World Health Organization Well-Being Index Research Articles

Impact on health and well-being of working at home during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Introduction:After the onset of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, many workers were forced to start working from home, creating a new dynamic that could potentially affect their health in several ways.Objectives:To study the impact of working at home during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on a sample of Brazilian workers.Methods:This study used a cross-sectional methodology with an online survey conducted by a Brazilian human resources website from June 1 to August 15, 2020, with a sample of employees working at home during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.Results:The sample of 653 valid responses revealed that 87.7% of the survey respondents reported that the change to home working started because of the situation caused by the pandemic. However, 550 (84.2%) people from this group stated that their employer did not conduct any health and safety evaluation of their workstation in the domestic environment. Regarding physical symptoms, there were high prevalence rates of symptoms related to musculoskeletal conditions, sleeping problems, feelings of fatigue, headaches, and migraines. The study also used the World Health Organization-5 Well-Being Index instrument and there were statistically significant associations between low scores and physical symptoms of musculoskeletal conditions, feelings of fatigue, headache or migraine, heartburn and indigestion, and leg pain.Conclusions:The findings of this research confirm the importance of developing strategies and programs to preserve the health and well-being of workers who start working at home, with participation of and supervision by companies’ occupational physicians. Future investigations should continue to capture data about health, well-being, and productivity and share best practices to plan support for the occupational health of those working from home.

Urban green space and mental well-being of Aotearoa New Zealand adolescents: A path analysis

BackgroundGrowing evidence shows the positive influence of neighbourhood green space on mental well-being among adults through multiple health behaviours, but similar studies are lacking for adolescents. MethodsData were drawn from the 2019 wave of the Youth2000 survey series in Aotearoa, New Zealand with secondary school students (aged 10-19 years) from the city of Tamaki Makaurau, Auckland. Emotional well-being was measured with the World Health Organization-5 Well-being Index, and depressive symptoms were assessed using the Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale-short form. Neighbourhood green space was assessed using three different measures: percentage of green space, Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and the distance to nearest green space from place of residence. Exposure areas of these measures were calculated using Euclidean buffers of 100m, 300m, 800m and 1600m around participants’ meshblock residential addresses. Three mediating (physical activity, social cohesion, sleep) and ten control variables (in adjusted models) were included in path analysis to test the direct and indirect relationships between green space and adolescent mental well-being. ResultsIn unadjusted models, percentage of green space had a negative relationship with emotional well-being, and inconsistent effects of NDVI were detected in different buffers. Minor indirect effects of physical activity and sleep were also found. Depressive symptoms and emotional well-being were more strongly related to other individual and neighbourhood factors (e.g., neighbourhood deprivation). After adjusting for control variables, no significant associations of green space with adolescent depressive symptoms and emotional well-being were identified. ConclusionsUrban neighbourhood green space does not appear to be a dominant factor contributing to adolescent mental well-being through physical activity, social cohesion and sleep. Appropriate individual and environmental control variables are needed to take into consideration in future studies that explore the green space-mental well-being relationships in adolescents.

Reliability and Validity of Gujarati Version of WHO-5 Well-being Index in Community-dwelling Older Individuals: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Major mental health issues like depression are not yet acknowledged as considerable public health challenges. The World Health Organization (WHO-5) well-being index is a simple concise questionnaire consisting of five basic questions that evaluate respondents’ subjective well-being. The scale’s internal and external validity are good for assessing depression in older individuals. This scale serves as an essential tool to evaluate various mental health-related issues as part of regular health check-ups. Thus, there was a need to translate and validate the WHO-5 well-being index in the Gujarati language. Aim: To find out the validity and reliability of the Gujarati version of the WHO-5 well-being index in the community-dwelling older individuals. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among various community-dwelling older individuals in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, from March 2022 to August 2022. Permission was taken from the developer of the original scale and translation and validation of the scale were done according to suggestions given by the developer. A total of 60 participants and eight professionals with a mean experience of 13.5 years in the field of psychology, physiotherapy and healthcare area were involved in the examination of each item of the Gujarati version of WHO-5. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.0 was used for the statistical analysis. Results: The mean age of the participants was 67.02±4.77 years. The content validity ratio of all items of the Gujarati WHO-5 well-being scale was 1. Internal consistency of the Gujarati WHO-5 well-being scale was calculated through Cronbach’s alpha (α=0.89) suggesting high internal consistency. Test-retest reliability of the Gujarati WHO-5 well-being scale was calculated through the Interclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC=0.89) suggesting excellent test-retest reliability. Conclusion: Gujarati WHO-5 well-being scale is a simple, accurate and reliable measure for evaluating psychological well-being and mental health status.

