Mental Health Promotion Programs Research Articles

Wellbeing education increases skills and knowledge among tertiary students in the agricultural sector: insights from a mixed methods study

ABSTRACT Purpose The agricultural sector is facing a myriad of financial, environmental, social, and cultural challenges which affect the mental health of those working on-farm. This study focused on a tertiary education programme designed to increase recognition of mental health issues and convey strategies to address these. Methodology To identify the effect of such a programme, and which aspects contribute to that effect, this paper applied a mixed methods approach. Quantitative propensity score matching was used to identify changes in knowledge and skills, and qualitative surveys were conducted to explore the wellbeing of students and to identify aspects of the programme contributing to change. Findings Students report an increase in (i) ability recognising signs of poor mental health in self and others; (ii) confidence talking about their own and others’ mental health; and (iii) knowing how to access mental health support services. Programme aspects contributing to this effect are peer-to-peer education and building on existing knowledge. Practical implications This paper addresses a gap in the literature by providing insights into programme aspects that lead to successful delivery. Theoretical implications This study reports on the evaluation of a tertiary education programme and provides valuable insights into whether such programmes can contribute to increased knowledge on wellbeing. Originality This research describes and analyses the effectiveness of a mental health promotion programme aimed at young adults which is rare in the literature.

A microcosting approach for planning and implementing community-based mental health prevention program: what does it cost?

BackgroundEstimating program costs when planning community-based mental health programs can be burdensome. Our aim was to retrospectively document the cost for the first year of planning and implementing Healthy Minds Healthy Communities (HMHC), a mental health promotion and prevention multi-level intervention initiative. This Program is among the first to use the Community Initiated Care (CIC) model in the US and is aimed at building community resilience and the capacity for communities to provide mental health support, particularly among those disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Our objective is to share our methods for costing a program targeting 10 zip codes that are ethnically and linguistically diverse and provide an example for estimating the cost of a mental health prevention and promotion programs consisting of multiple evidence-based interventions.MethodsWe used a semi-structured interview process to collect cost data through the first year of program planning, start-up and initial implementation from key staff. We calculated costs for each activity, grouped them by major project categories, and identified the cost drivers of each category. We further validated cost estimates through extensive literature review. The cost analysis was done from the provider’s perspective, which included the implementing agency and its community partners. We delineated costs that were in-kind contributions to the program by other agency, and community partners. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to estimate uncertainty around parameters.ResultsFor the first year of the development and implementation of the program, (funded through program and in-kind) is estimated at $1,382,669 (2022 US$). The costs for the three main activity domains for this project are: project management $135,822, community engagement $364,216 and design and execution $756,934. Overall, the cost drivers for the first year of this intervention were: hiring and onboarding staff, in-person community building/learning sessions, communications and marketing, and intervention delivery.ConclusionImplementation of community-based mental health promotion and prevention programs, when utilizing a participatory approach, requires a significant amount of upfront investment in program planning and development. A large proportion of this investment tends to be human capital input. Developing partnerships is a successful strategy for defraying costs.

Mental Health First Aid™ for Deaf communities: responses to a lack of national Deaf mental health service provision

Purpose For over 15 years, Mental Health First Aid™ (MHFA) has successfully been delivered in Wales, United Kingdom, with growing interest in the MHFA programme and increasing course attendees. Trainers, aware of the need for support, know the importance of MHFA being accessible for different communities and learner groups. MHFA has always focused on increasing mental health literacy. One marginalised group, with lower mental health literacy than the general population, is Deaf people, a group with increased risk of mental health problems. This paper aims to provide insights about why Deaf people are twice as likely as hearing people to experience mental health problems. Design/methodology/approach During this paper, the authors have used four focal points i) exploring situational contexts for Deaf people; ii) reasons why Deaf individuals are at greater risk of mental health problems; iii) the authors explore a project, “Hear Deaf”, and implementation of MHFA Wales by Deaf MHFA trainers; and iv) initiatives to influence and impact on policymakers. Findings During the project, nine MHFA courses were delivered to Deaf communities across different locations in Wales, often with information and advertisements circulated directly to Deaf communities through Deaf clubs, resulting in 120 Deaf people trained. The authors conclude with their own reflections as a researcher and an MHFA who work predominantly with Deaf communities. Originality/value This paper provides a discussion on the specific risks for Deaf people around mental health and the importance of mental health promotion programmes for Deaf communities. Further research is needed regarding the impact of MHFA on Deaf populations.

