Frequency Of Mental Health Problems Research Articles

Stress, Depression, and Anxiety Symptoms in Older Adults: Temporal Trend and Relationship with COVID-19

Introduction. Although studies have demonstrated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, those correlating COVID-19 statistics with the psychosocial repercussions in older adults are as yet incipient. Objective. Evaluate the screening of stress, depression, and anxiety symptoms in older adults throughout the pandemic and their relationship with the occurrence and severity metrics of COVID-19. Method. An ecological, time-series, web-based survey study was conducted in the population aged 60 and over who use digital media. Data collection was undertaken between July 2020 and January 2021 in eight Brazilian cities and included 2,712 older adults. Results. There was an upward trend in anxiety and depression symptoms in Brasília-DF, and a downward trend in these symptoms in Divinópolis-MG. It was also possible to identify correlations between mental disorder symptom scores and COVID-19 occurrence and severity metrics in two of the cities evaluated. Discussion and conclusion. This study is one of the first to explore the relationship between COVID-19 indicators and mental health variables in older adults, showing that changes in the occurrence and severity metrics of the Novel Coronavirus may be followed by changes in the frequency of mental health problems in this population.

Frecuencia y factores asociados a problemas de salud mental en trabajadores vacunados contra el COVID-19 de un hospital público peruano

Introduction: The pandemic increased stress and underdiagnosed mental health issues in the workplace. Objective: To determine the frequency of mental health problems and their associated factors among vaccinated workers at the Dos de Mayo National Hospital (HNDM). Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted using secondary data from a mental health survey carried out by the HNDM Mental Health Service in October 2021. The Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ) was administered to all HNDM workers who had received the full vaccination scheme. Statistical analysis included chi-square tests and logistic regression to identify associated factors. Results: Of 2109 workers, 2.7% presented mental health problems, with a higher prevalence in women (3.4%) compared to men (1.5%), and more frequent in the age groups 18-29 years (4.8%) and 50-59 years (4%). Divorced/separated individuals (7%) had a higher prevalence compared to single (2.8%) or married (2%) individuals. Multivariate analysis indicated a positive association with women (ORa: 2.30; 95% CI: 1.22-4.84) and divorced/separated individuals (ORa: 3.00; 95% CI: 1.12- 7.25) compared to married/cohabiting individuals. There was a negative association in the 30-39 years (ORa: 0.43, 95% CI: 0.19-0.96) and 40-49 years (ORa: 0.30, 95% CI: 0.11-0.81) age groups compared to 18-29 years. No signi cant associations were found for other variables. Conclusion: One in forty HNDM workers presented mental health problems, with higher risks observed among women, younger and older age groups, and divorced/separated individuals. Improved screening and support for early intervention are recommended.

Mental health problems among transition-aged youth with physical disabilities: an initial evaluation.

Decreased participation and complex transitions into adulthood among youth with disabilities may impede their well-being. To advance knowledge on the co-occurrence of mental health problems and physical disability, this brief report describes the frequency of mental health problems, measured by the Behavior Assessment System of Children (BASC-3), among transition-aged youth (14-25 years) with physical disabilities and examines the association between mental health problems and sex, age, and number of functional issues. Thirty-three participants completed a demographic questionnaire and the BASC-3. Frequency of BASC-3 scales falling within 3 categories: "within norms", "at risk", and "clinically significant" were described. Crosstabs and Chi-square tests were used to examine the association between BASC-3 scales and sex, age (< and ≥ 20), and number of functional issues (< and ≥ 6). Overall, "somatization", "self-esteem", "depression" and "sense of inadequacy" were the most common subscales being at risk. Participants with a higher number of functional issues (≥6) were more likely to fall within "at risk" or "clinically significant" categories across 20 (out of 22) BASC-3 scales, and female participants tended to fall more within "at risk" or "clinically significant" categories for 8 of BASC-3 scales. Younger participants (<20) were ranked in the "at risk" or "clinically significant" categories for 7 scales. Findings lend further support for the occurrence of mental health problems emerging in youth with physical disabilities and highlight initial trends especially across functional levels. Further investigation of such co-occurrences and the factors that affect their development is needed.

