Mental Health: Global Challenges Journal
Not a member yet
143 research outputs found
Sort by
Suicidality among Immigrants: A Qualitative Profile of Studies on Experiences of Immigrants in Canada, United Kingdom and United States of America
Get PDFIntroduction: Migration is a hallmark feature of globalization. Migration is a global phenomenon; thereby, mental health of individuals must also be considered from the viewpoint of broader indicators such as migration. Migration, mental health and suicidality are connected in a unique pattern in the globalized world.
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to understand patterns of suicidality among immigrants by considering their experiences in Canada, United Kingdom and United States of America.
Methodology: This study is a multicounty thematic review. Databases including Sociological Abstracts, CINAHIL and EBSCO host, Medline and EMBASE were searched to identify studies through keyword search. Braun and Clark (2019) thematic analysis technique was used to analyze the data.
Results: A total of 5 major themes were extracted which also included sub-themes. There is evidence of prevalence of higher suicidality among immigrants. Suicidal behavior and specific countries of origin are considerable regarding suicidality. Key contributors to suicidality among immigrants in Canada, UK and the USA include language barriers, worrying about family back home, separation from family, assimilation and acculturation and homelessness. Social support and protective factors can be effectively used with understanding and realization of the issue.
Conclusion: Immigrants in Canada, UK and the USA are more vulnerable to suicidality as compared to other segments of population. Mental health is the major culprit whereby social, economic and cultural factors make immigrants vulnerable to suicidalit
From Physical Frailty to Psychosocial Maladaptation: Predicting Mental Reserve and Quality of Life in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
Get PDFIntroduction: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are a serious challenge for global health care systems, as they affect not only the physical condition but also the psychological resilience and social adaptation of patients. Frailty syndrome, traditionally considered a problem of geriatrics, is increasingly being diagnosed in adult patients with chronic conditions such as IBDs, acting as a critical predictor of depletion of mental reserve and significant deterioration in quality of life (QofL).
Purpose:To evaluate the possibilities of the adapted use of the "Clinical Frailty Scale" as a tool for predicting psychosocial well-being in adult patients with inflammatory bowel diseases by verifying its prognostic significance in comparison with the comorbidity level and indicators of quality of life
Methodology: The study included 248 patients with IBD: 117 with Crohn's disease (Group I), 131 with ulcerative colitis (Group II) and 82 healthy volunteers (Control group). The average age is 43.34 ± 21.57 years. A multidisciplinary assessment approach was used: "Clinical Frailty Scale" (CFS) to determine functional reserve; the CIRS scale for assessing the severity of comorbidity; and the SF-36 questionnaire for QofL analysis, with a particular focus on the relationship between physical and mental health components.
Results: The obtained data confirmed a significant depletion of functional and psychoemotional resources in patients with IBD compared to the control group. The average CFS score in patients with ulcerative colitis (4.2±0.6) and Crohn's disease (3.1±1.2) was 1.5–2.0 times higher than in healthy subjects (2.1±0.97, p<0.05). A high level of comorbidity (according to the CIRS-IS and CIRS-CI scales) showed a strong correlation with a decrease in mental health scores according to the SF-36 questionnaire. The results of the correlation analysis show that frailty in IBD is not just an isolated physical symptom, but a complex psychosocial burden caused by a long-term chronic disease that leads to the loss of "mental reserve".