Subjective Experience on Virtual Reality-Assisted Mental Health Promotion Program.

Mental health promotion programs using virtual reality (VR) technology have been developed in various forms. This study aimed to investigate the subjective experience of a VR-assisted mental health promotion program for the community population, which was provided in the form of VR experience on a bus to increase accessibility. Ninety-six people participated in this study. The relationship between the subjective experience and mental health states such as depression, anxiety, perceived stress, and quality of life was explored. The subjective experience on depression and stress before and after VR program treatment was compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The satisfaction with the VR-assisted mental health promotion program was examined after using the VR program. The VR-assisted mental health promotion program on a bus significantly improved subjective symptoms such as depression (p=0.036) and perceived stress (p=0.010) among all the participants. Among the high-risk group, this VR program significantly relieved subjective depressive feeling score (p=0.033), and subjective stressful feeling score (p=0.035). In contrast, there were no significant changes in subjective depressive feelings (p=0.182) and subjective stressful feelings (p=0.058) among the healthy group. Seventy-two percent of the participants reported a high level of satisfaction, scoring 80 points or more. The findings of this study suggest that the VR-assisted mental health promotion program may effectively improve the subjective depressive and stressful feelings. The use of VR programs on buses to increase of accessibility for the community could be a useful approach for promoting mental health among the population.

The Inquiring Mind Youth: Analysis of a Mental Health Promotion and Stigma Reduction Pilot Program for Secondary Students

The Inquiring Mind Youth: Analysis of a Mental Health Promotion and Stigma Reduction Pilot Program for Secondary Students

Mental health implementation research in Indigenous communities: creating culturally safe space to enhance collective strengths

In this article, we discuss the construct of cultural safety in relation to the ethics, politics, and practice of implementation research in Indigenous communities. We convened a 3-day workshop, bringing together 23 Indigenous and non-Indigenous collaborators from First Nation communities and universities across Canada to reflect on experiences with implementing an Indigenous youth and family mental health promotion program in First Nation communities. Participants identified three dimensions central to achieving culturally safe space in implementation research: (1) interpersonal dynamics of collaboration between Indigenous and non-Indigenous partners; (2) structural and temporal arrangements necessary for collaborative work; and (3) the systematic recognition and incorporation of Indigenous cultural knowledge, values, and practices. Within implementation research, attention to cultural safety can mitigate the epistemic injustice that arise from research frameworks and methodologies that exclude Indigenous perspectives and values. Cultural safety can increase the likelihood that the research process itself contributes to mental health promotion.

Mental Disorders and Mental Health Promotion in Police Officers.

The number of police officers suffering from mental illnesses is becoming a significant public health concern. Police officers are more likely to experience mental health problems than the general population. The use of effective mental health promotion programs can assist in reducing police officers' psychological problems. In this paper author reviews existing literature on mental disorders and mental health promotion among police officers. This review emphasizes the importance of mental health promotion and programs in improving police officers' well-being and decreasing mental disorders. The prevalence of mental disorders, risk factors, and negative consequences are explained. Furthermore, examples of programs or interventions to promote mental health, and recommendations for further study are presented. Therefore, this review could be useful in developing intervention program to support police officers' health.