The mental well-being of physicians in Nigeria during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background: The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has caused a crisis in healthcare systems worldwide. Doctors are on the frontline in the fight against this war. The frontline workers are putting in all their efforts and skills to caring for patients who have contracted this novel contagious virus. The mental well-being of doctors is important. The SARS-CoV-2 has become a nosocomial infection and occupational hazard to healthcare workers. Aim: The aim is to investigate the mental well-being of doctors' practicing in Nigeria during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: This is part of a larger study. It is a cross-sectional survey carried out among doctors in Nigeria. Two questionnaires were adapted and used for this which included the World Health Organisation (WHO-5) well-being index, a validated and reliable short questionnaire on mental well-being. Participants in the study were recruited online. The research populations are doctors and dentists working in Nigeria. Results: The participants were 302 comprising 195 (64.6%) women doctors. The mean WHO well-being index for women was 69.90 ± 18.81, t = 3.295; P = 0.001 which was statistically significant. Multiple regression analysis of predictors of WHO well-being among medical doctors amidst the COVID-19 pandemic for the female gender coefficient = −4.384; P = 0.048. The female gender was a predictor of poor well-being. Conclusion: The mental well-being of doctors is very important. Female doctors had significantly lower mental well-being compared to their male counterparts. Physicians should have access to psychological support from their employers regularly.

Psychological well-being and worries among pregnant women in the first trimester during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in Denmark compared with a historical group: Ahospital-based cross-sectional study.

A pandemic may negatively influence psychological well-being in the individual. We aimed to assess the potential influence of the first national lockdown in Denmark (March to June 2020) due to the COVID-19 pandemic on psychological well-being and the content and degree of worries among pregnant women in early pregnancy. In this hospital-based cross-sectional study based on self-reported data we compared psychological well-being and worries among women who were pregnant during the first phase of the pandemic (COVID-19 group) (n=685), with women who were pregnant the year before (Historical group) (n=787). Psychological well-being was measured by the five-item World Health Organization Well-being Index (WHO-5), using a score ≤50 as indicator of reduced psychological well-being. Differences in WHO-5 mean scores and in the prevalence of women with score ≤50 were assessed using general linear and log-binomial regression analyses. The Cambridge Worry Scale was used to measure the content and degree of major worries. To detect differences between groups, Pearson's Chi-square test was used. We found no differences in mean WHO-5 score between groups (mean difference) 0.1 (95% CI -1.5 to 1.6) or in the prevalence of women with WHO-5 score ≤50 (prevalence ratio 1.04, 95% CI 0.83-1.29) in adjusted analyses. A larger proportion of women in the COVID-19 group reported major worries about Relationship with husband/partner compared with the Historical group (3% [n=19] vs 1% [n=6], p=0.04), and 9.2% in the COVID-19 group worried about the possible negative influence of the COVID-19 restrictions. Our findings indicate that national restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic did not influence the psychological well-being or the content and degree of major worries among pregnant women. However, a larger proportion of women in the COVID-19 group reported major worries concerning Relationship with husband/partner compared with the Historical group and 9.2% in the COVID-19group worried about the possible negative influence of the COVID-19 restrictions.

AACE2021-A-1079: Screening for Depression Among Patients with Diabetes in an Outpatient Diabetic Clinic at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Saudi Arabia

Depression is a highly prevalent and severe medical condition with a lifetime occurrence, in the range of around 11% in economically low-income countries to 15% in high-income countries. In this study, we aimed to screen the depression level among patients with diabetes in Saudi Arabia. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 112 (age range 18-75yrs) patients with diabetes at Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The depression level was measured using two psychological screening scales, the World Health Organization Well-being Index (WHO-5) and the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). In addition to screening the depression, demographic variables, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), diabetes-related complications, type of medications used for treatment were also collected. According to the WHO-9 screening scale, male patients, ≥ 40 yrs age group, patients on the insulin pump, having diabetes for ≥ 10 yrs and patients with microvascular complications showed a high level of depression compared to their counterparts. According to the PHQ-9 screening scale, unmarried patients and patients on insulin pump showed a high level of depression compared to their counterparts. The findings of the study could be of immense assistance to the healthcare systems, educational institutions, researchers, and government to develop evidence-based programs, policies, and guidelines towards increasing the knowledge and awareness about depression among diabetes so that early detection and management can be ensured to control the increasing burden of depression among patients with diabetes in Saudi Arabia.

