Significant Mental Health Challenges Research Articles

Parent Survey Identifies Low-Cost Emotional and Educational Supports in NICU and Beyond.

Families face significant mental health challenges after preterm birth. However, there are few low-cost and sustainable services to help with mental health challenges. To understand suggestions for low-cost and sustainable mental health supports to help families. This was an internet-based survey made available to preterm families through the Canadian Premature Babies Foundation social media (Facebook private parents' group). Families reported that peer support, such as connecting with other parents and families who experience preterm birth, was most beneficial. Parents also reported ways to allow families to access the existing mental health services, such as providing child care options and improving advertisement of available resources. Our results can help implement beneficial low-cost and sustainable mental health supports across many contexts (eg, hospitals and community organization) both in-person and online.

COVID-19 Infection and Risk for Neuropsychiatric Symptoms

COVID-19 Infection and Risk for Neuropsychiatric Symptoms

Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) for high-risk transgender and gender diverse (TGD) youth: A qualitative study of youth and mental health providers' perspectives on intervention relevance.

Despite the significant mental health challenges and unique treatment needs of transgender and gender diverse (TGD) youth, research on the acceptability of evidence-based treatments for these youth is limited. To address this gap, the current study explored the perceived relevance of dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) for high-risk TGD youth. Qualitative data were collected from six focus group discussions with a purposive sample of 21 TGD youth aged 18-25 years old who endorsed a history of depression, suicidality or self-harm and individual interviews with 10 mental health treatment providers with prior DBT and TGD client experience. The data were analysed inductively using thematic content analysis. The results highlighted the perceived relevance of DBT in targeting chronic and acute stressors, some of which are unique to TGD youth such as issues related to gender dysphoria, hormone-related treatment and gender identity. Possible areas for treatment modifications including the adaptation of body awareness exercises and physiological-related coping techniques for youth experiencing gender dysphoria, and the reinforcement of self-care skills, were identified. While interpersonal effectiveness skills were acknowledged as important, treatment providers highlighted a need to prioritize safety over the practice of these skills. This is because TGD youth often experience more hostile and prejudiced interpersonal experiences than their cisgender peers. The study's findings shed light on previously unexplored perspectives of TGD youth and treatment providers on the perceived relevance of DBT and provide treatment providers and implementation researchers with some critical issues to consider when working with high-risk TGD youth.

Lifestyle interventions in the management of substance use disorder.

Substance use disorder (SUD) is a persistent problem within society and an issue of increasing community awareness and concern. SUD is often comorbid with significant mental health challenges, trauma and negative social determinants of health. SUDs contribute to increased burden of chronic disease and can lead to increased mortality and shorter life expectancy, not just through overdose but also through increased rates of mental and physical chronic disease. The aim of this article is to explore the evidence regarding lifestyle interventions as either primary interventions or adjuncts to existing treatments for individuals with SUD. Lifestyle interventions can play a significant part in the management of people with SUD. These interventions play a part in SUD treatment and relapse prevention as well as improving physical and mental health and quality of life. These interventions ideally can be instituted and managed through community services and primary care.

Characteristics of mental health stability during COVID-19: An online survey with people residing in a city region of the North West of England

Background and aimDespite the significant mental health challenges the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated government measures have presented, research has shown that the majority of people have adapted and coped well. The aim of this study was i) to determine the proportion of people with mental stability and volatility during the pandemic in a North West England city region sample and ii) to establish group differences in psychosocial variables. Mental stability and volatility refer to the extent to which individuals reported change in levels of common mental health symptoms over the course of 12 weeks. No change in mental health over the 12 weeks reflected mental stability whilst change in mental health reflected mental volatility.MethodA two-wave-online survey (N = 163) was used to explore the psychological and social impact of the pandemic on relatively disadvantaged neighbourhoods within the region. The data collected represents 12 weeks of individual pandemic experience between mid-June and mid-December 2020. A three-level composite common mental health change variable was created combining self-reported anxiety and depression to group stable, volatile, and very volatile individuals in terms of the changeability of their mental health. Kruskal-Wallis with post-hoc tests were used to determine how people with mental stability and volatility differed on factors categorised within an ecological framework of resilience (individual, community, societal, and COVID-19 specific).ResultsIndividuals categorised as ‘stable’ in terms of mental health symptoms (63.6%) had better mental and physical health; were more tolerant of uncertainty; and reported higher levels of resilience and wellbeing compared to ‘very volatile’ people (19.8%). These individuals also reported feeling less socially isolated, experienced a greater sense of belonging to their community which was more likely to fulfil their needs, and were more likely to have access to green space nearby for their recommended daily exercise. ‘Stable’ individuals did not report worrying any more during the pandemic than usual and tolerated uncertainty better compared to those in the ‘volatile’ group.ImplicationsThe majority of participants in this sample were mentally stable and coping well with the challenges presented by the pandemic. The resilience of these individuals was related to key place-based factors such as a strong sense of community and useable local assets. The data showcase the role of place-based social determinants in supporting resilience and thereby highlight key preventative measures for public mental health during times of international crisis.

