Rates Of Mental Health Problems Research Articles

Knowledge gaps in existing research exploring sexual fluidity and mental health among young adults

While there is a large body of evidence indicating that sexual minority youth experience inequitably high rates of mental health problems (eg, depression, suicidality), we know little about how temporal...

The protective effect of physical activity on mental health of middle school students at different stages during the COVID-19 outbreak

This study aims to further understand the changes in physical activity level(PAL) and mental health among adolescents before and after the outbreak of COVID-19 and explore the protective role of physical activity (PA) on the mental health of adolescents during major disasters. A convenient sampling method was used to conduct a cross-sectional survey. The cross-sectional data from 2838 Chinese middle school students (mean age = 14.91 ± 1.71 years, 49.54% female) were used, of which 1,471 and 1,367 were in 2021 and 2022, respectively. The PAL was collected using the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Children (PAQ-CN), mental health status was collected using the Mental Health Inventory of Middle School Students (MMHI-60), sociodemographic information was collected using a self-reported questionnaire. Before and after the outbreak of COVID-19, the PAL of adolescents was 2.36 ± 0.74 and 2.50 ± 0.66, respectively, with a significant difference (p < 0.01, 95% CI: 0.09, 0.19). The mental health scores were 1.71 ± 0.60 and 1.86 ± 0.73, respectively, with a significant difference (p < 0.01, 95% CI: − 0.20, − 0.10). The detection rates of mental health problems were 27.50% and 35.50%, respectively. The rates of achieving PAL standards were 30.20% and 18.00% among adolescents, while the rates of not achieving PAL standards were 39.60% and 18.00%. PA is a protective factor for the mental health of adolescents during major disasters.

Using the universal design for learning framework to improve child and adolescent mental health

AbstractPoor mental health in childhood and adolescence has a significant impact on both physical and mental health throughout life. However, growing evidence suggests that current levels of child and adolescent mental health (CAMH) care are insufficient to meet the needs of many children and adolescents in the United States as evidenced by increasing rates of mental health problems, inequities in diagnosis, and inaccessibility of services. This article provides a discussion of current problems in CAMH and school mental health services and emphasizes a developmental perspective of CAMH, including the co‐occurrence of school difficulties and mental health concerns. A universal design for learning framework for school‐wide mental health programs is suggested as a means of addressing barriers to care and promoting prevention and early intervention in CAMH.

The positive and negative consequences of stress and its relationship with coping in medical students: A qualitative study

Rates of mental health problems among medical students have prompted efforts to reduce stress during medical training. However, stress can be motivating and is a feature of clinical work. This qualitative study explores what makes an experience stressful, and how medical students respond to such experiences. In-depth interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 15 medical students. Experiences were distressing when they threatened students’ self-perception, goals or coping mechanisms, or when they reminded the student of distressing past events. Moderate stress was motivating and could build resilience. Students selected coping mechanisms based on their availability, acceptability, likely outcome and their previous experience of using these mechanisms. Social support, extra-curricular activities and exercise were helpful. High levels of distress, poor self-esteem and course factors, including remote placements, impaired engagement with coping strategies. Perception of stressors as being insurmountable or beyond one’s control, led to increasing distress and the adoption of avoidant coping strategies. University strategies need to consider the beneficial effects of stress and seek to bolster coping resources as well as minimising unnecessary sources of stress.

Healing and wellbeing outcomes of services for Aboriginal people based on cultural therapeutic ways: A systematic scoping review.

Aboriginal Australians experience disproportionately high rates of mental health problems as the result of European colonisation, and Western evidence-based treatment has been strikingly ineffective in improving the situation. Cultural Therapeutic Ways is a culturally specific healing and wellbeing practice framework developed by the Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency that focuses on culturally based practices, trauma awareness, and self-determination. Despite wide recognition of the importance of these elements in Indigenous healing and wellbeing programs, its measurable empirical impact is currently unclear. This paper summarises findings from a systematic scoping review to ascertain the published knowledge base for Cultural Therapeutic Ways and the gaps in knowledge that can inform future evaluation. Forty-two studies of programs that applied Cultural Therapeutic Ways with Indigenous participants from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States of America were identified from the literature search. Services based on Cultural Therapeutic Ways contributed to healing and wellbeing because they create safety, strengthen cultural connections, develop empowerment and provide opportunities to release emotion, and increase social and spiritual support. As the review set out to determine the published evidence base for Cultural Therapeutic Ways, other effective approaches may have been overlooked. To develop the evidence base for Cultural Therapeutic Ways, service design must clearly describe target groups, whether the program is delivered by Aboriginal people, the processes of Cultural Therapeutic Ways utilised in service delivery, and how they are blended with Western approaches. Research efforts could also productively be focused on identifying or constructing culturally appropriate outcome measures.

