Public safety communications employment and mental health: contributing factors and desired changes from those on the front lines

Mitigating the Impact of Coronavirus Disease-2019 on Child and Family Behavioral Health: Suggested Policy Approaches

Several factors may place people with mental health disorders, including substance use disorders, at increased risk of experiencing homelessness and experiencing homelessness may also increase the risk of developing mental health disorders. Meta-analyses examining the prevalence of mental health disorders among people experiencing homelessness globally are lacking. To determine the current and lifetime prevalence of mental health disorders among people experiencing homelessness and identify associated factors. A systematic search of electronic databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, PsycInfo, Embase, Cochrane, CINAHL, and AMED) was conducted from inception to May 1, 2021. Studies investigating the prevalence of mental health disorders among people experiencing homelessness aged 18 years and older were included. Data extraction was completed using standardized forms in Covidence. All extracted data were reviewed for accuracy by consensus between 2 independent reviewers. Random-effects meta-analysis was used to estimate the prevalence (with 95% CIs) of mental health disorders in people experiencing homelessness. Subgroup analyses were performed by sex, study year, age group, region, risk of bias, and measurement method. Meta-regression was conducted to examine the association between mental health disorders and age, risk of bias, and study year. Current and lifetime prevalence of mental health disorders among people experiencing homelessness. A total of 7729 citations were retrieved, with 291 undergoing full-text review and 85 included in the final review (N = 48 414 participants, 11 154 [23%] female and 37 260 [77%] male). The current prevalence of mental health disorders among people experiencing homelessness was 67% (95% CI, 55-77), and the lifetime prevalence was 77% (95% CI, 61-88). Male individuals exhibited a significantly higher lifetime prevalence of mental health disorders (86%; 95% CI, 74-92) compared to female individuals (69%; 95% CI, 48-84). The prevalence of several specific disorders were estimated, including any substance use disorder (44%), antisocial personality disorder (26%), major depression (19%), schizophrenia (7%), and bipolar disorder (8%). The findings demonstrate that most people experiencing homelessness have mental health disorders, with higher prevalences than those observed in general community samples. Specific interventions are needed to support the mental health needs of this population, including close coordination of mental health, social, and housing services and policies to support people experiencing homelessness with mental disorders.

The burden of mental health disorders, though a major public health concern globally, is disproportionately high in low- and middle-income countries, including those in Africa. In addition, despite the increased awareness regarding the crisis in mental health, comprehensive data regarding the prevalence and determinants of mental health disorders among adults in Africa is lacking. This scoping review investigates the prevalence, associated factors, and barriers to care for mental health disorders in African adults. The authors performed a systematic search of peer-reviewed literature through PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases for studies that reported on the prevalence of mental health disorders among African adults published between 2010 and 2024. Eligible studies were screened and extracted, after which thematic analysis was done using the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Thirty-five studies were included andindicated significant regional variation in the prevalence of mental health disorders. The most prevalent disorders reported were major depression, within a range of 12-35 percent, anxiety disorders, within a range of 10-27 percent, followed by substance use disorders. Major socioeconomic contributors to the mental health disorders were poverty, unemployment, and low education. Cultural stigma and barriers to care access also contributed significantly. Mental health services were few throughout Africa, especially in the rural and conflict areas of the continent, because of workforce shortages and lack of funding. Research gaps clearly existed in rural populations, refugees, and longitudinal mental health studies. The review indicates the need for urgent awareness, investment in mental health services, and the implementation of policy addressing the burden of mental health in Africa. Targeted efforts at decreasing stigma,increasing the infrastructure for mental health, and access to care should be taken, particularly within the most at-risk groups. Addressing such challenges is likely to ensure improved mental health outcomes and further the cause of public health across the continent.

