Increase In Mental Problems Research Articles

Investigating Changes in the Psychological Health Before and During the COVID Pandemic: A Comparison Study among Turkish Immigrants living in Germany

Introduction It was stated in other studies that the prevalence of anxiety, depression, and anger increased among the general German population throughout the pandemic (Beutel et al., 2021; Rossi et al., 2020; Smith et al., 2021). Besides, there has been an increase in mental problems among individuals with psychiatric disorders and the immigrant population in society. Migrants are considered a vulnerable group during the outbreak due to low socio-economic status, job losses, and language difficulties. Objectives This paper aimed to investigate changes in the psychological health of Turkish immigrants living in Germany during the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, sociodemographic differences as a key factor were analysed in this study. Individuals with lower incomes were expected to suffer more from mental health problems. Methods The participants of this research were mainly first and second-generation Turkish immigrants. They were pre-screened for a previous history of mental disorders and screening was performed with SCL-90-R. Of all 177 participants who completed the questionnaire between October 7, 2019, and February 2020, they were recruited again between August 10, 2020, and December 10, 2020, during the pandemic. Results According to the findings, a significant difference was found for depression (t=-5.36, p<.001), anxiety (t=-3.01, p<.001), and hostility (t=-3.70, p<.001) between the mean scores of the participants before and during COVID-19 pandemic. It was found that the increase in depression and anxiety symptoms during the coronavirus pandemic was higher among participants with low-income levels (p<.001). Conclusions The mental health of our study participants worsened during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Turkish immigrants reported having higher depression, anxiety, and hostility scores in comparison with previous test scores conducted before the outbreak. Participants with low income were at the highest risk for COVID-19-related depression and anxiety. Disclosure of Interest None Declared

Prevalence of Depression, Anxiety, Stress, and Fear of COVID-19 Among the Students of the University of Bojnord in Iran

Background and Objectives: A significant increase in mental problems among students have been reported during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The present study aims to investigate the prevalence of depression, anxiety, stress, and fear of COVID-19 and the relationships between them among college students, approximately two years after the onset of the pandemic in Iran. Methods: In this descriptive study, 148 students were recruited from the University of Bojnord using a convenience sampling method. The depression, anxiety stress scale (DASS) and the Fear of COVID-19 Scale were used to collect data. Descriptive statistics, t-test, and Pearson correlation test were used to analyze the data. Results: The results show that 15.5% of students had depression, 12.8% had anxiety, and 14.2% had stress and fear of COVID-19 symptoms. The mean score of DASS in this study was not significantly different from the scores reported in the beginning of pandemic. The fear of COVID-19 had no significant relationship with depression, anxiety, and stress. Conclusion: The levels of depression, anxiety and stress two years after the COVID-19 pandemic do not differ from their levels at the beginning of the pandemic among college students, but the fear of COVID-19 level is significantly lower. Acceleration of the vaccination and the increase of awareness about the disease might be reasons for improvement in the psychological status of students.

Pandemi Süreci ve Sonrası Ruhsal ve Davranışsal Değerlendirme

Yeni koronavirüs hastalığının (COVID-19) etkisinin mortalitesi ile sınırlı olmadığı, dünya genelinde büyük bir nüfus üzerinde ruhsal etkileri olduğu dikkat çekmektedir. Bir salgın sırasında bireyler arasında en yaygın olarak korku ve anksiyete ile ilişkili belirtilerin görüldüğü bildirilmiştir. Ruhsal bozukluğu olmayan kişilerde gelişebilecek yeni psikiyatrik belirtiler, takipli psikiyatrik bozukluğu olanlarda belirtilerin kötüleşmesi, sosyal mesafelenme, izolasyon ve karantina gibi kısıtlayıcı önlemlerin bireyler üzerine etkileri, enfekte olan kişiler ve kayıp yaşayan bireyler üzerinde gelişebilecek ruhsal etkiler farklılık gösterebilmektedir. Mevcut bu sağlık krizi sırasında, COVID-19 enfeksiyonu olan hastalar dışında genel nüfus, yaşlılar, çocuklar, psikiyatrik bozukluğu olanlar ve sağlık profesyonelleri arasında da ruhsal sorunlarda artış olduğu bildirilmiştir. Bu yazıda mevcut salgın sürecinin farklı gruplar üzerinde gözlenebilen ruhsal ve davranışsal etkilerin, yakın tarihli çalışmalar ve geçmiş salgın dönemlerindeki dünya deneyimleri ile sentezlenerek sunulması amaçlanmıştır.

