Promotion Of Well-being Research Articles

Role of community pharmacy and pharmacists in self care in Sweden

BackgroundSelf care is an important concept, which is increasingly being applied by policy makers on a large scale. It is associated with improved health literacy and technological advances. Community pharmacy practitioners are easily accessible for self care counselling, purchase of non-prescription products and for referrals to other healthcare providers. ObjectiveTo describe self care policies and strategies in Swedish healthcare authorities, pharmaceutical organizations and community pharmacy. MethodsA search was conducted to retrieve self care policy documents and strategies in Swedish healthcare authorities, pharmaceutical organizations and community pharmacy on respective websites, as well as personal contacts with key persons in pharmaceutical organizations and community pharmacy practice. ResultsA new law on self care was adopted by the Swedish Parliament becoming effective in 2023. The law defines self care as a healthcare measure that has been assessed by a treating licenced healthcare practitioner to be possible to be performed by the patient him/herself. The law includes a wide range of measures. According to a Government Commission that followed Sweden's the National Pharmaceutical Strategy's Action Plan in 2018, the Medical Products Agency (MPA) was assigned to establish requirements of qualifications in self care counselling. In its report in late 2022, the MPA stated that self care counselling by community pharmacy practitioners plays an important role in society. The new requirements are expected to become effective in mid-2023. None of the four community pharmacy chains operating 97% of Sweden's community pharmacies have developed any specific self care policies, although self care counselling and sales of non-prescription products, as well as provision of some primary healthcare services, constitute important components of their operations. Furthermore, all Swedish pharmacies offer several digital self care solutions, supporting people to manage their own health. Neither the Swedish Pharmacy Association, representing most pharmacies, nor the Swedish Pharmacists Association, the trade union, have developed any self care policies. However, the Swedish Association of the Pharmaceutical Industry is promulgating Swedish self care reform using a systematic review of self care and which medicines should be over-the-counter. ConclusionsSelf care is not currently established as a core pillar of a Swedish national health strategy. There are further opportunities to enable pharmacists to fulfil their potential in supporting individual wellbeing and promoting self care interventions. A new system needs to be created which fully integrates the promotion of everyday wellbeing, self care for self-treatable conditions and the management of long-term conditions.

How can NHS trusts in England optimise strategies to improve the mental health and well-being of hospital doctors? The Care Under Pressure 3 (CUP3) realist evaluation study protocol

IntroductionThe growing incidence of mental ill health in doctors was a major issue in the UK and internationally, even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. It has significant and far-reaching implications,...

Evaluation criteria of evidence-based practices in health and wellbeing promotion in Finland

Abstract Decision makers and experts have a great need to receive independent and credible knowledge about the effectiveness of evidence-based practices (EBPs) for promoting health, wellbeing, and equity. Best practice portals that evaluate EBPs have developed for this need. However, the evaluation criteria by which the portals determine the degree of effectiveness, evidence, and practical applicability of EBPs may differ between portals and need further investigation. There do not exist a single framework for evaluation criteria. Although the randomised control trials may meet a gold standard, there are alternative approaches to evaluate EBPs, considering the complexity of health promotion and wellbeing interventions. The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare started to develop the best practice portal in health and wellbeing promotion in 2019. In this workshop, we present the evaluation criteria of EBPs in Finland and how the approach may contribute to the evaluation of EBSs, knowledge base and management in health promotion and disease prevention policy. We will also reflect on the way we capture the complexity in our criteria.

Primary-level and community worker interventions for the prevention of mental disorders and the promotion of well-being in low- and middle-income countries.

