Understanding Of Mental Health Research Articles

The Impact of a Student-Led Health Education Clinic on the Health Literacy and Behaviors of a Rural Community in the State of Pennsylvania, USA.

Rural populations experience a number of disparities that place them at increased risk of morbidity and mortality related to chronic disease, including lower health literacy and greater distance to medical care. Community-based free healthcare education can offer targeted preventive care to these vulnerable populations; however, limited quantitative research exists measuring their impact, specifically on health literacy and likelihood for behavior change. To investigate this, a student-led health education clinic was held in January 2023 in the rural community of Lykens, Pennsylvania by the Student-run and Collaborative Outreach Program for Health Equity (SCOPE). Fifty-five pre- and post-clinic surveys using Likert-style questions measured the knowledge and likelihood of behavioral change for several preventive health topics, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cancer screenings, childhood vaccinations, skin cancer, mental health, addiction, and nutrition. From pre- to post-clinic, there was a significant increase in knowledge of hypertension (p = 0.023) and diabetes (p = 0.014), likelihood of attending cancer screenings (p = 0.038), and confidence in identifying cancerous moles (p = < 0.001). There was a non-significant increase in understanding of mental health and nutrition, and no change in understanding of addiction or childhood vaccinations. It is likely that the level of interaction in education provided and relevance of information to participants contributed to effective uptake of information. The results demonstrate an immediate impact on health literacy and likelihood of behavioral change for several important preventive health topics, and advocate for the use of student-run healthcare interventions in addressing the prevalence of chronic disease in rural communities.

Provision of E-Modules on Adolescent Mental Health Understanding

&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; Mental health frequently receives inadequate attention and is often disregarded by individuals who tend to prioritize physical health over mental well-being. The occurrence of mental disorders in adolescents (aged 15-24 years) is associated with a depression rate of 6.2%. Severe depression tends to lead to self-harm and suicide. Approximately 80-90% of suicide cases can be attributed to depression and anxiety.&#x0D; A comprehensive understanding of adolescent mental health is essential for determining appropriate actions to make adolescents aware that mental health is equally essential. Preventing mental health issues in adolescents is crucial for avoiding further mental disorders or psychological problems. Prevention can be effectively achieved through health education for adolescents, enabling them to comprehend the significance of their mental health.&#x0D; E-modules provide an ideal medium for reaching adolescents, as they adapt conventional modules by incorporating information technology, making them more engaging and interactive. This enhances their appeal as an engaging and interactive learning resource. Digital modules (e-modules) enriched with audiovisual technology are expected to apprehend students' interests and create a conducive learning environment.&#x0D; The research objective was to investigate the effect of E-modules on adolescents' understanding of mental health. The study adopted a quantitative approach, using a quasi-experimental research design with a pre-posttest without control, conducted through intervention with a single group. The study was conducted at SMP 8 Surakarta and data were collected before and after the intervention. Data analysis employed the Wilcoxon test was used to obtain a significant result with a p-value of 0.01 (p &lt; 0.05). Based on these findings, E-modules affected adolescents' mental health acquaintances.&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D;

Characterizing the Impact of Disorders of the Gut-Brain Interaction on Mental and Physical Health Functioning Among Spanish-Speaking Latino Adults Living in the United States.

Latino individuals are underrepresented in the disorders of the gut-brain interaction (DGBI) literature, and no work has explored how disorders of the gut-brain interaction affect health and well-being in this group. This study sought to explore how disorders of the gut-brain interaction affect health factors in a sample of Latino individuals (N = 292; 80.80% female; M age = 37.65 years, SD = 11.98) with (n = 60) and without (n = 232) a disorder of the gut-brain interaction based on current Rome Foundation diagnostic criteria (Rome IV). DGBI was associated with increased pain intensity, pain disability, cardiovascular risk, depressive symptoms, and anxiety/panic symptoms and lower physical health-related quality of life and mental health-related quality of life controlling for age, sex, and nativity. Better understanding mental health and treatment-seeking behaviors among Latino individuals may help clinical gastroenterologists engage their Latino patients to a greater extent and thus provide higher quality of care.

