Purpose Undergraduate students are known to be a high-risk group for mental health problems. The purpose of this paper is to constitute a repeated cross-sectional study on the trend of depression over the years and factors associated with depression among undergraduates. Design/methodology/approach Cross-sectional data from five surveys between 2013 and 2020 (N = 1,578) among the undergraduates of Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, a private university in Kampar Malaysia, were combined. The Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 was used to screen for depression. Cochran’s Armitage test was used to detect trend in depression. Logistic regression, random forest regression and extra gradient boosting regression were used to identify risk factors and classification. Findings The prevalence of depressive symptoms was found to be between 26.4% and 36.8% between the years with an average of 29.9%. There was no significant time trend in the prevalence. The risk of depressive symptoms was higher among female students, those who were dependent on family for financial support and those who were stressed. Practical implications Periodical screening for depression is warranted for the identification of students at risk for depression. Professional cognitive-behavioral therapies, peer support and consulting services should be made available to the students in need. Originality/value Depression among students had been studied widely, but the trend over years remains unexplored, especially in developing countries.
{"title":"The prevalence of depression among students in higher education institution: a repeated cross-sectional study","authors":"Wei Shan Cheong, Karunanithy Degeras, Khairul Rizuan Suliman, Mohan Selvaraju, K. Subramaniam","doi":"10.1108/jpmh-12-2021-0152","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/jpmh-12-2021-0152","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000Purpose\u0000Undergraduate students are known to be a high-risk group for mental health problems. The purpose of this paper is to constitute a repeated cross-sectional study on the trend of depression over the years and factors associated with depression among undergraduates.\u0000\u0000\u0000Design/methodology/approach\u0000Cross-sectional data from five surveys between 2013 and 2020 (N = 1,578) among the undergraduates of Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, a private university in Kampar Malaysia, were combined. The Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 was used to screen for depression. Cochran’s Armitage test was used to detect trend in depression. Logistic regression, random forest regression and extra gradient boosting regression were used to identify risk factors and classification.\u0000\u0000\u0000Findings\u0000The prevalence of depressive symptoms was found to be between 26.4% and 36.8% between the years with an average of 29.9%. There was no significant time trend in the prevalence. The risk of depressive symptoms was higher among female students, those who were dependent on family for financial support and those who were stressed.\u0000\u0000\u0000Practical implications\u0000Periodical screening for depression is warranted for the identification of students at risk for depression. Professional cognitive-behavioral therapies, peer support and consulting services should be made available to the students in need.\u0000\u0000\u0000Originality/value\u0000Depression among students had been studied widely, but the trend over years remains unexplored, especially in developing countries.\u0000","PeriodicalId":45601,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Public Mental Health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2022-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46679985","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-10-11DOI: 10.1108/jpmh-03-2022-0023
M. Mahdinia, Mohsen Sadeghi Yarandi, H. Fallah, A. Soltanzadeh
Purpose Several variables can affect work stress. This study aims to model the cause-and-effect relationships among different variables that can predict work stress based on one of the most important fuzzy multicriteria decision-making methods used to investigate the cause-and-effect relationships among variables. Design/methodology/approach This study was conducted in 2020, including 17 experts in safety management, occupational health and work psychology, based on the fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory method as a robust approach to identify the cause-and-effect relationships among different variables. Findings Shift work, lack of job satisfaction, mental health, mental overload, fatigue, job security, sleep disorders, environmental discomfort, work pressure, job knowledge (this could mean expertise/level of qualifications/familiarity with the job), work complexity and role conflict were found to be the most significant variables affecting work stress. Moreover, the cause-and-effect model of relationships among variables showed that shift work and lack of job satisfaction are root causes, and mental health, fatigue, mental workload, sleep disorder and environmental discomfort are direct causes. Originality/value Although the results of this study demonstrate that work stress can be influenced by 12 different variables, the modeling results show that some variables, such as shift work and lack of job satisfaction, can directly or indirectly impact other variables and thus result in work stress.