Correctional workers are at increased risk for a variety of mental disorders relative to the general population. The increased risk appears associated with frequent exposures to a variety of potentially psychologically traumatic events; however, the Job Demand-Control model and the Job Demand-Control-Support model posit operational (job content) and organizational (job context) stressors as increasing risks for mental health challenges. In the current study, we explore the potential impact of operational and organizational stress on correctional worker mental health, identifying specific stressors that might be modifiable. Data were drawn from the reports provided by 158 participants completing a large survey that elected to respond to either of two open text boxes inviting feedback related to their mental health. Qualitatively mapping our results onto the Job Demand-Control-Support model indicates participants perceive themselves as experiencing iso-strain as a function of being in a high demand, low control, and low social support work environment complicated by under-recognized caregiving. Participant reports suggest increased consultation by management and increased training may help to mitigate the perceived negative impact of the current workplace on their mental health.

BackgroundResearch consistently demonstrates significantly higher rates of mental health disorders among incarcerated individuals compared to the general population. This paper examines the prevalence of mental health disorders among all individuals serving preventive detention in Norway between 2009 and 2022, and compares the prevalence of mental health disorders in this group with a comparison group of individuals convicted of serious violent and sexual offences, and with the total prison population.MethodsWe conducted a registry-based study to investigate the prevalence of psychiatric morbidity within this population in Norwegian prisons, using a subset of the data from the nPRIS-cohort including all people imprisoned in Norway between January 1st, 2000, and December 31st, 2022 (n = 112,877). The cohort, including 202 individuals serving preventive detention in the period 2009–2022, were linked to the Norwegian Patient Registry (NPR) and socio-economic data from Statistics Norway.ResultsThe prevalence of mental health disorders was high across all three comparison groups. However, of the preventive detention population (n = 202) almost all (95.0%) had at least one mental health diagnosis during the study period. In addition, 73.8% of the preventive detention population had received a severe mental health disorder diagnosis during the observation period (compared to 23.7% for the comparison group and 28.3% for the total prison population). Approximately one third of the preventive detention population had a combination of three or more of the five most common diagnoses.ConclusionThe preventive detention population in Norway is clearly a group with significant mental health treatment needs – even when compared to a prison population that is itself showing increasing prevalence of mental health disorders, indicating that they represent a particularly vulnerable population within the prison system.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12888-025-07357-3.

Canadian public safety personnel (e.g., correctional workers, firefighters) experience potential stressors as a function of their occupation. Occupational stressors can include organizational (e.g., job context) and operational (e.g., job content) elements. Operational stressors (e.g., exposures to potentially psychologically traumatic events) may be inevitable, but opportunities may exist to mitigate other occupational stressors for public safety personnel. Research exploring the diverse forms of stress among public safety personnel remains sparse. In our current qualitative study we provide insights into how public safety personnel interpret occupational stressors. We use a semi-grounded thematic approach to analyze what public safety personnel reported when asked to further comment on occupational stress or their work experiences in two open-ended comment fields of an online survey. We provide a more comprehensive understanding of how public safety personnel experience occupational stress and the stressors that are unique to their occupations. Beyond known operational stressors, our respondents (n = 1238; n = 828) reported substantial difficulties with organizational (interpersonal work relationship dynamics; workload distribution, resources, and administrative obligations) and operational (vigilance, work location, interacting with the public) stressors. Some operational stressors are inevitable, but other occupational stressors can be mitigated to better support our public safety personnel.

2282 – Prevalence Of Children's Mental Health Disorders In Survey Data Compared To Population Data: a Comparison Of Two Prospective Cohorts