Measuring mental health literacy in children: the development of the CHILD-MHL scale

Abstract Background One child out of 5 is affected by a mental health problem before the age of 12 years. Among the determinants of children's mental health, Mental Health Literacy (MHL) is a theory including 6 dimensions: understanding mental health; help-seeking actions; supports available; influences on mental health; coping and resilience; and stigma. High levels of MHL correspond to better children's mental health. Measuring children's MHL is essential to inform the development of interventions pro-MHL, evaluate their impact and conceive related policies. We describe here the process of developing the CHILD-MHL scale. Methods Two public health researchers generate some MHL items in French. These are discussed by a group of 30 experts (ex. psychologists, psychiatrists), parents and teachers to verify their content and wording (Delphi study). An artist co-draw with 5 children (8-11 years old) the illustrations of the items (visual scale). Then, the scale is tested in the school setting by 30 children with feedback through qualitative interviews. Finally, the scale is administered to 500 children and undergoes psychometric analyses. Results Results are preliminary. We have produced 50 items telling a story based on MHL through the characters of Émile and Amélie, two children facing mental health problems. Examples of MHL items are: “Emile doesn’t say nice things about himself, he doesn’t want to spend time with his friend Amélie anymore, do you think he might be depressed?” and “Emile feels very worried and nervous, do you think he is anxious?”. Conclusions Developing a scale is a complex process. The CHILD-MHL scale is the first instrument measuring MHL in children in France and worldwide. It can be included in large French cohorts to obtain prevalence of MHL in representative samples of children at the national level. The scale will also be translated in 3 other languages (English, Spanish, Italian) with an international outreach and for cross-cultural comparison.

EARLY MENTAL HEALTH SELF-DETECTION USING SMART-SENYUM APPLICATION

Mental health is a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with stresses, develop their capabilities, perform well in school or work settings, and contribute to their communities. However, mental health problems among adolescents and early adults are high, with an estimated 12 million cases worldwide. Not to mention that access to mental health professionals is still limited, as they are generally only available in big hospitals or health centers. Thus, mental health understanding and access to mental health professionals are major problems. The aim of this study was to examine adolescents’ understanding of mental health and develop a mental help self-screening assessment tool based on the Smart-Senyum application. The mental health self-screening application was adapted from the Self-Report Questionnaire, which was translated into Indonesian and validated for the adolescent age group in Indonesia. The population and sample of this study were adolescents aged 15 – 18 years (N = 36; M-age =16.3), who were students of the learning center Sanggar Kegiatan Belajar (SKB) 26 Bintaro, West Jakarta. The results showed that there was an increase in 5-pointers in understanding mental health. It was also found that 40% of the students showed symptoms of non-psychotic mental problems and 60% of the students were in a mentally healthy condition. The conclusion of the study, that early screening youth mental health is important and need further research as program implementation to prevent mental disorder

“The Grind Never Stops” Mental Health and Expectations of Productivity in the North American University

Using a critical phenomenology approach, I explore how the neoliberal social context of the North American university produces normative expectations which both interact with and pattern student experiences and understandings of mental health struggles in this environment. The data I analyze comes from semi-structured interviews with 24 university students between 18 and 24 years of age who self-identify as experiencing mental health struggles, as well as participant observation at university wellness events. In this context, both students and the university understand wellness as the ability to maintain constant academic productivity. While university wellness programming promotes goal-oriented individualized “self”-care as the gold standard for attaining and maintaining wellness, students often view self-care activities as unproductive, instead prioritizing academic productivity over subjective well-being in striving to maintain an image as the “good” student. I argue that understanding mental health in this way both causes and exacerbates harm, introducing the conceptual contrast between “Student Wellness”—academic success—and “Human Wellness”—subjective well- being—as a means of understanding how university attempts to increase wellness often support neoliberal agendas to the detriment of their students’ well-being.