{"title":"Modeling cause-and-effect relationships among variables affecting work stress based on fuzzy DEMATEL method","authors":"M. Mahdinia, Mohsen Sadeghi Yarandi, H. Fallah, A. Soltanzadeh","doi":"10.1108/jpmh-03-2022-0023","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/jpmh-03-2022-0023","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000Purpose\u0000Several variables can affect work stress. This study aims to model the cause-and-effect relationships among different variables that can predict work stress based on one of the most important fuzzy multicriteria decision-making methods used to investigate the cause-and-effect relationships among variables.\u0000\u0000\u0000Design/methodology/approach\u0000This study was conducted in 2020, including 17 experts in safety management, occupational health and work psychology, based on the fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory method as a robust approach to identify the cause-and-effect relationships among different variables.\u0000\u0000\u0000Findings\u0000Shift work, lack of job satisfaction, mental health, mental overload, fatigue, job security, sleep disorders, environmental discomfort, work pressure, job knowledge (this could mean expertise/level of qualifications/familiarity with the job), work complexity and role conflict were found to be the most significant variables affecting work stress. Moreover, the cause-and-effect model of relationships among variables showed that shift work and lack of job satisfaction are root causes, and mental health, fatigue, mental workload, sleep disorder and environmental discomfort are direct causes.\u0000\u0000\u0000Originality/value\u0000Although the results of this study demonstrate that work stress can be influenced by 12 different variables, the modeling results show that some variables, such as shift work and lack of job satisfaction, can directly or indirectly impact other variables and thus result in work stress.\u0000","PeriodicalId":45601,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Public Mental Health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2022-10-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42646048","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-10-10DOI: 10.1108/jpmh-06-2022-0054
V. Klymchuk, Krystyna Vysotska, V. Gorbunova
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore how conflict-affected communities in Ukraine (the Lugansk region) can develop sustainable mental health services in decentralised settings. The main interest focuses on community stakeholders’ perception of their problems and solutions that communities can create to achieve better mental health coverage. Design/methodology/approach A series of roundtables (RTs) (4 RTs, 62 participants overall), accompanied by interactive brainstorming techniques, were conducted with communities’ representatives/stakeholders from the East of Ukraine (Lugansk region, a government-controlled area) during the year 2021. Participants (health, mental health, social care workers and administration representatives) were provided with the opportunity to discuss mental health services’ development challenges and create affordable solutions for their communities. Results of discussions were submitted to qualitative analysis and offered for review by participants. Findings Decentralisation in Ukraine led to allocating funds alongside responsibilities for developing the services to communities. Most of the communities appear not to be ready to acknowledge the role of mental health services, entirely relying on the existing weak psychiatric hospital-based system. Awareness-raising interactive capacity-building activities for the community leaders and decision-makers effectively promote community-based mental health services development. Five clusters of challenges were identified: leadership, coordination and collaboration problems; infrastructure, physical accessibility and financial problems; mental health and primary health-care workforce shortage and lack of competencies; low awareness of mental health and available services and high stigma; war, crises and pandemic-related problems. Communities stakeholders foresaw seven domains of action: increasing the role of communities and service users in the initiatives of governmental bodies; establishing in the communities local coordination/working groups dedicated to mental health service development; developing the community-based spaces (hubs) for integrated services provision; embedding the mental health services in the existing services (social, administrative and health care); mental health advocacy and lobbying led by local leaders and service users; increasing capacity of communities in financial management, fundraising; developing services by combining efforts and budgets of neighbouring communities. Research limitations/implications The study has potential limitations. Participants of the roundtables were mostly appointed by local authorities, so some of them didn`t have a motivation for mental health services development. Service users were involved only from the facilitators` side, not from the side of communities; therefore, it was impossible to include their view of problems and solutions. Obtained data were limited to the opinion of local professionals, admini
