Prevalence Of Mental Distress Research Articles

Mental distress and associated factors among undergraduate students: evidence from a cross-sectional study at the University of Dodoma, Tanzania

Mental distress is a common health problem facing university students worldwide. It manifests with varying levels of depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms such as headache, backache, sleeping problems, and fatigue. University students are a high-risk group for mental distress than the general population. This study aimed to assess knowledge, the prevalence of mental distress, and its associated factors among undergraduate students. A cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate students at the University of Dodoma in Tanzania. Data were collected using pre-tested and self-administered questionnaires. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with mental distress. A total of 224 undergraduate students gave a complete response, of which the majority were aware of the common symptoms of mental distress. Self-reported mental distress experience was reported among 116/224 (51.8%) students. Multivariable logistic analysis showed that only alcohol consumption (aPR = 1.61, 95% CI 1.22–2.11, p = 0.001) was independently associated with mental distress among students. The findings of this study revealed that undergraduate students had adequate knowledge of the symptoms of mental distress. Our results show that the prevalence of self-reported mental distress was moderately high among undergraduate students. Furthermore, the study indicates a significant association between alcohol consumption and self-reported mental distress among these students. These results suggest that interventions aimed at reducing alcohol consumption may be beneficial in mitigating mental health issues among undergraduate students in Tanzania.

The Prevalence of Mental Distress and Social Support Among University Students in UAE: A Cross-Sectional Study

The Prevalence of Mental Distress and Social Support Among University Students in UAE: A Cross-Sectional Study

The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 8: investigating its cutoff scores in relevance to loneliness and burnout among dementia family caregivers

The global trend of advanced aging comes at the cost of amplified onset of age-related diseases. Dementia is a common multifactorial age-related neurodegenerative disorder, which manifests with progressive declines in cognitive functioning and ability to perform activities of daily living. As polices discourage institutionalized care, family members act as primary caregivers and endure increased vulnerability to physical and mental health problems secondary to care-related changes in life routine and relationships. Targeting clinically significant distress at earlier stages through valid brief measures may promote caregivers’ wellbeing and dementia care continuity/quality. This study aimed to determine the optimal cutoff score of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 8-items (DASS-8) in a convenience sample of 571 European caregivers (Mean age = 53 ± 12 years, Italian = 74.4%, Swiss = 25.6%) through three methods. K-means clustering classified the sample into high- and low-distress clusters based on DASS-8 score of 19. Receiver operator curve (ROC) analysis using 48 and 7 cutoffs of the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) and the Three-Item University of California, Los Angeles, Loneliness Scale-version 3 (UCLALS3), revealed two DASS-8 cutoffs (12.5 and 14.5, area under the curve (AUC) = 0.85 and 0.92, p values < .001, 95% CI 0.82–0.88 and 0.89 to 0.94, sensitivity = 0.81 and 0.78, specificity = 0.76 and 0.89, Youden index = 0.57 and 0.67, respectively). Decision modeling produced two DASS-8 cutoffs (9.5 and 14.5) for predicting low and high caregiving burden and loneliness, respectively. According to the median of all DASS-8 cutoffs (14.5) the prevalence of mental distress was 50.8%. Distress correlated with key mental problems such as burnout and loneliness—in path analysis, DASS-8 scores were predicted by the ZBI, UCLALS3, care dependency, and receiving help with care, especially among older, female, and spouse caregivers. Further diagnostic workup should follow to confirm psycho-pathogenicity among caregivers with DASS-8 scores above 14.5. Investigations of the DASS-8 in other countries/populations may confirm the validity of this cutoff score.

Trajectories of Mental Distress Among US Women by Sexual Orientation and Racialized Group During the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objectives. To describe longitudinal trends in the prevalence of mental distress across the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic (April 2020‒April 2021) among US women at the intersection of sexual orientation and racialized group. Methods. Participants included 49 805 cisgender women and female-identified people from the COVID-19 Sub-Study, a cohort of US adults embedded within the Nurses' Health Studies 2 and 3 and the Growing Up Today Study. We fit generalized estimating equation Poisson models to estimate trends in depressive and anxiety symptoms by sexual orientation (gay or lesbian, bisexual, mostly heterosexual, completely heterosexual); subsequent models explored further differences by racialized group (Asian, Black, Latine, White, other or unlisted). Results. Relative to completely heterosexual peers, gay or lesbian, bisexual, and mostly heterosexual women had a higher prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms at each study wave and experienced widening inequities over time. Inequities were largest for sexual minority women of color, although confidence intervals were wide. Conclusions. The COVID-19 pandemic may have exacerbated already-glaring mental health inequities affecting sexual minority women, especially those belonging to marginalized racialized groups. Future research should investigate structural drivers of these patterns to inform policy-oriented interventions. (Am J Public Health. 2024;114(5):511-522. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307601).

