Mental Health: Global Challenges Journal
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Undergraduate Student’s Stress, Anxiety, Depression and their Coping styles during Covid-19
Get PDFIntroduction: COVID-19 was responsible for widespread disturbance throughout the educational system and was harmful in a variety of ways. In particular with regard to the state of a student’s psychological health.
Purpose: This study examines the relationship between psychological distress (depression, anxiety, and stress) and coping strategies among the students of a private university in Bangladesh during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methodology: A cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted from September 2020 to December 2021 on 951 respondents using the DASS-21 and Brief-COPE questionnaires.
Results: The majority of students were experiencing mild to extremely severe depression (75.8%), anxiety (88.5%), and stress (79.1%). The level of stress (p<.001), anxiety (p<.001), and depression (p=.23) was significantly higher among the female students compared with male students. This study also highlights the coping strategies of students. However, sex differences were not profound in adopting coping strategies. The results also showed significant correlation between some Brief-COPE measures, such as acceptance and self-blame (r=.708, p<.001); use of informational support and emotional support (r=.599, p<.001).
Conclusion: As the prevalence of mental health disorders was found to be higher among private university students, university authorities should seek necessary assistance from mental health professionals to support their students in overcoming psychological distress not only related to the pandemic but also related to their day-to-day life activities
Mental Health Advocacy in The Gambia, West Africa
Get PDFIntroduction: To promote mental health globally, including low-and middle-income countries, research and advocacy are essential. The Republic of The Gambia is one of the smallest countries in the world and is the focus of this research.
Purpose: This study examines social and cultural aspects of access to mental health treatment in The Gambia, West Africa.
Methodology: The population of focus consisted of adults over 18 living in The Gambia. The methodological approach was a qualitative phenomenological study involving semi-structured interviews conducted via Zoom, by a researcher from The Gambia.
Results: Data were collected from 17 participants living in The Gambia at the time of the study. A team of analysts with diverse backgrounds evaluated transcripts and identified five themes highlighting social and cultural conceptualizations of mental health and mental illness, sociocultural determinants of health, interventions, barriers to care, and legal frameworks to support mental health change.
Conclusions: The findings from this study are significant for mental health providers who seek to understand different perceptions of mental health and mental illness and the associated stigma. Furthermore, this study suggests several opportunities for mental health advocacy in The Gambi
Using CBT for Depression: A Case Study of a Patient with Depressive Disorder Due to a Medical Condition (Infertility)
Get PDFIntroduction: Infertility increases the risk for psychopathology more often in women, who can develop symptoms in mood disorders and chronic stress. Depression is one frequent psychological consequence of this medical condition and if it’s not being addressed accordingly, depressive symptoms can lead to delays in the onset of medical treatment, impairments in its outcomes and, likewise, poses a risk on the patient's mental health. Purpose: The purpose of this case study was to disseminate a specific example of how infertility affects mental health, offering a multidisciplinary approach from both traditional CBT and health psychology. In addition to this, the case study presents important cultural aspects regarding psychotherapeutic process and access to health care. Methodology: This is a descriptive and explanatory case study where multiple quantitative data sources have been used such as self-reported inventories: The Fertility Problem Inventory (FPI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and The Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS), in addition to a semi-structured clinical interview. Results: Results showed an improvement in mood, acquisition of a more adaptive thinking style, healthy coping mechanisms and self-help strategies to support the patient post-therapy. The contribution of cultural orientation and wellbeing-centered recommendations are being discussed. Conclusion: The improvement of healthcare services relies on such presentations of case studies that can shift the focus in new directions of good clinical practices
Prevalence of depression and anxiety among university students during COVID-19 in Bangladesh: A cross sectional study
Get PDFIntroduction: The COVID-19 outbreak has become a challenging crisis for public health. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the indefinite closure of educational institutions in Bangladesh has a severe impact on the mental health of students.
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate factors that might have considerable influence on the mental health of students during quarantine in Bangladesh though they did not explore in previous studies on mental health status during the pandemic.
Methodology: A standardized questionnaire was generated using PH9 and GAD7 to measure depression and anxiety levels. A total of 203 responses were collected from university students of Bangladesh through social media.
Results: Descriptive statistics found that 37% of the students experienced moderate to severe anxiety while 54% faced moderate to severe depression. Ordinal Logistic Regression analysis found that anxiety is significantly related to gender, students’ current affiliation status in university (e.g., sophomore, masters), and time spent on watching TV while depression was related to family member’s contact with Covid-19, performing multiple activities as hobbies, and spending time in reading and writing.