A mixed methods investigation of college student mental health during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic

Objective Researchers collaborated with undergraduate minority students to quantitatively and qualitatively investigate college students’ mental health during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants Participants were two convenience samples of diverse college students surveyed in June (n = 128; M age = 21.7, SD = 1.7) and December (n = 242; M age = 20.3, SD = 1.7) of 2020. Methods This study administered items from the California Health Interview Survey and open-ended qualitative items via Qualtrics. Results Across both waves, students reported significant mental health challenges and psychological distress. Students surveyed in December were three to four times more likely to report depression and anxiety. Female and older students reported heightened odds of mental health challenges. Qualitative findings elaborated on contributing factors. Conclusion During the pandemic, college students have experienced pronounced mental health challenges, potentially exacerbated by academic, professional, relational, and environmental stressors and uncertainty.

Impact of deep vein thrombosis on adolescent athletes: Navigating an invisible disability

BackgroundInjury in adolescent athletes that threatens their sport participation can result in a sense of identity loss during critical years for identity development, creating the potential for significant mental health challenges. The specific effect of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in this vulnerable population has not been characterized. PurposeTo describe the impact of DVT diagnosis, treatment, and long‐term complications on the mental well‐being of athletes who sustained a DVT during adolescence and to identify strategies to improve the quality of care for these patients. MethodsUsing a qualitative study design, athletes with a history of DVT during adolescence and their parents were recruited to participate in semistructured interviews. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis. Participants were recruited until reaching thematic saturation. ResultsIn total, 19 participants (12 athletes, 7 parents) were recruited. Athletes were mainly males (67%), median age at time of DVT was 15 years (range, 12–18 years), and median age at study participation was 19 years (range, 16–34 years). Thematic analysis revealed four main themes: Theme 1: DVT posed a threat to sport participation; Theme 2: at a personal level, there were significant mental health challenges; Theme 3: at a societal level, DVT is an invisible disability; and Theme 4: physical, psychological, and transition support are important to improve the care of these patients. ConclusionDeep vein thrombosis threatens an athlete's participation in sport, resulting in a significant and complex impact on their mental well‐being. Heightened awareness and a multidisciplinary approach are needed to help young athletes navigate the consequences of DVT.

Construct validation of measures of depression, anxiety, and functionality in Northern Haiti

BackgroundMental illness represents an increasing burden of disease and disability in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). With high levels of poverty, violence, and natural disasters, the population of Haiti is confronted with significant mental health challenges. In spite of this, few validated and culturally adapted tools exist to measure mental distress in Haitian Creole (Kreyòl). MethodsThis study applied exploratory factor analysis to examine the factor structure of three measures - the Zanmi Lasante Depression Symptom Inventory (ZLDSI) for depression, Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) for anxiety, and the Kreyòl Functional Assessment (KFA) for functionality - using cross-sectional responses collected from 96 patients at Sant Sante Mantal Mòn Pele (SSMMP), the first mental health clinic in northern Haiti, between August 2020 and February 2021. ResultsAll measures displayed good internal consistencies for the entire scale and all subscales, as measured using Cronbach's alpha. The model fit was acceptable for the KFA, marginally acceptable for the ZLDSI, and low for the BAI. The findings of this analysis suggest a one symptom category for the depression scale, two symptom categories for anxiety - somatic and affective - and three categories for functionality - agriculture, social, and caretaking. The results of this study highlight instruments which are sensitive to culturally informed diagnoses within the Haitian context. ConclusionThis study represents a promising step towards the validation of culturally-adapted measures of mental distress in Kreyòl which are needed to advance the standardization of psychometrics and diagnostics in Haiti. These efforts will not only improve identification and diagnosis of mental illness but can also help to expand biomedical services and mental health treatment throughout the country.