Salud mental de profesionales de la salud durante la pandemiade COVID-19: Estudio en comunidades virtuales

Objective: to assess health professionals’ mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methodology: a cross-sectional study conducted with 112 health professionals participatingin two virtual communities aimed at health workers. The Self-Report Questionnaire instrumentwas used. Association and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. Results:the mean age was 35.15 years old, with most of the respondents being female, without a partner,and living in the Brazilian Northeast region. The prevalence of mental distress was 33%. In theinferential analyses, mental distress presented associations with age, with each one-year-oldincrease in age related to a reduction of nearly 8% in the chances of manifesting mental distress.Conclusion: there are indicators of mental distress and an association with age, evidenced amonghealth professionals, which shows the need for strategies that serve as protective resources andpromoters of mental health for this work group.

Prevalence of Mental Distress and Its Predictors Among Adult Women Attending Court After Experiencing Gender‐Based Violence: A Cross‐Sectional Study

Background: Despite being a universal problem, violence against women is the least acknowledged category of human rights violations worldwide. Long‐term mental health conditions such as anxiety, sadness, and posttraumatic stress disorders are associated with violence against women and girls. Despite its magnitude, severity, and negative consequences, studies on the prevalence of mental distress and associated factors among women who experienced gender‐based violence (GBV) are limited in Ethiopia.Objective: To assess the prevalence of mental distress and associated factors among women who experienced GBV and attended courts in the Hadiya Zone, Central Ethiopia, from July to September 2023.Methods: A cross‐sectional study was conducted among 426 adult women who experienced GBV and attended the courts. A simple random sampling technique was used to select the study subjects. The collected data were entered into EpiData Version 4.6 and then exported to SPSS Version 26 for analysis. A logistic regression model was used to identify independent factors of mental distress. The strength of the associations is presented as odds ratios with 95% CIs, and the results are reported as significant at p values &lt; 0.05.Results: A total of 420 participants were enrolled for a 99.5% response rate. The prevalence of mental distress was 52.6% (95% CI: 49.65–58.85). Mental distress was associated with rural residence (AOR: 2.753; 95%CI = 1.749, 4.332), being concerned about food insecurity (AOR = 2.808; 95%CI = 1.344, 5.864), having a family history of mental illness (AOR = 2.647; 95%CI = 1.488, 4.708), having a husband ever khat use (AOR = 1.918; 95%CI = 1.192, 3.085), and having a husband who married another wife (AOR = 2.209; 95%CI = 1.199, 4.072).Conclusion: The prevalence of mental distress among women who experienced GBV and attended the courts of the Hadiya Zone was high. Place of residence, concern about food insecurity, family history of mental illness, ever khat use, and having a husband who marries another wife were found to have statistically significant associations with mental distress among women who experienced GBV and attended the courts of the Hadiya Zone. Women need to be assessed regularly for GBV during health care visits. Regular counseling, facilitating, and adhering to different GBV coping mechanisms during the waiting time is imperative to overcome this problem.

Student perspectives on their digital footprint in virtual learning environments

The prevalence of mental distress among young adults, including those at university, has increased. In this context, learning analytics, students’ digital trace data, are increasingly being used to understand student mental health. In line with calls for more research on learning analytics from student perspectives, as part of a broader focus group study, 44 undergraduate students from three United Kingdom universities were invited to consider how they felt about having a digital footprint on their virtual learning environment (VLE). Two main themes were constructed using reflexive thematic analysis. First, students’ responses depended on the perceived threat to their privacy and identity. Some students were indifferent if no threat was perceived, but expressed unease if there was. Second, some students expressed personal preference for autonomy over use of their VLE data. Two uses identified were for non-judgmental personalized support, and using aggregated data to improve student learning. These themes suggest how the use of educational digital data can, under some circumstances, impact wellbeing negatively. The students’ perspectives garnered from the focus groups could have implications for policy and practice concerning privacy and surveillance, the possibility for misuse or misinterpretation of data, and informed consent. This small study supports the importance of partnering with students to develop and implement guidance for how VLE learning analytics data are used and interpreted by students and staff, including lecturers, to protect and enhance student mental wellbeing.