Mental Health Problems among College Students in India during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Context of Disruptions in Academics and Interpersonal Relationships

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to significant disruptions in daily lives, contributing to mental health problems around the world, with young adults being a particularly vulnerable population for mental health problems (Varma et al., 2021). In the current study, we explored perspectives on how the pandemic had affected their lives, and examined frequency of mental health problems among college students in India during the middle phase of the pandemic. Participants (N = 455, 65% women, Mage = 20.62 years) responded to open-ended questions and completed self-report measures of anxiety, depressive symptoms, emotion dysregulation, and dysfunctional coping, and skills use. Thematic analysis of open-ended responses yielded nine themes across three domains: Major concerns, impact on academics and learning, and impact on relationships. Mental health symptomatology was identified as the most common concern, and approximately 50% of the sample scored above the clinical cut off on the self-report measure for either anxiety or depression, indicating a moderately high level of distress. Difficulties in effectively regulating one&amp;rsquo;s negative emotions and dysfunctional coping uniquely predicted higher anxiety and depression, whereas adaptive coping predicted lower depression. The findings demonstrate that college students in India are struggling with mental health during the pandemic. Facilitating emotion regulation and coping may be potential targets for intervention.

Mental health and burnout in Nepalese medical students: an observational study

BackgroundMental health problems among medical students are highly prevalent internationally. There have been very few studies however in Nepal. This study aimed to assess the frequency of mental health problems and burnout in Nepalese medical students.ResultsA total of 169 students responded to the questionnaire. Half (50%) of the surveyed students had some form of mental health problem according to the GHQ-12, while the OLBI showed that 85% students were disengaged and 65% were exhausted. The CAGE screening tool was positive in 14%, and 11% described illicit drug use. Sixty-four percent of students identified their academic studies as their major source of stress.ConclusionsTimely recognition of mental health problems is imperative to avert psychiatric illness. Training on early identification and management of stress would be helpful. Further studies are required to identify the factors associated with poor mental health.

IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON MENTAL HEALTH OF HEALTHCARE WORKERS DURING PANDEMIC; AN EXPERIENCE AT A TERTIARY CARDIAC CARE SET UP

Objective: To assess the frequency of mental health problems among healthcare workers related to COVID-19 pandemic among health care workers in a tertiary cardiac care center.Study Design: Descriptive cross sectional study.Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology/ National Institute of Heart Diseases (AFIC/NIHD) Rawalpindi (Pakistan) from Apr 2020 to Jun 2020.&#x0D; Methodology: This study was a hospital-based cross-sectional study consisted of 100 healthcare workers including 50 nurses and 50 doctors who volunteered to enroll in our study were included. Approval from the clinical research ethics committee of cardiac care hospital was received before the initiation of this study. Verbal informed consent was provided by all study participants prior to their enrollment. Exclusion criteria comprised of the healthcare workers who refused to participate in it. This study followed the COVID-19 Pandemic Mental Health Questionnaire (CoPaQ) 14. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the percentages and frequencies. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the percentages and frequencies were calculated and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 23.0.&#x0D; Results: A total of 100 healthcare workers completed the survey. Mean age of the healthcare workers was 36.5 ± 27.0 years (median=36.00), and 75 (75%) were women and men comprised 25 (25%). Of all participants, 50 (50.0%) were nurses, and 50 (50%) were doctors. A considerable proportion of participants reported symptoms of COVID19, 6 (6.0%), tested positive 14 (14%), currently quarantine 24 (24.0%). While 12 healthcare workers experienced 14 day quarantine time period. 16 healthcare workers reported COVID test positive of their closed one. The fear of infecting others with COVID-19 was found to be 30 (30%). The mental stress that that COVID-19 will personally affect us was found in 28 (28%) of healthcare workers. The fear that consequences of the COVID-19 will be severe health disasters was found in 40 (40%) of the individuals.&#x0D; Conclusion: In this study of physicians and nurses in hospitals with wards for patients with COVID-19, health care workers responding to the spread of COVID-19 reported high rates of symptoms of anxiety, fear, and distress.

