	MOOD SWINGS Occasionally have these problems	MOOD SWINGS Do not have problems with mood changes	BAD DAY
Mood changes - 'highs' or 'lows', extreme elation or extreme sadness
DEPRESSION Severe, long-lasting and uncontrollable for most of the time	DEPRESSION Experience depression a lot of the time	DEPRESSION I am sometimes depressed	DEPRESSION I am rarely depressed	DEPRESSION Have no problems with depression	GOOD DAY
	DEPRESSION Experience depression a lot of the time	DEPRESSION I am sometimes depressed	DEPRESSION I am rarely depressed	DEPRESSION Have no problems with depression	BAD DAY
Depression includes feelings of sadness, feeling low, guilt, emptiness, withdrawal, low self-esteem, slowing down or inability to get going and do things
UNUSUAL THOUGHTS & EXPERIENCES Severe, long-lasting or uncontrollable	UNUSUAL THOUGHTS & EXPERIENCES Experience these problems a lot of the time	UNUSUAL THOUGHTS & EXPERIENCES Sometimes are a problem	UNUSUAL THOUGHTS & EXPERIENCES These are very rarely a problem	UNUSUAL THOUGHTS & EXPERIENCES These are never a problem	GOOD DAY
		UNUSUAL THOUGHTS & EXPERIENCES Sometimes are a problem			BAD DAY
This can include experiencing voices or visions, or having unusual thoughts or beliefs including feeling that people are against you
ANXIETY OR FEAR Uncontrollable panic OR severe, recurring anxiety and worry	ANXIETY OR FEAR Have bad anxiety, panic attacks or worries a lot of the time	ANXIETY OR FEAR I am sometimes anxious or have panic attacks	ANXIETY OR FEAR I rarely have these problems	ANXIETY OR FEAR Have no problems with anxiety or thoughts about traumatic events	GOOD DAY
			ANXIETY OR FEAR I rarely have these problems		BAD DAY
Undue fear of everyday things or events, like going out
OBSESSIVE THINKING/ COMPULSIVE ACTIVITIES Severe, long-lasting and uncontrollable	OBSESSIVE THINKING/ COMPULSIVE ACTIVITIES Experience these problems a lot of the time	OBSESSIVE THINKING/ COMPULSIVE ACTIVITIES Sometimes have these problems	OBSESSIVE THINKING/ COMPULSIVE ACTIVITIES Rarely have these problems	OBSESSIVE THINKING/ COMPULSIVE ACTIVITIES I have no problems like these	GOOD DAY
					BAD DAY
May include repeated washing, or checking, collecting or counting
PROBLEMS WITH FORGETTING & UNDERSTANDING Unable to recognise friends or relatives OR speech confused or disorientation - not knowing where I am going to	PROBLEMS WITH FORGETTING & UNDERSTANDING Have difficulty understanding what is going on. Sometimes have difficulty in getting people to understand me	PROBLEMS WITH FORGETTING & UNDERSTANDING Have memory problems like losing my way or not recognising someone OR unable to grasp or remember simple things or words	PROBLEMS WITH FORGETTING & UNDERSTANDING Have minor problems like forgetting names or where I have put things	PROBLEMS WITH FORGETTING & UNDERSTANDING Fine - no problems in this area	GOOD DAY
					BAD DAY

Page updated: Thursday, February 14, 2008