Conclusion: The obtained results emphasize the urgent need to implement an integrated approach in managing IBD. The use of frailty assessment in routine clinical practice enables the timely detection of risks associated with psychological maladjustment in patients. To overcome the challenge of IBD, medical systems must focus on holistic care models — this involves a transition from purely biological treatment to taking into account all aspects of a person's life. Such models should be aimed at preserving both physical functionality and mental well-being and QofL of patient
Emotional Regulation and Subjective Well-Being in Adolescents: A Systematic Review
Get PDFIntroduction: Emotional regulation and its relationship with subjective well-being are relevant phenomena to study, especially during adolescence, a critical period marked by significant changes in mental health and social development. These antecedents underscore the importance of studying how emotional regulation can act as a protective factor for adolescents' subjective well-being. Purpose: The purpose of this systematic review was to investigate the impact of emotional regulation on adolescents' subjective well-being. Methodology: The search was conducted following the PRISMA methodology in the Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and Scielo databases, and the methodological quality was also assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Results: A total of 16 studies met the inclusion criteria, highlighting that adaptive emotional regulation strategies, particularly cognitive reappraisal and acceptance, are consistently associated with higher levels of life satisfaction, happiness, and self-esteem. Moreover, these strategies act as protective factors against depression, anxiety, and emotional distress. Studies employing longitudinal designs suggest that emotional regulation fosters resilience and improves adolescents' long-term well-being. Conversely, maladaptive strategies such as rumination and suppression were linked to lower subjective well-being and increased psychological distress. Conclusions: The findings underscore the critical role of emotional regulation in fostering adolescent well-being. Specifically, interventions that promote cognitive reappraisal and acceptance may enhance psychological resilience and overall life satisfaction. Future research should explore the long-term effects of emotional regulation training and its integration into educational and clinical settings to support adolescent mental healt
Research Progress on Baduanjin Qigong for Depression Prevention and Treatment in the Last Decade
Get PDFIntroduction: Depression is a prevalent psychiatric disorder with substantial social and health burdens, and conventional pharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatments remain limited by side effects, poor tolerability, and variable efficacy. Baduanjin Qigong, a traditional Chinese mind–body exercise, has recently emerged as a promising complementary intervention.
Purpose: This review aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Baduanjin in the prevention and treatment of depression, with particular attention to its role as a stand-alone therapy and as an adjunct to pharmacological, psychotherapeutic, and exercise-based interventions.
Methodology: A systematic search of PubMed and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure was conducted for studies published between 2015 and 2024 using English and Chinese keywords. Eligible studies examined Baduanjin interventions for depressive symptoms and met criteria for peer-reviewed clinical research. Sixteen studies were included, and qualitative synthesis was performed.
Results: Evidence indicates that Baduanjin effectively reduces depressive symptoms, alleviates anxiety, and improves quality of life across diverse populations. As a stand-alone therapy, it enhances mood and sleep quality, while adjunctive use with antidepressants, psychotherapy, or other modalities produces superior outcomes compared with single treatments. Safety analyses consistently reported minimal adverse events, highlighting its feasibility as a low-risk intervention.
Conclusions: Baduanjin demonstrates significant potential as an effective, safe, and scalable therapy for depression. However, most studies remain limited by small samples, short follow-up periods, and heterogeneous protocols. Future research should pursue larger, standardized, and long-term trials to strengthen the evidence base and inform global clinical adoptio
A Quantitative Study on Vietnamese University Students’ Perceptions of Mental Illness
Get PDFIntroduction: Mental illness is a global issue that affects various population groups, including university students. Gaining insights into students' perspectives on mental illness plays a vital role in fostering mental health awareness and combating stigma in educational environments
Purpose: The present study aimed to investigate Vietnamese undergraduate students’ knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes of mental illness by focusing on the dimensions: (i) the level of knowledge students possess about the causes and manifestations of mental illness, and (ii) their attitudes towards individuals experiencing mental health problems.
Methodology: Using a descriptive cross-sectional design, this study involved 350 undergraduate students from five universities in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Data collection was conducted between June and July 2024 and utilized the Perception Towards Persons with Mental Illness (PWMI) Scale adapted from previous studies. Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Science software, version 25 (IBM SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA).
Results: The results indicated that approximately 80.6% knew about mental illness, and 70.5% perceived mental illness as a common or quite common phenomenon in Vietnam. Regarding the etiology of mental illness, a significant majority identified "bad things happening to you" as a cause (73.3%), followed by substance abuse (51.4%) and brain disease (50.0%). The findings also revealed that, despite some positive perceptions and attitudes, many responses clustered around the neutral option, particularly for controversial or personal items.
