Kinds Of Mental Health Problems Research Articles

Exploring the association between mental health and extreme weather events related to climate change: a scoping review

BackgroundThe aim is to assess the association between mental health and extreme weather events related to climate change and identify resilience-based interventions to support mental health for those affected by extreme weather events related to climate change. Methods In November 2022, we undertook a scoping review following standard guidelines, searching databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, SCOPUS, CINAHL, Cochrane, and Web of Science. We reported study demographics, climate change-related exposures, mental health-related outcomes, and resilience outcomes. The methodological quality of included studies was not assessed as this is not a requirement for scoping reviews. FindingsTwenty-seven studies published between 2011–22 (three on the overall impact of climate change, 11 on ambient temperature, nine on hurricanes, three on flooding, and one on wildfire) were included that assessed the association between extreme weather events related to climate change and mental health. Studies included cross-sectional surveys (n=14), secondary data analysis (n=12, with 8 studies based on clinic or hospital record data), and longitudinal data collection (n=1). Mental health-related outcomes included depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)/ related stress disorders, schizophrenia, and other mental health conditions. Eight studies reported resilience outcomes. We reported which extreme weather events related to climate change are more likely to be associated with which kind of mental health problem. Ambient temperature showed an association with mental health-related hospital or emergency department visits or hospital admissions in both new cases and people with existing mental health conditions. Extreme weather events such as hurricanes and floods showed associations with depression, anxiety, and/or PTSD. Apart from one longitudinal study evaluating a psycho-social support program, we did not identify any interventions to support people's mental health when faced with extreme weather events. InterpretationThough all included studies reported an association between extreme weather events related to climate change and mental health conditions, there is a lack of related interventions. As specific extreme weather events seem to be associated with specific kinds of mental health problems, there is a need for interventions that will be tailored both to the specific nature of extreme weather events, the kinds of impact they create, and the needs and circumstances of those who are impacted and should be culturally adapted to make them acceptable, engaging, and effective. FundingNone.

'Feeling down one evening doesn't count as having mental health problems'-Swedish adolescents' conceptual views of mental health.

To explore Swedish adolescents' conceptual views of mental health and mental health problems. A qualitative descriptive study design. Semi-structured focus group interviews and individual interviews were conducted with, in total, 32 Swedish adolescents (15-18 years old) in October-November 2020. Data were analysed using systematic text condensation. Three themes were identified through the analysis: Mental health is about how we feel; One's mental health depends on one's situation, thoughts and ways of coping; and Mental health problems should be taken seriously and can get severe. The results indicate that adolescents understand the complexity and holistic nature of mental health and mental health problems. According to the participating adolescents, positive mental health and mental health problems should be considered simultaneously to understand a young person's mental health state. Good health was described as having both absence of mental health problems and high levels of well-being: feeling well. Mental health problems were defined as something other than normal difficulties in life, but ranging from minor difficulties to more severe conditions. However, all kinds of mental health problems were termed as feeling unwell. The results suggest that adolescents are in need of support to cope with normal difficulties in life rather than lectures about life sometimes being challenging. In addition, the results highlight the need to prevent school-related stress and offer adolescents support for minor mental health problems. The findings have implications for nurses and other professionals who encounter adolescents in their profession, for example specialist nurses, school nurses and public health professionals. The findings add knowledge that could be useful for communication with adolescents about their mental health and methods to assess their mental health status. The preliminary results were presented to three classes, in year nine in lower secondary school, for validation.

Fear of COVID-19 and Perceived Stress: The Mediating Roles of Neuroticism and Perceived Social Support.

Background: Fear of COVID-19 leads to stress and may result in various kinds of mental health problems. Many factors are associated with an individual’s perception of stress, including neuroticism and perceived social support. This study aimed to examine the role of neuroticism and perceived social support as mediators of fear of COVID-19 on perceived stress. Methods: Data from 3299 participants aged ≥18 years from the HOME-COVID-19 survey in 2020 were used for analysis. Measurements used included the Fear of COVID-19 and Impact on Quality of Life Scale, the Perceived Stress Scale-10, the Neuroticism inventory and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support-12. A parallel mediation model within a structural equation modeling framework with 5000 bootstrapping sampling was used to test the mediating effect. Results: Fear of COVID-19 had a direct effect on perceived stress (B = 0.100, 95% CI = 0.080–0.121, p < 0.001), whereas neuroticism, but not perceived social support, partially mediated the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and perceived stress (B = 0.018, 95% CI = 0.000–0.036). Among all types of social support, only perceived support from friends was a significant mediator (B = 0.016, 95% CI = 0.006–0.025). Conclusions: Neuroticism and perceived support from friends are critical factors in the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and perceived stress.