Mental Health and COVID-19: where are we in 2022

We have seen several disasters like 9/11, or earthquakes, which were mostly time limited to minutes or hours causing significant mental health issues and challenges for multiple years. We also know that  exposure to disasters is associated with a variety of mental health disorders including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), substance use, anxiety, panic disorders, phobias and neuropsychiatric disorders.

Effects of Ethnic Classification on Substantive Findings in Adolescent Mental Health Outcomes

Although most adolescents are healthy, epidemiological studies show that a significant number experience mental health challenges, and that Indigenous and ethnic minority youth tend to have poorer mental health outcomes. However, ethnic classification in adolescence is complex due to increasing multi-ethnic identification, and little is known about how different classification methods affect research conclusions. This study used a nationally representative adolescent sample from Aotearoa New Zealand (N = 8275; ages 12–18; 55% female; 32% multi-ethnic) to investigate the effects that five ethnic classification methods have on substantive findings in three mental health outcomes: overall psychosocial difficulties, deliberate self-harm, and suicide attempts. The results showed that, depending on the classification method used, reported outcomes within the same nominal ethnic group varied by an effect size (d) of up to 0.12, and the reported magnitude of difference between nominal ethnic groups varied by an effect size (d) of up to 0.25. These effects are substantial given that they are solely due to a change in method. The impact that ethnic classification method has on substantive findings highlights the importance of criticality and transparency in research involving ethnicity data.

Strengths of the heart: Stressors, gratitude, and mental health in single mothers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has created significant economic, social, and mental health challenges for many parents. However, single mothers (who are typically both primary caregivers and wage earners for their families) may be especially vulnerable to stress and mental health problems during this crisis. Gratitude is strongly linked to positive emotions as well as mental health and has been shown to be amendable in interventions but has rarely been assessed in regard to parent well-being. In the present study, we assessed the longitudinal relations between life stressors and gratitude on single mothers' mental health (N = 200) prior to, and during, the pandemic using quantitative and qualitative data. We found that stressors contributed to poor mental health both concurrently and across time. However, T1 gratitude was associated with lower internalizing problems at T2 (controlling for prior internalizing problems). Qualitative interviews revealed both challenges and strengths of single mothers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our findings suggest that fostering gratitude in single mothers could have benefits for their mental health and well-being. Future research should test this in an intervention and further elucidate strength-based resources that single mothers utilize to assist them during challenging times, reduce stressors, and improve their mental health. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Brief ACT for Undergraduates: A Mixed-Methods Pilot Investigation of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Delivered over Zoom

ABSTRACT University students face significant mental health challenges and often have difficulties seeking and obtaining mental health care. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) seeks to increase psychological flexibility and valued living, and is well-suited for a transdiagnostic, skills-based approach that can support students with diverse needs. Embedding interventions in university courses may reach more students. A brief, four session ACT intervention plus follow-up, “Brief ACT for Undergraduates,” was delivered by a trained graduate student to 22 students participating in an undergraduate psychology seminar. Roughly half of the sample met clinical cutoffs on validated measures. Stress and anxiety decreased at follow-up. Students rated the intervention as helpful and accessible and reported moderate engagement with skills outside of class. These pilot results suggest embedding ACT within a university course is a beneficial way to support student mental health. Study limitations and future recommendations discussed, and the need for large-scale replication and RCTs emphasized.

Resilience in the Face of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A National Study of US Military Veterans.

COVID-19 has presented significant mental health challenges, especially among vulnerable populations. Here, the authors quantify resilience to pandemic-related distress and identify factors associated with greater resilience in a cohort of US veterans.

Role of Social Media in Psychiatry During Pandemic: A Potential Risk for Suicidal Ideation.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought with itself significant mental health challenges owing not only to the morbidity and mortality from the infection but also to mitigation strategies of social distancing and self-isolation. Indeed, in the absence of adequate pharmaceutical aids, quarantine and social distancing measures are taken to limit the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Thus, living in the world of social media, the average usage of social media could be expected to show a sharp rise as measures of social distancing and quarantine are adopted to contain the pandemic. In this context, social media could be thought of as an additional preventative resource aiding the containment of the pandemic by being a key network for communication during a crisis.Because social media usage cannot be brought down to null considering the fact that it does have some positive aspects to it in terms of disposition of useful information, we could alternatively modify the reporting to be more responsible.In conclusion, we could hypothesize that social media might surge responses for some adverse mental health conditions, increasing fear, anxiety, and panic responses, even spreading suicidal ideation and therefore impacting incidence of suicide in some way. Moreover, social media should be carefully handled, particularly during the pandemic, as social media engagement spiked. Indeed, suicide news, when not reported adequately, and most dangerous social media challenges could have devastating effects among youngest users.