There is a significant research gap in the field of universal, selective, and indicated prevention interventions for mental health promotion and the prevention of mental disorders. Barriers to closing the research gap include scarcity of skilled human resources, large inequities in resource distribution and utilization, and stigma. To assess the effectiveness of delivery by primary workers of interventions for the promotion of mental health and universal prevention, and for the selective and indicated prevention of mental disorders or symptoms of mental illness in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). To examine the impact of intervention delivery by primary workers on resource use and costs. We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Global Index Medicus, PsycInfo, WHO ICTRP, and ClinicalTrials.gov from inception to 29 November 2021. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of primary-level and/or community health worker interventions for promoting mental health and/or preventing mental disorders versus any control conditions in adults and children in LMICs. Standardized mean differences (SMD) or mean differences (MD) were used for continuous outcomes, and risk ratios (RR) for dichotomous data, using a random-effects model. We analyzed data at 0 to 1, 1 to 6, and 7 to 24 months post-intervention. For SMDs, 0.20 to 0.49 represented small, 0.50 to 0.79 moderate, and ≥ 0.80 large clinical effects. We evaluated the risk of bias (RoB) using Cochrane RoB2. Description of studies We identified 113 studies with 32,992 participants (97 RCTs, 19,570 participants in meta-analyses) for inclusion. Nineteen RCTs were conducted in low-income countries, 27 in low-middle-income countries, 2 in middle-income countries, 58 in upper-middle-income countries and 7 in mixed settings. Eighty-three RCTs included adults and 30 RCTs included children. Cadres of primary-level workers employed primary care health workers (38 studies), community workers (71 studies), both (2 studies), and not reported (2 studies). Interventions were universal prevention/promotion in 22 studies, selective in 36, and indicated prevention in 55 RCTs. Risk of bias The most common concerns over risk of bias were performance bias, attrition bias, and reporting bias. Intervention effects 'Probably', 'may', or 'uncertain' indicates 'moderate-', 'low-', or 'very low-'certainty evidence. *Certainty of the evidence (using GRADE) was assessed at 0 to 1 month post-intervention as specified in the review protocol. In the abstract, we did not report results for outcomes for which evidence was missing or very uncertain. Adults Promotion/universal prevention, compared to usual care: - probably slightly reduced anxiety symptoms (MD -0.14, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.27 to -0.01; 1 trial, 158 participants) - may slightly reduce distress/PTSD symptoms (SMD -0.24, 95% CI -0.41 to -0.08; 4 trials, 722 participants) Selective prevention, compared to usual care: - probably slightly reduced depressive symptoms (SMD -0.69, 95% CI -1.08 to -0.30; 4 trials, 223 participants) Indicated prevention, compared to usual care: - may reduce adverse events (1 trial, 547 participants) - probably slightly reduced functional impairment (SMD -0.12, 95% CI -0.39 to -0.15; 4 trials, 663 participants) Children Promotion/universal prevention, compared to usual care: - may improve the quality of life (SMD -0.25, 95% CI -0.39 to -0.11; 2 trials, 803 participants) - may reduce adverse events (1 trial, 694 participants) - may slightly reduce depressive symptoms (MD -3.04, 95% CI -6 to -0.08; 1 trial, 160 participants) - may slightly reduce anxiety symptoms (MD -2.27, 95% CI -3.13 to -1.41; 1 trial, 183 participants) Selective prevention, compared to usual care: - probably slightly reduced depressive symptoms (SMD 0, 95% CI -0.16 to -0.15; 2 trials, 638 participants) - may slightly reduce anxiety symptoms (MD 4.50, 95% CI -12.05 to 21.05; 1 trial, 28 participants) - probably slightly reduced distress/PTSD symptoms (MD -2.14, 95% CI -3.77 to -0.51; 1 trial, 159 participants) Indicated prevention, compared to usual care: - decreased slightly functional impairment (SMD -0.29, 95% CI -0.47 to -0.10; 2 trials, 448 participants) - decreased slightly depressive symptoms (SMD -0.18, 95% CI -0.32 to -0.04; 4 trials, 771 participants) - may slightly reduce distress/PTSD symptoms (SMD 0.24, 95% CI -1.28 to 1.76; 2 trials, 448 participants). The evidence indicated that prevention interventions delivered through primary workers - a form of task-shifting - may improve mental health outcomes. Certainty in the evidence was influenced by the risk of bias and by substantial levels of heterogeneity. A supportive network of infrastructure and research would enhance and reinforce this delivery modality across LMICs.