Salud mental en trabajadores de la salud durante la pandemia por COVID-19 en Chile

Background COVID-19 has effects on the mental health of health care workers. Aim To explore the presence of symptoms associated with mental health problems and associated risk factors in health workers. Material and methods The questionnaires PHQ-9 for depression, GAD-7 for anxiety, ISI-7 for insomnia and IES-R-22 for psychological distress were applied to 125 health care workers aged 18 to 67 years (32 physicians, 22 nurses and 71 of other professions) laboring in hospitals and primary care facilities along Chile. Results Sixty five percent reported depression symptoms, 74% anxiety, 65% insomnia and 57% distress. Physicians had lower median scores in all scales than nurses and other health professionals. Professionals attending patients with respiratory infections or with COVID-19 had higher median scores in the scales that their counterparts. Conclusions The frequency of mental health problems among these professionals is high and preventive measures should be taken.

Lifetime Mental Health Problems in Adult Lower Secondary Education: A Student Survey.

Background/ObjectiveAdult Lower Secondary Education is an education program for basic qualifications for the labor market. Our study aimed to compare lifetime mental health problems between current Adult Lower Secondary Education students and higher Vocational Education students, as the former constitutes a highly distinct and understudied group.MethodsFindings were based on a cross-sectional self-report survey. Lifetime relative odds of occurrence of mental disorders [i.e., psychiatric disorders typically diagnosed in adults, learning difficulties or deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)] were compared between Adult Lower Secondary Education students (n = 134) and Vocational Education students (n = 149).ResultsWhile the frequency of mental health problems was high in both groups, psychiatric disorders typically diagnosed in adults were more common in Adult Lower Secondary Education students than among other students. Vocational Education students reported higher rates of ADHD.ConclusionThere is a need for additional psychological resources for Adult Lower Secondary Education students, an educational level that is the last path for many to acquire a basic degree.

Different Patterns of Mental Health Problems in Unaccompanied Refugee Minors (URM): A Sequential Mixed Method Study.

Unaccompanied refugee minors (URM) represent one of the most vulnerable refugee groups due to their young age, developmental status, and insufficient coping strategies. Clinical observations indicate that the frequency of mental health problems varies between different URM subgroups. In the present research project, clinical interviews as a source of qualitative data were combined with quantitative psychometric information in a mixed-method approach in order to study the patterns of mental health problems in 561 URM from four different language groups (Arabic, Farsi, Somali, and Tigrinya) immediately after arrival in the host country (Germany). Qualitative analysis obtained as differentiating categories “language, countries of origin, age, and gender”; quantitatively, the Refugee Health Screener (RHS-15) was applied. According to the positive screening results, the highest number of mental complaints was returned by children and adolescents speaking Farsi (65.9%) and Somali (65.8%). They were followed by URM speaking Arabic (49.4%) and Tigrinya (43.3%). The results were influenced not only by origin, but also by age (with higher burden among older Farsi-speaking URM) and gender (with higher burden among male URM). Although the prevalences in URM subgroups differ, the observed high rates of positive screening results in our sample of URM from Germany substantiate the need for early detection of mental complaints and appropriate mental health care for at least every second URM.

Correlation Between Perceived Social Support and Loneliness Among Chinese Adolescents: Mediating Effects of Psychological Capital.

Adolescence is a period characterized by high frequency of mental health problems. Loneliness, in particular, is a common psychological problem. This study aims to explore the effects of psychological capital on adolescents' loneliness and the mediating effects of perceived social support. A total of 694 adolescents from six regions in Hunan Province, China were selected. The survey was conducted using the Perceived Social Support Scale, Loneliness Scale, and Psychological Capital Questionnaire. The study analyzed the correlations between perceived social support, psychological capital, and loneliness among adolescents and the mediating role of psychological capital in the relationship between perceived social support and loneliness. Significant correlations were observed between adolescents' total scores in perceived social support, psychological capital, and loneliness and between each dimension. The following observations were made: a significant negative correlation between perceived social support and loneliness (r=0.440, P<0.01), a significant positive correlation between perceived social support and psychological capital (r=0.493, P<0.01), and a significant negative correlation between psychological capital and loneliness (r=-0.303, P<0.01). Psychological capital plays a statistically significant mediating role on the relationship between perceived social support and loneliness (P<0.01). Perceived social support and psychological capital can reduce adolescents' loneliness and perceived social support can alleviate loneliness by enhancing psychological capital.