Untangling the association between COVID-19 health literacy, trust in the pandemic response, and mental distress, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ireland: a repeated cross-sectional study

BackgroundThe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on rates of mental distress is well described. However, the contribution of poor health literacy and low levels of trust in state institutions to mental distress is less well defined. This study aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 health literacy and trust in the pandemic response (Trust) on mental distress during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ireland. MethodsWe did this nationally representative cross-sectional survey of adult Irish residents during three study periods: from May 26 to June 17, 2020 (n=947); from July 1 to July 23, 2020 (n=995); and from Sept 5 to Sept 28, 2020 (n=972). Participants were contacted using random-digit-dialling and interviewed by a professional market research organisation (Ipsos MRBI’ about 80% via mobile phone, 20% via landline). Mental distress was assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire Anxiety Depression Scale (PHQ-ADS), for which a score of 10 or higher indicated mental distress. Heath literacy and trust were each assessed with three questions, which defined three categories: low, moderate, and high (appendix). Descriptive analysis and multivariate (MVA) Poisson regression were conducted in STATA17, Incidence Rate Ratios (IRR) are reported. Findings2914 participants completed the survey across three study periods (median age 46 years, 1510 [51·8%] women, 1401 [48·1%] men, three [0·1%] non-binary). 804 (27·6%) of 2914 participants experienced mental distress (n=804). More women experienced mental distress than men (508 [34%] of women vs 294 [21%] of men). Mental distress was inversely associated with age (from 43% in those aged <30 years [n=232/539] to 19% in those aged >70 years [n=66/349]). Most participants had high health literacy (n=2,530, 86·8%). While health literacy was positively and significantly associated with trust, it was not associated with mental distress and it was therefore excluded from the MVA. Level of trust was captured for 2693 adults; 42·2% participants reported low trust (n=457) or moderate trust (n=679). The prevalence of mental distress was inversely associated with trust; increasing from 24% in those with high trust (n=374/1557), 30% in those with moderate trust (n=202/679), to 36% in those with low trust (n=166/457). In MVA higher rates of mental distress were associated with low trust (IRR 1·45, 95% CI 1·20–1·75; p=0·000) and moderate trust (IRR 1·24, 1·04–1·47, p=0·016) compared with high trust when adjusted for age, sex, employment status, and income,. InterpretationIn Ireland, low levels of trust in the COVID-19 pandemic response were associated with higher levels of mental distress. Although poor health literacy was associated with low levels of trust, it was not independently associated with mental distress. Inference on the nature and direction of causal effects must be cautious given the cross-sectional study design. FundingHealth Research Board.

Prevalence of mental distress and factors associated with symptoms of major depression among people living with HIV in Norway

ABSTRACT For people living with HIV (PLHIV) who can access lifesaving treatment, HIV has become a chronic lifelong condition; however, PLHIV have more mental and somatic comorbidities than their HIV-negative peers. In this cross-sectional study, we assessed the prevalence of mental distress and identified factors associated with major depression among 244 well-treated PLHIV residing in Norway. Participants completed validated questionnaires covering mental and somatic health. The prevalence of mental distress, defined as a score on the Hopkins Symptom Check List-25 >1.75, was 32%, and that of symptoms of major depression, defined as a score on the Beck Depression Inventory-II ≥20, was 15%. The factors associated with major depressive symptoms identified using logistic regression were risk of drug abuse (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 15.1, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.28, 69.3), fatigue (AOR 12.5, 95% CI 3.90, 40.0), trouble sleeping (AOR 7.90, 95% CI 2.85, 21.9), African origin (AOR 3.90, 95% CI 1.28, 11.9), low education (AOR 3.31, 95% CI 1.18, 9.30), and non-disclosure (AOR 3.22, 95% CI 1.04, 10.0). Our findings indicate that the prevalence rates of mental distress and major depressive symptoms are higher among well-treated PLHIV residing in Norway than in the general population. These conditions are under-diagnosed and under-treated, and increased awareness is needed.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health of general population: A comparison study between rural and urban population