Psychosocial burden of inflammatory bowel disease in adolescents and young adults.

This study examined the psychosocial burden of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in young people aged 15-25 years attending a tertiary specialist health centre for adolescents and young adults in Brisbane. To describe the impact of IBD on psychosocial well-being in young people and to compare well-being in the IBD cohort to well-being among young people with other chronic conditions, with a view to identifying characteristics and challenges unique to those with IBD. Young people with IBD provided demographic information and psychosocial data through a cross-sectional self-report survey. Psychosocial data included the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire, World Health Organisation Well-being Index, Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory, Short Quality of Life Questionnaire for IBD, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, Connor Davidson Resilience Scale 2 and the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale. Surveys were collected from 51 young people with IBD and compared with surveys from 210 young people with juvenile rheumatic disease (n= 31), phenylketonuria (n=21), cystic fibrosis (n=33), renal transplants (n=14) and craniomaxillofacial conditions (n=111). On the psychosocial domains, 41% of young people with IBD had poor well-being and 37% were at risk of depression. When assessed against the comparison group, young people with IBD reported higher depressive symptoms (P=0.04), worse illness perceptions (P < 0.01) and lower internal locus of control (P < 0.01). Early recognition and treatment of depression and other psychosocial comorbidities within integrated pathways of care is crucial in adolescents and young adults with IBD and likely to improve the course of IBD and their overall health and well-being. Interventions aimed at enhancing self-efficacy and increasing public awareness are also likely to be helpful.

The psychological profile of youth and young adults with type 1 diabetes in New Zealand.

The psychological status of New Zealanders living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) is unknown. This study's purpose is to determine the prevalence of general wellbeing, diabetes-specific distress, and disordered eating, and explore their relationships with glycemic control. Participants were patients aged 15-24 years with T1D (N=200) who attended their routine multidisciplinary clinic at the Waikato Regional Diabetes Service. They completed questionnaires including the World Health Organization Well-Being Index, the Problem Areas in Diabetes scales, and the Diabetes Eating Problem Survey-Revised. Clinical and demographic information were also collected. Median age of participants was 19.3 years and 14% identified as Māori (indigenous people of Aotearoa New Zealand). Median HbA1c was 73 mmol/mol. One fifth of participants experienced low emotional wellbeing, including 7.5% who experienced likely depression. Diabetes distress was found in 24.1%, and 30.7% experienced disordered eating behaviors. Differences were identified between Māori and non-Māori in measures of diabetes distress and disordered eating, with Māori more likely to score in clinically significant ranges (50% vs. 19.9%; 53.6% vs. 26.7%, p < 0.05). Disordered eating was correlated with HbA1c , body mass index, and social deprivation; diabetes distress was associated with HbA1c and inversely with age (all p < 0.05). This study is the first of its kind to determine that New Zealanders living with T1D experience significant psychological distress. Research with larger Māori representation is needed to more closely review identified inequities. Replication in other local clinics will help contribute to the ongoing development of normative data for Aotearoa New Zealand.

Mental well-being, health, and locus of control in Danish adults before and during COVID-19.