Evaluation of a school health promotion program using the holistic WHO approach

Abstract Background A school health promotion program guided by the WHO approach is implemented in approximately 40% of public secondary schools in Lower Austria. Program advisors support participating schools in developing a systematic plan for the promotion of health and wellbeing of all students and teachers. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the program and identify potential areas for program optimization. Methods We applied a non-randomized controlled cluster trial with pre- and post-measurements (T0: October 2021 and T1: June 2022). We invited students, teachers and school principals of 30 program schools (PS) and 29 non-program schools (NPS) to fill in an online-questionnaire. We analyzed data of 2706 students, 451 teachers and 47 principals. Results The study showed that PS had established more favorable structures for school health promotion (HP) than NPS (e.g., established HP-team, financial resources setting objectives). Although PS implemented more HP activities than NPS (8.5 versus 6.3 activities), they merely took place as one-time events. At student level, an advantage for the PS over time was shown with respect to two out of 19 endpoints (subjective health status [b = 0.19, p < 0.001] and uptake of additionally offered physical activity lessons [b = 0.09; p = 0.04]). In two out of 19 endpoints, an advantage was also shown for the NPS (opportunities for physical activity during lessons and breaks [b = 0.06; p = 0.001], opportunities for participation [b = 0.20; p = 0.001]). At teacher level, in five out of 25 endpoints, the teachers of PS reported more favorable results than NPS’ teachers. Conclusions A supportive structure for school health promotion may be helpful for implementing more health promoting activities in schools. However, these activities do not seem to be profound enough to have an impact on the students. Teachers would need more support in implementing HP activities. Key messages • Structures for implementing health promoting activities are in place. • However, the implemented activities did only show limited effect on students.

Effective promotion of sustainable wellbeing among older people: the social quality approach

Abstract Background Social quality approach examines the elements of social and health policies that should constitute a decent society that quarantines sustainable wellbeing for all. We co-developed and evaluated the effectiveness of a comprehensive intervention for promotion social quality among older people to answer their multiple wellbeing needs. Methods Participatory workshops were held for older people aged 70+ years (N = 76) and for public-private-NGOs (n = 35) working with them in Finland. The co-develop model was piloted and evaluated using quasi-experimental design with 4 months follow-up measurements. Qualitative interview data were collected from older people and managers. Thematic analyses was applied using the elements of social quality: socioeconomic security, social empowerment, social inclusion, and cohesion. Results Older people reported having poor socioeconomic security (unequal access of multidisciplinary services), poor empowerment (insufficient skills to use the digital services), and low cohesion (lack of trust to local service providers). The developed intervention effectively supported older people's perceived social quality: socioeconomic security, empowerment and cohesion. Conclusions Sustainable wellbeing promotion among older people should constitute from the socioeconomic security but also empower and build trust to public stakeholders. The co-developed intervention group model could be one solution for this and to support older people to live a healthy and meaningful life at home. Key messages • The inclusive approach to wellbeing promotion could help to health and social service provided to answer the multiple health and wellbeing need of the older people. • The wide stakeholder collaboration between public, private and non-governmental organizations is essential in developing, producing and evaluating the multidisciplinary services for older people.

Relationship between teacher and student psychological well-being in a Japanese context

ABSTRACT Psychological well-being (PWB) encompasses the positive aspects of mental health, such as hedonic wellbeing (experience of enjoyment and pleasure), eudaimonic wellbeing (experience of self-actualization), and life satisfaction (global evaluation of quality of life). Japanese teachers suffer from poor PWB with a high incidence of mental health problems. Despite the potentially significant impact of poor Japanese teachers’ PWB on their students’ PWB, these associations have remained largely unexplored. The present study investigated if teacher PWB has any relationship with student PWB and if teacher-student relationship, students’ abilities for resilience, and classroom climate mediate the teacher and student PWB relationship, with 46 teachers and 1,256 children aged 8–12 years from Japanese schools. A multilevel mediation analysis revealed an indirect positive relationship between Japanese teacher life satisfaction and Japanese student hedonic and eudaimonic wellbeing mediated by students’ abilities for resilience. There was no relationship between teacher and student hedonic and eudaimonic wellbeing. Nonetheless, the findings still imply that promoting teacher life satisfaction may contribute to the promotion of student hedonic and eudaimonic wellbeing. Future researchers could investigate if a school-based intervention targeted at both Japanese teachers and students would more effectively promote PWB among students than would such interventions aimed only at students.