Picturing Melancholia in Estonian Decadent Art

The article focuses on Estonian decadent art of the early twentieth century that manifests the topicality of melancholia: visual art that depicts sadness, low spirits, malaise and suicidal behaviour. The article seeks to answer why portrayal of the feeling of malaise and low spirits were so widespread from the beginning of the 20th century, and how Estonian artists imagined and visualised melancholia.
 I argue, that during the period under examination, increasing attention was paid in Estonia to mental health issues, including melancholia, which was brought about by discussions about breed and the surfacing ideas of eugenics and the study of heredity. At the same time, degeneration theories began to gain ground, according to which contemporary civilisation was bound to degrade, and an increase in mental problems was seen as a sign of that degradation in addition to various social and cultural processes. In addition, Estonian artists were influenced (directly or indirectly) by foreign artworks, literature and poetry that deal with the tragical and horrific side of humanity, such as mental health issues. I argue that artists depicted melancholia in a symbolic manner mainly through body language and body parts, but that the condition was also conveyed through the use of natural imagery and colour.

L’inégalité de revenus : un « virus » qui affecte la santé mentale et le bonheur

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the impact of income inequality on various indexes of mental health and on happiness in wealthy nations. Initially, the unequal distribution of income is documented in wealthy nations, especially in the United States of America. After the World War II, income equality was at a level never reached before, but since the eighties, income inequality has raised dramatically in many industrialized countries. The 2008 crisis has worsened the situation in many of them, particularly in the United States. Furthermore, prejudices have increased against women, Blacks, Spanish-speakers and those who receive social welfare. A selective review of the literature is made in order to document the impact of income inequality on a few indicators of mental health (from WHO, UN, UNICEF, OCDE and World Bank) and on happiness, defined here as life satisfaction. Income inequality is positively related to the following indexes: Index of Mental Illness from the WHO (0.73), Index of the United Nations' Office on Drug Consumption (0.63) and a composite Index of ten psychosocial problems, constituted by Wilkinson and Pickett, 2013 (0.87). On the other hand, income inequality is negatively associated to the UNICEF Index of Child Well-Being (-0.71). Furthermore, the level of anxiety and of depression is higher in countries where income inequality is greater. The correlation between happiness and income inequality in the 23 wealthy nations is -0.48; this correlation becomes -0.41 after control of the effect of the GNP (Gross National Product). These results support the idea that it is relative income - not absolute income - which matters in the evaluation of our life and of our happiness. In underdeveloped nations, any increase in GNP promotes the well-being of the citizens; whereas in wealthy nations, it is the equality of the distribution that is more important. Many arguments supporting the causal relation from income inequality to psychosocial problems and unhappiness are presented. In reality, this income inequality is like a "virus" which affects the well-being of the entire population. Even if the increase of mental problems may be explained by many factors - historical, cultural, ethnic, social, and societal - these factors do not eliminate the effect of income inequality. In order to counter the effects of income inequality and to promote a "flourishing" mental health, the professionals of human sciences are invited to take into account this reality in the implementation of their interventions and to participate to the elaboration of social politics as well as in the education process of the general population.

Seeking for Authentic Self in Community

Misconceptions about counseling, being anxious about losing face, not having enough resources, and losing the traditional therapeutic community which Koreans once had are the key reasons for the increase of mental problems among Koreans. The author explores the Korean mindset and thus is able to provide more effective and adequate counseling services for people from a Korean cultural background. This article emphasizes the importance of healing community in Korean culture and provides some practical suggestions for the psychological well-being of Koreans from a pastoral counseling perspective.