The aim of this study was to investigate the possible impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on general health, mental well-being, and experiences of control compared to pre-pandemic populations. Our hypotheses were that we would observe a significantly lower level of psychological well-being and general health in the 2020 sample compared to the pre-pandemic samples, and that we would observe younger age groups to be the most affected. Two representative Danish populations (2016, n = 1656) and (2017, n = 3366) were compared to a representative Danish population (2020, n = 1538) sampled during the first lockdown in May 2020. Two-tailed tests of proportions were used to investigate possible differences between samples in proportions reporting poorer mental well-being measured by 5-item World Health Organization Well-Being Index, general health, and internal locus of control. Younger men (aged 18-24) and younger women (aged 18-44) as well as elderly women (aged 65-74) reported lower mental well-being during the early phase of the pandemic compared to the population from 2016. Both women and men in 2020 reported significantly lower levels of internal locus of control compared to the 2017 sample. This was especially true for younger men and women. There were no statistically significant differences in general health between populations. This study partly supports the hypothesis that the Covid-19 pandemic affected mental well-being negatively among younger persons. However, longitudinal studies are needed to investigate possible long-term effects of the pandemic on mental health and well-being. Further, qualitative studies are needed to investigate the in-depth consequences of Covid-19.

Can Viewing Nature Through Windows Improve Isolated Living? A Pathway Analysis on Chinese Male Prisoners During the COVID-19 Epidemic.

Nature exposure is known to promote life satisfaction and well-being, and indirect exposure through windows is likely to benefit isolated populations. However, whether such type of exposure can benefit prisoners, the extremely isolated population, is unknown. In the current study, we investigated 326 male prisoners from three prisons in southwest China. Psychological variables including depression, anxiety, loneliness, distress tolerance, life satisfaction, and well-being were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), short-form UCLA Loneliness Scale (ULS-6), Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), and 5-item World Health Organization Well-Being Index (WHO-5), respectively. Structural equation modeling was employed to identify the pathways from the visibility of nature through windows to prisoners' life satisfaction and well-being. Our results demonstrated that visibility of nature promoted the frequency and duration of viewing nature through windows. The frequency directly affected well-being, but the duration did not effectively affect any measured variables. The visibility of nature enhanced life satisfaction mainly via direct effects but enhanced well-being mainly via indirect effects. Regarding the indirect pathways, the visibility of nature increased distress tolerance and thus reduced loneliness and mental health problems. The reduced mental health problem, in turn, promoted life satisfaction and well-being. Our findings suggest that nature exposure through windows is effective in enhancing prisoners' life satisfaction and well-being. The policymaker may need to consider nature-based solutions such as indirect nature exposure in prions to benefit isolated populations.

21-Day Stress Detox: Open Trial of a Universal Well-Being Chatbot for Young Adults

There has been a lot of interest in digital mental health interventions but adherence to online programmes has been less than optimal. Chatbots that mimic brief conversations may be a more engaging and acceptable mode of delivery. We developed a chatbot, called 21-Day Stress Detox, to deliver stress management techniques for young adults. The purpose of the study was to explore the feasibility, acceptability, and potential efficacy of this low-intensity digital mental health intervention in a non-clinical population of young adults. The content was derived from cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and included evidence-informed elements such as mindfulness and gratitude journaling. It was delivered over 21 daily sessions using the Facebook Messenger platform. Each session was intended to last about 5–7 min and included text, animated GIFs, relaxation tracks and reflective exercises. We conducted an open single-arm trial collecting app usage through passive data collection as well as self-rated satisfaction and qualitative (open-ended) feedback. Efficacy was assessed via outcome measures of well-being (World Health Organisation (Five) Well-being Index; WHO-5; and Personal Well-being Measure; ONS4); stress (Perceived Stress Scale–10 item version; PSS-10); and anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale; GAD-7). One hundred and ten of the 124 participants who completed baseline commenced the chatbot and 64 returned the post-intervention assessment. Eighty-one percent were female and 51% were first year students. Forty-five percent were NZ European and 41% were Asian. Mean engagement was 11 days out 21 days (SD = 7.8). Most (81%) found the chatbot easy to use. Sixty-three percent rated their satisfaction as 7 out of 10 or higher. Qualitative feedback revealed that convenience and relatable content were the most valued features. There was a statistically significant improvement on the WHO-5 of 7.38 (SD = 15.07; p &lt; 0.001) and a mean reduction on the PSS-10 of 1.77 (SD = 4.69; p = 0.004) equating to effect sizes of 0.49 and 0.38, respectively. Those who were clinically anxious at baseline (n = 25) experienced a greater reduction of GAD-7 symptoms than those (n = 39) who started the study without clinical anxiety (−1.56, SD = 3.31 vs. 0.67, SD = 3.30; p = 0.011). Using a chatbot to deliver universal psychological support appears to be feasible, acceptable, have good levels of engagement, and lead to significant improvements in well-being and stress. Future iterations of the chatbot should involve a more personalised content.