Impact of workplace yoga on pain measures, mental health, sleep quality, and quality of life in female teachers with chronic musculoskeletal pain: A randomized controlled study.

Chronic pain conditions such as low back pain, knee pain and cervical pain are highly prevalent among female teachers. Chronic pain significantly affects the mental health, sleep and quality of life among teachers. This study is intended to investigate the impact of a workplace yoga intervention on musculoskeletal pain, anxiety, depression, sleep, and quality of life (QoL) among female teachers who had chronic musculoskeletal pain. Fifty female teachers aged between 25-55 years with chronic musculoskeletal pain were randomized to either the yoga group (n = 25) or the control group (n = 25). The yoga group received a 60-minute structured Integrated Yoga intervention (IY) four days a week for six consecutive weeks at school. The control group received no intervention. Pain intensity, anxiety, depression, stress, fatigue, self-compassion, sleep quality, and quality of life were assessed at the baseline and six weeks. A significant (p < 0.05) reduction in pain intensity and pain disability in the yoga group was observed after 6-week compared to baseline. Anxiety, depression, stress, sleep scores and fatigues also improved in the yoga group after six weeks. The control group showed no change. Post score comparison showed a significant difference between the groups for all the measures. Workplace yoga intervention is found to be effective in improving pain, pain disability, mental health, sleep quality among female teachers with chronic musculoskeletal pain. This study strongly recommends yoga for the prevention of work-related health issues and for the promotion of wellbeing among teachers.

The Effectiveness of Fully Automated Digital Interventions in Promoting Mental Well-Being in the General Population: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Recent years have highlighted an increasing need to promote mental well-being in the general population. This has led to a rapidly growing market for fully automated digital mental well-being tools. Although many individuals have started using these tools in their daily lives, evidence on the overall effectiveness of digital mental well-being tools is currently lacking. This study aims to review the evidence on the effectiveness of fully automated digital interventions in promoting mental well-being in the general population. Following the preregistration of the systematic review protocol on PROSPERO, searches were carried out in MEDLINE, Web of Science, Cochrane, PsycINFO, PsycEXTRA, Scopus, and ACM Digital (initial searches in February 2022; updated in October 2022). Studies were included if they contained a general population sample and a fully automated digital intervention that exclusively used psychological mental well-being promotion activities. Two reviewers, blinded to each other's decisions, conducted data selection, extraction, and quality assessment of the included studies. Narrative synthesis and a random-effects model of per-protocol data were adopted. We included 19 studies that involved 7243 participants. These studies included 24 fully automated digital mental well-being interventions, of which 15 (63%) were included in the meta-analysis. Compared with no intervention, there was a significant small effect of fully automated digital mental well-being interventions on mental well-being in the general population (standardized mean difference 0.19, 95% CI 0.04-0.33; P=.02). Specifically, mindfulness-, acceptance-, commitment-, and compassion-based interventions significantly promoted mental well-being in the general population (P=.006); insufficient evidence was available for positive psychology and cognitive behavioral therapy-based interventions; and contraindications were found for integrative approaches. Overall, there was substantial heterogeneity, which could be partially explained by the intervention duration, comparator, and study outcomes. The risk of bias was high, and confidence in the quality of the evidence was very low (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations), primarily because of the high rates of study dropout (average 37%; range 0%-85%) and suboptimal intervention adherence (average 40%). This study provides a novel contribution to knowledge regarding the effectiveness, strengths, and weaknesses of fully automated digital mental well-being interventions in the general population. Future research and practice should consider these findings when developing fully automated digital mental well-being tools. In addition, research should aim to investigate positive psychology and cognitive behavioral therapy-based tools as well as develop further strategies to improve adherence and reduce dropout in fully automated digital mental well-being interventions. Finally, it should aim to understand when and for whom these interventions are particularly beneficial. PROSPERO CRD42022310702; https://tinyurl.com/yc7tcwy7.