{"title":"Decentralisation and community stakeholders’ engagement for better mental health services development in the conflict-affected regions of Ukraine","authors":"V. Klymchuk, Krystyna Vysotska, V. Gorbunova","doi":"10.1108/jpmh-06-2022-0054","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/jpmh-06-2022-0054","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000Purpose\u0000The purpose of this paper is to explore how conflict-affected communities in Ukraine (the Lugansk region) can develop sustainable mental health services in decentralised settings. The main interest focuses on community stakeholders’ perception of their problems and solutions that communities can create to achieve better mental health coverage.\u0000\u0000\u0000Design/methodology/approach\u0000A series of roundtables (RTs) (4 RTs, 62 participants overall), accompanied by interactive brainstorming techniques, were conducted with communities’ representatives/stakeholders from the East of Ukraine (Lugansk region, a government-controlled area) during the year 2021. Participants (health, mental health, social care workers and administration representatives) were provided with the opportunity to discuss mental health services’ development challenges and create affordable solutions for their communities. Results of discussions were submitted to qualitative analysis and offered for review by participants.\u0000\u0000\u0000Findings\u0000Decentralisation in Ukraine led to allocating funds alongside responsibilities for developing the services to communities. Most of the communities appear not to be ready to acknowledge the role of mental health services, entirely relying on the existing weak psychiatric hospital-based system. Awareness-raising interactive capacity-building activities for the community leaders and decision-makers effectively promote community-based mental health services development. Five clusters of challenges were identified: leadership, coordination and collaboration problems; infrastructure, physical accessibility and financial problems; mental health and primary health-care workforce shortage and lack of competencies; low awareness of mental health and available services and high stigma; war, crises and pandemic-related problems. Communities stakeholders foresaw seven domains of action: increasing the role of communities and service users in the initiatives of governmental bodies; establishing in the communities local coordination/working groups dedicated to mental health service development; developing the community-based spaces (hubs) for integrated services provision; embedding the mental health services in the existing services (social, administrative and health care); mental health advocacy and lobbying led by local leaders and service users; increasing capacity of communities in financial management, fundraising; developing services by combining efforts and budgets of neighbouring communities.\u0000\u0000\u0000Research limitations/implications\u0000The study has potential limitations. Participants of the roundtables were mostly appointed by local authorities, so some of them didn`t have a motivation for mental health services development. Service users were involved only from the facilitators` side, not from the side of communities; therefore, it was impossible to include their view of problems and solutions. Obtained data were limited to the opinion of local professionals, admini","PeriodicalId":45601,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Public Mental Health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2022-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47942950","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-09-09DOI: 10.1108/jpmh-05-2022-0047
J. Thannhauser, Andrew C. H. Szeto, K. Dobson, David Nordstokke
Purpose With the recent release of the National Standard for Mental Health and Well-Being for Post-Secondary Students, there is increased interest to integrate research and practice for mental health services on post-secondary campuses. Participant-oriented research is a useful framework to bridge this gap. This paper aims to describe the program development and evaluation process and reports challenges and lessons learned to inform future implementation strategies for similar endeavours. Design/methodology/approach A participant-oriented research approach was used to revise and evaluate an innovative interdisciplinary resilience program, entitled Roots of Resiliency, for post-secondary students. Findings This case analysis used the development and evaluation of Roots of Resiliency to demonstrate some of the strategies and challenges that exist for participant-oriented research related to mental health in the post-secondary context. Collaborative relationships among the various development team members contributed to an overall positive experience. Some challenges that others who work in post-secondary mental health field may consider include the need for content expertise, the ongoing need for communication among team members and the need for an effective system to give voice to all participants. Originality/value Any mental health program has a cultural component and is best co-developed by the particular students (e.g. indigenous students) who are to be served by the program. In this regard, the co-design and shared development and evaluation of the current mental health program is an example that can be emulated in other programs within the post-secondary context.