The rise of mental health problems, inequality and the role of job strain in Germany

The prevalence of mental health problems among the working population has increased sharply since the turn of the millennium in Germany. Secondary analyses of the BIBB/BAuA employment surveys from 1999, 2006 and 2012 showed that, whereas in 1999 only about 4 to 6% of respondents reported mental health problems, this number had grown to 20% or higher in 2012. In this article, we investigate if this sharp increase in mental health problems, measured in terms of self-reported regular occurrence of four specific indicators during the preceding 12–month period, corresponds to a similar increase in social inequality; how different occupational social classes (European Socioeconomic Classification: ESeC) were affected between 1999 and 2012; and whether increasing job strain (mental strain, rigid work organization, ergonomic strain) can explain the increase in mental health problems among different occupational classes. We analyze job strain in relation to a) the increase in the prevalence of self-reported mental health problems and b) the differential development of these problems within different occupational social classes using a decomposition method. Results confirm an increasing trend of mental health problems. Inequality in mental health has also increased, but only slightly. Different occupational subgroups follow distinct trajectories, with particularly steep increases among social service occupations. Job strain, especially mental strain, increases the frequency of mental health problems, but explains only a minor part of the trend.

Word reading, vocabulary, and mental health problems in adolescent girls and boys with intellectual and developmental disabilities

Reading difficulties are linked to several disadvantages in the general population. Less is known about correlates of reading difficulties in individuals with intellectual and severe developmental disabilities (IDD). Vocabulary and word reading were assessed in 112 adolescents with IDD, recruited from Special needs comprehensive schools in Sweden (grundsärskolor in Swedish). Proxy-ratings of mental health were collected from teachers and parents for a subset of the participants. Relationships between all measures were investigated. Reading and vocabulary were poorly developed in both groups and significantly associated. While mental health problems were common, there were no significant associations with word reading or with vocabulary knowledge. Thus, the study did not confirm an association between reading difficulties and mental health problems in adolescents with IDD. Still, the frequency of mental health problems and the low reading abilities point to the need for further intervention for adolescents with IDD.

Polio and post-polio syndrome in non-Western immigrants: A new challenge for the healthcare system in Norway.

To explore the health situation and identify specific health challenges in non-Western immigrants with polio in Norway, by comparing their status with Western immigrants with polio and native Norwegians with polio. A questionnaire covering demographics, polio history, life satisfaction, medical, psychological and social conditions was answered by 1,408 persons with polio, among them 34 immigrants from non-Western countries and 32 immigrants from Western countries. The non-Western immigrant polio group had a mean age of 46 years, were highly educated, reported high frequency of mental health problems and only one-third was working. Mean age for contracting polio was 2.8 years. Only 30% was hospitalized in the acute phase and 80% reported severe leg weakness. Use of a powered wheelchair was reported by 72%. Post-polio symptoms had started at a mean age of 31 years. The non-Western immigrant group reported more fatigue, pain and loneliness, and a high proportion reported insufficient assistance from the public health system. The group of non-Western immigrants with polio in Norway reported more health and social problems than the group of Western immigrants with polio or the native Norwegian group with polio, even though they were younger and more highly educated. Their complex psychological and social situation requires active intervention from the health system, and health professionals need extra skills to deal most effectively with their situation.

Football does not improve mental health: a systematic review on football and mental health disorders

Objective Both football (also called association football or soccer) and mental health disorders have a global impact on the lives of billions of people. Football has been used to approach and support subjects with or at risk of mental health disorders. However, it is not clear if football itself has any beneficial effect on the mental health of players, fans or spectators. Consequently, the aim of the current systematic review was to examine if playing or watching football impacts on the frequency of mental health problems in people who are involved in playing or watching the game. Methods We performed a systematic review on the relationship between football and mental health disorders. A total of 662 abstracts were screened initially. We identified 17 relevant papers assessing the prevalence of mental health disorders in current and previous football players, referees or spectators. Results The prevalence and 12 months incidence of mental health problems in active and retired professional players and referees were similar to or higher than those found in the general population, possibly as response to osteoarthritis, severe injuries, career dissatisfaction, low social support and poor employment status after retirement. Studies in adolescent amateurs and spectators indicate that playing and watching football games may negatively affect subjective mental health, even though qualitative studies indicate mental health benefits of playing or watching football. Discussion Players, referees and spectators are unlikely to present with fewer mental health problems than other members of society as a result of their involvement with football. It appears that some of the infrastructure that supports resilience in mental health such as a sense of inclusion, shared purpose and positive peer identification might be developed by playing in or supporting a team. Strategies that may use the assumed positive aspects of football need to be validated before implementation of large projects.