The impact of community resilience, well-being, and community attachment on human service workers’ burnout

Summary Burnout has become an increasingly prevalent condition, especially affecting professionals in direct contact with clients. Human service workers (HSWs) have quite emotionally taxing jobs supporting vulnerable groups. In developing a close relationship with the communities they work with, it could be possible that community-related variables have an impact on HSWs’ burnout. We aim to analyze the prevalence of burnout in a sample of HSWs from Portugal and the role of community resilience as a predictor of their burnout, as well as explore if their subjective well-being and community attachment could explain the relationship between community resilience and burnout, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected through an online questionnaire between August 2020 and January 2021 ( N = 598). Findings Results indicate that HSWs presented medium to low levels of burnout, although 8.9% presented high levels. Those who reported lower levels of burnout perceived higher community resilience and had much higher well-being and community attachment. Findings point to community resilience having a significant direct effect on burnout and also an indirect effect, which was explained by subjective well-being and community attachment. Applications Results seem to suggest that this sample's low-medium levels of burnout could be linked to the benefit of experiencing high community attachment and working in communities with high resilience, which consequently impacted their well-being and burnout. This highlights the crucial role of the work context in professionals’ mental health, showing that a broader context needs to be considered in professional mental health promotion programs.

Interaction between adolescent sleep rhythms and gender in an obese population.

The obesity rate of adolescents is gradually increasing, which seriously affects their mental health, and sleep plays an important role in adolescent obesity. To investigate the relationship between sleep rhythm and obesity among adolescents and further explores the interactive effect of sleep rhythm and gender on adolescent obesity, providing a theoretical basis for developing interventions for adolescent obesity. Research data source Tianjin Mental Health Promotion Program for Students. From April to June 2022, this study selected 14201 students from 13 middle schools in a certain district of Tianjin as the research subject using the convenient cluster sampling method. Among these students, 13374 accepted and completed the survey, with an effective rate of 94.2%.The demographic data and basic information of adolescents, such as height and weight, were collected through a general situation questionnaire. The sleep rhythm of adolescents was evaluated using the reduced version of the morningness-eveningness questionnaire. A total of 13374 participants (6629 females, accounting for 49.56%; the average age is 15.21 ± 1.433 years) were analyzed. Among them, the survey showed that 2942 adolescent were obesity, accounting for 22% and 2104 adolescent were overweight, accounting for 15.7%. Among them, 1692 male adolescents are obese, with an obesity rate of 25.1%, higher than 18.9% of female adolescents. There is a statistically significant difference between the three groups (χ2 = 231.522, P < 0.000). The obesity group has the smallest age (14.94 ± 1.442 years), and there is a statistical difference in age among the three groups (F = 69.996, P < 0.000).Obesity rates are higher among individuals who are not-only-child, have residential experience within six months, have family economic poverty, and have evening-type sleep (P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis shows a correlation between sleep rhythm and adolescent obesity. Evening-type sleep rhythm can increase the risk of obesity in male adolescents [1.250 (1.067-1.468)], but the effect on female obesity is not remarkable. Further logistic regression analysis in the overall population demonstrates that the interaction between evening-type sleep rhythm and the male gender poses a risk of adolescent obesity [1.122 (1.043-1.208)]. Among adolescents, the incidence of obesity in males is higher than in females. Evening-type sleep rhythm plays an important role in male obesity but has no significant effect on female obesity. Progressive analysis suggests an interactive effect of sleep rhythm and gender on adolescent obesity, and the combination of evening-type sleep and the male gender promotes the development of adolescent obesity. In formulating precautions against adolescent obesity, obesity in male adolescents with evening-type sleep should be a critical concern.

Effectiveness of an intervention to manage occupational stress among bus drivers of Sri Lanka Transport Board in Colombo District, Sri Lanka

Introduction: Occupational stress among bus drivers is on the rise in the world. Mental health promotion programs can be effective in managing job stress in occupational groups.Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of a multi-component intervention to manage occupational stress among bus drivers of Sri Lanka Transport Board of Colombo District.Methods: A cluster randomized control trial was performed to assess the effectiveness of the intervention. Drivers were selected by randomization from all 12 depots in Colombo District. The intervention was carried out in six depots and controlled in the other six depots. Both arms consisted of 72 drivers. The mental health promotion-stress management intervention package was delivered for six months. Outcomes were assessed based on pre- and post-test stress levels. Process indicators were also determined to assess the effectiveness of the intervention.Results: All the participants were males. Response rate in the intervention group was 97.2%. Pre-intervention prevalence of occupational stress in the intervention group was 50% (n=36) and it was 58.33% (n=42) in the control group. This difference was not statistically significant (p=0.316). The post-intervention occupational stress level in the intervention group was 40.28% (n=29) and in the control group was 56.94% (n=41). This difference was statistically significant (p=0.045). In the intervention group, twelve drivers with occupational stress shifted to normal stress levels after the intervention, while five drivers who had normal stress levels, developed occupational stress afterwards (6.94%). This difference within the intervention group was not statistically significant (OR=2.4; 95% CI: 0.845, 6.81; p=0.145). Level of satisfaction on the overall programme was stated as excellent by 86% of the drivers in the intervention group.Conclusions &amp; Recommendations: Stress management intervention was effective in reducing occupational stress among drivers. Mental health promotion programs need to be conducted on the recruitment of bus drivers.