Conclusions: The findings of this study underscore the need for targeted educational interventions to foster more informed and compassionate attitudes towards individuals with mental illness among undergraduate students
The Climate Crisis and Indigenous Youths’ Mental Health: The Pilot Project
Get PDFIntroduction: The climate crisis significantly and disproportionately impacts Indigenous Peoples across Turtle Island, and worldwide. Some major issues faced are threats to reserve lands, food sovereignty, and traditional employment. The harms caused by climate change have been uniquely placed on Indigenous youth as both the future and current caretakers and land defenders of Turtle Island, impacting the mental health of our youth. Yet, their perspectives are rarely included in scholarly literature, research, or decision-making on environmental policy.Purpose: This article outlines findings from initial pilot phases of a climate crisis research project regarding the perspectives of Indigenous youth on the impacts of the climate crisis on their mental health and recommendations for service providers.Methodology: The findings outline themes and perspectives from Talking Circles with youth and Elders, as well as the development of a play created and performed in collaboration with an Indigenous theatre expert and our community partner, 2-Spirited People of the 1st Nations, in Toronto. Additionally, a quantitative survey was conducted to gather audience feedback on the performance.Results: 4 qualitative themes emerged: anxiety, fear and powerlessness; finding voice & using voice; autonomy & decolonization in government; education, educating & training youth. Audience feedback was mainly positive, impactful and inspiring. 6 main recommendations for policy and service delivery shifts were also acquired.Conclusion: This research responds to the emergent need for the inclusion and empowerment of Indigenous youth voices on the ongoing climate crisis and investigates its impacts on Indigenous youth mental health. Overall, the study had a positive impact on Indigenous youth mental health, with future research underway. Recommendations for programming and policy changes provided to continue supporting positive Indigenous youth mental health and wellness
Leveraging Communities of Practice to Sustain Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Crisis Contexts
Get PDFIntroduction: Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) services are critically important in times of social and humanitarian crisis, ensuring public health and social stability. Despite their significance, access to MHPSS globally, especially in resource-limited countries, remains insufficient, hindering long-term community recovery. International guidelines (IASC, WHO) call for systemic and integrated approaches, as providing sustainable psychosocial support is a global priority.
Purpose: This article aims to demonstrate how Communities of Practice (CoPs) can ensure the continuity and sustainability of MHPSS services at the community level. We seek to bridge the gap between the development of effective psychosocial interventions and their widespread practical application. Specifically, we explore how MHPSS professionals and community members can acquire the necessary skills for localized support and how to create sustainable spaces for continuous learning and knowledge exchange.
Approach: This work employs a review-based approach, combining the analysis of scholarly sources and practical examples to develop a conceptual model. We examined reports and recommendations from international organizations (IASC, WHO) and academic publications to identify barriers and opportunities for scaling up MHPSS. CoPs are viewed as a flexible infrastructure for service continuity. The proposed model for implementing MHPSS programs through CoP development covers stages from initial analysis to supervision. The practical application of the model and its effectiveness in service decentralization are illustrated with examples from Ukraine (Resilience Centres) and Poland (WHO mhGAP initiative).
Results: The MHPSS Program Implementation Model based on CoP Development, which we propose, comprises eleven stages – from adapting international programs to their integration into state policy, focusing on continuous learning and effective coordination.
Conclusion: The effective scaling of psychosocial support is a complex process that requires conscious strategic planning, engagement of all stakeholders, and, most importantly, political will for the institutionalization of these services at the state level. The fundamental importance of continuous psychosocial support necessitates not just isolated interventions but a holistic, interconnected network of services operating at various levels to meet diverse population needs. This requires both horizontal integration (intersectoral cooperation: health, education, social protection, volunteer, and community organizations) and vertical integration (multi-level approach from primary to specialized care). Close coordination among state institutions, international partners, and civil society is indispensable for ensuring the continuity and consistency of MHPSS and prioritizing mental health at the national level
Mental Health Impacts on protestors and victims’ families of the July Movement-2024 in Bangladesh: Research Letter
No full textIntroduction: The July Uprising 2024 in Bangladesh inflicted enormous psychological trauma on the victims. During the July movement of 2024, over 1400 civilians, predominantly youth, were killed, and more than 13539 individuals sustained injuries due to the Hasina government.
Purpose: This study aims to explore the mental health status of protestors and victims’ families during the July Uprising 2024 in Bangladesh; and suggest policy recommendations to protect the victims of July Uprising 2024 based on the findings.
Methodology: This study used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) to analyze the mental health status of July’s protestors. The study collected data from secondary sources, and also used 3 studies which collected from secondary sources.