Analyzing the impact of natural capital on socio- economic objectives under the framework of sustainable development goals

Natural capital plays an essential role in achieving socio-economic objectives and is connected to the basic conditions for human survival. Here, we discuss the role played by natural capital in sustainable socio-economic objectives (SDG1, 3, 5, and 8) in 131 countries and territories during the period 2000–2018. In the long term, the increased dependence on natural capital can contribute to decent work and economic growth, but it has negative impacts on poverty reduction as well as the promotion of good health, well-being, and gender equality. The relationship between natural capital and each socio-economic objectives changes with different levels of socio-economic. In addition, the regression results of countries at different stages of development show heterogeneity. Unlike low-income countries, the dependence on natural capital reduces poverty rates in high-income countries, and is conducive to gender equality in middle-income countries. Governments should create incentives to protect and enhance natural wealth to prevent the depletion of natural capital or its unsustainable conversion into other forms of capital.

Development of Adolescent Well-Being Model in Malaysia: Analysis of Protective Factors in School

Well-being is a multidimensional construct that involves a state where individuals find peace, life needs are met, have a meaningful life, have life goals, autonomy, have a satisfactory quality of life in terms of physical, psychological and social. The partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was employed to assess the research model using SmartPLS 4. This study was conducted on 587 teenagers. Among other factors measured in this study are resilience, relationship with school, parental involvement, self-efficacy, religiosity and spirituality. Among the instruments used in this study are Well-Being Scale, Spiritual Well-being, Religiosity Scale, Resiliency Belief Scale, Coppell's Self-Efficacy Scale, Parental Involvement Questionnaire and School Attachment Questionnaire. The items in this instrument are hypothesized as a priori and have non-zero loading for all dimensions in the model. The analysis of the items shows that the measurement model for all instruments is a well-fitting, multidimensional and reflective model. Data is also free of multicollinearity with good internal validity, convergent and discriminant validity. The results also demonstrate that resilience, school attachment, religiosity, parental involvement, self-efficacy altogether positively affected teenagers’ well-being (? = 0.158, ? = 0.193, ? = 0.154, 0.280, 0.345,p &lt;0.01) respectively, except spirituality. The model explained 68 percent of the variance in well-being (R2=. 675) with AVE 0.70 and composite reliability 0.97. Analysis of the items resulted in a well-fitting model (SRMR&lt;0.08, p&lt;0.01). Therefore, well-being of young generation is significant to bring sustainable development to the mainstream and as protective factors against some of the challenges that may arise so that they have ability for self-regulation in emotions and become resilience. The promotion of well-being in teens can help mitigate the onset of negative effects of mental health.

Nature-Based Interventions in the UK: A Mixed Methods Study Exploring Green Prescribing for Promoting the Mental Wellbeing of Young Pregnant Women.

Green prescribing is gaining in popularity internationally for the promotion of mental wellbeing. However, the evidence base is limited, particularly in young pregnant women, a population with known risk factors for anxiety and depression. The aim of this mixed-methods study was to provide insights into the availability, processes, and suitability of nature-based interventions for young pregnant women. First, an online mapping survey of nature-based activities in the East Midlands region of the United Kingdom (UK) was undertaken. Second, focus groups (n = 6) were conducted with nature activity providers and young mothers (n = 11). This study found there were many diverse nature-based activities available to promote mental wellbeing. The organisational challenges highlighted include a lack of sufficient funding for service provision and disappointing experiences with some green prescribing programmes. The young women felt that nature-based activities helped to promote their mental wellbeing, and also offered an opportunity for social support. The facilitators, such as having detailed information and being accompanied to initial sessions to ease anxieties, were found to maximise the women's engagement with nature-based interventions. This study provides new perspectives on nature-based interventions from service providers and young women. Findings on the organisational barriers and facilitators to delivering interventions will inform the design of much needed future experimental research.