{"title":"Using participant-oriented research in post-secondary mental health program development and evaluation","authors":"J. Thannhauser, Andrew C. H. Szeto, K. Dobson, David Nordstokke","doi":"10.1108/jpmh-05-2022-0047","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/jpmh-05-2022-0047","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000Purpose\u0000With the recent release of the National Standard for Mental Health and Well-Being for Post-Secondary Students, there is increased interest to integrate research and practice for mental health services on post-secondary campuses. Participant-oriented research is a useful framework to bridge this gap. This paper aims to describe the program development and evaluation process and reports challenges and lessons learned to inform future implementation strategies for similar endeavours.\u0000\u0000\u0000Design/methodology/approach\u0000A participant-oriented research approach was used to revise and evaluate an innovative interdisciplinary resilience program, entitled Roots of Resiliency, for post-secondary students.\u0000\u0000\u0000Findings\u0000This case analysis used the development and evaluation of Roots of Resiliency to demonstrate some of the strategies and challenges that exist for participant-oriented research related to mental health in the post-secondary context. Collaborative relationships among the various development team members contributed to an overall positive experience. Some challenges that others who work in post-secondary mental health field may consider include the need for content expertise, the ongoing need for communication among team members and the need for an effective system to give voice to all participants.\u0000\u0000\u0000Originality/value\u0000Any mental health program has a cultural component and is best co-developed by the particular students (e.g. indigenous students) who are to be served by the program. In this regard, the co-design and shared development and evaluation of the current mental health program is an example that can be emulated in other programs within the post-secondary context.\u0000","PeriodicalId":45601,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Public Mental Health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2022-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43517185","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-08-16DOI: 10.1108/jpmh-09-2022-158
J. Ashton
Plankton is of great ecological and economic importance as it is at the base of aquatic food webs and fisheries. Nonetheless, several species of phytoplankton and jellyfish represent a hazard to human health and marine life, as they produce potent toxins or cause other noxious effects, such as anoxia and clogging of fish gills. Over the past century, reports of harmful plankton increases have become more frequent. Although this may be in part attributable to greater awareness of the public and attention from the media, it seems that this increase is real and its cost to the fishing and tourism industry amounts to many millions of dollars per year world-wide. To forecast outbursts of harmful plankton, make plans to avoid their occurrence or control their impact, requires a broad knowledge of the life cycles, ecology and behaviour of these organisms, the ecosystems in which they flourish, and the chemical, physical and biological factors that affect their abundance. To capture the complexity of the plankton within a single book is a difficult and daunting task. There are, in fact, generally very few published books on the ecology of plankton and none to my knowledge that deal with the use of plankton for water quality monitoring. Thus, this concise introductory book edited by Ian M. Suthers and David Rissik represents a useful addition to the existing literature by integrating general aspects of the ecology and taxonomy of key species of marine and freshwater plankton, with technical approaches and methodological guidelines on water quality monitoring. The different chapters draw from the knowledge and experience of a team composed chiefly of Australian scientists and government environmental managers. The book opens with a general introduction on the importance of plankton and the aims of the book. In Chapter 2, the editors provide a concise summary of the ecology of plankton, its associated environmental and water quality issues and its relevance as an environmental indicator. Chapter 3 presents selected real-life case studies, mainly from Australian coastal waters, which the editors use to illustrate how plankton can be used for monitoring water quality. Consistent and rigorous methodological approaches and appropriate sampling design are key to the success of any environmental survey. Thus, Chapter 4 gives guidelines on the best practice in sampling and monitoring, detailing how to design, implement and conduct meaningful phytoplankton and zooplankton monitoring programs in both marine and freshwater habitats. Accurate identification of plankton, particularly harmful species, can be difficult because many of these organisms are very small requiring skilful microscopy and familiarity with the widely scattered taxonomic literature. Therefore, Chapters 5–8, defined by the editors as the “core section” of this book, provide a comprehensive overview of the major freshwater and coastal marine phytoplankton and zooplankton groups. The book closes with