Social relationships in adults who were adopted following institutional deprivation

Research examining the effects of severe, prolonged early deprivation has shown elevated rates of neurodevelopmental symptoms, which frequently persist into adulthood and are associated with functional and social relationship difficulties, as well as elevated rates of mental health problems. The behavioural manifestations of these symptoms closely resemble those of ADHD and also ASD. Here, we used qualitative methods to explore and characterise the social experiences and difficulties encountered by young adults exposed to profound early deprivation, in part to highlight any apparent parallels between the experiences in this group and those identified in typically developing samples with ADHD or ASD. To do so, we interviewed young adults and their adoptive parents ( N = 18) from the English and Romanian Adoptees study, about their social lives. Participants were keen to describe not only the challenges they faced but also adaptive responses. A semantic/descriptive thematic analysis revealed that the young adults strongly desired social relationships but struggled to navigate social norms, resulting in frustration and frequent loss of relationships. This was accompanied by strong feelings of loss and rejection, all of which were perceived to have a negative impact upon self-esteem and mental health. Adaptive strategies included the fostering of casual friendships with older individuals and seeking employment with strong social components. Similarities and differences between our findings and the social difficulties experienced by typically developing groups with neurodevelopmental problems, and adopted individuals more generally, are discussed.

Chinese undergraduates' mental health help-seeking behavior: the health belief model.

The detection rate of mental health problems among undergraduates has recently risen significantly. However, undergraduates underutilize mental health services; approximately a third only of undergraduates in need of treatment use school counseling resources. Based on a social psychological theoretical framework, the health belief model, factors of undergraduates' willingness to seek help when dealing with psychological problems were investigated. A cross-sectional online questionnaire and a snowball sampling method with 446 undergraduates investigated perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived behavioral benefits, perceived barriers, self-efficacy, and cues to action to understand how students' mental health-seeking behaviors are affected. We found that perceived susceptibility (p < 0.01), perceived severity (p < 0.01), perceived benefits (p < 0.01), perceived barriers (p < 0.01), self-efficacy (p < 0.01), and cues to action (p < 0.01) significantly correlated with behavioral intention. Encouragement or counseling from others would be more likely to motivate undergraduates to seek mental health help. In addition, we used a bias-corrected Bootstrap approach to test the significance of the mediating effect, the mediation effect of cues to action between undergraduates' perceived susceptibility and mental health help-seeking behavior was utterly significant [mediation effect value of 0.077, with an SE value of 0.027 and a 95% CI (0.028, 0.133)]. It demonstrated that those who perceived themselves to be at high risk of developing a mental illness and who had received encouragement or counseling to seek mental health help were more likely to be motivated to seek mental health help. Multiple regression analyses indicated that self-efficacy (Z = 5.425, p < 0.01) and cues to action (Z = 6.673, p < 0.01) independently influenced behavioral intentions. Encouragement or counseling from others would be more likely to motivate undergraduates to seek mental health help.