329 Background: There remains limited research on the prevalence of mental health disorders (MHD) among patients with different cancer types in representative populations. This study explores the prevalence of MHD before, during, and after a diagnosis of cancer across a broad community population. Methods: This retrospective study examined MHD (including depression, anxiety, PTSD and substance use) among adults diagnosed with cancer from January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2022, within Kaiser Permanente Northern California. Monthly trends of MHD prevalence from pre-diagnosis to one-year post-diagnosis of cancer were stratified by cancer type, evaluated using linear regression, and compared to healthcare utilization. Results: The study cohort comprised 58,591 patients (median age 65, 51.5% female, 57.9% white). Across all cancer types, prevalence of total pre-existing MHD was 18.9% (95% CI 18.6, 19.3), which increased to 23.7% (95% CI 23.3, 24.0) at cancer diagnosis, and up to 33% (95% CI 32.6, 33.5) by one-year following diagnosis. Anxiety was the most common, more than doubling from a pre-cancer prevalence of 11.6% (95% CI 11.4, 11.9) to 24.6% (95% CI 24.2, 25.0) one year after diagnosis. Depression prevalence also increased over the same period, from 11.5% (95% CI 11.3, 11.8) to 18.3% (95% CI 18.0, 18.7). While less common overall, substance use also more than doubled over the one-year period, from 1.9% (95% CI 1.8, 2.0) to 4.7% (95% CI 4.5, 4.9). The lowest prevalence for all MHD was seen in prostate cancer, at 13.4% pre-diagnosis to 21.7% one-year post-diagnosis. The highest rates of total MHD were seen amongst brain cancer and acute leukemia, at 23.0% (brain) and 19.2% (leukemia) prior to cancer, to 50.1% (brain) and 48.1% (leukemia) one year after. Mental health care also increased modestly during this one-year period from pre- to post-cancer diagnosis. Utilization of Psychiatric services across all cancers increased from 5.8% (95% CI 5.6, 6.0) to 10.9% (95% CI 10.6, 11.2). Use of Behavioral Health services was low overall, noting a shift from 1.7% (95% CI 1.6, 1.8) to 4.2% (95% CI 4.1, 4.4). Conclusions: There is a growing burden of MHD in patients with cancer, with variations by cancer type and increases in prevalence just after cancer diagnosis. Use of mental health services amongst this population remains low. Studies characterizing MHD across different cancer populations can help prioritize screening and timely interventions, improving the mental health burden and overall outcomes in cancer care. Prevalence of mental health disorders (MHD); % (n). Month(0 = at cancer diagnosis) -1 (n=58591) 0 (n=58591) 12 (n=47931) p-value Depression 11.5% (6764) 13.5% (7912) 18.3% (8774) <0.0001 Anxiety 11.6% (6822) 15.4% (9015) 24.6% (11790) <0.0001 Substance Use 1.9% (1125) 2.9% (1693) 4.7% (2233) <0.0001 All MHD* 18.9% (11097) 23.7% (13858) 33.0% (15840) <0.0001 *Includes depression, anxiety, PTSD, and substance use.

