Mental Health Perspective Research Articles

Move, connect and go outside! A randomized controlled trial of two online interventions and analysis of helpful coping strategies in COVID-19 "homestayers".

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a global health crisis and a significant increase in psychological distress and psychopathological symptoms. We conducted a randomized controlled trial with two online interventions derived from positive psychology (PP) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) in N = 138 "homestayers" during the first lock-down period in Germany. PP exercises had a positive impact on anxiety scores, which decreased significantly during the intervention, particularly in participants without access to a garden. Direct or indirect social contact, movement/exercise, and exposure to nature were the most frequently reported helpful coping strategies. We conclude that low-threshold online interventions with a focus on positive aspects of people's lives may be helpful to support mental health during pandemic crises. From a mental health perspective, the results also reinforce the approach of countries that allow their citizens to, for example, still go for walks during periods of contact restrictions, compared to full lock-down conditions.

Lost in translation? Qualitative interviews with Australian psychedelic-assisted therapy trial clinicians.

Policy changes in Australia mean that psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) is now available to consumers outside of clinical trials. Yet, the regulatory frameworks guiding the practice of PAT are underdeveloped, and the evidence base for guiding clinical practice is diverse and emerging, resulting in anticipated challenges in translation to community practice. Mental health clinicians who have experience delivering PAT in clinical trials are likely to be at the forefront of community practice and training, and influential in discussions about implementation. Yet little is known of their perspectives, preferences, and practices associated with the implementation of PAT. Interviews with 11 clinicians working on clinical trials of PAT were thematically analysed. Four themes were identified, describing the therapeutic frames that interviewees used to understand PAT and shaped their views on its interface with the mental health system: (1) therapeutic eclecticism, (2) enhanced reflexivity for PAT providers, (3) legitimisation of extra-medical perspectives in mental health, and (4) what might be lost in translation? We argue that clinicians' perspectives on PAT are reflective of existing tensions between a medical model of mental health care and other psychosocial, relational models. Therapists' ideals for the delivery of PAT can be conceptualised as a sort of 'enhanced care' approach, but workforce development and economic constraints are likely to challenge the accessible and impactful translation of this vision.

Experiences of Young People in Ireland with the Mental Health of Youth Story (MYSTORY) Photovoice Study

ABSTRACT The Mental Health of Youth Story (MYSTORY) study is a community-university partnership study which involved photovoice and consultation with young people. The MYSTORY study aimed to: (1) better understand adolescents’ perspectives on youth and school mental health and suicide prevention, and (2) communicate insights to schools and the wider community. In this article, we explored adolescents’ experiences of engaging with the MYSTORY study. Reflexive thematic analysis supports the MYSTORY study as a youth-centered study, which involved reflection, discussion and sharing of mental health perspectives and experiences within the study and community contexts. Study engagement was associated with feelings of pride, accomplishment, and connection. This study makes a novel contribution to understanding adolescents’ engagement in photovoice research exploring youth and school mental health, from the perspective of adolescents. Findings are relevant to researchers in wider mental health fields and practitioners interested in mental health promotion and suicide prevention in applied settings.

Mental Health Attitudes and Perspectives of Arab Americans: Exploring Preferred Mental Health Resources, Perceived Barriers to Treatment, and Telemental Health

Mental Health Attitudes and Perspectives of Arab Americans: Exploring Preferred Mental Health Resources, Perceived Barriers to Treatment, and Telemental Health

Exercise and Schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia is a complex mental disorder that affects millions of people worldwide and has a profound impact on various aspects of life, including physical activity. The relationship between schizophrenia and physical activity is an area of growing interest in medical and health research from a physical, mental, and psychosocial health perspective. Physical activity and structured exercise have been identified as promising interventions to improve physical and psychological health outcomes of people living with schizophrenia. This chapter provides a brief overview that explores various aspects of the relationship between physical activity, exercise, and schizophrenia. The impact of schizophrenia on human movement is discussed, along with an overview of physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness levels in adults with schizophrenia. Additionally, the influence of exercise interventions on physical and psychological outcomes will be discussed, along with current physical activity recommendations for those living with schizophrenia.