Protecting the Warriors of COVID-19 Pandemic: Analysing the Mental Health of the Healthcare Workers

Purpose: The research objective was to critically analyze the prevalence of any kind of mental health problem among healthcare workers (HCWs) and to investigate the factors affecting the mental health of HCWs and how they impact their mental health. Design/methodology/approach: The data was collected using a structured questionnaire from the health care workers working in the leading hospitals from the Muscat region in Oman. The questionnaires were sent to more than 300 healthcare workers out of which only 202 of them filled and returned. The analysis was carried out using Smart Partial Least Squares (PLS). Findings: The study revealed that during the pandemic, HCWs were having the typical symptoms of anxiety such as nervousness, difficulty in concentrating, restlessness, and too much fear for everything. They also had the symptoms of Depression such as frustration and no interest in doing things, feeling no energy to carry out their routines, and worrying about everything. They underwent the PTSD symptom of getting disturbing thoughts and memories. The results also revealed that the HCWs were constantly living under stress, frustration, and pressure which was directly affecting their routines and practices. Their frustration and stress were unnoticed and ignored as they continued treating the patients eventually. Research limitations/implications: It is recommended that the concerned authorities should understand the psychological issues of the HCWs and provide appropriate facilities, training, and moral support. They can be motivated through lectures. Working hours and the number of patients can be reduced. Training for mental stress reliefs and more precautionary equipment should be provided to them to effectively fight against COVID-19. Social Implications: The mental health of healthcare professionals is imminent and cannot be ignored. The study helps the authorities in charge of HCWs to take appropriate and immediate action to observe and reduce anxiety and depression among those working in the frontline. Further, the timely logistic support, Pay raise, bonuses or rewards, expanded vacation time, and the full equipment for safety from COVID-19 could avoid such mental disturbances. Originality / Value: There is no study on the mental health of HCWs in Oman. Due to lockdown and social boycotting, online surveys were the only available option left. Data were obtained from those HCWs who were computer literate and from a few health care institutes only. The study can be extended to include HCWs from other institutes as well. Keywords: Mental Health, HealthCare Workers in Oman, Anxiety, Depression, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Psychological Status

Dietary diversity and mental health in preschoolers in rural China.

To investigate the prevalence of mental health problems among preschoolers in rural China and examine the relationship between dietary diversity and mental health. A cross-sectional survey analysis was performed. Child mental health was assessed with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Child dietary diversity was assessed with the dietary diversity score (DDS), which was calculated based on nine food groups using a 24-h recall method. Data were analysed using unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression models. Two nationally designated poverty counties in Hunan Province of China. Preschoolers (n 1334) aged 3-5 years, preschools (n 26). Of 950 preschoolers with data on both dietary diversity and mental health, 663 (70 %) were classified as having at least one kind of mental health problem. The prevalences of emotional symptoms, conduct problems, symptoms of hyperactive/inattention, peer relationship problems and poor prosocial behaviour were 39, 27, 23, 12 and 26 %, respectively. Male preschoolers showed higher risks of having mental health problems than their female counterparts on each SDQ subscale except for conduct problems. Moreover, a higher DDS was significantly associated with a lower likelihood of having symptoms of hyperactivity/inattention, peer relationship problems and prosocial behaviour problems after adjustment for confounders (preschoolers' age, gender, cognitive ability, parental migration status, primary caregiver's education and household socio-economic status). The prevalence of mental health problems was high among preschoolers in rural China. Improving child dietary diversity might be an important strategy to consider in the design of interventions to improve child mental health.

Identifying extended psychosis phenotypes at school: Associations with socio-emotional adjustment, academic, and neurocognitive outcomes.

The main goal of the present study was to explore the latent structure of extended psychosis phenotypes in a representative sample of adolescents. Moreover, associations with socio-emotional adjustment, academic achievement, and neurocognition performance across the latent profiles were compared. Participants were 1506 students, 667 males (44.3%), derived from random cluster sampling. Various tools were used to measure psychosis risk, subjective well-being, academic performance, and neurocognition. Based on three psychometric indicators of psychosis risk (schizotypal traits, psychotic-like experiences, and bipolar-like experiences), four latent classes were found: non-risk, low-risk, high reality distortion experiences, and high psychosis liability. The high-risk latent groups scored significantly higher on mental health difficulties, and negative affect, and lower on positive affect and well-being, compared to the two non-risk groups. Moreover, these high-risk groups had a significantly higher number of failed academic subjects compared to the non-risk groups. In addition, no statistically significant differences in efficiency performance were found in the neurocognitive domains across the four latent profiles. This study allows us to improve the early identification of adolescents at risk of serious mental disorder in school settings in order to prevent the incidence and burden associated with these kinds of mental health problems.