Conclusions: This study adds valuable findings in the existing literature, and it will help Students, university authorities, and government can take productive steps to tackle mental health issue
Mental health policy reactions during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in two worst-hit WHO European countries: a narrative review and lessons for the aftermath of mental health care
Get PDFIntroduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging the health care systems and public wellbeing unprecedentedly. The United Kingdom and Turkiye were the countries worst hit by the pandemic in the World Health Organization European region.
Purpose: This review investigated the mental health policies in these countries which draw a contrasting pattern of mental health care, sociodemographic background, and income level. Following the investigation, we recommended the possible directions to be pursued by European policymakers
Methodology: The documents were picked from the health policy sections from the websites of international organizations (European Parliament, OECD, WHO, UN), online data and policy reports of national ministerial bodies, and general web search. Later, the papers were reviewed and the author identified the main concepts of the responses to discuss after policy review. The study was designed as a review; therefore, no statistical framework was conducted.
Results: Identified concepts were as follows: a) continuing service provision for people with mental health conditions, b) digital mental health care interventions, c) building psychological resilience for citizens.
Conclusions: A strategy only focusing on treating mental health conditions will not be sustainable during the post-pandemic era. It is essential to address mental health in all policies to foster a strong mental health care syste
What mental illness means in different cultures: Perceptions of mental health among refugees from various countries of origin
Get PDFIntroduction: Mental illness remains a significant issue in refugees worldwide. Internationally, there continues to be stigma surrounding mental health, mental illness, and mental health treatment. Cultural stigma is just one of many barriers to mental healthcare for refugees. Perceptions of mental health are culture-specific and continue to play a role in refugees.
Purpose: The purpose of this review study is to make distinctions between the perceptions of mental health of refugees based on country of origin because knowing these cultural differences has the potential to improve refugee mental healthcare. This knowledge could contribute to treatment approaches and help break some of the barriers to mental healthcare for refugees.
Methodology: An extensive literature review of relevant articles published between 2000-2021 was performed using the databases APA PsycInfo, Global Health, MEDLINE via Ovid, CINAHL Plus with Full Text, and Google Scholar. The following search terms, in addition to other related and relevant terms, were used: “mental health, refugees, mental health barriers, perceptions of mental illness, country of origin.”
Results: There were both numerous similarities and differences between the perceptions of mental health among refugees from different cultures. There were similarities in terms of mental health stigma, with certain cultures thinking of mental health/illness as taboo, as shameful, or associating it with evil spirits. A few of the cultures studied had similar ideas about the causes of mental illness, believing it was due to traumatic events or possession by evil spirits. The refugee groups had some common treatment options, including informal conversation, religious-based ideas, and community-level solutions. Some differences between refugees from different cultures involved certain symptoms associated with mental health, including physical symptoms, and differing degrees of religiosity.
Discussion: Based on studies reviewed about the perceptions of mental health of various refugee cultures, many recommendations are proposed to improve refugee mental healthcare. Suggestions include focusing on cultural competency and community-level solutions, in addition to implementing mobile health clinics and telehealth.
Conclusions: This review discusses the perceptions of mental health, mental illness, and mental health treatment of refugees from numerous countries of origin. It is unique in its inclusion of different groups of refugees. Culture seems to play a significant role in the perceptions encountered. Keeping culture in mind, several recommendations are made to improve refugee mental healthcare, such as more integrative treatment methods and telehealth.  
Witness as Victim: Clinical Encounters with Children Who Observed Violence
Get PDFIn the spring months of 2022, Human Rights Watch, the international humanitarian group, released stunning details of the carnage in the regions around Chernihiv and Kyiv that Russia left behind. In a report released from May 2022, Human Rights Watch stated that it was currently investigating 22 potential summary executions, nine other unlawful killings, six possible kidnappings, seven cases of torture and 21 reported incidents of other forms of “unlawful confinement in inhuman and degrading conditions” carried out by Russian forces against civilians. But even this report doesn’t take into account traumatic impact on witnesses. Having witnessed the crime once, the witness continues to see the world through the prism of the observed violenc
Mental health disorders in patients with end-stage renal failure
Get PDFRenal failure is commonly accompanied by psychological distress compounding to mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. Common risk factors towards the development of mental health disorders in people with renal failure include the need to attend regular hemodialysis session and the burden of related complications. A growing body of evidence has elucidated the biochemical and immunological underpinnings of mental health disorders in the context of renal failure. This knowledge calls for strengthening the existing mental health support frameworks and conducting research with the reported molecular pathways as potential therapeutic target
Analysis of current approaches to the treatment and quality of life improvement in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease in case of its combination with the syndrome of undifferentiated connective tissue dysplasia
Get PDFWhen the structure of the connective tissue is disturbed, the probability of developing pathology of the internal organs increases. The gastrointestinal tract is one of the systems that is most often involved in the pathological process in the case of such disorders. Due to its mesenchymal origin, the esophagus is one of the first to suffer.