Responding to the needs of survivors of intimate partner violence in Lithuania: perceptions of mental health and social care professionals

ABSTRACT Around eight-out-of-ten survivors of domestic violence in Lithuania are women, and of those, eight-out-of-ten suffer violence specifically from their intimate partners (IPV). Women who experience IPV are at higher risk of having mental health conditions. This study aims to explore the perspectives of mental health and social care professionals regarding the provision of mental health support to IPV survivors in Lithuania. Four focus groups were conducted among 29 service providers from across the country. Audio-recordings were transcribed verbatim and analyzed thematically using MAXQDA software. The five main themes derived from the analysis reveal: 1) low levels of IPV awareness among IPV survivors who seek support with their mental health; 2) a lack of specialized training among professionals as a barrier to effective support; 3) a low prioritization on the national level; 4) little inter-sectoral collaboration which undermines the complexity of needed responses; 5) broader systemic problems. The provision of mental health support to IPV survivors lacks the recognition that IPV is gender-based violence and a major public (mental) health problem. The complexity of needed services is absent. Further research needs to explore the utilization of mental health services by IPV survivors and their perceptions concerning it.

How does working time impact perceived mental disorders? New insights into the U-shaped relationship.

Based on a large-scale nationally representative survey in China, this paper uses the exogenous impact of automation on working hours as the instrumental variable to examine working time's impact on perceived mental disorders, on the basis of dealing with endogeneity. Different from existing literature, it is found that the impact of working time on perceived mental disorders is U-shaped, rather than linear. Mental disorders firstly decrease with working hours. After working more than 48.688 h per week, further increases in working time carry notable mental health costs, leading to a positive relationship between working hours and depression. The turning point of this U-shaped relationship is almost in line with the International Labor Organization's 48 working hours/week standard, justifying it from a mental health perspective. In addition, we further exclude the possibility of more complex nonlinear relationships between working time and perceived mental disorders. Furthermore, heterogeneities are found in the effects of working hours on mental disorders across different subgroups. Males are more depressed when working overtime. Older workers have a lower tolerance for overwork stress. The turning point is smaller for the highly educated group and they are more sensitive to working longer. Those with higher socioeconomic status are less depressed after exceeding the optimal hours of work. The increase in depression among rural workers faced with overwork is not prominent. Perceived mental disorders are lower among immigrants and those with higher health status. In addition, labor protection and social security help to weaken mental disorders caused by overtime work. In conclusion, this paper demonstrates that working time has a U-shaped impact on perceived mental disorders and highlights the vulnerability of certain groups, providing a reference for setting optimal working hours from a mental health perspective.

Editorial: International perspectives in public mental health

Editorial: International perspectives in public mental health

Sources contributing to engineering students' academic well‐being: An exploration using the Q methodology

AbstractBackgroundRecent literature has identified students' academic well‐being as an indicator of their persistence in their current study and competence development. While prior literature has focused on measuring students' academic well‐being from psychological and mental health perspectives, limited studies have explored the ways in which the learning environment provides diverse sources (e.g., supervision and peer support) to support students' academic well‐being.PurposeThis study aims to explore sources that foster students' academic well‐being from the perspective of two different student groups, namely first‐year engineering students and senior engineering students, in a PBL (project‐based learning) environment.MethodThe Q methodology was applied, connecting both qualitative and quantitative research characteristics. Two student groups, including 23 first‐year engineering students and 19 senior engineering students, participated in this study to illustrate various viewpoints of different student groups and offer prospects for analyzing data from a new comparative angle via second‐order factor analysis.ResultsIn the first‐year engineering student group, three viewpoints were identified, namely the emphasis on enjoyment through study–life balance, personal values and aspirations, and academic agency. The senior engineering student group focused on internal sources related to professional development, including two viewpoints pertaining to their goal‐oriented academic development and enactment of agency through self‐management. Practical suggestions are proposed to optimize engineering curriculum design to better support students' academic well‐being.