Dear Editor, Nursing are known as a profession that is constantly exposed to various stresses. Stress job in this profession could lead to disturbances that seriously put at risk the mental health of nurses. Pressure caused by stressors in the job has the undesirable effect on the individual and the organization. Increased accidents and injuries, poor staff morale, low motivation, job satisfaction and Fatigue early are natural consequence lack of the elimination of workplace stressors (1). Although nurses have been trained to attention to care and quality of life of patients But they rarely think of their individual needs (2). Occupational Safety and Health Institute has been investigated the relationship between mental illness and job stress , reported that Among the 130 job studied, Nursing has been allocated ranked 17th in the acceptance rate to mental health problems (3). National immunity Association of America has also reported that amongst 40th most stressful professions, nursing job is with high prevalence of disease-related stress (4). Therefore we conducted a cross-sectional study over 200 randomly selected nurses which working in Tehran Emergency Medical Services (Also named 115 Tehran Emergency units) to investigate the relationship between psychological stress and personality type and life events in them. A general Health questionnaire and a special questionnaire were used in order to evaluate their mental health and possible contributing factors including job stress personality type and daily life events respectively. Results of the study show that 115 emergency nurses in Tehran are facing with high job stress. Mental health reduce, When higher levels of job stress and exposure to stressful life events increase in this group, The findings indicate that increasing in the stressful life events cause to job stress is more and People with type A personality are less compatible with stress and are prone to get mental disorder. Overall, the results of this study are consistent with other studies in the field of occupational stress such as Gershon E (5), Kirkcaldy D (6) and Neylon TC (7). However, it is important to be noted that these studies have been carried out on populations with different characteristics and various stressful life. This study showed that there is a significant relationship between job stress with mental health and exposure time of life events with personality type. In general, mental health nurses in the emergency 115 is at risk more than other segments of society is at risk, the main reasons can be noted such as; stressful nature of the profession, Working pressure, dealing with unexpected situations, shifts, extra responsibility, Excessive demands from the patient and his family, Lack of recreational facilities, Visionary with the reality of death, Organizational factors and individual factors . Prevalence of impaired health nurses reported different numbers in other parts of the world for example Rout showed The major sources of stress isolated by the ward nurses related to: time pressure, administrative responsibility, having too much to do, component not under their control, interruptions, keeping up with National Health Service (NHS) changes, and lack of sources (8) Farrell have reported The prevalence of mental health disorder among nurses 34 percent and Fagin stated 41 percent in nurses, (9, 10) Researches conducted in other countries stated The prevalence of mental health disorder in nurses is higher than the other social groups. For example Yang reported the prevalence of mental health disorder in the nursing population 48/8 % against the general population of 33/3% (11). In this study, there was no significant difference between job stress and mental health status with Professional Background. It was noticed that the nursing staff with a bachelor's degree in nursing and operating room technicians were better in job stress and mental health perhaps attributed to self-confidence and pays more than them. The survey also showed that between marital status and mental health and job stress are significant relations. The survey also showed that between marital status and mental health and job stress are significant relations so that the single people had better mental health and job stress which can be caused by having generally more family complications and responsibilities, which generally leads to more stress as compared to those who are single (12). However, the necessity of maintaining social, occupational and educational functioning is mental health in community. In recent decades the main issues of organization's management has allocated to mental health and its impact on an organization. Stress in organizations such as aphthous disrupts their activity and efforts. So much capital is lost due to lack of physical - mental health staff, reducing their efficiency and absence from work. The results of this study could be considered as a data source to be used for planning in mental health programs.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the public health measures enacted to control its spread may affect the mental health of the general population of Ireland. Funded under the Health Research Board’s COVID-19 Pandemic Rapid Response Funding Call, this protocol outlines the aims of a project to assess and protect the mental health of the population of Ireland during this pandemic. We will determine (i) the prevalence of common mental health disorders at various times during the first year of the pandemic, (ii) changes in the prevalence of mental health disorders during the first year of the pandemic, (iii) if there are distinct groups of people experiencing different mental health responses to the pandemic, and (iv) the factors associated with different mental health reactions. Methods: This quantitative study uses cross-sectional and longitudinal designs. Data have been collected from a nationally representative sample of Irish adults at four assessments: Wave 1 (N = 1,041) occurred during the first week of lockdown in March 2020, Wave 2 in May, Wave 3 in August, and Wave 4 in December. Wave 5 is planned for March 2021. Participants from Wave 1 have been recontacted at each wave to produce a longitudinal dataset. New participants were recruited using quota sampling to ensure the availability of nationally representative samples at each wave. Self-report measures of demographic, economic, psychological, and mental health variables were completed. Conclusion: This design will allow us to determine whether there has been a change in mental health disorders in the general population during the first year of the pandemic, and if so, what variables are associated with changes in mental health. Results will be used to inform the government’s ongoing response to this crisis, to better protect the mental health of the nation during this and any future public health emergency.

The aim of the current review is to describe the prevalence and demographic correlates of mental health disorders among undergraduate university students in the United States. A search strategy was built and conducted using PubMed, PsycINFO, and CINAHL to identify studies published between 2009 and 2019 on the prevalence of mental health disorders, as defined in the fourth and fifth editions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, in undergraduate students in the United States. A total of 12 studies were included in the final data extraction. The highest prevalence rates were identified in eating disorders, which ranged from 19% to 48%, followed by compulsive disorders (2% to 12.27%), depression (22%), posttraumatic stress disorder (8%), and sleep disorders (9.4% to 36%). The identified prevalence of mental health disorders is high, and the subsequent impact on this population is worrying. There is an urgent need to develop strategies for early screening and management of mental health services in university settings. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 59(2), 17-24.].