Promotion of well-being in work and interpersonal relationships: A scoping review of goals and meaning interventions

With the demanding pace and challenges of the world today, there is an amplified need to identify ways of attaining well-being in the context of the workplace and relational domains of life. As work and interpersonal relationships are key domains of life where people set goals and find meaning in their search for well-being, interventions towards the promotion of well-being in these domains have become a strategic and critical priority to meet the demands of an everchanging world. Interventions to enhance well-being through goals and /or meaning in various domains of life are dispersed across disciplines, highlighting the need for a comprehensive overview of the current state of the art to advance its progress. This study aimed to explore through a scoping review existing literature on interventions to enhance goals and meaning to promote well-being in the life domains of work and interpersonal relationships. Using specific search terms in each of these domains, a literature search of scientific articles was conducted via various search platforms and databases. Thirty-eight articles were identified, scrutinized, and with the aid of clearly defined inclusion and exclusion criteria a final number of 27 articles extracted. No interventions were found on the concordance of goals and meaning in either of the two domains. Goals and meaning interventions, in both domains, used diverse strategies, leading to various hedonic and eudaimonic outcomes. Findings per study are described in terms of target groups, intervention strategies and outcomes. Through the indication of a major gap in research regarding interventions aiming at the alignment or harmonisation of goals and what is meaningful to people, this study points to further possibilities for research on the development and evaluation of interventions that aim to enhance the alignment of goals and meaning in the work and especially the interpersonal relationships domains.

Implementation and evaluation of a multi-level mental health promotion intervention for the workplace (MENTUPP): study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial

BackgroundWell-organised and managed workplaces can be a source of wellbeing. The construction, healthcare and information and communication technology sectors are characterised by work-related stressors (e.g. high workloads, tight deadlines) which are associated with poorer mental health and wellbeing. The MENTUPP intervention is a flexibly delivered, multi-level approach to supporting small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in creating mentally healthy workplaces. The online intervention is tailored to each sector and designed to support employees and leaders dealing with mental health difficulties (e.g. stress), clinical level anxiety and depression, and combatting mental health-related stigma. This paper presents the protocol for the cluster randomised controlled trial (cRCT) of the MENTUPP intervention in eight European countries and Australia.MethodsEach intervention country will aim to recruit at least two SMEs in each of the three sectors. The design of the cRCT is based on the experiences of a pilot study and guided by a Theory of Change process that describes how the intervention is assumed to work. SMEs will be randomly assigned to the intervention or control conditions. The aim of the cRCT is to assess whether the MENTUPP intervention is effective in improving mental health and wellbeing (primary outcome) and reducing stigma, depression and suicidal behaviour (secondary outcome) in employees. The study will also involve a process and economic evaluation.ConclusionsAt present, there is no known multi-level, tailored, flexible and accessible workplace-based intervention for the prevention of non-clinical and clinical symptoms of depression, anxiety and burnout, and the promotion of mental wellbeing. The results of this study will provide a comprehensive overview of the implementation and effectiveness of such an intervention in a variety of contexts, languages and cultures leading to the overall goal of delivering an evidence-based intervention for mental health in the workplace.Trial registrationPlease refer to Item 2a and registration ISRCTN14104664. Registered on 12th July 2022.

School Health Services in India: Status, Challenges and the Way Forward.

Schools provide a crucial platform for health and well-being interventions targeting children and adolescents. Early promotive and preventive initiatives are vital for enabling children and adolescents to reach their optimal potential, thereby adding to the country's social return-on-investment, creating a favourable demographic dividend. This review analyses the evolution of school health initiatives in India, including the current curriculum proposed under the Ayushman Bharat program. The manuscript highlights the challenges, and gaps in implementation of the current school health programs and proposes potential pathways for bridging these gaps for promotion of adolescent well-being. The review also discusses the concept of Health Promoting Schools and suggests adaptations and key recommendations to Indian context regarding 'how' to translate it into on-field reality based on the appraisal of successful case studies from other countries. Though India started school health services more than 100 y ago, the school health programmes in most Indian states are weak and fragmented, with piecemeal health screening with minimal focus on health promotion and well-being. The recently launched School Health and Wellness initiative under the Ayushman Bharat program has lots of promise. However, it needs to be translated into effective implementation to prevent it from meeting the fate of its forerunner programs. The school health program needs to move beyond the screening centric approach and be aspirational and holistic in nature focusing upon the overall well-being of the adolescents. Concerted efforts through intersectoral convergence are needed to optimally utilise the platforms of schools for promotion of adolescent well-being.