{"title":"Book review","authors":"J. Ashton","doi":"10.1108/jpmh-09-2022-158","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/jpmh-09-2022-158","url":null,"abstract":"Plankton is of great ecological and economic importance as it is at the base of aquatic food webs and fisheries. Nonetheless, several species of phytoplankton and jellyfish represent a hazard to human health and marine life, as they produce potent toxins or cause other noxious effects, such as anoxia and clogging of fish gills. Over the past century, reports of harmful plankton increases have become more frequent. Although this may be in part attributable to greater awareness of the public and attention from the media, it seems that this increase is real and its cost to the fishing and tourism industry amounts to many millions of dollars per year world-wide. To forecast outbursts of harmful plankton, make plans to avoid their occurrence or control their impact, requires a broad knowledge of the life cycles, ecology and behaviour of these organisms, the ecosystems in which they flourish, and the chemical, physical and biological factors that affect their abundance. To capture the complexity of the plankton within a single book is a difficult and daunting task. There are, in fact, generally very few published books on the ecology of plankton and none to my knowledge that deal with the use of plankton for water quality monitoring. Thus, this concise introductory book edited by Ian M. Suthers and David Rissik represents a useful addition to the existing literature by integrating general aspects of the ecology and taxonomy of key species of marine and freshwater plankton, with technical approaches and methodological guidelines on water quality monitoring. The different chapters draw from the knowledge and experience of a team composed chiefly of Australian scientists and government environmental managers. The book opens with a general introduction on the importance of plankton and the aims of the book. In Chapter 2, the editors provide a concise summary of the ecology of plankton, its associated environmental and water quality issues and its relevance as an environmental indicator. Chapter 3 presents selected real-life case studies, mainly from Australian coastal waters, which the editors use to illustrate how plankton can be used for monitoring water quality. Consistent and rigorous methodological approaches and appropriate sampling design are key to the success of any environmental survey. Thus, Chapter 4 gives guidelines on the best practice in sampling and monitoring, detailing how to design, implement and conduct meaningful phytoplankton and zooplankton monitoring programs in both marine and freshwater habitats. Accurate identification of plankton, particularly harmful species, can be difficult because many of these organisms are very small requiring skilful microscopy and familiarity with the widely scattered taxonomic literature. Therefore, Chapters 5–8, defined by the editors as the “core section” of this book, provide a comprehensive overview of the major freshwater and coastal marine phytoplankton and zooplankton groups. The book closes with","PeriodicalId":45601,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Public Mental Health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2022-08-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48215377","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-08-12DOI: 10.1108/jpmh-01-2022-0004
J. Cataldo
Purpose Increases in deaths of despair in the USA have been associated with economic conditions and drug availability. In the state of Illinois, deaths of despair represent a significant public health issue. This study aims to examine the relationship between county-level economic distress, drug availability and mortality from deaths of despair collectively and for each contributing cause of death individually in the state of Illinois to better understand drivers of mortality locally. Design/methodology/approach Two cross-sectional analyses were conducted for 2010–2014 and 2015–2019. Correlations, regression analyses and relative weight analyses were applied to assess the relationship between deaths of despair mortality rate and the individual variables. Findings Deaths of despair mortality collectively and for each cause of death individually increased significantly from 2010–2014 to 2015–2019 in Illinois. Suicide mortality was higher in rural counties and was related to economic distress, while drug poisoning and alcohol-related deaths were higher in urban counties and were related to drug availability indicators. Originality/value While all three causes of death increased in the state, suicide mortality was inversely related to deaths of despair mortality. This may be because of different individual risk factors in rural versus urban areas or issues with coding cause of death. The findings of this study point to a rising public health challenge of deaths of despair mortality, particularly from substance use, in urban counties and from suicide in rural counties.
{"title":"Drugs or despair? Unraveling the rise in deaths of despair in Illinois","authors":"J. Cataldo","doi":"10.1108/jpmh-01-2022-0004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/jpmh-01-2022-0004","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000Purpose\u0000Increases in deaths of despair in the USA have been associated with economic conditions and drug availability. In the state of Illinois, deaths of despair represent a significant public health issue. This study aims to examine the relationship between county-level economic distress, drug availability and mortality from deaths of despair collectively and for each contributing cause of death individually in the state of Illinois to better understand drivers of mortality locally.\u0000\u0000\u0000Design/methodology/approach\u0000Two cross-sectional analyses were conducted for 2010–2014 and 2015–2019. Correlations, regression analyses and relative weight analyses were applied to assess the relationship between deaths of despair mortality rate and the individual variables.