Psychosocial resilience: Challenges and facilitators for nurses from four New York City hospitals responding to the first wave of COVID-19, spring 2020: Qualitative findings from a mixed-methods study

Frontline workers are at great risk of significant mental health challenges as a result of responding to large-scale disasters. We conducted a mixed-methods study to identify the challenges experienced and the resources nurses drew upon during this first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in the spring of 2020 in New York City (NYC). The qualitative data presented here are on 591 nurse participants in the qualitative arm of the study. Responses to qualitative questions were reviewed by one of the investigators to identify emerging themes. Two qualitative researchers used both deductive (guided by the Resilience Theory) and inductive approaches to analysis. Challenges identified by nurses included concerns about well-being and health risk; mental health symptoms such as depres­sion, anxiety, and difficulty sleeping; fears about the ability to care for patients with severe life-threatening symptoms; and home-work challenges such as risk to family and friends; and lack of availability of institutional resources, particularly, personal protective equipment (PPE). Facilitators of resilience were institutional resources and support available; social support from coworkers, friends, and family; and positive professional identity. Recommendations for promoting resilience in future disaster/pandemic responses included clarification of disaster-related professional responsibilities, integration of disaster preparedness into professional education, and engage­ment of nurses/frontline workers in preparation plan­ning for disasters.

Interventions to address the mental health of adolescents and young adults living with or affected by HIV: state of the evidence.

IntroductionAdolescents and young adults (AYA) remain vulnerable to HIV‐infection and significant co‐morbid mental health challenges that are barriers to treatment and prevention efforts. Globally millions of AYA are living with HIV (AYALH) and/or have been affected by HIV in their families (AYAAH), with studies highlighting the need for mental health programmes. With no current guidelines for delivering mental health interventions for AYALH or AYAAH, a scoping review was undertaken to explore current evidence‐based mental health interventions for AYALH and AYAAH to inform future work.MethodsThe review, targeting work between 2014 and 2020, initially included studies of evidence‐based mental health interventions for AYALH and AYAAH, ages 10 to 24 years, that used traditional mental health treatments. Given the few studies identified, we expanded our search to include psychosocial interventions that had mental health study outcomes.Results and discussionWe identified 13 studies, seven focused on AYALH, five on AYAAH, and one on both. Most studies took place in sub‐Saharan Africa. Depression was targeted in eight studies with the remainder focused on a range of emotional and behavioural symptoms. Few studies used evidence‐based approaches such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy; psychosocial approaches included mental health treatments, group‐based and family strengthening interventions, economic empowerment combined with family strengthening, group‐based mindfulness and community interventions. Eleven studies were randomized control trials with four pilot studies. There was variation in sample size, treatment delivery mode (individual focus, group‐based, family focus), and measures of effectiveness across studies. Most used trained lay counsellors as facilitators, with few using trained mental health professionals. Eleven studies reported positive intervention effects on mental health.ConclusionsDespite the need for mental health interventions for AYALH and AYAAH, we know surprisingly little about mental health treatment for this vulnerable population. There are some promising approaches, but more work is needed to identify evidence‐based approaches and corresponding mechanisms of change. Given limited resources, integrating mental health treatment into healthcare settings and using digital health approaches may support more standardized and scalable treatments. Greater emphasis on implementation science frameworks is needed to create sustainable mental health treatment for AYALH and AYAAH globally.

The Second National Canadian Homeless Youth Survey: Mental Health and Addiction Findings: La Deuxième Enquête Nationale Auprès des Jeunes Sans Abri : Résultats en Matière De Santé Mentale et de Toxicomanie.