Psychosocial factors associated with non-suicidal self-injury attempts among people in the transmasculine and non-binary spectrum from Argentina

ABSTRACT Transmasculine and non-binary individuals frequently experience stigma related to their gender identity, which leads to higher rates of mental health problems in comparison with the cisgender population. This study describes the prevalence of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) attempts and explores its association with indicators of violence, discrimination, and gender affirmation among people who self-identify within the transmasculine and non-binary spectrum from Argentina. Between May and September 2019, 415 participants completed an online survey. The median age was 23 years (IQR = 19–27). Most of the sample (84.6%) self-identified as transmasculine (e.g. trans man or male) and 15.4% as non-binary. The prevalence of NSSI attempts was high (74.6%). The first attempt frequently occurred during adolescence. NSSI attempts were negatively associated with indicators of psychological, medical, and legal gender affirmation only at the bivariate level. In the final multivariable model, NSSI attempts remained associated with younger age, bullying at school, violence from family members, and sexual abuse. Prevalence of NSSI attempts among transmasculine and non-binary people from Argentina is disproportionately elevated. It is critical to prioritise this population in policies and interventions to prevent this problem from an early age. Such interventions should address discrimination and violence against this community, since these are the factors primarily associated with occurrence of NSSI attempts.

‘It’s a delicate topic’: Stigma, capabilities and young people’s mental health in post-conflict Colombia

ABSTRACT Young people in Colombia present high rates of mental health problems, to which the country’s history of armed internal conflict contributes in complex ways. Mental health services in Colombia are fragmented, inadequate, and difficult to access for many. Young people’s help-seeking is often hindered by mental health stigma and/or poor experiences with services. This paper presents a thematic analysis of qualitative data from a mixed-methods study aimed at developing and testing a mental health intervention for Colombian youths. We draw upon theoretical lenses from scholarly work on stigma and Sen’s ‘capabilities approach’ to inform our analysis of interviews and group discussions with staff and young people involved in the state-funded human capital building programme ‘Jovenes en Acción’ (JeA). By illustrating how study participants talked about stigma, vulnerability, mental health services organisation, and the challenges of discussing mental health topics in a learning environment, we illuminate aspects of mental health support and anti-stigma interventions that might need enhancing. In particular, we suggest that more emphasis on ‘community competencies’ as complementary to and interrelated with individual competencies would strengthen young people’s individual and collective resources for mental wellbeing while being in line with the sociocritical principles of existing human capital-enhancing programmes.

Awareness As a Vehicle for Well-Being: College Students’ Lived Experiences Participating in a Mindfulness-Based Intervention During the COVID-19 Pandemic

ABSTRACT College students are experiencing increasing rates of mental health problems, with difficulties exacerbated by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) has demonstrated efficacy in treating psychological problems and promoting well-being within this population. Less well-understood, however, are MBSR participants’ perceptions of the mechanisms underlying this therapeutic change. The current qualitative study examined nonclinical college students’ experiences participating in a randomized controlled trial of an online adaptation of MBSR, administered during the fall 2020 COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine participants who had recently completed the MBSR course. The qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Participants described greater self-awareness, relational awareness, present-moment awareness, and body awareness as resulting in improved emotion regulation, empathy, communication, and well-being, while reducing anxiety and physical pain. These findings support and extend other theoretical models of change in mindfulness-based interventions. The results further suggest that online MBSR adaptations may be beneficial in promoting mental health for college students and that cultivating greater awareness may help in bolstering psychological well-being within this population.

A cross-sectional study of university students' mental health and lifestyle practices amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

University students are regarded as the backbone of society, and their mental health during a pandemic may have a substantial impact on their performance and life outcomes. The purpose of this study was to assess university students' mental health, specifically depression, anxiety, and stress, during Lebanon's extended COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the sociodemographic factors and lifestyle practices associated with it. An online anonymous survey assessed the rates of mental health problems during COVID-19, controlling for socio-demographics and other lifestyle practices, in 329 undergraduate and graduate university students. Instruments utilized were the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) for depression, the Beck Anxiety Inventory (21-BAI) for anxiety, and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) for stress. The study employed descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression models to analyze the association between depression, anxiety, and stress with sociodemographic and lifestyle factors. Results were evaluated using adjusted odds ratios and confidence intervals, with a significance level of 0.05. Moderate to severe rates of depression, anxiety and stress among students were reported by 75.9%, 72.2%, and 89.3%, respectively. The odds of anxiety and stress were higher among women compared to men. Students who used private counseling services had higher odds of anxiety and stress than those who did not. Overall rated health was a major predictor of depression and anxiety, with the "poor" and "fair" overall-reported health groups having higher odds than the "Excellent" group. When compared to those who did not smoke, students who increased their smoking intake had higher odds of depression, anxiety and stress. Students who reduced their alcohol consumption had lower odds of anxiety compared to those who did not consume alcohol. Students who reduced their physical activity had higher odds than those who increased it. Finally, students who slept fewer than seven hours daily had higher odds of depression than those who slept seven to nine hours. Our findings indicate a national student mental health crisis, with exceptionally high rates of moderate to severe depression, anxiety, and stress. Factors such as gender, university program, overall rated health, importance of religion in daily decisions, private counseling, smoking cigarettes, alcohol consumption, physical activity, and sleeping, were all found to have an impact on mental health outcomes. Our study highlights the need for university administrators and mental health professionals to consider targeted mental health programming for students, particularly for women and those with poor or fair overall perceived health.