Psychological Experience of Correctional Officers’ Treatment of Mentally Ill Prisoners: Phenomenological Study

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to find out the meaning of the psychological experience of correctional officers’ treatment of mentally ill prisoners and describe its essential structure.Methods: The Colazzi's phenomenological research methodology was used. Nine correctional officers participated in this study. To collect data, in-depth individual interviews were conducted from September 4 to October 3, 2023.Results: Four clusters of themes were identified; “feeling daunted by unawareness of mental illness”, “darkness caused by the tangle of vines inside the correctional facility walls”, “determined to overcome and face it head-on”, and “warmth emanating from the custody of mentally ill prisoners.”.Conclusion: Through the psychological experiences of correctional officers in dealing with individuals with mental illness, it was possible to understand the demands of knowledge, attitudes, and skills related to mental illness, as well as psychological and mental stress. It is necessary to establish an educational program and crisis response protocol for correctional officers to cultivate knowledge, attitudes, and skills related to mental illness, and to activate the mental health promotion program currently being implemented in correctional facilities.

대학생의 스마트폰 중독 조사 및 스마트폰 활용 영어학습 연구 동향 분석

The purpose of this study was to examine the mental health of college students in terms of anxiety, stress, and self-efficacy as well as smartphone addiction, and to provide empirical data for developing preventive career psychology programs. A total of 373 university students participated in this study and completed a questionnaire. The main findings were as follows. First, the participants’ mental health indicators, such as anxiety, smartphone addiction, stress, and self-efficacy, were generally within the normal range. Second, there were significant differences in anxiety, smartphone addiction, stress, and self-efficacy among the subgroups such as majors of the participants. Female students reported higher levels of anxiety, stress, and smartphone addiction than male students. Students under 30 years old experienced more stress and lower self-efficacy than students over 30 years old. Self-efficacy varied by major. Based on these results, this study suggests that comprehensive and tailored mental health promotion programs are needed at the university level. Additionally, this paper discusses how smartphones can be used positively for English language learning based on a keyword analysis of ‘mobile phone’, ‘English’ and ‘learn’ in recent literature.

Parent-adolescent Congruence and Discrepancy in Perceived Parental Emotion Socialization to Anger and Sadness: Using Response Surface Analysis to Examine the Links with Adolescent Depressive Symptoms.

Parents and adolescents often hold discrepant perceptions of parental emotion socialization, which reflect misunderstandings in parent-adolescent communication on emotions and have potential detrimental effects on mental health of adolescents. The present study investigated the associations between parent-adolescent congruence and discrepancy in parental emotion socialization perception to two specific negative emotions (anger and sadness) and depressive symptoms in Chinese adolescents. A total of 372 adolescents (48.4% female, Mage = 13.43, SDage = 0.49) and their parents (79.6% mother, Mage = 41.15, SDage = 5.46) participated in this study. Both parents and adolescents reported perceived parental emotion socialization to anger and sadness, and adolescents reported depressive symptoms. Data were analyzed using polynomial regression and response surface analyses. Both congruence and discrepancy in parent and adolescent's reports were associated with adolescent depressive symptoms. A higher level of adolescent depressive symptoms was associated with higher parent-adolescent congruence in supportive responses to anger, sadness, and nonsupportive responses to anger. A higher level of depressive symptoms was associated with inconsistent reporting of supportive responses to sadness and nonsupportive responses to anger (only when parents had a more positive view than adolescents). This study highlights the significance of evaluating parent-child communication process by assessing perceived emotion socialization from both parents and adolescents and analyzing the reporting congruence and discrepancy. It also suggests that enhancing effective communication regarding parental emotion socialization could be a promising target for adolescent mental health promotion programs.