Mental health in girls and boys exposed to intimate partner violence.

Children of abused women have a greater risk of mental health problems. This study assesses the association between women's exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) and the mental health of their children in the population of the Madrid Region. Cross-sectional. Data were drawn from the '2014 Survey on Intimate Partner Violence against Women in the Madrid Region'. Women meeting the definition of IPV answered the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) on the mental health of one of their children aged 4-16 years. The comparison group was made up of mother-child dyads that had not been exposed to IPV. We used multivariate analysis to assess whether the children of abused women had a greater probability of having higher SDQ subscale and total scores. A total of 209 mother-child dyads were analyzed, 64 exposed (50% boys) and 145 unexposed to IPV (51% boys). Exposure to IPV was associated with a high SDQ score (greater risk of mental health problems), with a prevalence ratio of 3.6 (95% CI 1.2-10.3) in girls and 2.4 (95% CI 1.1-5.1) in boys. Among girls, moreover, exposure to IPV was significantly associated with behavioral and inattention/hyperactivity problems. In conclusion, exposure to IPV was associated with an increased frequency of mental health problems among children in general, and girls in particular. This study reinforces the recommendations to conduct studies with data disaggregated by sex and to address the impact of IPV in mothers and children jointly.

Football does not improve mental health: a systematic review on football and mental health disorders

Abstract Objective Both football (also called association football or soccer) and mental health disorders have a global impact on the lives of billions of people. Football has been used to approach and support subjects with or at risk of mental health disorders. However, it is not clear if football itself has any beneficial effect on the mental health of players, fans or spectators. Consequently, the aim of the current systematic review was to examine if playing or watching football impacts on the frequency of mental health problems in people who are involved in playing or watching the game. Methods We performed a systematic review on the relationship between football and mental health disorders. A total of 662 abstracts were screened initially. We identified 17 relevant papers assessing the prevalence of mental health disorders in current and previous football players, referees or spectators. Results The prevalence and 12 months incidence of mental health problems in active and retired professional players and referees were similar to or higher than those found in the general population, possibly as response to osteoarthritis, severe injuries, career dissatisfaction, low social support and poor employment status after retirement. Studies in adolescent amateurs and spectators indicate that playing and watching football games may negatively affect subjective mental health, even though qualitative studies indicate mental health benefits of playing or watching football. Discussion Players, referees and spectators are unlikely to present with fewer mental health problems than other members of society as a result of their involvement with football. It appears that some of the infrastructure that supports resilience in mental health such as a sense of inclusion, shared purpose and positive peer identification might be developed by playing in or supporting a team. Strategies that may use the assumed positive aspects of football need to be validated before implementation of large projects.

Health among disaster survivors and health professionals after the Haiyan Typhoon: a self-selected Internet-based web survey

BackgroundNatural disasters affected millions of people worldwide every year. Evaluation of disaster health and health response interventions is faced with several methodological challenges. This study aimed (1) to describe survivors’ and health professionals’ health, 30 months after a natural disaster using a web-based self-selected Internet sample survey designed and (2) to evaluate the health effects of disaster response interventions, in the present study with a focus on disaster radio.MethodsA web-based survey was used to conduct a cross-sectional study approximately 30 months after typhoon Haiyan. The GHQ-12, EQ-5D-3L, and EQ-VAS instruments were used in addition to study-specific questions. A self-selected Internet sample was recruited via Facebook.ResultsIn total, 443 survivors, from what 73 were health professionals, participated in the study. The Haiyan typhoon caused both physical and mental health problems as well as social consequences for the survivors. Mental health problems were more frequently reported than physical injuries. Health professionals reported worse overall health and a higher frequency of mental health problems compared to other survivors.ConclusionsThere were short-term and long-term physical, psychological, and social consequences for the survivors as a result of the Haiyan typhoon. Mental health problems were more frequently reported and lasted longer than physical problems. Health professionals deployed during the disaster reported worse health, especially concerning mental health problems. The survey used was found useful to describe health after disasters.