Unveiling Mental Health Perspectives: Nursing Students' Attitudes Towards Spirituality

Background: The correlation between spirituality and mental health has transmute a subject of growing significance and importance, particularly within the realms of educational institutions and healthcare facilities. Student nurses encounter difficulties in providing spiritual care to patients and consider it beyond their area of expertise on account of inadequate nursing education and training. The primary objective of this quantitative survey was to ascertain the perceptions and attitudes of nursing students towards spirituality, as well as their perspectives on its integration within their professional practice. Methodology: Eighty subjects were randomly included in the study. The subjects were between 17 to 24 years and belonged to all the four religions. They filled the Likert scale having items pertaining to their attitude towards spirituality. The data analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS version 20. Result: The mean attitude score was 3.71 ± 0.45. Most (69.3%) of the students responded “agree and strongly agree” to the items in the scale reflecting their favorable attitude towards spirituality. The religion significantly affected their attitude (p<0.05). A correlation was also observed between students' religious beliefs and their spiritual orientation. Conclusion: The present study conclude that the students possess a favorable attitude towards spirituality.

Young adults from disadvantaged groups experience more stress and deterioration in mental health associated with polycrisis.

The recent polycrisis (COVID-19, Ukraine war, climate change, economic crisis) has been associated with mental health through cumulative stress, with young people being particularly vulnerable. We surveyed 403 college students from Poland to examine their psychological responses to the experienced crises. The results showed that polycrisis was associated with worse mental health of college students from disadvantaged groups (based on gender, sexual orientation, and financial situation) compared to other college students, in four areas: sense of proximity to the crises, stress caused by the crises, sense of responsibility for mitigating the crises, and experiencing everyday moral dilemmas regarding the crises. These young adults also suffered more in terms of negative affectivity, depressive symptoms, and subjective physical and mental health. Our findings suggest that when discussing public mental health perspectives, it is important to consider consequences of cumulative stress and its greater impact on young people from disadvantaged groups.

Profiles of suicide attempted in children and adolescents

ObjectiveSuicide attempt (SA) is the strongest predictive variable for completed suicide. The Department of Cauca in Colombia has an SA rate higher than the national average, but the factors are unknown. The objective was to identify the profiles of SA in children and adolescents of Cauca. MethodsCross-sectional study, which included all SA (Event-356) records from the SIVIGILA platform in children under 18 years of age between 2016 and 2019. The authors described the variables and multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) with the Burt method, according to the completeness of the data to establish the possible SA profiles using STATA 15.1, and R. The Ethics Committee at Universidad del Cauca approved it. ResultsThe study found 977 SA during this period, 72.4% female, 97.1% adolescent, 74.4% mestizo, 19.3% indigenous, 45.3% resided in municipalities exposed to the armed conflict, 32.3% expressed ideation and previous attempts, and 15.5% prior attempts. The MCA included 810 SA and identified three profiles: “Classic”, which had mestizo adolescents with a history of prior SA, mental illness, or psychoactive substance use problems; “Related to the armed conflict”, which included female adolescents with a first SA and residents in municipalities exposed to the armed conflict; “Ethnic” represented by male indigenous, with housing in a rural area. ConclusionThe SA profiles found in Cauca were “Classic”, “Related to the armed conflict”, and “Ethnic”; these can be considered to implement prevention strategies from a cross-cultural, mental health, and gender perspective, with the presence of the state in the territories.

Gross-total resection in optic nerve sheath meningiomas: minimally invasive and cosmetic pleasing

PurposeThe optic nerve sheath meningioma (ONSM) is one of the most challenging tumors in orbital surgery. From the perspective of mental health and patient needs, we analyzed the necessity and importance of the endoscopic transnasal approach (ETA) combined with optic nerve transection (ONT) in gross-total resection (GTR) in ONSM patients with residual vision and aim to broaden the use of ONT for specific people.MethodsThe authors included patients with ONSMs who were treated between 2014 and 2022. We divided those cases into two groups named ETA group and lateral orbitotomy approach (LOA) group. We present the application of ETA and analyze the preoperative indication of the ONT and compared the advantages and disadvantages between ETA and LOA. The degree of tumor resection was based on imaging and surgical evaluation.ResultsA total of 23 patients with ONSM were included. Sixteen patients underwent ETA, and seven underwent LOA. Among ETA cases, GTR was achieved in 14 patients with ONT and most patients maintained normal eye movement function (75%) and morphology (93.75%). In the ETA group, 14 patients experienced vision loss, while two other patients saw improvements in vision. And proptosis was alleviated (5.20 ± 2.34 vs 0.27 ± 0.46, p < 0.0001). Six patients with blindness and proptosis of the LOA group resulted in GTR with ONT and ophthalmectomy. Although intracranial extension and recurrence included no cases in the two groups, a significant psychological gap was presented due to cosmetic problems.ConclusionsUnder the premise of reducing damage and improving aesthetics, the selection of ETA combined with ONT to gross-total resect ONSMs successfully provides a minimally invasive access with acceptable complications. As an important adjunct to GTR in the surgical treatment of ONSM, the scope of ONT application should be expanded to relieve the patient’s psychological burden.