Less social media use – more satisfied, work-engaged and mentally healthy employees: an experimental intervention study

ABSTRACTIntensive Social Media Use (SMU) can negatively impact employees’ work performance and mental health. The present experimental study investigated how a reduction of daily SMU time influences employees from different professional sectors in Germany. The experimental group (N = 84; age: M = 29.38, SD = 5.84) reduced its non-work-related SMU by 30 min daily for seven days; the control group (N = 82; age: M = 30.06, SD = 8.39) used Social Media (SM) as usual. Work-related variables and mental health-related variables were assessed via online surveys at three measurement time points (baseline; post-intervention; one-week follow-up). The intervention significantly reduced the experience of work overload, stress symptoms, fear of missing out and addictive SMU. Work satisfaction, work engagement and positive mental health increased significantly. The present findings reveal that less time spent on SMU leads to increased work motivation and higher levels of mental health. Employers and employees should take the present findings into account. Business coaching programmes, mental health promotion programmes and clinical interventions could benefit from the integration of a controlled reduction of SMU time.

Time-dependent association between the economic activity restriction due to health condition and mental illness: Finding from 15-year prospective cohort study

Background and ObjectivesThe Economic Activity Restriction (EAR) due to health conditions is being utilized as a foundational measure for the European indicator Healthy Life Years (HLY). The EAR group is experiencing limitations not only in economic activities but also in overall activities, and it is a population with a high likelihood of transitioning to mental illness due to health condition. However, few studies have investigated the relationship between EAR and mental illness. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify the association between EAR due to health conditions and mental illness for those aged 45 and older in South Korea. MethodsWe obtained data from the 2006–2020 Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging. EAR was assessed using self-reported questionnaires based on the Global Activity Limitation Indicator. mental illness was assessed based on the diagnosis data for participants who had been diagnosed. After excluding missing values, the data of 9,574 participants were analyzed using the chi-square test, log-rank tests, and time-dependent Cox proportional hazard model to evaluate the association between EAR and mental illness. ResultsOut of the 9,574 participants gathered at baseline, the mental illness rate was 4.8 %. The hazard ratio (HR) of mental illness in those in the “very probable” of EAR was 2.351 times higher (p-value <0.0001) compared with “not at all” of EAR. In model 1 which includes under 64 years, HR of mental illness in “very probable” of EAR was 3.679 times higher (p-value: 0.000) and in “probable” of EAR was 2.535 time higher (p-value: 0.001) compared with “not at all” of EAR. ConclusionIf we provide opportunities to participate in community activities or provide the mental health promotion programs for middle-aged population who are experiencing EAR due to health condition, it is expected to prevent the deterioration of mental health and reduce the incidence of mental illness among the middle-aged Korean population.

Mental health in Colombian dementia patients: the impact of COVID‐19

AbstractBackgroundThe COVID‐19 pandemic related to the new coronavirus SARS‐CoV‐2 has generated new challenges in healthcare systems worldwide. In Colombia, different measures were adopted, such as preventive isolation, to reduce the number of infections considering its high transmissibility. However, this led to changes in the mental health of older individuals affected both by this confinement situation and by the consequences of the disease in this population group.MethodThe objective is to determine if there are cognitive changes associated with the disease and confinement due to the new coronavirus infection in a sample of 70 individuals with dementia. To achieve this, an analysis of one of the COVID‐19 questionnaires proposed in the RedLat project is performed, in which relatives and patients report their perception of changes in their mental health. The impact of the confinement situation and the disease itself is analyzed.ResultIn general, a significant change is found in the cognitive, affective, and social sphere of each individual with dementia.ConclusionThese findings are relevant as they allow for the proposal of alternative rehabilitation strategies following COVID‐19 and the generation of other mental health promotion programs in older individuals with cognitive impairment.