Intervention of the Nuss Procedure on the Mental Health of Pectus Excavatum Patients.

Pectus excavatum (PE) is the most common congenital chest wall deformity, but little is known about the influence of the Nuss surgical procedure on mental health of patients with PE. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the influence of the PE Nuss surgical procedure on mental health in Chinese patients and identify the predictors of psychological status for PE. Patients with PE (n = 266) underwent a standard surgical procedure by the same surgeon and did the Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90) and the Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) questionnaires before and 1 year after surgery. Additionally, platelet reactivity of postoperative PE patients was assessed. We found that PE patients after surgery performed better in the questionnaires and the frequency of mental health problems in the patients was lower than before. Most significantly, four mental disorders were alleviated after surgery, namely somatization, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, and anxiety. What is more, age, suffering year, and platelet aggregation responses to serotonin and epinephrine of PE patients partially were involved with the postoperative alleviation of mental disorders. In conclusion, the mental health level of PE patients could be effectively improved via the Nuss surgical procedure, and the earlier surgery might turn out better.

Social networks, mental health problems, and mental health service utilization in OEF/OIF National Guard veterans.

Low social support and small social network size have been associated with a variety of negative mental health outcomes, while their impact on mental health services use is less clear. To date, few studies have examined these associations in National Guard service members, where frequency of mental health problems is high, social support may come from military as well as other sources, and services use may be suboptimal. Surveys were administered to 1448 recently returned National Guard members. Multivariable regression models assessed the associations between social support characteristics, probable mental health conditions, and service utilization. In bivariate analyses, large social network size, high social network diversity, high perceived social support, and high military unit support were each associated with lower likelihood of having a probable mental health condition (p<.001). In adjusted analyses, high perceived social support (OR .90, CI .88-.92) and high unit support (OR .96, CI .94-.97) continued to be significantly associated with lower likelihood of mental health conditions. Two social support measures were associated with lower likelihood of receiving mental health services in bivariate analyses, but were not significant in adjusted models. General social support and military-specific support were robustly associated with reduced mental health symptoms in National Guard members. Policy makers, military leaders, and clinicians should attend to service members' level of support from both the community and their units and continue efforts to bolster these supports. Other strategies, such as focused outreach, may be needed to bring National Guard members with need into mental health care.

The Mental Health in Austrian Teenagers (MHAT)-Study: preliminary results from a pilot study.

No epidemiological data on prevalence rates of mental disorders based on a representative sample are available for Austrian adolescents up to now. However, the knowledge of psychiatric disorders, related risk and protective factors is of great significance for treatment and prevention. The purpose of the MHAT-Study (Mental Health in Austrian Teenagers), the first epidemiological study on mental health in Austria, is to obtain prevalence rates of mental disorders and to examine risk factors, protective factors and quality of life in a representative sample of adolescents aged 10-18. Aims of this pilot study were to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the screening instruments, pre-estimate the frequency of mental health problems and estimate possible non-responder bias. Twenty-one schools in eastern Austria were asked to participate. Data on mental health problems were derived from self-rating questionnaires containing standardized screening measures (Youth Self-Report, measuring emotional and behavioral problems and the SCOFF, indicating eating problems. Quality of life as well as related risk and protective factors were also obtained. Four hundred and eight adolescents of five schools were recruited. The prevalence of mental health problems was 18.9 % [CI 95 %: 14.9-22.7]. Moreover, emotional and behavioral problems were highly correlated with quality of life measures. A Non-Responder Analysis indicated that non-responders (16.7 %) differ from responders with regard of school related problems. The results demonstrate that mental health problems affect approximately one fifth of the adolescents. A Non-Responder Analysis suggests that the prevalence of behavioral and emotional problems is underestimated.