Discussing the Subjective Well-Being of Hospital Volunteers from a Mental Health Perspective with Health Care System Sustainability during the COVID-19 Pandemic

This study explored the subjective well-being of hospital volunteers during the COVID-19 pandemic from a mental health perspective using a health care system sustainability perspective, and adopted the purposive sampling method to conduct a questionnaire survey. A total of 520 questionnaires were distributed, and 500 questionnaires were recovered, with a recovery rate of 96.1%. Of the recovered questionnaires, 43 invalid questionnaires were eliminated, and 457 valid questionnaires were collected, for a valid recovery rate of 91.4%. The data analysis method explored the variable path analysis through descriptive analysis and structural equation modeling. In addition, new data analysis methods have been added to explore the variable path analysis, such as descriptive analysis, discriminant validity, mediation effects, and structural equation modeling. The results show that: (1) the work resources of the hospital volunteers exerted a significant impact on their subjective well-being; (2) the work resources of the hospital volunteers exerted no significant impact on their flow experience; (3) the work resources of the hospital volunteers exerted a significant impact on their leisure involvement; (4) the leisure involvement of the hospital volunteers exerted no significant impact on their subjective well-being; (5) the leisure involvement of the hospital volunteers exerted a significant impact on their flow experience; (6) the flow experience of the hospital volunteers exerted no significant impact on their subjective well-being; and (7) the leisure involvement of the hospital volunteers exerted a mediating effect between work resources and flow experience.

“It’s always an admixture of so many identities”: Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Indigenous Kalasha Cultural Identity

This case study examined how an Indigenous Kalasha participant in northern Pakistan makes sense of his multi-faceted identity. The interpretative phenomenological analysis method was used to analyze data from an in-depth, single person case study. Our selected participant was a 36-year-old male postgraduate student from an Indigenous marginalized tribe, which is an ethnic and religious minority group in the northern Hindukush mountain region of Pakistan. Results are presented in four superordinate themes: (1) Identity: admixture of a number of identities, (2) Changing culture and its psychological impact, (3) Cultural protective factors against psychological problems and (4) Mental health perspective. The findings explained the construct of “identity” in an indigenous way that takes varying forms ranging from admixture of identities (ethnic and national identities) to how globalization, transition, and adaptation processes have been disrupting the practice of Kalasha cultural traditions. The findings also revealed the factors deeply enrooted in Kalasha culture and traditions that have helped people maintain their psychological resilience and buffered against psychological problems. This paper is presented as an appropriate method for advancing psychological understanding of “cultural identity” and exploring the connections between the two constructs of “mental health” and “identity.”

Criss-crossings of Psychological Practice in Adoption Processes

Psychologists have acquired an increasingly significant role in the field of child protection in Argentina. Particularly in regard to their participation in the adoption system, psychological reports and interventions have taken great prominence when an exceptional protection measure of family separation is decided or when the adoptability status of a child is under consideration, among other instances. The increasing incidence of intervention by psychologists makes it necessary to analyse the factors that infuse the practices conditioning professional criteria. From a mental health perspective, it is necessary for professionals in the area to be able to provide a reading of the subjective aspects at stake. Based on this, we reflect on the importance of articulating both the children’s rights field and the field of the individual subject involved in each case. This article presents some results of PhD field research conducted in Buenos Aires, Argentina, by analysing qualitative interviews and the retrieval of information from legal files collected from a Civil Court and from several institutions related to the adoption system. It examines various institutional and discursive criss-crossings that affect the work and the viewpoint of psychologists in this area of their activity. Keywords: adoption; ethics; institutions; psychology; subjectivity.