Race/Ethnicity, Nativity, and Gender Disparities in Mental Health Trajectories from Mid- to Later-Life: A Life Course-Intersectional Approach.

Numerous studies have highlighted mental health disparities based on race/ethnicity, nativity, and gender across different life stages. However, few have investigated how the intersectionality of these factors influences mental health trajectories during midlife to late life. This study fills this gap by adopting a life course-intersectional approach, viewing mental health trajectories as dynamic processes shaped by the combined influences of race/ethnicity, nativity, and gender. It explores social, psychological, and physiological pathways contributing to these disparities. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study (2006-2018; N = 38,049 observations) and growth curve models, this study examines how intra-individual trends in depressive symptoms (measured as CES-D scale, 07) are influenced by the intersection of race/ethnicity, nativity, and gender. It also investigates the impact of objective and subjective social isolation and physical health on group disparities in mental health trajectories. The findings reveal that, during mid- to early late-life, most Black and Hispanic Americans experience higher levels of depressive symptoms compared to their White counterparts (disparities ranging from 0.184 to 0.463 for men and 0.117 to 0.439 for women). However, this disadvantage diminishes for US-born Hispanic men and US-born Black women (0.014-0.031 faster decrease rates compared to US-born White), while it intensifies for Hispanic immigrants (0.017-0.018 slower decrease rates compared to US-born White) in advanced ages. Mediation analysis demonstrates that both social isolation and physical health contribute to these disparities, with physical health explaining a larger portion, particularly in differences between immigrant Hispanic women and US-born Whites. This study underscores the importance of a life course-intersectional approach in understanding mental health disparities. It emphasizes the need for improved social welfare systems and community-level interventions targeting the specific challenges faced by older Hispanic immigrants, especially women who encounter multiple forms of oppression.

Electronic health records identify timely trends in childhood mental health conditions

BackgroundElectronic health records (EHRs) data provide an opportunity to collect patient information rapidly, efficiently and at scale. National collaborative research networks, such as PEDSnet, aggregate EHRs data across institutions, enabling rapid identification of pediatric disease cohorts and generating new knowledge for medical conditions. To date, aggregation of EHR data has had limited applications in advancing our understanding of mental health (MH) conditions, in part due to the limited research in clinical informatics, necessary for the translation of EHR data to child mental health research.MethodsIn this cohort study, a comprehensive EHR-based typology was developed by an interdisciplinary team, with expertise in informatics and child and adolescent psychiatry, to query aggregated, standardized EHR data for the full spectrum of MH conditions (disorders/symptoms and exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), across 13 years (2010–2023), from 9 PEDSnet centers. Patients with and without MH disorders/symptoms (without ACEs), were compared by age, gender, race/ethnicity, insurance, and chronic physical conditions. Patients with ACEs alone were compared with those that also had MH disorders/symptoms. Prevalence estimates for patients with 1+ disorder/symptoms and for specific disorders/symptoms and exposure to ACEs were calculated, as well as risk for developing MH disorder/symptoms.ResultsThe EHR study data set included 7,852,081 patients < 21 years of age, of which 52.1% were male. Of this group, 1,552,726 (19.8%), without exposure to ACEs, had a lifetime MH disorders/symptoms, 56.5% being male. Annual prevalence estimates of MH disorders/symptoms (without exposure to ACEs) rose from 10.6% to 2010 to 15.1% in 2023, a 44% relative increase, peaking to 15.4% in 2019, prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. MH categories with the largest increases between 2010 and 2023 were exposure to ACEs (1.7, 95% CI 1.6–1.8), anxiety disorders (2.8, 95% CI 2.8–2.9), eating/feeding disorders (2.1, 95% CI 2.1–2.2), gender dysphoria/sexual dysfunction (43.6, 95% CI 35.8–53.0), and intentional self-harm/suicidality (3.3, 95% CI 3.2–3.5). White youths had the highest rates in most categories, except for disruptive behavior disorders, elimination disorders, psychotic disorders, and standalone symptoms which Black youths had higher rates. Median age of detection was 8.1 years (IQR 3.5–13.5) with all standalone symptoms recorded earlier than the corresponding MH disorder categories.ConclusionsThese results support EHRs’ capability in capturing the full spectrum of MH disorders/symptoms and exposure to ACEs, identifying the proportion of patients and groups at risk, and detecting trends throughout a 13-year period that included the Covid-19 pandemic. Standardized EHR data, which capture MH conditions is critical for health systems to examine past and current trends for future surveillance. Our publicly available EHR-mental health typology codes can be used in other studies to further advance research in this area.