The relationship between depression and sexual satisfaction: An equation model analysis

BACKGROUND: The relationship between depression and sexual satisfaction in middle-aged women has been reported previously. However, there is insufficient evidence that depression is related to sexual satisfaction or that sexual satisfaction is related to depression. This study evaluated the relationship between depression and sexual satisfaction in middle-aged women by evaluating the equation model analysis of the two models. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 190 middle-aged women in Isfahan, Iran, in 2021. Sexual satisfaction dimensions were evaluated using self-report women's sexual satisfaction questionnaire. Also, the depression scale of the general health questionnaire was used to measure of the depression level. Research data were analyzed using a multivariate linear regression test. Also, the fit of the model was evaluated using Amos software. RESULTS: The results showed that depression score had an inverse relationship with sexual satisfaction in the relational concern dimension (Beta = −0.27, P = 0.006, CI: −0.11 to − 0.86). Model fit evaluation showed that the sexual satisfaction-depression model had a better fit than the depression-sexual satisfaction model (CMIN/DF = 1.123, P = 0.64). CONCLUSION: The results showed that depression in middle-aged women is related to the relational concern. It is necessary to consider counseling programs to solve sexual relationship concerns in middle-aged women's mental health promotion programs.

Identifying Characteristics of Community-Embedded Positive Mental Health Promotion Programs: An Integrative Review

Mental health programs are varied in scope and nature; there is little consensus across theoretical background and program content. This review consists of a database search complemented by an environmental scan. The peer-reviewed literature mapped the body of literature on national and international programs embedded in the community. Records (N = 12) on primary studies describing programs were included and complemented by an environmental scan of existing community programs in one Canadian province (N = 16). Most programs were considered effective, psychoeducational in nature, and grounded in positive psychology theory. A promising path forward for promoting mental health is through enhancing mental health literacy (MHL); community MHL programs require further investigation.

Solo Supermom: Psychological Well-Being pada Ibu Tunggal yang Kehilangan Pasangan Meninggal Dunia

A single mother who lost her spouse due to death bears the dual responsibility of being both a father and mother in the family, including managing the household, educating her children, and supporting herself. This situation places significant physical and mental pressure on her. The spouse’s role as a support system is no longer available to the single mom, and the grief experienced as an independent single mom leads to changes in her psychological well-being. This research aims to provide an overview of the psychological well-being of single mothers who have lost their spouses due to death. The study employs a descriptive qualitative approach with thematic analysis. Data collection involves semi-structured interviews with three participants using snowball sampling. The research findings indicate that single mothers undergo changes in self-acceptance and their current experiences after experiencing profound grief due to abandonment for approximately one year. Social support from the family influences a positive connection with their environment, while a lack of social support results in loneliness and reduced self-esteem. Job instability makes it difficult for single mothers to earn a living and be self-reliant. Social pressures related to the assessment of their status as widows and single mothers are felt by them. Single mothers have life goals related to the future of their children, and for those who are pessimistic, life is often entirely dedicated to their children, with limited opportunities for self-development. This research can be used by mental health promotion program designers and policymakers as additional empirical information on the current condition of single mothers' psychological well-being.

Impact of Mental Health Legislation on Public Interest and Awareness of Common Mental Disorders: Insights From an Infodemiological Study of Search Volumes From 2004 to 2021 in the Philippines.

This study explored online public interest using search volumes for various mental disorders using an infodemiological design. Google Trends search volumes for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and substance abuse from January 2004 to December 2021 in the Philippines were described and compared. In addition, interrupted time series and mean comparisons were done to determine the impact of the Philippine Mental Health Act. Findings show that public interest was highest for major depressive disorder, followed by anxiety disorder, substance abuse, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Among them, public interest in schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and substance abuse improved following the Act's legislation. The uneven stigma of mental disorders and the incomplete implementation and unequal focus of Philippine mental health promotion programs can explain these findings. Thus, mental disorders with low public interest should be given attention in mental health awareness activities.