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted the mental health of the population globally with the increase in cases of depression, suicide, and self-harm. According to the World Health Organization, there has been an increase of 28% and 26% in major depressive disorders and anxiety, respectively, during 1 year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Only a few studies had been conducted in India assessing mental health, especially the post hoc effect of a pandemic. Therefore, the current study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress in rural against urban populations as well as the contributing factors viz age, gender, socioeconomic class, change in occupation, and income. Materials and Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2021 to February 2022 among participants residing in the area covered by the Urban Health Training Centre (Ajmera, Pimpri, Pune) and Rural Health Training Centre (Alandi, Pune) of a medical college in Pune. One hundred fifty-four participants (total of 308) above 18 years of age who were not diagnosed or under treatment for psychiatric illness were interviewed using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale - 21 (DASS-21) to screen for anxiety, depression, and stress in each setting. Results: Overall prevalence of mental distress was 35.71% (n = 110). In the rural area, it was 29.2% (n = 45) as compared to 42.2% (n = 65). in the urban category. The prevalence of depression was significantly higher in urban areas (33.1%) compared to rural areas (19.4%), with an overall prevalence of 26.3%. The net prevalence of anxiety and stress was 35.7% and 15.6%, respectively, which were also higher in urban areas (Anxiety OR = 1.769, P = 0.018*; Stress OR = 2.262, P = 0.013). The upper middle class had the least psychological problems. Overall, 11% of participants had lost their jobs; 48.75% in rural and 37% of urban participants had a decrease in their income. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an increased burden of mental illness. The prevalence of mental health problems is alarmingly high, especially in urban communities. To combat the global mental health pandemic, the interventions that mediate psychological distress must be quickly implemented. Due importance should be given to mental healthcare in the community.

Mental distress during the COVID-19 Infodemic in Ireland, a prospective national survey over time

Abstract Background The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared an ‘infodemic’ in 2020, that resulted in distrust in health authorities and impacted public mental health promoting confusion, worry, and fear. The aim of this study is to identify indicators associated with mental distress during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ireland. Methods A nationally representative cross-sectional telephone survey conducted data collection during 3 study periods: May, July, September 2020. Mental health outcomes were assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire Anxiety Depression Scale (PHQ-ADS), mental distress defined as a score of 10 or more. Analysis included descriptive and logistic regression. Results Of the 2,914 participants, 27.6% experienced mental distress during 2020(n = 804). The prevalence of mental distress did not significantly change over time, from 28% in May2020 to 25.3% in Sept2020. Women were significantly more likely to experience mental distress than men; 34% compared to 21% (OR:1.91;95%CI:1.62-2.26). Mental distress was highest in the youngest age groups (43% in &amp;lt; 30years,OR:3.24;95%CI:2.36-4.45), with a significant decreasing trend with increasing age. Mental distress was associated with trust in the pandemic response, those with the lowest levels of trust had the highest levels of mental distress at 37% (OR:1.84;95%CI:1.26-2.68), with a significant decreasing trend with increasing trust. During May2020, those experiencing mental distress were significantly less likely to seek healthcare when required, 41% compared to 21% (OR:2.59;95%CI:1.94-3.46). Education, employment and household income were also studied. Conclusions This study identified indicators associated with mental distress, such as trust and healthcare avoidance, which can inform future emergency management policy. The WHO recommends promoting the understanding of risk to mitigate harm to the public's mental and physical health, which could increase public trust and reduce mental distress. Key messages • The COVID-19 ‘infodemic’ impacted the public's mental health, with 27.6% of the study experiencing mental distress. • Mental distress is associated with trust and healthcare avoidance which can inform future management strategies.