Exploring the Acceptability of an Environmental Education Program for Youth in Rural Areas: ECOCIDADANIA Project

Background: There has been a growing interest in environmental education programs to improve environmental awareness and behavior change among school-aged youth. Yet, assessment of the approaches aligned with citizen science principles emphasizing community participation and empowerment is scarce. The present study aimed to explore the acceptability of the “ECOCIDADANIA” environmental education program targeted at youth in rural areas. Methods: The program was applied for two years in the municipality of Gouveia, and it involved nature walks methodologies combined with citizen science. A total of 107 students participated in the program. Eighteen participants (13 youth and 5 teachers) were selected as key informants, and semistructured interviews were conducted to assess the appropriateness of the intervention and the perceived benefits. Results: The program was demonstrated to be acceptable to youth and teachers, and its benefits included increasing students’ knowledge, skills and self-efficacy, discovering the territory, promoting environmental awareness, strengthening social relationships between peers and educators, and contributing to the promotion of individual and collective well-being. All the participants were satisfied with the program’s activities and recommend its continuation in the school context. Conclusions: Programs of this nature could foster environmental activism and enhance environmental sustainability at the local level, which reinforces the entrepreneurship profile of the youth.

Exploring self-determined solutions to service and system challenges to promote social and emotional wellbeing in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: a qualitative study.

Many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living on Kaurna Country in northern Adelaide experience adverse health and social circumstances. The Taingiwilta Pirku Kawantila study sought to understand challenges facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and identify solutions for the health and social service system to promote social and emotional wellbeing. This qualitative study applied Indigenous methodologies undertaken with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander governance and leadership. A respected local Aboriginal person engaged with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members and service providers through semi-structured interviews and yarning circles that explored community needs and challenges, service gaps, access barriers, success stories, proposed strategies to address service and system challenges, and principles and values for service design. A content analysis identified the breadth of challenges in addition to describing key targets to empower and connect communities and optimize health and social services to strengthen individual and collective social and emotional wellbeing. Eighty-three participants contributed to interviews and yarning circles including 17 Aboriginal community members, 38 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander service providers, and 28 non-Indigenous service providers. They expressed the need for codesigned, strengths-based, accessible and flexible services delivered by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers with lived experience employed in organisations with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership and governance. Community hubs and cultural events in addition to one-stop-shop service centres and pre-crisis mental health, drug and alcohol and homelessness services were among many strategies identified. Holistic approaches to the promotion of social and emotional wellbeing are critical. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are calling for places in the community to connect and practice culture. They seek culturally safe systems that enable equitable access to and navigation of health and social services. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce leading engagement with clients is seen to safeguard against judgement and discrimination, rebuild community trust in the service system and promote streamlined access to crucial services.

Intersection Between Spirituality and Neuroscience: Biological Bases of Transcendental Experiences

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the relationship between religion, spirituality and neuroscience, with a focus on understanding the biological bases of religious experiences. The study aims to analyze how different spiritual practices affect the human brain, identify the brain regions involved, and examine the impact of these practices on mental health and emotional well-being. Furthermore, we seek to discuss the ethical implications of including religious themes in medical and psychological practice. Method: The study uses a qualitative literature review approach in English and Portuguese, based on national and international sources. Scientific articles, case studies and research related to the neuroscience of religion and spirituality were analyzed. The data was collected and organized to identify the biological foundations of spiritual experiences, the social and psychological implications, as well as the ethical issues associated with this theme. Results and conclusion: The results indicate that different spiritual practices activate several brain areas, including the frontal cortex, prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens and striatum, associated with rewards, emotions, moral reasoning and concentration. The mystical mind is considered an innate capacity of the human brain, enabling transcendental experiences in all cultures. Furthermore, the frequent practice of spirituality can lead to profound brain changes, favoring discernment, empathy and better decisions. Religiosity and spirituality have a positive impact on mental health, helping to cope with anxiety, fears and promoting emotional well-being. Research implications: This study has significant implications in the area of mental health and clinical practice, highlighting the importance of considering patients' spirituality and religiosity as an integral part of their emotional health. Furthermore, the research paves the way for a greater understanding of the biological bases of religious and spiritual experiences, which may have applications in clinical treatments and the promotion of psychological well-being. The ethical implications raised are also relevant for healthcare professionals, who must approach these issues with sensitivity and respect, avoiding the imposition of personal values. On a broader scale, research contributes to intercultural understanding and peaceful coexistence between different religious groups, promoting tolerance and mutual respect.