Well-being and perspective of second year MBBS students on online pharmacology classes held during COVID-19 pandemic in a tertiary care teaching hospital

Background: COVID-19 pandemic shifted all the classroom teaching to virtual online platforms. The overnight change in the teaching structure posed serious challenges especially for medical education. This study aims to assess the well-being of medical students undergoing online medical education during COVID-19 pandemic and their perspective on online pharmacology classes.Methods: World health organization (WHO-5) well-being index was used to assess well-being of students. An internally validated questionnaire was used to assess student’s perspective on online pharmacology classes. The questionnaire was administered to eligible consenting students online through Google forms. The data obtained was analysed by SPSS software.Results: The mean wellness score (%) for all participants, (n=118) was 48.87%. The mean wellness score for males (58.67%) was higher than for females (42.41%). The average score for overall benefit of conducting online pharmacology classes was 3.32 out of 5. Objectively assessed online interactions like formative assessment, polls and quiz were rated higher than subjective interactions like debate.Conclusions: COVID-19 pandemic has caused massive disruption in the life of many people. In our study, we report a decreased well-being score in medical students attending virtual classes. The findings on well-being of students have implications on planning redressal mechanism in such extreme situations. Our analysis of student’s perspective about online interactions has implications beyond online classes. Some of the interactions can be instituted into regular curriculum increasing the student’s participation.

Mental health problems and COVID-19 – which came first, the chicken or the egg?

Abstract It was very clear that the COVID-19 pandemic will have an impact on mental health from the first day that it was declared.However, the scale and magnitude of the impact changed as the pandemic persisted, progressed, and transformed. After a year of social distancing, distance education, and virtual concerts, the societal fabric has changed to such an extent that it will most likely produce a long lasting impact on public mental health. The presentation will focus on the indicators of public mental health obtained from the SI-PANDA research, a bi-weekly web panel survey with a nationally representative sample of 1000 respondents per each wave of the survey. The 5-item World Health Organization Well-Being Index (WHO-5) was used to measure mental health. A cut-off score of ≤ 50 was used to screen for mental health problems, and a cut-off score ≤28 to screen for major depression. Results of the repeated cross-sectional surveys indicate continuation of trends that were present pre-pandemic. Namely, higher prevalence of mental health problems among people with lower education, adolescents and young adults, people with pre-existing chronic conditions, and people experiencing worsening financial situation during the pandemic. Trends from SI-PANDA research show that the differences (or inequities) in mental health are deepening as the pandemic progresses. People with mental health problems are at greater risk of experiencing worsening mental health during the pandemic as well as experiencing other adverse health outcomes - which are themselves a risk factor for worsening mental health. Is the downward spiral of poor mental health and COVID-19 the story of health inequities or is it a new phenomenon built on top of inequitable society?

Text Messaging Versus Email Messaging to Support Patients With Major Depressive Disorder: Protocol for a Randomized Hybrid Type II Effectiveness-Implementation Trial.

BackgroundMajor depressive disorder (MDD) accounts for 40.5% of disability-adjusted life years caused by mental and substance use disorders. Barriers such as stigma and financial and physical access to care have been reported, highlighting the need for innovative, accessible, and cost-effective psychological interventions. The effectiveness of supportive SMS text messaging in alleviating depression symptoms has been proven in clinical trials, but this approach can only help those with mobile phones.ObjectiveThis paper presents the protocol for a study that will aim to evaluate the feasibility, comparative effectiveness, and user satisfaction of daily supportive email messaging as an effective strategy compared to daily supportive text messaging as part of the treatment of patients with MDD.MethodsThis trial will be carried out using a hybrid type II implementation-effectiveness design. This design evaluates the effectiveness of an implementation strategy or intervention, while also evaluating the implementation context associated with the intervention. Patients with MDD receiving usual care will be randomized to receive either daily supportive email messaging or daily supportive text messaging of the same content for 6 months. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, and the 5-item World Health Organization Well-Being Index will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of both strategies. The implementation evaluation will be guided by the RE-AIM (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance) framework, as well as the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. All outcome measures will be analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Qualitative data will be analyzed using thematic analysis.ResultsData collection for this trial began in April 2021. We expect the study results to be available within 18 months of study commencement. The results will shed light on the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of using automated emails as a strategy for delivering supportive messages to patients with MDD in comparison to text messaging.ConclusionsThe outcome of this trial will have translational impact on routine patient care and access to mental health, as well as potentially support mental health policy decision-making for health care resource allocation.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT04638231; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04638231International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/29495

A Long-Term Pilot Study of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Subjective Well-Being Among Healthy Individuals in Comparison with Clinical Samples.

PurposeMindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) could be an intervention for improving subjective well-being among healthy individuals (HIs). However, MBCT studies for HIs to improve their subjective well-being are rare. The aim of this study was to report the feasibility, safety and effectiveness of MBCT for HIs in comparison with clinical samples.Patients and MethodsWe conducted a single-arm, pre-post comparison pilot study offering MBCT to both HIs and people with common mental disorders. Twenty-four participants in total were included in the study. Eight weekly two-hour sessions with six monthly boosters were offered to all participants. Assessment was carried out at baseline, week 4, 8, and during follow-up. The 5-item World Health Organization Well-Being Index (WHO-5) was the primary clinical outcome measure.ResultsThe results showed the MBCT is sufficiently safe and would be more feasible in HIs compared to in clinical samples (attendance rate: 81.5% vs 61.3%, p=0.06). Although Satisfaction with Life Scale, the other scale of subjective well-being used, improved significantly at week 20 (p=0.01), no significant improvement was seen in WHO-5. The results of the sub-group analysis revealed WHO-5 improved significantly at week 8 and 32 among the subjects whose baseline scores began in the lower half.ConclusionMBCT is sufficiently safe and would be more feasible with HIs compared to the clinical samples. In designing randomized controlled trials, selecting HIs with lower subjective well-being would be reasonable to minimize the “ceiling effect” on outcomes.

OP03.05: Mental wellbeing among pregnant and postpartum women during the COVID‐19 pandemic: a large international survey

To assess the mental well-being of pregnant and postpartum women during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional, web-based international survey was carried out between May 15 and October 15, 2020. The survey was available in English, Spanish, Italian and Russian and promoted through social media and health care professionals. The questions evaluated sociodemographic characteristics, medical and obstetric history, COVID-19 symptoms and infection. The World Health Organization well-being index (WHO-5) was used to assess mental health status. Pregnant and postpartum women up to 12 months postpartum who were older than 18 years of age were eligible. Women were classified as having a low (WHO-5 ≦52) or high (WHO-5 > 52) mental well-being. Multivariate linear regression was used to identify factors associated with low mental well-being. A total of 4221 patients provided valid surveys for analysis (3324 pregnant and 897 postpartum women). The mean (±SD) WHO-5 scores for pregnant and postpartum women were 54.3 ± 20.3 and 54.7 ± 21, respectively. Low mental well-being was observed in 42% and 40% of pregnant and postpartum women respectively. Factors associated with low mental well-being included residence in a South American country (p < 0.001), being a single mother (p < 0.001), smoking (p < 0.001), having a respiratory or a psychiatric disorder (p = 0.02 and 0.03 respectively), multiparity (p < 0.001), the presence of symptoms like difficulty breathing (p = 0.02), diarrhoea (p = 0.04) and muscle pain (p < 0.001), and the pandemic period (p < 0.001). The second and third trimesters of pregnancy and the postpartum period were associated with higher mental well-being compared to the first trimester (p < 0.001). A history of hospital admission, pneumonia, or intensive care unit admission due to COVID-19 infection was not associated with worse mental well-being score. Sociodemographic characteristics, and not the SARS-COV-2 infection, were the determinants of mental well-being among pregnant and postpartum women during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Improvement in Children’s Mental Health and Cognitive Abilities with Yogic Breathing: A Pilot Study