Objective: To estimate the prevalence, cooccurrence and risk factors of mental health disorders in 5-7 year-old children in the general population.Materials and Methods: The study is a 5-7 years follow-up of the Danish birth cohort The Copenhagen Child Cohort, CCC2000, including 6,090 children from the general population. The cohort was screened for mental health problems by questionnaires to parents and pre-school teachers (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, SDQ). Screen positive children and a random sample of 1330 children were assessed by diagnostic interviews administered to parents and questionnaires to pre-schoolteachers (Developmental and Well-being Assessment, DAWBA). Data on peri-natal adversities, sociodemographic risk factors and hospital admissions were obtained from Danish National Registers.Results: The overall prevalence of mental health disorders in 5-7 years-old children was 4.4% (95%CI: 3.3-5.5). Emotional disorders were found in 2.0% children, behavioural disorders in 1.5% (95%CI: 0.9-2.2) and hyperkinetic disorder in 0.9% (95%CI: 0.4-1.4). The prevalence of pervasive developmental disorders was 1.0 (95%CI: 0.5-1.5). Nearly a third had co-occurrence of mental health diagnoses and the relative risk of having a mental health disorder was significantly higher in boys compared to girls:1.8 (95%CI:1.1 - 3.1).Preliminary results on early risk factors and predictors of mental health problems between birth and 7 years in CCC 2000 will be presented at the congress.

BackgroundMental health disorders are common among people in prison, but their prevalence in the Scandinavian prison population remain unclear. In this multinational register study, we examined the prevalence of mental health disorders and the comorbidity of substance use disorders (SUDs) with other mental health disorders in this population. Further, we investigated how the prevalence of mental disorders at prison entry had changed in Norway, Denmark, and Sweden over the study period.MethodsThe three study cohorts included all individuals, aged 19 or older, whom had been imprisoned in Norway (2010–2019), Denmark (2011–2018), and Sweden (2010–2013). Mental disorders were defined as ICD-10 diagnoses (F-codes) registered in the national patient registers. The study prevalence was estimated based on recorded diagnoses during the entire study follow-up period in each respective country. The one-year prevalence of mental disorders was estimated for each calendar year for individuals entering prison during that year.ResultsThe Scandinavian prison cohorts included 119 507 individuals released 191 549 times during the study period. Across all three countries a high proportion of both women (61.3%-74.4%) and men (49.6%-57.9%) had at least one mental health disorder during the observation period. The most prevalent disorders were SUDs (39.1%-44.0%), depressive disorder (8.1%-17.5%), and stress related disorder (8.8%-17.1%). Women (31.8%-41.1%) had higher levels of mental health and substance use comorbidities compared to men (20.8%-27.6%). The one-year prevalence of any mental health disorder increased over time with a 33% relative increase in Norway, 8% in Denmark, and 10% in Sweden. The proportion of individuals entering prison with a comorbid SUD and other mental disorder had also increased.ConclusionsWhile the incarceration rate has been decreasing during the past decade in the Scandinavian countries, an increasing proportion of people entering prison have a diagnosed mental health disorder. Our results suggest that prisons should provide adequate treatment and scale up services to accommodate the increasing proportion of people with complex health needs among incarcerated people.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12888-024-05540-6.

Prevalence of Mental Health Disorders in Elderly U.S. Military Veterans: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review

Correctional workers (CWs) experience organizational (e.g., staff shortages, administrative burdens) and operational stressors (e.g., exposure to potentially psychologically traumatic events [PPTEs]) when completing their occupational responsibilities. In the current Canadian study, we assessed the average stress levels for diverse organizational and operational stressors among CWs across occupational groups (e.g., institutional operational, correctional officers, community operations, management, and administrators), provincial and territorial jurisdictions, and pre versus during COVID-19. We examined the relationships between 40 work-related stressors, including PPTE exposures and prevalence of positive screens for several mental health disorders (e.g., posttraumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder, general anxiety disorder, panic disorder, alcohol use disorder). Results further evidence organizational and operational stressors beyond PPTE as being correlates of mental health challenges among CWs. Reducing organizational stress by increasing staffing and leadership training, improving communication and access to specialized treatment resources, mitigating PPTE exposures, and supporting collegial relationships may all potentiate improvements for the mental health of CWs.