1,720,970 research outputs found
Mental health and the ballot box: A correlational analysis of Google searches for mental health and national election periods in the United States and the United Kingdom from 2008 to 2020
No full textBackground: In electoral contexts, mental health topics have recently attracted sociopolitical relevance, influenced by policy developments, election-related psychopathology and popular discourse about individual candidates. Yet, whether this reflects generalised trends or is contingent on election-specific and contextual factors remains difficult to ascertain. Aims: This study sought to examine correlations between Google Trends (GT) data on mental health and four national elections in the US and the UK from 2008 to 2020. This was intended to yield preliminary insights into the relevance of mental health topics amongst voters and the potential impact of electoral cycles on patterns of online engagement with these issues. Methods: Monthly and daily Search Volume Indexes (SVI) were gathered from the 'Mental Health' category on GT in the US and UK from 2008 to 2023. SVI were evaluated around the past four national ballots, comparing election-year intervals and baseline data from the preceding year. Statistical tests were conducted to assess SVI and short- and long-term dynamics. Findings: The results showed heterogeneous SVI patterns related to mental health during elections in the US and the UK. In the US, there were statistically significant SVI increases proximal to the majority of elections as compared to data in the same calendar year, but these did not typically exceed baseline SVI. However, interestingly, divisive US contests showed correlations with several elevated SVI measures in the same and previous years. Conversely, there was a lack of consistent longitudinal trends in UK elections, perhaps informed by its disparate sociopolitical landscape. Conclusions: These findings underline the composite relationship between electoral politics and popular engagement with mental health topics around national votes, suggesting that this is driven more by situational factors rather than a recurrent electoral effect or signs of burgeoning engagement. Detailed research is required to understand the nuances and causality behind these dynamics and their wider implications
Decreasing public interest in social psychiatry: An infodemiological study of worldwide Google search volumes from 2004 to 2021
No full textBackground: While mental disorder is an \u27intrinsically social phenomenon\u27, social psychiatry has been reportedly declining. Addressing public interests in social psychiatry was among the suggestions to address this decline. In recent years, public interest in social psychiatry can be explored using Google Trends, an increasingly important infodemiological tool.
Objective: This study determined changes in global online public interest in social psychiatry from January 2004 to December 2021 using Google search volumes.
Methods: Search query using this keyword, \u27Social Psychiatry (Topic)\u27, was made using the Explore feature of Google Trends. The Region and Time Filters were set to \u27Worldwide\u27 and January 2004 to December 2021, respectively. Afterward, the search volumes, country ranking, queries, and topics returned by the Google Trends system was described and compared.
Results: There was a generally decreasing trend in search volumes for social psychiatry where it decreased almost 10 times between 2004 and 2021. Only 11 countries were listed in Google Trends\u27 ranking with the top countries including Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. Search-related topics and queries were about social psychiatry related concepts, related academic discipline, human resources, social interventions, and education activities
Conclusions: The findings suggest that there is a decreasing public interest in social psychiatry. To improve this, social psychiatry can address public expectation through improving its connection with allied social sciences, increasing its educational activities, and expanding its social intervention services
Associated factors of alcohol use disorder among men who have sex with men
No full textntroduction: Considerable evidence exists that Man who have Sex with Men (MSM) experiences worse health disparities compared to the general population across the globe including higher rates of alcohol use disorder. This review summarized the available primary research information to provide a comprehensive understanding of the factors associated with Alcohol Use Disorder among MSM.Methods: A literature review of PubMed articles was done. A total of 85 papers about the MSM population were displayed. Twelve articles about Alcohol Use Disorder among MSM were reviewed to extract its associated factors. Afterward, these factors were arranged by themes.Results: The associated factors of Alcohol Use Disorder among the MSM were social and demographic factors, abuses, sexual behaviors, HIV-related factors, other mental health conditions, and previous Alcohol Use Disorder treatment.Conclusions: Some of the factors associated with Alcohol Use Disorder among MSM may be similar to the general population, while others may be unique to the MSM population. The associations between Alcohol Use Disorder and these factors may be explained by Alcohol\u27s biological factors, adverse social experiences based on their sexual minority background, cultural differences, and coping styles. These factors may also increase the risk of MSM for other health conditions such as HIV