Effect of Caregiver's Mental Health on Early Childhood Development across Different Rural Communities in China.

Previous research has found that there are high rates of developmental delays among infants and toddlers in rural areas of China. Caregiver mental health problems might be one significant predictor of developmental delays among infants and toddlers, as has been found in other areas of the world. One way that the mental health of caregivers could affect early childhood development is through its effect on parenting practices. In this study, we used data from four major subpopulations of rural China to measure the correlation of caregiver mental health problems with the developmental outcomes of infants and toddlers. To do so, the study used the Bayley Scales of Infant Development III (BSID III) to examine the rates of developmental delays among 2514 rural infants/toddlers aged 6–30 months old. The results of the testing demonstrate that 48% of the sample’s infants/toddlers have cognitive delays; 52% have language delays; 53% have social-emotional delays; and 30% have motor delays. The data collection team also assessed caregiver mental health by using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21) questionnaire. According to the findings, 39% of caregivers in the sample have symptoms of at least one kind of mental health problem (depression, anxiety, or stress). We also found that most caregivers do not engage in positive parenting practices, while a significant share of caregivers engage in negative parenting practices. The statistical analysis found that showing signs of mental health problems is significantly and negatively associated with infant/toddler developmental outcomes. The study also found that caregivers who show signs of mental health problems are significantly less likely to engage in interactive parenting practices. The study confirms that society needs to pay more attention to caregiver mental health problems in order to improve infant/toddler developmental outcomes in rural China and increase human capital accumulation in China as a whole.

Mental Health, Drug Use and Adolescence: Meeting the Needs of Vulnerable Students in Secondary School

Today, an increasing number of students are suffering from different kinds of mental health problems. Still, we know little about how professionals in secondary school and other professionals in society handle and collaborate around these issues. The findings from the present study make an important contribution to the research field regarding professionals’ efforts to meet the needs of vulnerable students. The present study investigates how school professionals in two Swedish urban schools and the local police describe their experiences with meeting the needs of students who are suffering from mental health problems and drug use. The study draws on semi-structured interviews with the professionals and observations of the schools’ student welfare team meetings. The findings reveal that self-medication, through use of pills or drugs (or both), has become quite common among adolescents, who see it as a way to ‘solve their mental health problems. Although students’ wellbeing and school safety were reported to be major concerns, the professionals’ collaborations were sometimes obstacles. Issues connected to the complexity of adolescents’ mental health not only highlight the importance of collaboration between schools and other societal institutions, but also indicate the necessary resources for such collaboration.

Young and homeless

Young and homeless

Association between school bullying levels/types and mental health problems among Taiwanese adolescents

BackgroundFew studies have compared the risks of mental health problems among the adolescents with different levels and different types of bullying involvement experiences. MethodBullying involvement in 6,406 adolescents was determined through use of the Chinese version of the School Bullying Experience Questionnaire. Data were collected regarding the mental health problems, including depression, suicidality, insomnia, general anxiety, social phobia, alcohol abuse, inattention, and hyperactivity/impulsivity. The association between experiences of bullying involvement and mental health problems was examined. The risk of mental health problems was compared among those with different levels/types of bullying involvement. ResultsThe results found that being a victim of any type of bullying and being a perpetrator of passive bullying were significantly associated with all kinds of mental health problems, and being a perpetrator of active bullying was significantly associated with all kinds of mental health problems except for general anxiety. Victims or perpetrators of both passive and active bullying had a greater risk of some dimensions of mental health problems than those involved in only passive or active bullying. Differences in the risk of mental health problems were also found among adolescents involved in different types of bullying. ConclusionsThis difference in comorbid mental health problems should be taken into consideration when assessing adolescents involved in different levels/types of bullying.

Developing guidelines on working with interpreters in mental health: opening up an international dialogue?

In 2010 the International Association of Migration recorded 214 million people as having migrated across national borders. In 2009, 30.8 million people were recorded as residing in European Union member countries of which they were not citizens. The real numbers are likely to be even higher than those officially recorded, as the Council of Europe estimated that approximately 5.5 million irregular migrants were residing in the EU in 2006. Figures world wide are also likely to be more than those officially recorded. The Office for National Statistics Psychiatric Morbidity Report asserts that one in four people experience some kind of mental health problem in any given year. This suggests that there will be a section of any population who are both experiencing a mental health difficulty and are not fluent in the language of the country in which they are currently resident. In this case, they are likely to require the services of an interpreter to enable them to communicate and receive appropriate care from a...