Prevalence of common mental disorders among medical students in China: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The prevalence of mental distress is common for medical students in China due to factors such as the long duration of schooling, stressful doctor-patient relationship, numerous patient population, and limited medical resources. However, previous studies have failed to provide a comprehensive prevalence of these mental disorders in this population. This meta-analysis aimed to estimate the prevalence of common mental disorders (CMDs), including depression, anxiety, and suicidal behaviors, among medical students in China. We conducted a systematic search for empirical studies on the prevalence of depression, anxiety, suicide attempt, suicide ideation, and suicide plan in Chinese medical students published from January 2000 to December 2020. All data were collected pre-COVID-19. The prevalence and heterogeneity estimations were computed by using a random-effects model and univariate meta-regression analyses. A total of 197 studies conducted in 23 provinces in China were included in the final meta-analysis. The prevalence data of depression, anxiety, suicide attempt, suicide ideation, and suicide plan were extracted from 129, 80, 21, 53, and 14 studies, respectively. The overall pooled crude prevalence for depression was 29% [38,309/132,343; 95% confidence interval (CI): 26%-32%]; anxiety, 18% (19,479/105,397; 95% CI: 15%-20%); suicide ideation, 13% (15,546/119,069; 95% CI: 11%-15%); suicide attempt, 3% (1,730/69,786; 95% CI: 1%-4%); and suicide plan, 4% (1,188/27,025; 95% CI: 3%-6%). This meta-analysis demonstrated the high prevalence of CMDs among Chinese medical students. Further research is needed to identify targeted strategies to improve the mental health of this population.

Humanistic care relieves mental distress of inpatients in the shelter hospital during COVID-19 pandemic in Shanghai: a cross-sectional observational study.

The prevalence of mental distress has been noted in shelter hospitals set up for COVID-19. Potential risk demographic and hospitalization factors were screened. We also aimed to determine whether humanistic care established in the shelter hospital was effective in ameliorating mental distress. A cross-sectional observational survey-based single-centered study was conducted from 28th April to 5th May 2022 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Shanghai. Asymptomatic adult inpatients and those with mild symptoms were recruited for this study, and humanistic care measures were carried out by the administrative office according to the Work Program on Psychological Assistance and Social Work Services at the Shelter Hospital launched on 5th March 2020. Symptoms of mental distress, such as reported stress, anxiety, depression, and insomnia were measured using the Chinese Stress Response Questionnaire-28, the Chinese version of Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and Insomnia Severity Index-7, respectively. In total, 1,246 out of 9,519 inpatients, including 565 (45.35%) women and 681 (54.65%) men, with a median age of 36 years responded to the survey. The overall prevalence of stress, anxiety, depression, and insomnia in inpatients was 94 (7.54%), 109 (8.75%), 141 (11.32%), and 144 (11.56%), respectively. Mental distress was aggravated by COVID-19-related symptoms, comorbidities, and prolonged hospital stays. A stable internet connection was the most effective measure to reduce stress and depression. Offering inpatient with study or work facilitations, and mental health education help to ameliorate anxiety and depression. Organizing volunteering was a potential protective factor against stress. Humanistic care is crucial and effective for protecting against mental distress, which should be emphasized in shelter hospitals.

Psychological well-being, mental distress, metabolic syndrome, and associated factors among people living in a refugee camp in Greece: a cross-sectional study.

Forcibly displaced people face various challenges and are therefore at higher risk of being affected by mental and physiological distress. The present study aimed to determine levels of psychological well-being, PTSD symptom severity, metabolic syndrome, and associated factors among forcibly displaced people in Greece in response to WHO's call for evidence-based public health policies and programs for forcibly displaced people. We conducted a cross-sectional study among n = 150 (50% women) forcibly displaced people originating from Sub-Sahara Africa and Southwest Asia living in a Greek refugee camp. Self-report questionnaires were used to assess psychological well-being, symptoms of PTSD, depression, generalized anxiety disorder and insomnia, perceived stress, headache, and perceived fitness. Cardiovascular risk markers were assessed to determine metabolic syndrome, and cardiorespiratory fitness was measured with the Åstrand-Rhyming Test of Maximal Oxygen Uptake. The prevalence of mental distress and physiological disorders was overall elevated. Only 53.0% of participants rated their psychological well-being as high. Altogether, 35.3% scored above the clinical cut-off for PTSD, 33.3% for depression, 27.9% for generalized anxiety disorder, and 33.8% for insomnia. One in four (28.8%) participants met criteria for metabolic syndrome. While the prevalence of moderate or severe insomnia symptoms and metabolic syndrome differed little from the global population, the risk of being affected by mental distress was markedly increased. In multivariable analysis, higher perceived fitness was associated with higher psychological well-being (OR = 1.35, p = 0.003) and a decreased likelihood for metabolic syndrome (OR = 0.80, p = 0.031). Participants with elevated psychiatric symptoms were less likely to report high psychological well-being (OR = 0.22, p = 0.003) and had increased odds for higher PTSD severity (OR = 3.27, p = 0.034). Increased stress perception was associated with higher PTSD symptoms (OR = 1.13, p = 0.002). There is an elevated risk for mental distress compared to the global population and an overall high mental and physiological burden among people living in a Greek refugee camp. The findings underpin the call for urgent action. Policies should aim to reduce post-migration stressors and address mental health and non-communicable diseases by various programs. Sport and exercise interventions may be a favorable add-on, given that perceived fitness is associated with both mental and physiological health benefits.

ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH IN RURAL AREA IN DESA BATUR, PROBOLINGGO, INDONESIA

Background: Mental health issues in adolescence is on the rise influenced by physical and psychosocial growth. They need information and supportive environments to maintain their mental health. However, the mental healthcare needs are not met in some rural areas across country.&#x0D; Objective: Describe the mental health of adolescent in rural area in Desa Batur, Probolinggo.&#x0D; Methods: The design of this study was descriptive research with The Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20) to assess mental health of 30 students in MTS Khoiriyah, Dusun Krajan, Desa Batur, Probolinggo.&#x0D; Results: The prevalence of mental distress was 27% of sample, based on cut-off point.&#x0D; Conclusion: Promotion and prevention of mental health in adolescence would strengthen their ability to manage the stressor on their life.

Gender differences in the prevalence of mental distress in East and West Germany over time: a hierarchical age-period-cohort analysis, 2006–2021

PurposeMental distress has become a major public health concern. Temporal trends in psychological distress are complex and depend on numerous factors. In this study, we examined age-period-cohort effects for mental distress including gender and German region over a 15 years’ time span.MethodsData on mental distress from ten cross-sectional surveys of the general German population, covering the years from 2006 to 2021, was used. Hierarchical age-period-cohort analyses including gender and German region as predictors were performed to disentangle age, period, and cohort effects. The Patient Health Questionnaire-4 was used as a brief screener for mental distress.ResultsWe found significant period and cohort effects, with peek values for mental distress in the years 2017 and 2020 and for the oldest birth cohort (born before 1946). Age did not affect mental distress when cohort- and period effects as well as gender and German region were considered. An interaction effect for gender and the German region was found. Women in West Germany reported significantly higher mental distress compared to women in East Germany. Compared to men, women reported the highest prevalence in both regions.ConclusionImportant political events as well as major crises can lead to an increase of mental distress in societies. Furthermore, an association between birth cohort and mental distress could be linked to socialization effects of that certain time, causing traumatic experiences or a specific coping style within this cohort group. Prevention and intervention strategies could benefit from acknowledging structural differences linked to period and cohort effects.

AN EXPLORATORY STUDY OF THE SUITABILITY OF HELP-SEEKING, CULTURE AND STIGMA MEASUREMENT AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

There is a rise in the incidence and prevalence of mental distress among university students. However, the rate of mental health service utilisation is low. As psychological help-seeking attitude is a strong predictor for seeking psychological treatment, it is important to validate feasible and psychometrically sound instruments in the Malaysian context. This pilot study aimed to investigate the reliability and validity of six scales measuring the moderating role of culture on the effect of stigma in psychological help-seeking attitudes among university students. An online questionnaire, consisting of 83 items and 6 scales namely, the Portrait Value Questionnaire (PVQ-21), Loss of Face Scale (LOF), Individualism versus Collectivism Scale (INDCOL), Perceptions of Stigmatisation by Others for Seeking Psychological Help Scale (PSOSH), Self-Stigma of Seeking Help (SSOSH), and The Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Scale (ATSPPHS-SF) is distributed to a convenience sample of 61 samples from International Islamic University Malaysia. The results of this pilot study indicated that the overall reliability of the questionnaire was Cronbach’s Alpha 0.90. The Cronbach Alpha value for the total of all measures was found to be highly reliable. A factor analysis was run to test the validity of the unidimensional scales, and the results ranged from KMO value 0.63 to 0.84 with Bartlett’s p-value for all scales being significant (p &lt;0.00). Validity of multidimensional scales were tested with convergent validity analysis. Both the INDCOL and PVQ-21 showed a good convergent validity and is a valid tool. The instruments used in this pilot study can be used for the main research study in studying the moderating role of culture on the effect of stigma in psychological help-seeking attitudes among university students as the instruments are multiculturally competent. Therefore, in a multicultural population like Malaysia, instruments as such are found to be helpful in studying the effects of culture, stigma, and personal values on psychological help-seeking attitudes.