Children and youth’s perceptions of mental health—a scoping review of qualitative studies

BackgroundRecent research indicates that understanding how children and youth perceive mental health, how it is manifests, and where the line between mental health issues and everyday challenges should be drawn, is complex and varied. Consequently, it is important to investigate how children and youth perceive and communicate about mental health. With this in mind, our goal is to synthesize the literature on how children and youth (ages 10—25) perceive and conceptualize mental health.MethodsWe conducted a preliminary search to identify the keywords, employing a search strategy across electronic databases including Medline, Scopus, CINAHL, PsychInfo, Sociological abstracts and Google Scholar. The search encompassed the period from September 20, 2021, to September 30, 2021. This effort yielded 11 eligible studies. Our scoping review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR Checklist.ResultsAs various aspects of uncertainty in understanding of mental health have emerged, the results indicate the importance of establishing a shared language concerning mental health. This is essential for clarifying the distinctions between everyday challenges and issues that require treatment.ConclusionWe require a language that can direct children, parents, school personnel and professionals toward appropriate support and aid in formulating health interventions. Additionally, it holds significance to promote an understanding of the positive aspects of mental health. This emphasis should extend to the competence development of school personnel, enabling them to integrate insights about mental well-being into routine interactions with young individuals. This approach could empower children and youth to acquire the understanding that mental health is not a static condition but rather something that can be enhanced or, at the very least, maintained.

An Intersectional Approach to Understanding Beliefs and Attitudes Toward Mental Health Issues Among Muslim Immigrant Women in Canada

ABSTRACT Although addressing cultural and religious practices is important in providing mental health care, little research exists on understanding mental health issues of minority groups such as Muslim immigrant women. We employed an intersectional approach to examine beliefs and attitudes toward mental health issues among Muslim immigrant women in Canada. Four focus groups (21 participants) were conducted, and 101 surveys were collected in Ottawa, Canada. Three core themes emerged from thematic content analysis of focus group data that relate to participants’ communication about: 1) stressors, 2) mental health care seeking, and 3) utilizing coping strategies. The survey data were analyzed using independent samples t-test and One-Way ANOVA, the results of which supported the qualitative findings that social stigma was an important obstacle preventing those women from seeking professional mental health services. Muslim women with South and Southeast Asian cultural/ethnic backgrounds were more likely to get help from professionals than those with African cultural/ethnic backgrounds. No group differences were found in age, family income, and employment status. Broadly, the findings underscore the importance of developing knowledge about the intersections among gender, religion, cultural identity, immigration status, and social stigma that influence beliefs and attitudes toward mental health issues. Specifically, the findings point to the need for an intersectional approach that offers a more nuanced understanding for tailoring mental health care to Muslim immigrant women’s needs.

Applying the theory of planned behaviour to understand mental health professionals’ intentions to work using a human rights-based approach in acute inpatient settings

Background There has been a shift to implement human rights-based approaches in acute mental health care due to increasing concerns around quality of care. National Health Service (NHS) Trusts have a legal duty to uphold a person’s human rights, therefore it is important to understand what any barriers might be. Using psychological theory may help to develop this understanding. Aim To test whether the theory of planned behaviour can be an effective model in understanding mental health professionals’ intentions to work using a human rights-based approach. Method Participants were recruited from two NHS Trusts in the North West of England. A cross-sectional, survey design was used to examine mental health professionals’ intentions to use human rights-based approaches. Results Multiple regression analyses were performed on the theory of planned behaviour constructs showing that attitude and subjective norm significantly predicted intention. Perceived behavioural control did not add any significant variance, nor any demographic variables. Conclusion There could be factors outside of the individual clinician’s control to fully work within a human rights-based framework on acute mental health wards. The theory of planned behaviour offers some understanding, however further development work into measuring human rights outcomes on acute mental health wards is needed.