Outcomes of transdiagnostic internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy tailored to public safety personnel: A longitudinal observational study

First responders and other public safety personnel (PSP) experience high rates of mental health problems and face barriers to accessing mental healthcare. Internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy (ICBT) is an effective and accessible treatment for various mental health concerns. Canadian PSP report favorable attitudes toward ICBT, and preliminary outcomes demonstrate that they benefit from it. Expanding on this research, the current study consisted of a longitudinal observational study of 560 Canadian PSP who participated in ICBT. It was designed to assess the longer term effectiveness of ICBT and moderators of outcomes by gender, linguistic and occupational group, and years of occupational experience. We evaluated symptom change at 8, 26, and 52 weeks post-enrollment, and results among PSP who had elevated clinical scores, showed large reductions (Hedges’ g) in symptoms of depression (g = 1.3), anxiety (g =1.48), posttraumatic stress (g =1.24), panic (g =1.19), and anger (g =1.07) and moderate reductions in symptoms of social anxiety (g =.48–.56). Moderator analyses revealed modest differences in pre-treatment symptoms among certain groups but no group differences in symptom change over time. Clients showed good completion of treatment materials and reported high treatment satisfaction. The results suggest further study of ICBT tailored to PSP is warranted, including evaluating ICBT tailored for PSP in other countries.

How we survived: older adults’ adjustment to the lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic

AbstractOlder adults were found to be the most susceptible group to suffer the physical health consequences of a COVID-19 infection and were considered vulnerable to the negative effects of the lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic, yet unlike many young adults did not generally experience an increased rate of mental health problems. Our study explored the strategies older adults in Portugal deployed during the mandatory lockdowns in 2020 and 2021. Qualitative interview data were collected with 22 older adults in relatively good health (aged between 66 and 92 years old; 36% women). Three main themes were identified via thematic analysis: (1) Finding things to do and activities that can protect me; (2) Identifying how my thoughts can protect me; and (3) Counting myself lucky – me and my home advantages. Some of the thematic strategies identified by older adults to manage pandemic and lockdown-related stresses related to meaning-centered coping could be further developed via cognitive behavioral therapies of the third wave.

Personal Resources, Well-Being, Internalizing and Externalizing Symptoms of Youth in Out-Of-Home Care

Abstract: Background: Many youth living in out-of-home care have higher rates of mental health problems and more negative developmental outcomes than youth who live in their biological families. Aims: While previous studies have focused primarily on risk factors that increase the likelihood of behavioral problems, this study focuses on resources that contribute to positive development. Method: As part of the EMPOWERYOU research project, youth aged 11–18 years living in out-of-home care ( n = 79, living in foster and adoptive families and residential groups) and living with their biological families ( n = 71) participated in an online survey. Youth reported on their personal resources, internalizing and externalizing symptoms, and well-being. Results: Youth in out-of-home care reported significantly fewer personal resources, less well-being, and more internalizing and especially externalizing symptoms than youth growing up in their biological families. Path analysis results showed that high self-esteem and high self-control were associated with less externalizing symptoms. Lower empathy/perspective-taking and more self-esteem were associated with less internalizing symptoms. More optimism was associated with increased well-being. These relationships were independent of family placement as there was no moderating effect for placement type. Limitations: Potential limitations arise from focusing solely on self-report and using of a cross-sectional design. Conclusion: The results highlight the relevance of promoting the personal resources of youth in out-of-home care. Since the path analysis did not reveal moderation by family placement, possible interventions do not need to be specified for them, but (already existing) effective interventions can be used.