Prevalence of mental distress in adults with and without a history of tuberculosis in an urban Zambian community.

People with tuberculosis (TB) are susceptible to mental distress. Mental distress can be driven by biological and socio-economic factors including poverty. These factors can persist beyond TB treatment completion yet there is minimal evidence about the mental health of TB survivors. A cross-sectional TB prevalence survey of adults was conducted in an urban community in Zambia. Survey participants were administered the five-item Self Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-5) mental health screening tool to measure mental distress. Associations between primary exposure (history of TB) and other co-variates with mental distress were investigated using logistic regression. Of 3,393 study participants, 120 were TB survivors (3.5%). The overall prevalence of mental distress (SRQ-5≥4) in the whole study population was 16.9% (95% CI 15.6%-18.1%). Previous TB history was not associated with mental distress (OR 1.20, 95% CI 0.75-1.92, p-value 1.66). Mental distress was associated with being female (OR 1.23 95% CI 1.00-1.51), older age (OR 1.71 95% CI 1.09-2.68) and alcohol abuse (OR 1.81 95% CI 1.19-2.76). Our findings show no association between a previous TB history and mental distress. However, approximately one in six people in the study population screened positive for mental distress.

The impact of trauma and daily hardships on the mental health of unaccompanied refugee minors detained in Libya.

The high trauma load and prevalence of mental distress in unaccompanied refugee minors (URMs) who resettle in Western (European) countries is well documented. However, the lack of studies investigating the potentially most vulnerable population, URMs who are currently on the move in transit countries such as Libya, is alarming. To document the mental health of URMs detained in Libya and the possible associations with trauma, flight and daily hardships. In total n = 99 (94.9% male; n = 93) URMs participated in this cross-sectional study conducted in four detention centres near the Libyan capital Tripoli. Data were collected via standardised questionnaires in an interview format and analysed using structured equation modelling. Participants reported high rates of trauma, especially within Libya itself. Reports of daily hardships in detention ranged between 40 and 95% for basic needs and between 27 and 80% for social needs. Higher social needs were associated with increased anxiety symptoms (β = 0.59; P = 0.028) and increased pre-migration (β = 0.10; P = 0.061) and peri-migration trauma (β = 0.16; P = 0.017) with symptoms of depression. Similarly, higher levels of pre-migration trauma were associated with higher post-traumatic stress disorder levels (β = 0.17; P = 0.010). The rates of daily hardships and traumatic events are higher compared with those recorded for URMs living in asylum centres in Europe. The emotional, social and cognitive development of detained URMs is severely threatened in both the short and long term. This paper outlines some of the most detrimental effects of migration policies on URMs transiting through Libya.

A prática terapêutica do Tai Chi Chuan em um serviço de referência em práticas integrativas e complementares

Abstract Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) is among the most used Integrative and Complementary Health Practices (PICS) and, according to the scientific literature, presents clinical evidence for the treatment of various health problems. However, little is known about the development of this practice in the context of the Brazilian National Health System (SUS). In this sense, the objective of the article was to understand the therapeutic practice of TCC in a reference service in PICS in SUS, from a qualitative case study with participant observation and semi-structured interviews with users and therapists. Dissimilarities were observed between the therapeutic practice of TCC and biomedical body practices, as well as the presence of guidelines for SUS care, such as welcoming, qualified listening, therapeutic connection, and comprehensive care. The prevalence of mental distress was also identified as a reason for seeking the practice, as well as the need for greater financial support for the service, and the resistance to the use of Traditional Chinese Medicine by some female users’ support network.