Navigators and Negotiators: An Ecologically Informed Qualitative Study of Providers’ Perspectives on Their Roles in School-Based Mental Health Services

School-based mental health services (SMHS) offer a unique opportunity to embed support within a key developmental context, yet little research has examined SMHS providers’ fit within schools’ complex ecologies. Using a social-ecological framework, this qualitative study draws on focus groups with 67 SMHS providers from two large mental health systems to examine how school setting characteristics and interactions with school actors influenced their experiences providing SMHS. Thematic analysis revealed the importance of feeling valued by and connected to school staff, which facilitated strong ongoing communication and more effective collaboration. Providers described a flexible approach to communication and collaboration, including leveraging opportunities for informal conversation (e.g., in hallways or classrooms) to overcome barriers and boost their perceived value and connectedness. Opportunities for communication and connectedness were enhanced when providers worked in fewer schools, held roles on interdisciplinary teams, spent time in common spaces, when school staff shared providers’ understanding of mental health and SMHS, and when school policies and structural features facilitated their inclusion. Providers also discussed the variety of factors, including their place in the school ecology, that informed student wellbeing (e.g., disciplinary versus supportive responses to challenging student behaviors). This study suggests potential mechanisms on individual, school, and district levels to strengthen SMHS providers’ value and connectedness within the school ecology, and the importance of these factors to maintain strong communication and collaboration and effectively support youth and families.

Black box algorithms in mental health apps: An ethical reflection.

Mental health apps bring unprecedented benefits and risks to individual and public health. A thorough evaluation of these apps involves considering two aspects that are often neglected: the algorithms they deploy and the functions they perform. We focus on mental health apps based on black box algorithms, explore their forms of opacity, discuss the implications derived from their opacity, and propose how to use their outcomes in mental healthcare, self-care practices, and research. We argue that there is a relevant distinction between functions performed by algorithms in mental health apps, and we focus on the functions of analysis and generation of advice. When performing analytic functions, such as identifying patterns and making predictions concerning people's emotions, thoughts, and behaviors, black box algorithms can be better than other algorithms to provide information to identify early signs of relapse, support diagnostic processes, and improve research by generating outcomes that lead to a better understanding of mental health. However, when carrying out the function of providing mental health advice, black box algorithms have the potential to deliver unforeseen advice that may harm users. We argue that the outcomes of these apps may be trustworthy as a complementary source of information, but express caution about black box algorithms that give advice directly to users. To reap the benefits of mental health apps based on black box algorithms and avoid unintended consequences, we critically need to know whether these algorithms are fulfilling the function of providing mental health advice.

Perceptions about positive mental health among university students from Southern India: An occupational perspective

Introduction: Positive mental health (PMH) is essential for a healthy and fulfilling life. Lack of it may lead to increased negative thoughts and the use of unhealthy coping mechanisms. This study aimed to explore university students’ perceptions of PMH from an occupational perspective. Method: Six online focus groups with participants recruited through purposive sampling were conducted among university students in southern India. A semi-structured interview guide facilitated the data collection. Thematic analysis was done for the transcribed data. Results: Two themes emerged from the data: “No health without mental health” and “action plan for mental health.” The findings reflected participants’ understanding of mental health and its relation to socio-emotional wellbeing, positive state of mind, and productivity. They described the use of various personal strategies including certain occupations for mental health promotion. Conclusion: The findings suggest that students were mindful of the significance of the presence or absence of PMH. They valued the role of daily habits and routines in maintaining PMH. Future intervention programs for PMH can be developed by integrating an occupational perspective.

Overview and understanding of mental health and psychosocial support in Afghanistan.