Mental Disorders and Suicidality by Sexual Orientation Status Among First-Year College Students in France

ABSTRACT Studies indicate that non-heterosexual young adults experience higher rates of mental health problems in various settings. This study seeks to further explore these associations, distinguishing heterosexual, gay/lesbian, bisexual and individuals questioning their sexual identity. Data were drawn from the French portion of the World Mental Health International College Student survey initiative (n = 3,545). Logistic regressions were performed to estimate the associations of sexual orientation with 12-month mental disorders and suicidal ideation and behaviors. Overall, 81.6% (n = 2,894) of students identified as heterosexual, 2.9% (n = 103) as gay/lesbian, 8.5% (n = 302) as bisexual and 6.9% (n = 246) stated questioning their sexual orientation. In adjusted models, compared to heterosexuals, students identifying as bisexual reported greater odds of major depression, panic disorder, drug use disorder and suicidality, gay/lesbian students were more likely to present with panic disorder, suicidal ideation and plans, and students questioning their sexual orientation were at greater risk for generalized anxiety disorder, suicidal ideation, and plans. The study confirmed higher rates for mental health disorders for non-heterosexual young adults, with little evidence of significant differences between minority subgroups.

Sociodemographic Correlates of Mental Health Treatment Seeking Among College Students: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

College students have high rates of mental health problems and low rates of treatment. Although sociodemographic disparities in student mental health treatment seeking have been reported, findings have not been synthesized and quantified. The extent to which differences in perceived need for treatment contribute to overall disparities remains unclear. A systematic search of PubMed, PsycInfo, and Embase was conducted. Studies published between 2007 and 2022 were included if they reported treatment rates among college students with mental health problems, stratified by sex, gender, race-ethnicity, sexual orientation, student type, student year, or student status. Random-effects models were used to calculate pooled prevalence ratios (PRs) of having a perceived need for treatment and of receiving treatment for each sociodemographic subgroup. Twenty-one studies qualified for inclusion. Among students experiencing mental health problems, consistent and significant sociodemographic differences were identified in perceived need for treatment and treatment receipt. Students from racial-ethnic minority groups (in particular, Asian students [PR=0.49]) and international students (PR=0.63) reported lower rates of treatment receipt than White students and domestic students, respectively. Students identifying as female (sex) or as women (gender) (combined PR=1.33) reported higher rates of treatment receipt than students identifying as male or as men. Differences in perceived need appeared to contribute to some disparities; in particular, students identifying as male or as men reported considerably lower rates of perceived need than students identifying as female or as women. Findings highlight the need for policy makers to address barriers throughout the treatment-seeking pathway and to tailor efforts to student subgroups to reduce treatment disparities.

Mental health treatment utilization among Gulf War era veterans with probable alcohol use disorder

IntroductionAlcohol use disorder (AUD) is prevalent among veterans, and excessive alcohol use is associated with significant mental and physical health consequences. Currently, the largest cohort of veterans seeking services at the VA are those from the 1990s Gulf War Era. This cohort of veterans is unique due to the nature of their deployment resulting in a myriad of unexplained symptoms collectively known as “Gulf War Illness” and higher rates of mental health problems. The present study sought to examine the association between probable AUD and mental health treatment utilization in a sample of 1126 (882 male) Gulf War-era veterans. MethodsVeterans completed a self-report survey including the AUDIT-C, questions about mental health treatment engagement, and demographic questions. ResultsResults demonstrated that approximately 20 % of the sample screened positive for probable AUD, determined by standard AUDIT-C cutoff scores. Among those screening positive for AUD, 25 % reported engaging in mental health treatment in the past year. Veterans with probable AUD who use VA care had 3.8 times the odds of receiving mental health services than veterans not using VA care. Use of mental health services was associated with mental health comorbidity and identifying as Black/African American. ConclusionsThe results of the present study highlight a significant unmet need for mental health treatment among Gulf War-era veterans with AUD.