\u0000\u0000\u0000Findings\u0000Deaths of despair mortality collectively and for each cause of death individually increased significantly from 2010–2014 to 2015–2019 in Illinois. Suicide mortality was higher in rural counties and was related to economic distress, while drug poisoning and alcohol-related deaths were higher in urban counties and were related to drug availability indicators.\u0000\u0000\u0000Originality/value\u0000While all three causes of death increased in the state, suicide mortality was inversely related to deaths of despair mortality. This may be because of different individual risk factors in rural versus urban areas or issues with coding cause of death. The findings of this study point to a rising public health challenge of deaths of despair mortality, particularly from substance use, in urban counties and from suicide in rural counties.\u0000","PeriodicalId":45601,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Public Mental Health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2022-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46352616","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-07-27DOI: 10.1108/jpmh-03-2022-0025
Fardelyn Hacky Irawani, Asniar Asniar, M. Marthoenis
Purpose Individuals with schizophrenia experience uncertainty due to the unpredictable symptoms, the course of the illness and poor knowledge about the disease, treatment and prognosis. Uncertainty in illness is linked with poor treatment outcomes, coping strategies, check-up decisions and psychological distress. This study aims to explore the uncertainty in illness among individuals with schizophrenia. Design/methodology/approach Eight individuals with schizophrenia living in the community were interviewed regarding their illness. The phenomenology approach was used to collect and analyze the data. Findings Three themes emerged from the findings of the study; the unpredictable course of the illness, compliance amid uncertainty and uncertainty of information about their illness. This study provides an essential overview of how patients with schizophrenia live in uncertain conditions. Originality/value It should be considered by various parties, particularly the community mental health nurses working with individuals with schizophrenia. Considering the uncertainty of illness while looking after or interacting with patients and their family is significant in improving adequate mental health-care delivery.
{"title":"Uncertainty in illness among individuals with schizophrenia: a phenomenology study in Indonesia","authors":"Fardelyn Hacky Irawani, Asniar Asniar, M. Marthoenis","doi":"10.1108/jpmh-03-2022-0025","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/jpmh-03-2022-0025","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000Purpose\u0000Individuals with schizophrenia experience uncertainty due to the unpredictable symptoms, the course of the illness and poor knowledge about the disease, treatment and prognosis. Uncertainty in illness is linked with poor treatment outcomes, coping strategies, check-up decisions and psychological distress. This study aims to explore the uncertainty in illness among individuals with schizophrenia.\u0000\u0000\u0000Design/methodology/approach\u0000Eight individuals with schizophrenia living in the community were interviewed regarding their illness. The phenomenology approach was used to collect and analyze the data.\u0000\u0000\u0000Findings\u0000Three themes emerged from the findings of the study; the unpredictable course of the illness, compliance amid uncertainty and uncertainty of information about their illness. This study provides an essential overview of how patients with schizophrenia live in uncertain conditions.\u0000\u0000\u0000Originality/value\u0000It should be considered by various parties, particularly the community mental health nurses working with individuals with schizophrenia. Considering the uncertainty of illness while looking after or interacting with patients and their family is significant in improving adequate mental health-care delivery.\u0000","PeriodicalId":45601,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Public Mental Health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2022-07-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44878020","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-07-14DOI: 10.1108/jpmh-11-2021-0140
Maria Bendtsen Kronkvist, K. Forsberg, M. Rämgård, M. Sandlund, Tove Janarv, P. Dahlqvist Jönsson
Purpose The purpose of this study was to describe mental health professionals’ experiences of changes in attitudes towards, and knowledge about, users of mental health-care recovery and decisional participation in clinical practice after an educational intervention. Design/methodology/approach Users of mental health care want to participate in decisions regarding their own mental health care. Shared decision-making as a method is coherent with recovery orientation in mental health services and results in better-informed patients and fewer conflicts regarding decisions. A qualitative intervention study was designed to evaluate changes in attitudes and knowledge about mental health recovery in Sweden. Nine participants were interviewed, and the data were analysed by content analysis. Findings Three categories were generated from the analysis: Increased theoretical knowledge, changing attitudes about practical approaches and the significance of social factors in recovery. Originality/value When shared decision-making is to be implemented in mental health, professionals need to gain knowledge about recovery and need to adopt changed roles as health professionals. Educational interventions therefore seem necessary if such changes are to happen.