More than four decades of war in Afghanistan has been both a main driver for poor mental health, and a barrier to the development of crucial mental health services. A study conducted by BMC Psychiatry in 2021, across eight regions in Afghanistan, found staggering levels of depressive and anxiety disorders among the general population. Almost one-half of those interviewed (47.12%) reported having high levels of distress in the last month, and almost 40% (39.44%) reported experiencing impairment to their lives due to poor mental health. Yet, despite the common experiences of much of the population, mental health is a hugely stigmatized topic of discussion in Afghanistan, due to a myriad of cultural, religious, socioeconomic and environmental factors. And now, under the de-facto Taliban government, mental health has been deprioritized in the face of a crumbling economy and acute levels of poverty, all but forgotten. This paper sought to review the impact and change to mental health services under the de-facto government, and to provide the reader with greater awareness into the current situation in Afghanistan and equip them with insight into how to respond to the mental health needs of Afghans.

A systematic review of first-generation college students’ mental health

Objective: To synthesize peer-reviewed research on first-generation college students’ mental health. Methods: Systematic searches were conducted in 4 databases through 2022 to identify empirical, peer-reviewed, and published articles on first-generation college student anxiety, depression, stress and mental health. Results: Across 62 papers, first-generation college students appeared to experience heightened anxiety, depression and stress when academic activities and social relationships conflicted rather than aligned with interdependent norms. Importantly however, when these negative mental health outcomes were measured generally – without reference to a specific domain (i.e., academic or social) – nearly all papers found no significant differences between first- and continuing-generation students. Conclusions: The findings further emphasized the need for understanding mental health within specific contexts.

Traumatic Life Events and Association With Depression, Anxiety, and Somatization Symptoms in Female Refugees

Different types of traumatic life events have varying impacts on symptoms of depression, anxiety, and somatization. For women from areas of the world experiencing war and humanitarian crises, who have experienced cumulative trauma exposure during war and forced migration, it is not known whether cumulative trauma or particular events have the greatest impact on symptoms. To examine which traumatic life events are associated with depression, anxiety, and somatization symptoms, compared with the cumulative amount, in a sample of female refugees. For this cross-sectional study, data were collected in 2016 as a part of The Study on Female Refugees. The current analysis was conducted in 2022 to 2023. This multicenter study covered 5 provinces in Germany. Participants were recruited at reception centers for refugees. Women volunteered to participate and to be interviewed after information seminars at the different centers. Traumatic life events experienced by refugees from areas of the world experiencing war and humanitarian crises. Demographic variables (age, country of origin, religion, education, relationship status, and children), traumatic and adverse life events, and self-reported depression, anxiety, and somatization symptoms were measured. Random forest regressions simultaneously examined the importance of these variables on symptom scores. Follow-up exploratory mediation models tested potential associative pathways between the identified variables of importance. For the final sample of 620 refugee women (mean [SD] age, 32.34 [10.35] years), family violence was most associated with depression (mean [SD] variable of importance [VIM], 2.93 [0.09]), anxiety (mean [SD] VIM, 4.15 [0.11]), and somatization (mean [SD] VIM, 3.99 [0.15]), even though it was less common than other traumatic experiences, including war, accidents, hunger, or lack of housing. Other factors, such as childhood sexual abuse, injury, near-death experiences, and lack of access to health care, were also important. Follow-up analyses showed partial mediation effects between these factors in their association with symptoms, supporting the unique importance of family violence in understanding mental health. The findings of this cross-sectional study of refugee women who experienced multiple severe traumas related to war in their home countries and danger encountered during their migration suggest that family violence was key to their current mental health problems. Culturally sensitive assessment and treatment need to place special emphasis on these family dynamics.