Mental health status and related factors influencing healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The mental health of healthcare workers during the coronavirus-2019 pandemic was seriously affected, and the risk of mental health problems was high. The present study sought to systematically evaluate the mental health problems of healthcare workers worldwide during the pandemic and to determine the latest global frequency of COVID-19 associated mental health problems. Data in the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), EMBASE, Elsevier, MEDLINE, PubMed, PsycINFO and the Web of Science before November 11, 2022, were systematically searched. Cohort, case-control and cross-sectional studies were included. The meta-analysis used a random effects model to synthesize the comprehensive prevalence rate of mental health problems. Subgroup analyses were performed based on time of data collection; whether the country was or was not developed; continent; doctors and nurses; doctors/nurses vs. other healthcare workers; and psychological evaluation scale. A total of 161 studies were included, including 341,014 healthcare workers worldwide, with women accounting for 82.8%. Occupationally, 16.2% of the healthcare workers were doctors, 63.6% were nurses and 13.3% were other medical staff. During the pandemic, 47% (95% confidence interval [CI], 35-60%) of healthcare workers reported job burnout, 38% (95% CI, 35-41%) experienced anxiety, 34% (95% CI 30-38%) reported depression, 30% (95% CI, 29-31%) had acute stress disorder, and 26% (95% CI, 21-31%) had post-traumatic stress disorder. The study found that there were common mental health problems among health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The most common was job burnout, followed by anxiety, depression, acute stress and post-traumatic stress disorder. Although the global pandemic has been brought under control, its long-term impact on the mental health of healthcare workers cannot be ignored. Additional research is required to develop measures to prevent, monitor and treat psychological disorders among healthcare workers.

Assessment of Farming and Mental Health Problems of Farmers, Selected Rural Community, Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu, India

Background: Mental health is an important issue for the agricultural community. As someone who struggles with their own mental health, it is a big problem that affects people in many ways. Farmers, and those working in the agricultural industry, are considered a vulnerable group when it comes to mental health. Long hours, working in isolation, unpredictable weather that affects the quality of the crop, animal disease and trade concerns are only some of the issues that can impact the mental stability of farmers and their families. Objectives: To assess the farming and mental health problems of farmers and to find the association between farming and mental health problems of farmers with their selected demographic variable. Method and materials: Cross sectional survey approach and descriptive design were adopted to collect the data from 200 farmers at the age of above 18 years. The structured interview was conducted by using General Health Questionnaires (GHQ-28) to assess the mental health status of farmers. Results: About 21% of farmers were affected with mental health problems. There was statistically significant association between age, gender, occupational status, number of children, marital status and annual income and mental health problems of farmers. It concluded that Farming families experience higher rates of mental health problems It is clear, however, that farming is associated with a unique set of characteristics that is potentially hazardous to mental health and requires further research.

Low access and inadequate treatment in mental health care for asylum seekers and refugees in Germany-A prospective follow-up study over 12 months and a nationwide cross-sectional study.

Refugees experience elevated rates of mental health problems, but little is known about mental health service utilization and quality among asylum seekers and refugees in Europe. In a 12-month follow-up study of newly arrived refugees (N= 166, Mage = 32.38 years, 30.7% female) and a nationwide cross-sectional study (N= 579, Mage = 33.89 years, 36.2% female) of refugees who had been living in Germany for an average of 6 years, we examined objective need for mental health treatment, perceived need, access to treatment services, and adequacy of treatment. We defined minimally adequate mental health treatment according to the WHO World Mental Health Survey as ≥8 sessions of psychotherapy (minimally adequate psychotherapy) or pharmacotherapy plus ≥4 medical visits (minimally adequate pharmacotherapy). In both studies, two in three individuals screened for mental health symptoms and additionally perceived a need for professional treatment. Of those, less than half had contact to any service provider, with only 1 in 14 receiving minimally adequate psychotherapy. Overall, no more than one in seven of refugees in need received minimally adequate treatment. Despite a comprehensive mental health-care system, refugees' access to mental health care and the treatment provided are inadequate. Health policies are urgently needed to provide equitable mental health care for all.