A web-based analysis of public concern about post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) Ukraine during the 2022 military conflict: An infodemiological study
No full textBackground: The 2022 military conflict in Ukraine has led to multiple traumas, including the loss of property, income, businesses, homes, life, and loved ones of millions of individuals. Thus, there is a need to examine the trauma-related needs in Ukraine, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD.)Method: This study utilized an infodemiological design by exploring the keyword Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (Topic) in Google Trends from 2022 January 1 to 2022 March 16 in Ukraine. As an alternative measure for public concern, Relative Search Volume (RSV) and Interest by Region were described and comparedResults: This study found rising public concern about PTSD in Ukraine, as manifested by an almost 50% increase in searches for PTSD between January and March 2022. The regions with the highest searches were Odessa, Zakarpats\u27ka, Kyiv city, Zhytomyrs\u27ka, Vinnyts\u27ka, Cherkas\u27ka, Kharkiv, Lviv, Kyivs\u27ka oblast, and Rivnens\u27ka. Conclusion: This study showed the possible application of infodemiological methods in military conflict zones. Given these, humanitarian efforts can include PTSD-related services in regions with the most sig-nificant concern and relative safety. Likewise, future analysis can determine where there is substantial public concern regarding PTSD. Moreover, countries receiving refugees should offer PTSD screening and services.(c) 2022 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved
Determinants of risky alcohol use and its association with risky sexual behaviors and mental health status among Filipino men having sex with men in Metro Manila
No full textThis study was about risky alcohol use among Filipino men having sex with men (MSM). It aimed to understand the determinants of risky alcohol use as well as its association with risky sexual behavior and mental health status. In understanding these, this study employed a quantitative cross-sectional methodology using a survey. Afterward, descriptive statistics and logistic regression were done. A total of 223 adult Filipino MSM participated in this study. It found that a substantial portion of Filipino MSM in Metro Manila has experienced abuse, has risky alcohol use, depression, and anxiety. It was also found that these Filipino MSM have engaged with several sexual partners and unprotected sexual intercourse. It also found that risky alcohol use was associated with educational attainment but not with other sociodemographic characteristics. Likewise, risky alcohol use also had no association with abuses, depression, anxiety, number of sexual partners, and unprotected sexual intercourse
Impact of mental health legislation on public interest and awareness of common mental disorders: Insights from an infodemiological study of search volumes from 2004 to 2021 in the Philippines
No full textThis study explored online public interest using search volumes for various mental disorders using an infodemiological design. Google Trends search volumes for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and substance abuse from January 2004 to December 2021 in the Philippines were described and compared. In addition, interrupted time series and mean comparisons were done to determine the impact of the Philippine Mental Health Act. Findings show that public interest was highest for major depressive disorder, followed by anxiety disorder, substance abuse, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Among them, public interest in schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and substance abuse improved following the Act\u27s legislation. The uneven stigma of mental disorders and the incomplete implementation and unequal focus of Philippine mental health promotion programs can explain these findings. Thus, mental disorders with low public interest should be given attention in mental health awareness activities
The Roles of Hospitals in Strengthening Mental Health Services in Primary Care in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Reflections From the Philippines
No full textSOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF COPING AMONG FILIPINO CULTURAL EDUCATORS IN THE TIME OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Full text linkThe COVID-19 Pandemic has pushed the crisis to become part of the human condition. Improving coping capacities is crucial to sustaining a group's societal function. In the Philippines, generic policies that support educators were enacted by the government. However, programs that provide support to cultural educators as a distinct group are yet to be introduced. This study involved 200 Filipino cultural educators. Utilizing a cross-sectional methodology, it revealed that being female and identifying as female were negatively and positively associated with coping, respectively. Whether on a regular or contract basis, employment in cultural occupations was found to have a significant positive association with coping. Adequacy of financial support also mattered to cultural workers but receiving support at the town level negatively affected coping. These findings suggest considering personal and contextual factors to improve the coping capacity of cultural worker
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