The SOOTHE eQuilt of Mental Health and Wellbeing: Supporting Voice

ObjectivesPeople with intellectual disabilities are more vulnerable to and experience mental health concerns at a higher incidence than their peers without intellectual disabilities. This may be directly related to the aetiology of their intellectual disability but also occur because of negative psychological and social factors that affect their lives, such as loss of self-esteem or lack of meaningful opportunities. The SOOTHE project, sought to understand the meaning that adults with intellectual disabilities attribute to mental health and wellbeing, the factors influencing good and poor mental health, and the strategies they utilised to maintain good mental health and wellbeing. Using an online anonymous survey, participants were invited to electronically submit an image that represented their perspectives on what mental health and wellbeing meant to them.MethodsThis study, which took place in 2020 during the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic, employed an anonymous survey approach which resulted in individual images being received from 329 people with intellectual disabilities living in Spain, the Netherlands, and Ireland. These were analysed thematically and brought together in an electronic quilt/mosaic.ResultsImages were classified into seven potential themes: (1) Covid-19 and mental health; (2) maintaining good mental health; (3) activities that promote good mental health; (4) nature and mental health; (5) perspectives on self; (6) the importance of relationships; and (7) home and feeling safe.ConclusionsThis paper explores the possible meaning of the images and seeks alignment of those meanings with the rights and freedoms enshrined in the UNCRPD. The project supports the belief that persons with intellectual disabilities have an understanding of mental health and wellbeing and are able to identify ways of maintaining positive mental health.

The Associations Between Camouflaging, Autistic Traits, and Mental Health in Nonautistic Adults.

Camouflaging is frequently reported in autistic people and entails the disguising of autistic traits in social situations. Camouflaging is associated with poor mental health in autistic people. This study examined the manifestation of camouflaging in a nonautistic sample, examining the relationship between autistic traits, self-reported camouflaging, gender, and mental health. In total 110 nonautistic adults completed standardized self-report questionnaires that measured autistic traits, mental health symptoms, and camouflaging behaviors. Hierarchical multiple linear regression models were used to analyze data and examine the unique contributions of autistic traits and camouflaging to mental health. Self-reported autistic traits were associated with increased symptoms of poor mental health. However, autistic traits were not associated with mental health symptoms when controlling for self-reported camouflaging, and self-reported camouflaging predicted increased mental health symptoms over and above the effects of autistic traits. Women had poorer mental health than men in our sample, and in women there was a stronger relationship between camouflaging and mental health than in men. Camouflaging may contribute to poor mental health outcomes in the general population, just as it does for autistic people, to the extent that camouflaging more clearly relates to mental health profile than self-reported autism traits. This suggests camouflaging is an important construct for understanding mental health in general, and for exploring the complex relationship between autism and autistic traits.

Improving kidney care for people with severe mental health difficulties: a thematic analysis of twenty-two healthcare providers' perspectives.

People with severe mental health difficulties (SMHDs) and concurrent kidney disease have less access to quality kidney care and worse clinical outcomes. Our research investigates the barriers and facilitators to effective kidney care for people with SMHDs, and how care might be improved for this underserved population. We conducted semi-structured interviews with twenty-two physical (n = 14) and mental (n = 8) healthcare professionals with experience working with people with SMHDs and concurrent kidney disease. Interview data were analysed and interpreted using reflexive thematic analysis. Four themes were generated from the data: 1. "It's about understanding their limitations and challenges, without limiting their rights" describes how some people with SMHDs need additional support when accessing kidney care due to challenges with their mental state, motivation, cognitive difficulties, or mistrust of the healthcare system. 2. "There are people falling through the cracks" describes how the separation of physical and mental healthcare, combined with under-resourcing and understaffing, results in poorer outcomes for people with SMHDs. 3. "Psychiatry is a black spot in our continuing medical education" describes how many renal healthcare providers have limited confidence in their understanding of mental health and their ability to provide care for people with SMHDs. 4. "When they present to a busy emergency department with a problem, the staff tend to go '…psych patient"" describes how stigma towards people with SMHDs can negatively impact quality of care. Healthcare professionals accounts' describe how people with SMHDs and kidney disease can have favourable outcomes if they have appropriate hospital, community and social supports. Findings indicate that effective management of kidney disease for people with SMHDs requires integrated physical and mental health care, which takes an individualised "whole person" approach to addressing the interaction between kidney disease and mental health.