Results: The analysis showed that a significant number of injured protestors are hospitalized, and their families have lost all of their savings in order to continue the treatment. Depression, anxiety, distress, and sleep disruption are frequent experiences among those family members. The protestors continue to experience trauma five to six months post-incident.
Conclusion: The Government of Bangladesh must provide accessible mental health treatments, counseling, awareness campaigns, and financial support for victims and families impacted by the July 2024 movement through public-private partnership
Homeopathic Management for Children with Oppositional Defiant Disorder: A Clinical Study
Get PDFIntroduction: Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is a disruptive behavioural disorder, characterized by enduring patterns of negativistic, disobedient, and hostile behaviour toward authority figures, as well as an inability to take responsibility for mistakes, leading to placing blame on others. Children frequently argue with adults and become easily annoyed by others, leading to anger, resentment and may have difficulty in the class room. It significantly affects the mental health and increasing the risk of developing other mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and substance abuse disorders.ODD is a rising concern in paediatric mental health. There is a growing global demand for non-drug, integrative approaches that are safe, effective, and culturally acceptable. This study addresses that gap by evaluating individualized homeopathy in a clinical settingPurpose: This study aims to investigate the behavioural changes in children and its impact on the mental health in the context of managing of the oppositional defiant disorder on complementary medicine through homeopathy medicines.Methodology: 45 children were diagnosed with Oppositional defiant disorder with the age between 5 to 15 years. Three children dropped out, resulting in a total of 42 children completing the study. Pre and Post Assessment was done using Vanderbilt Assessment Scale. Post assessment was done at 6th, 12th and 18th month.Results: Out of 42 cases, 6 (14.28%) cases with mild improvement, 22 (52.38%) cases with moderate improvement, 10 (23.80%) cases with marked improvement and 4 (9.52%) cases showed no improvement.Conclusion: Individualized homeopathic treatment has shown a positive role for the management and treatment of disruptive behavioural disorder. Further research through randomized, placebo-controlled trials is necessary to confirm efficacy and to guide clinical application more robustly.
Trail Registration: Clinical Trial Registry India (CTRI/2022/09/046020)
Parental Involvement and the Psycho-Emotional Development of Children in Crisis Conditions: Findings from the Third Wave of Multilevel Monitoring: Literature review
No full textIntroduction: This article presents the findings of the third wave of monitoring conducted within the framework of the project "Improving Access to Early Childhood Education Services in Emergency Situations." The study explores the impact of parenting practices on the development of emotional intelligence, self-esteem, and stress resilience in children aged 3 to 6 under crisis conditions.
Purpose: To examine the impact of parenting practices on the development of emotional intelligence, self-esteem, and stress resilience in children under crisis conditions; to identify factors contributing to emotional safety and areas of vulnerability; and to develop approaches for supporting mental health.
Methodology: The third wave of monitoring the development of children aged 3 to 6 in crisis conditions employed a mixed-methods approach (quantitative and qualitative) to analyze the influence of parenting practices on emotional intelligence, self-esteem, and stress resilience. The study covered 70 indicators across five developmental domains. A total of 3,820 parents from eight regions participated in the survey (April 2025), accompanied by five months of observations, activity analysis, and expert evaluations. Data were processed using Google Sheets, and a development index was calculated on a 0–1 scale. The ontogenetic approach ensured the validity of assessments. Ethical standards were upheld throughout the study.
Results: The results of the study showed that parental emotional involvement is a key factor in the formation of emotional intelligence and support for children's mental health. Both positive trends (empathetic upbringing, support for self-esteem, development of emotional understanding) and areas of vulnerability (low level of use of bodily, play, verbal practices; difficulties in communicating about fears; emotional burnout of parents) were identified.
Conclusion: The study emphasizes the importance of assessing the psycho-emotional development of preschool children under crisis conditions and demonstrates the pivotal role of parental emotional involvement. A positive dynamic in children’s self-regulation, self-esteem, and stress resilience was confirmed in the presence of stable adult support. At the same time, the limited use of play-based and body-oriented practices (reported by fewer than 30% of families) points to a risk area. The monitoring confirmed the effectiveness of the “2 by 2” model and highlighted the need to strengthen parental education initiatives focused on fostering children's emotional intelligence through everyday interaction