Different Biological Activities Especially Antioxidant Activity of Plant Based Functional Foods for Human Health

In recent years, the interest in plant-based functional foods with various biological activities, especially antioxidant properties, has grown exponentially due to their potential health benefits. Antioxidants play a crucial role in neutralizing harmful free radicals, which are reactive molecules that can cause cellular damage and contribute to various chronic diseases. Natural antioxidants are abundant in food and medicinal plants. These natural antioxidants, particularly polyphenols and carotenoids, have a variety of biological benefits, including anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, anti-atherosclerosis, and anticancer properties (Xu et al ., 2017). Fruits and vegetables are excellent sources of antioxidants because they contain a variety of antioxidant components. Fruits and vegetables have varying levels of antioxidant activity. Each fruit and vegetable contains a distinct type of antioxidant, and this might vary from species to species as well as climate to climate (Ravimannan et al ., 2017). The paper discusses the underlying principles of oxidative stress and the mechanisms by which antioxidants counteract its effects (Fang et al ., 2002). It delves into the various classes of antioxidants found in plant-based foods, such as polyphenols, carotenoids, flavonoids, vitamins (e.g., vitamin C and E), and trace minerals (e.g., selenium and zinc), explaining their diverse roles in protecting cells from oxidative damage (Peng et al., 2014). In this chapter we emphasize the vital role of plant-based functional foods as a source of natural antioxidants, contributing to the promotion of human health and well-being. Incorporating a diverse array of antioxidant-rich plant foods into the daily diet is crucial for supporting overall health and preventing chronic diseases.

Exploring how brain health strategy training informs the future of work.

The workplace typically affords one of the longest periods for continued brain health growth. Brain health is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the promotion of optimal brain development, cognitive health, and well-being across the life course, which we expanded to also include connectedness to people and purpose. This work was motivated by prior work showing individuals, outside of an aggregate setting, benefitted from training as measured by significant performance gains on a holistic BrainHealth Index and its factors (i.e., clarity, connectedness, emotional balance). The current research was conducted during the changing remote work practices emerging post-pandemic to test whether a capacity-building training would be associated with significant gains on measures of brain health and components of burnout. The study also tested the influence of utilization of training modules and days in office for individuals to inform workplace practices. We investigated whether 193 individuals across a firm's sites would improve on measures of brain health and burnout from micro-delivery of online tactical brain health strategies, combined with two individualized coaching sessions, and practical exercises related to work and personal life, over a six-month period. Brain health was measured using an evidenced-based measure (BrainHealth™ Index) with its components (clarity, connectedness, emotional balance) consistent with the WHO definition. Burnout was measured using the Maslach Burnout Inventory Human Services Survey. Days in office were determined by access to digital workplace applications from the firm's network. Regression analyses were used to assess relationships between change in BrainHealth factors and change in components of the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Results at posttest indicated that 75% of the individuals showed gains on a composite BrainHealth Index and across all three composite factors contributing to brain health. Benefits were directly tied to training utilization such that those who completed the core modules showed the greatest gains. The current results also found an association between gains on both the connectedness and emotional balance brain health factors and reduced on burnout components of occupational exhaustion and depersonalization towards one's workplace. We found that fewer days in the office were associated with greater gains in the clarity factor, but not for connectedness and emotional balance. These results support the value of a proactive, capacity-building training to benefit all employees to complement the more widespread limited offerings that address a smaller segment who need mental illness assistance programs. The future of work may be informed by corporate investment in focused efforts to boost collective brain capital through a human-centered, capacity-building approach. Efforts are underway to uncover the value of better brain health, i.e., Brainomics© - which includes economic, societal, and individual benefits.