Do demographic factors, school functioning, and quality of student–teacher relationships as rated by teachers predict internalising and externalising problems among Norwegian schoolchildren?

The present study explored the association between child internalising and externalising problems in schools and demographic factors (sex and age), school functioning (academic performance and adaptive functioning) and teacher-reported student–teacher relationship quality in a cross-sectional study using structural equation modelling. The study was conducted among a sample of Norwegian schoolchildren (n=825) in grades 1–7. The results showed among others that conflict in student–teacher relationships had the strongest association with teacher-reported child externalising and internalising problems. The school system and the teachers probably need to place more focus on how to support children with these kinds of mental health problems.

An Improved Online Mental Status Examination System and Mental Health Diagnostic System

In this really hectic and complex world, quite a number of people are exposed to situations where mental stress is unavoidable. This leads to people having all kinds of mental health problems that eventually may turn to chronic mental disorders. People with mental health problems normally have the tendency of not admitting their health problems because of the stigma attached to these kinds of illnesses. Most of them are in denial state. This situation may cause very serious social problems since people with mental problems will develop some kind of mental disorders, and as a result, they might be harmful to others around them, especially to their family members. People with mental health problems must receive proper treatments and medications so that their conditions get better. If their mental status can be assessed and examined easily, then most probably their mental problems can be detected at a very early stage, and can be easily controlled and cured. The above scenarios become the motivation for conducting this research. This research paper presents some findings on mental health and disorders on past research work’s results and also proposes an online mental status examination (MSE) system that examines individuals’ mental health status. The result of the MSE system is used in determining whether the respective person needs to undergo a more detailed diagnosis for more specific mental disorders. If the patient’s mental status is not normal, then a complete diagnosis of the patient’s mental health is done using the Mental Health Diagnostic System, which uses a rule base for deriving a conclusion. An improvement is made to a previous paper by integrating the two systems into one complete system that is useful in determining the mental status and the severity level of a person’s mental disorder(s) in one shot. In addition, a complete report of the patient’s mental health condition is provided. It is hoped that the outcomes of this research study are able to assist new psychotherapists and psychiatrists in examining and diagnosing those who are affected by some kind of mental disorders in a more efficient manner. Direct results of this research will improve the diagnosis process and treatment for those with mental disorders.

Maps of Narrative Practiceby Michael White; New York, W. W. Norton and Company, 2007, 288 pages, $25.95

Back to table of contents Previous article Next article Book ReviewFull AccessMaps of Narrative PracticeSuEllen Hamkins M.D.SuEllen Hamkins M.D.Search for more papers by this authorPublished Online:1 Aug 2008https://doi.org/10.1176/ps.2008.59.8.941AboutSectionsPDF/EPUB ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack Citations ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InEmail Narrative therapy offers effective psychotherapeutic approaches for every kind of mental health problem, and in his rigorous and graceful new book, Maps of Narrative Practice, Michael White has created a definitive text of theory and practice. White first began exploring narrative practices in the 1970s when working with families and children with long-standing problems, such as encopresis, by attending to how they experienced their lives through stories. By noticing their earliest, most tentative steps toward well-being and offering questions that made it possible to incorporate these "sparkling moments" into meaningful new stories of self-development, he discovered powerful ways to help people free themselves from their problems and find the health and happiness they desired. Over the next three decades, while working with people dealing with problems such as agoraphobia, bereavement, depression, psychosis, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and trauma, he further developed and fleshed out how and why these emotionally moving, often playful "re-authoring conversations" work so well. Unrelated to "narrative medicine" or therapies that use stories in a general way, narrative therapy as developed by Michael White and his associates brings particular breadth, rigor, subtlety, and clinical acumen to working with the stories of people's lives, attending meticulously to which stories are focused upon and what effect those stories have. His prolific body of work stands as a foundation of narrative therapy, summarized and systematically presented for the first time in this brilliant new book.White maps out key territories of narrative practice, deftly linking theory with sentence-by-sentence analysis of therapeutic conversations. The book begins with the core narrative concept "externalizing the problem." White says, "When the problem becomes an entity that is separate from the person, and when people are not tied to… negative 'certainties' about their lives, new options for taking action to address the predicaments of their lives become available." Relinquishing a shameful "spoiled" identity, for example, an identity of a "crazy" person, to claim an identity as a person who is resisting and trying to overcome a challenging problem, such as "habits" or "voices," energizes and inspires clients and the clinicians working with them. Continuing in this "re-authoring" vein, the smallest successes in limiting a problem are elicited, named, fleshed out, and historicized, making available a new story of the person's knowledge and skills in coping that can be drawn from and built upon. Furthermore, discovering why a person wishes to overcome the problem (such as, "because I want to contribute something to the world") opens up new possibilities for positive developments.Narrative therapy brings the "why?" back to psychotherapy as a means to honor the importance of intentions and values in the creation of our lives, rather than examining only states, traits, drives, or biochemistry. Although White acknowledges the ways in which naturalistic explanations for people's behaviors may be beautiful (such as "it's only human to long for acknowledgement"), he sees these conclusions as therapeutic "cul-de-sacs." Rather, narrative therapy seeks to "spark a heightened state of mental activity" in which people are "stretching their minds" and "exercising their imaginations" in creating new possibilities for their lives, on the basis of what they personally give meaning to. These practices lead to movement from a problem-saturated identity to a value-based identity that supports actions that move a person closer to living as he or she prefers. Unprecedented change and growth can result. The metaphor of maps, used throughout the book, aptly captures White's detailed but nonprescriptive approach, in which he offers guidance for fruitful therapeutic inquiry while encouraging practitioners to allow conversations to be "unruly" and nonlinear.Maps of Narrative Practice is an important text by a master. Beautifully organized and a pleasure to read, it brings theory alive with colorful transcripts of therapy in every chapter and offers examples and instructions for applying narrative practices with the full range of mental health challenges that psychiatrists and therapists may be called upon to address. Although it is an excellent, accessible introduction to the field, experienced narrative therapists will draw upon its thoroughness, precision, and subtlety to invigorate and hone their craft. Dr. Hamkins is a psychiatrist at the Carson Center, Westfield, Massachusetts, and has a private practice in Northampton, Massachusetts. FiguresReferencesCited byDetailsCited byNone Volume 59Issue 8 August, 2008Pages 941-942PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES August 2008 Volume 59 Number 8 Metrics PDF download History Published online 1 August 2008 Published in print 1 August 2008