Youth experiencing homelessness represent a major social problem in Canada and, as demonstrated in the first national survey of this population conducted in 2015, are experiencing significant mental health challenges. The present study examines the findings of a second national survey completed in 2019. These findings afford the opportunity to examine the reliability of the findings of the first study with another large, representative sample and to attempt to articulate the unique characteristics of youth experiencing the greatest distress among this at-risk population. This study analyzed the mental-health-related data from the 2019 Without a Home-National Youth Homelessness Survey that was administered through convenience sampling at 98 agencies serving homeless youth in 49 communities across Canada. The survey was cross-sectional and self-administered, assessing a range of demographic information, pre- and post-homelessness variables, and mental health indicators. Multinomial logistic regression and linear regression were implemented to evaluate associations with distress level. Survey data were obtained from 1,375 youth accessing Canadian homeless services in 9 provinces. Thirty-five percent reported at least 1 suicide attempt, and 33.1% reported a drug overdose requiring hospitalization. The findings of this survey replicated most of the key findings from the 2015 survey. The current findings emphasized, for this high-risk population, the heightened adversity faced by young women, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Two-Spirit (LGBTQ2S), and Indigenous subpopulations, as well as the centrality of violence exposure in determining risk and distress. Sexual violence, in particular, emerged as a key factor in the identification of youth experiencing the greatest distress with risk buffered by contact with family. These findings can inform prevention and intervention policies and services and reinforce the importance of attending to violence exposure and trauma as central to the mental health trajectories of youth who have experienced homelessness.

Mental health challenges of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people: An integrated literature review.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals are often stigmatised and discriminated against. This population is expected to experience poorer mental health outcomes compared with heterosexual and cis-gendered people, a phenomenon healthcare providers need to take note of and act upon. This study aimed to explore and describe the mental health challenges of LGBT people. An integrative literature search was conducted. The following electronic databases were searched: Academic Search Premier, Africa-Wide Information, Business Source Premier, eBook Collection (EBSCOhost), E-Journals, ERIC, Family & Society Studies Worldwide, Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition, Humanities Source, MasterFILE Premier, MEDLINE, PsycARTICLES, Social Work s, TOC Premier, WorldCat.org, Taylor and Francis Journals, Biomed Central and Wiley Online Library. An internet search was also carried out using Google and Google Scholar databases. The following search terms were identified: ‘LGBT’ OR ‘LGBT community’ AND ‘mental health challenges/problems’ OR ‘mental/psychiatric illness’. The reviewed literature comprised research conducted globally between 2010 and 2019. From the 2545 titles, 345 abstracts were examined, resulting in 57 articles. The 57 full-text articles were examined to verify whether they addressed the scope of the literature review, of them, 21 addressed the mental health challenges of LGBT people. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people experience the following mental health challenges: emotional distress, stigmatisation, victimisation, discrimination and barriers to accessing healthcare services. The results showed that although LGBT has been legalised in many countries, LGBT communities still experience significant mental health challenges. Healthcare providers are in a position to address challenges related to social and healthcare structures and act as advocates in order to promote the mental health of LGBT individuals.

Urgent wake up call for the National Basketball Association.

Frequent air travel and the condensed game schedule typical of a National Basketball Association (NBA) team during the season, often results in accompanying sleep disturbances related to sleep length, sleep quality, and sleep timing (with highly harmful impacts on health, both physical and mental). These issues are not only problematic for NBA players, but also the coaches, training staff, and management support. In this narrative review, we summarize the detrimental effects that this travel and game schedule could have on NBA team members' sleep, as well as their physical and mental health. Multiple peer-reviewed articles address the role of sleep in athletic performance and health; however, to date, the literature focused on sleep-related issues that are unique to the NBA schedule is scarce. Firstly, this review addresses the impact of the NBA schedule, outlining the number of games and the travel involved (number of flights, the timing of flights, timings of arrival at destination and hotel); we also outline a typical daily NBA travel schedule, providing the reader a glimpse of what this encompasses. Secondly, we provide a brief overview of sleep science and discuss specific applications related to the NBA. Finally, we provide comment on the unique current situation of the NBA "bubble". Based on this review, there appears to be considerable scope for further investigation of the acute and chronic effects of sleep disturbances concerning the NBA travel and game schedule. Sleep science recommendations need to inform practice, target sleep interventions, and personalized protocols designed to enhance sleep health that can be incorporated at the organizational level.

Support for our health workers

A new report warns the country's healthcare workforce will face significant health, mental health and welfare challenges unless action is taken now