Women drug-users in outpatient treatment: a qualitative study from a gender and community mental health perspective

Women drug-users face significant challenges in accessing and adhering to outpatient treatment. However, this issue has been underexplored. The study aims to understand the experiences of a group of women undergoing drug use treatment. Between March and December 2021, a qualitative phenomenological interpretative study was carried out through semi-structured interviews with 16 women attending a drug-dependence care center in Catalonia, Spain. Data were processed through content analysis. The results indicate that, despite perceiving a positive impact of the treatment, women experience vulnerabilities related to stigmatization, lack of social support, and insufficient coverage of specific needs, impacting therapeutic follow-up. The findings emphasize the need to enhance resources for specialized care and promote a social support network where women drug-users actively participate.

A Comparative Review of UNCRC and Indian Legislation from the Child Mental Health Perspective.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is the most comprehensive set of standards promoting and protecting children's interests. It can be utilized to create appropriate policies and legislation that enshrine the values identified in the UNCRC. In India, children have been considered only in the context of their family and were welfare recipients in the past, but more legislation has been enacted to protect and promote the child's rights. A comparative review will help identify how the new legislation enacted after India ratified the UNCRC directly or indirectly addressed children's mental health. Legislation enacted after 1992 with the search term "child" was identified in the Indian national portal for legislation. These were compared against specific articles of the UNCRC identified to have a direct or indirect bearing on children's mental health. The review revealed that only 11 of the 32 legislation enacted after 1992 address different aspects of children's mental health. Only three refer to the UNCRC in their preamble or content. Six of the 11 legislation addressed Article 24, while Article 32 and Article 34 were addressed in only one legislation each. Notably, most of the legislation is focused on child protection, while very few address the participation component of the guiding principles. The UNCRC is a valuable guide to creating a legal framework to support child rights. This review highlights the need to consider children's mental health as a fundamental right and incorporate the principles into future Indian legislation.

Feasibility of Recovery Assessment Scale - Domains and Stages (RAS-DS) for everyday mental health practice.

Routine use of self-rated measures of mental health recovery can support recovery-oriented practice. However, to be widely adopted, outcome measures must be feasible. This study examined the feasibility of Recovery Assessment Scale - Domains and Stages (RAS-DS) from the perspectives of mental health workers. Mental health workers who had previously sought permission to use RAS-DS (n=58) completed an online survey that explored three aspects of feasibility: practicality, acceptability and applicability. The highest-rated feasibility items related to applicability, or usefulness in practice, with over 90% of participants reporting that RAS-DS helps "promote discussion" and covers areas that are "meaningful to consumers". Acceptability items indicated that the purpose of RAS-DS is clear but length was an issue for some participants. At a practical level, RAS-DS was seen as easy to access but training was seen by many as necessary to ensure optimal use. Results suggest potential usefulness of RAS-DS as a routine outcome measure and identify aspects that can be addressed to further enhance feasibility including provision of training materials and opportunities, wide-reaching promotion of its use as a collaborative tool, and further investigation of issues around instrument length.

A Brief Analysis of the Role of Architectural Aesthetics in Chinese Architectural Education from the Perspective of Mental Health

With the progress of the times, Chinese education must enable students to understand that architecture is not only a tool for life, but also an artistic creation. Architectural aesthetics also involves historical, cultural, and social factors, as well as psychological health. To cultivate architects with good artistic cultivation, it is necessary to increase education in art, aesthetics, psychology, and humanities such as traditional architectural theory, Chinese traditional philosophy, Chinese and Western architectural aesthetics, aesthetic principles, Chinese and foreign art history, mental health, architectural geomantic omen, literature, calligraphy and painting appreciation, sculpture, photography, etc. In recent years, some art colleges in China, such as the Central Academy of Fine Arts and the Academy of Fine Arts of Shanghai University, have successively introduced the subject of architecture, which is a great experiment and makes up for the shortcomings of traditional engineering and architecture colleges that focus on technology and light art. In terms of architecture education, it is necessary to cultivate students' creative thinking and enhance their artistic cultivation, and closely unite architectural aesthetics with mental health. In this regard, we are continuously discussing teaching methods, summing up teaching experience, and introducing new ideas to keep pace with the times.