Normalization of mineral metabolism, correction of immunological and bioenergetic status are the main tasks in the treatment of such patients. Therapy with magnesium drugs, vitamins, anabolic drugs, ?-blockers, aldosterone antagonists, and amino acid drugs should also be used for this purpose. Patients in this group should also take drugs that contain vitamin D
Dynamics of quality of life indicators in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease comorbid with connective tissue dysplasia under the influence of complex treatment
Get PDFIntroduction. In the case of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) on the background of undifferentiated connective tissue dysplasia (UCTD) causes an even more significant deterioration in the QOL, including sleep disturbances and the onset of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS). Thus, the study of the peculiarities of GERD on the background of connective tissue dysplasia and determining the impact of comorbid pathology on the QOL of patients with GERD is a topical issue in internal medicine. It has significant socio-economic significance. We believe that monitoring the most important variables that affect the quality of life of patients with GERD can help raise public awareness in this regard. In addition, it can guide the health care system to address these issues.
Purpose. The purpose of the work is to increase the awareness of medical workers about the scale of the problem and ways to solve it. to study the features of the dynamics of quality of life in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease comorbid with connective tissue dysplasia under the influence of the proposed complex therapy.
Methodology. 120 patients were included: 65 men and 55 women. In 75 of them (Study Group) GERD was in the background of UCTD, in 45 (?omparison Group ) - developed as an independent disease. The Study Group was divided into three groups. ?omparison Group - 45 patients with GERD without UCTD, received basic standard therapy, which included PPI "Panocid" 40 mg once a day and alginate-antacid formulation (Gaviscon Double Action Liquid) 20 ml, 3 times per day after meals and before bedtime. I Group - 25 patients with GERD +UCTD, which to the standard basic therapy was added "Magne-B6" for 2 tablets 3 times per day. II Group - 25 patients with GERD +UCTD, which to the standard basic therapy was added "Calcium-D3 Nicomed" 1 tablet 3 times per day. III Group - 25 patients with GERD +UCTD, who used the drug "Magne-B6" 2 tablets 3 times per day and "Calcium-D3 Nicomed" 1 tablet 3 times per day on the background of standard basic therapy. The Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Status (SF-36), the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS), and the scale of "Personal and social performance" (PSP) - were used to study patients in detail. A comprehensive examination of patients was performed twice: before and after 30 days of comprehensive treatment.
Results and Discussion. Under the influence of the basic therapy in Comparison Group the General Health (GH) improved by 33.03%. While in the groups on the background of complex treatment is increased by 42.52% in patients of the I Group, by 13.10% in patients of the II Group, and 46.28% in patients of the III Group (p1, p2, p3 <0.05).Physical Functiong Scale (PF) improved by 17.9% in patients of the Comparison Group (p <0.05) and by 30.38%; 27.47%, 29.17%, respectively (p1, p2, p3 <0.05). Role Physical Scale (RP) scores improved by 25.14% in Comparison Group (p <0.05) and by 33.6 %, 22.58% and 40.20% respectively (p1, p2, p3 <0.05). Dynamics of data in Body Pain (BP) scale improved by 21.84% in patients of the Comparison Group (p <0.05) and by 37.28%, 25.46%, 35.92% (p1, p2, p3 <0.05).As can be seen from it, under the influence of complex therapy, the values of the Vitality (VT) increased by 17.18% in patients of Group I, by 21.93% – in Group II, by 37.87%– in Group III (p1, p2, p3 <0.05). Among patients of the Comparison Group, the influx of strength and energy felt 9.50% (p <0.05). Data of Social Functioning Scale (SF) improved by 8.8% in patients of the Comparison Group (p <0 , 05) and by 22.7%, 29.6%, 29.31%, respectively(p1, p2, p3 <0.05). Mental Health Scale (MH) improved by 17.23% in patients of Group I, by 22.41% – in Group II, by 21.96% – in Group III (p1, p2, p3 <0.05) and 14.22% - in the Comparison Group (p <0.05). Also in patients were positive dynamics of the Role Emotional functioning scale (RE): by 27.37% in patients of Group I, by 12.36%– in Group II, by 15.7% – in the Group III (p1, p2, p3 <0.05) and 9.05% - in patients of the Comparison Group (p < 0.05).
Conclusions. Thus, the inclusion in the standard therapy of gastroesophageal reflux disease in patients with its development on the background of undifferentiated connective tissue dysplasia of magnesium lactate dihydrate in combination with pyridoxine hydrochloride ("Magne -B6 ") and calcium carbonate in combination with cholecalciferol ("Calcium-D3 Nicomed") contributed to a significant improvement in their quality of lif