Developing Services with Limited Resources: Establishing a CAMHS in Pakistan.

There are very few mental health services in Pakistan. In 2002, the Department of Psychiatry at Aga Khan University Hospital started a separate clinic for children under the age of 15 years to meet the population needs. This service took direct referrals from other physicians as well as from parents and schools. A DSM-IV based semi-structured interview with a uniform written format was used for an initial evaluation by a child psychiatrist. Data regarding demographic characteristics, referral source, diagnoses and treatment were collected. A total of 290 new referrals were made to the clinic over 3 years. The most common reason for referral was aggressive behaviour, although this possibly masked other kinds of mental health problems, as indicated by the assessment. Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder was the most frequent diagnosis, made in 25% of children. Despite the limited resources and the high level of need in developing countries, resources can be used effectively within the framework of their health and educational systems, so maximising protective factors within their communities.

Using ‘mindfulness’ to enhance health and wellbeing

Advertising lures us into believing that happiness can be bought by going on frequent exotic holidays, accessing our favourite pieces of music wherever we go and being able to contact our friends whenever we start to feel alone. Yet all this availability of entertainment and pleasure in the Western world does not seem to make us feel happier or less bored. We have reached a stage where one in four people in the UK will experience some kind of mental health problem in the course of a year (Mental Health Foundation, 2005), and the incidence of boredom seems to be on the increase (Svendsen, 2005).

Psychiatric disorders and the need for mental health services among a sample of orthopedic inpatients

This report concerns psychiatric disorders and the need for mental health services among patients admitted to a general orthopedic surgery service. The planning of mental health services for medical and surgical inpatients in terms of current community mental health concepts is discussed. It has been observed that patients being treated for medical or surgical conditions have a higher than expected incidence of psychiatric disorders. 1–6 Previous studies of inpatients with orthopedic or other surgical conditions report a wide range (19%–86%) of psychiatric disorders depending upon the diagnostic criteria employed. In spite of the documented need for mental health services among such patients, primary physicians are often reluctant to request psychiatric consultation, and the psychiatrist is usually consulted only when a patient presents a difficult management or diagnostic problem. 3,7,8 Thus, many other medical or surgical patients could benefit from mental health consultation if their needs could be identified. In recent years, psychiatrists have become more involved in the functioning of general medical services, with consideration being given to the application of the principles of community mental health to the consultation services. 2,4,9–12 Psychiatrists have participated in indirect consultation through the medical and nursing staff in addition to providing direct consultation within medical and surgical settings. In planning this type of consultation service, more information is needed about the kinds of mental health problems experienced by medical and surgical patients.