Introduction: Children as young as 6 or 7 years old face numerous stressful situations at home and outside their homes. During this time, when learning and growth should be the priority, young minds often struggle with constant pressure to compete with their peers in their academic careers. This study examines the effects of a breath-based yogic technique in improving the child’s mental health and cognition. Method: A study was conducted among the students who underwent the yogic breathing workshop (Utkarsha Yoga). Cognition was measured using the six-letter cancellation test (SCLT). The mental well-being of the students was assessed using the World Health Organization well-being index (WHO-5) and the Child Perceived Stress Scale (C-PSS). Results: 73% of the population showed a significant improvement in the mental well-being post-workshop. 56% of the population experienced a significant decrease in stress levels post yogic breathing intervention and by following the programme, the cognitive abilities improved by 27% in children. Conclusion: The results for this pilot study demonstrate the Yogic Breathing Technique (YBT) to be an effective tool for children to develop a calm and happy state of mind.

Evaluating Well-being at Community Level.

ObjectiveTo measure well-being at a community level using a valid instrument.Patients and MethodsWritten surveys were mailed to a random sample of residents in Olmsted County, Minnesota, in 2015 and 2019 including the 5-item World Health Organization Well-being Index (0-100; for which 100 is the best imaginable well-being or quality of life). Multivariable hierarchical regression was used to evaluate the association between well-being and demographic characteristics, comorbid conditions, and environmental factors.ResultsThe survey was returned by 1232 of 4000 individuals (response rate, 30.80%). The average well-being score was 70.02. Impaired well-being was identified in 223/1187 individuals (18.79%). Adjusted regression models showed that impaired well-being was independently associated with household poverty, financial stress, reduced access to medical or mental health care, ever having depression diagnosed, living in an unsafe community, or being socially isolated.ConclusionOne in 5 people in a county in the US Midwest have impaired well-being. Well-being was associated with several modifiable factors. Data provide a rationale for policies that align transportation and housing and create opportunities for community members to connect and interact in a safe environment.

Relationships between reduction in symptoms and restoration of function and wellbeing: Outcomes of the Oral Ketamine Trial on Suicidality (OKTOS)

Recovery of functioning is integral to successful treatment outcomes in depressive illness. Optimal antidepressant treatment results in both symptomatic remission and functional recovery. Oral ketamine rapidly reduces suicidality and depression; however, reports of functional and wellbeing outcomes are lacking. This study examines participants’ social and occupational functioning and wellbeing outcomes in the Oral Ketamine Trial on Suicidality (OKTOS). Thirty adults with chronic suicidality participated in the trial over 10 weeks. Functional recovery and wellbeing were assessed using the Social and Occupational Functioning Scale (SOFAS) and World Health Organization Well-Being Index (WHO-5). Suicidality and depressive symptoms were assessed using the Beck Scale for Suicidal ideation (BSS) and Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). Relationships between the four treatment outcomes were analysed. Forty-three percent of participants achieved healthy function (SOFAS ≥ 80) and 27% reported healthy wellbeing (WHO-5 > 60%) at the four-week post-treatment follow-up. Wellbeing was revealed as the data-derived treatment endpoint for the sample. Effect sizes for functioning and wellbeing outcomes were smaller than for suicidality and depression outcomes. Results suggest that reduction in depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation may be necessary but not sufficient for full restoration of function and wellbeing in antisuicidal and antidepressant therapy, including clinical trials.

The Mediating Role of Resilience in the Relationship between Perceived Stress and Mental Health.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created great uncertainty around the world, and due to the pandemic, nurses have been exposed to an increase in highly stressful clinical situations. This study examines the relationships between perceived stress and emotional disorders among nurses who have provided direct patient care during the COVID-19 pandemic and explores the mediating role of resilience in these relationships. In an online cross-sectional design, we asked Spanish nurses (N = 214) to complete self-reported scales, and we performed correlation and mediation analyses between perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale, PSS-4), resilience (Wagnild Resilience Scale, RS-14), wellbeing (World Health Organization Wellbeing Index, five items, WHO-5), anxiety (PHQ-2) and depression (GAD-2). The nurses self-reported moderate levels of perceived stress, considerable psychological distress and high resilience. We found resilience to be significantly negatively correlated with the reported levels of perceived stress, anxiety and depression (p < 0.001). The mediating analysis revealed that resilience played a protective role in the direct relationships of stress with depression, anxiety, and psychological distress. To conclude, our findings supported the hypothesis that resilience mediated the relationship between stress and mental health.