{"title":"User participation in decision-making – a qualitative intervention study on mental health professionals’ experiences","authors":"Maria Bendtsen Kronkvist, K. Forsberg, M. Rämgård, M. Sandlund, Tove Janarv, P. Dahlqvist Jönsson","doi":"10.1108/jpmh-11-2021-0140","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/jpmh-11-2021-0140","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000Purpose\u0000The purpose of this study was to describe mental health professionals’ experiences of changes in attitudes towards, and knowledge about, users of mental health-care recovery and decisional participation in clinical practice after an educational intervention.\u0000\u0000\u0000Design/methodology/approach\u0000Users of mental health care want to participate in decisions regarding their own mental health care. Shared decision-making as a method is coherent with recovery orientation in mental health services and results in better-informed patients and fewer conflicts regarding decisions. A qualitative intervention study was designed to evaluate changes in attitudes and knowledge about mental health recovery in Sweden. Nine participants were interviewed, and the data were analysed by content analysis.\u0000\u0000\u0000Findings\u0000Three categories were generated from the analysis: Increased theoretical knowledge, changing attitudes about practical approaches and the significance of social factors in recovery.\u0000\u0000\u0000Originality/value\u0000When shared decision-making is to be implemented in mental health, professionals need to gain knowledge about recovery and need to adopt changed roles as health professionals. Educational interventions therefore seem necessary if such changes are to happen.\u0000","PeriodicalId":45601,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Public Mental Health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2022-07-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44683168","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-07-12DOI: 10.1108/jpmh-11-2021-0147
M. Jansen, Chloe Chapman, T. Richardson, P. Elliott, R. Roberts
Purpose Previous studies in the field have highlighted a bidirectional link between mental health and physical health. Students may be at a higher risk of both mental and physical health problems because of unhealthy lifestyle behaviours and the commencement of university occurring at the same mean age of onset for many psychiatric disorders. This study aims to examine how physical health variables influence changes in mental health symptoms, and vice versa, over time, in a sample of British undergraduate students. Design/methodology/approach A longitudinal design over a one-year time period. A national sample of 430 British undergraduate students completed measures of mental health and physical health online at up to four time-points across their first two years of university. Findings General physical health and energy and fatigue predicted more severe depression, anxiety, stress and poorer general mental health over time. Depression and stress predicted poorer physical functioning over time. Greater anxiety predicted poorer general health and more severe pain over time. General mental health was not predictive of general physical health. Overall, poor general physical health appears to exacerbate mental health symptoms in students to a greater extent than mental health problems lead to a deterioration in physical health. Originality/value This study adds a longitudinal design to a field that is usually cross-sectional, as well as a lack of consideration of how this relationship may differ within student samples. Early interventions should integrate physical and mental well-being rather than focus on any single health-related behaviour.
{"title":"The relationship between mental and physical health: a longitudinal analysis with British student","authors":"M. Jansen, Chloe Chapman, T. Richardson, P. Elliott, R. Roberts","doi":"10.1108/jpmh-11-2021-0147","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/jpmh-11-2021-0147","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000Purpose\u0000Previous studies in the field have highlighted a bidirectional link between mental health and physical health. Students may be at a higher risk of both mental and physical health problems because of unhealthy lifestyle behaviours and the commencement of university occurring at the same mean age of onset for many psychiatric disorders. This study aims to examine how physical health variables influence changes in mental health symptoms, and vice versa, over time, in a sample of British undergraduate students.\u0000\u0000\u0000Design/methodology/approach\u0000A longitudinal design over a one-year time period. A national sample of 430 British undergraduate students completed measures of mental health and physical health online at up to four time-points across their first two years of university.\u0000\u0000\u0000Findings\u0000General physical health and energy and fatigue predicted more severe depression, anxiety, stress and poorer general mental health over time. Depression and stress predicted poorer physical functioning over time. Greater anxiety predicted poorer general health and more severe pain over time. General mental health was not predictive of general physical health. Overall, poor general physical health appears to exacerbate mental health symptoms in students to a greater extent than mental health problems lead to a deterioration in physical health.\u0000\u0000\u0000Originality/value\u0000This study adds a longitudinal design to a field that is usually cross-sectional, as well as a lack of consideration of how this relationship may differ within student samples. Early interventions should integrate physical and mental well-being rather than focus on any single health-related behaviour.\u0000","PeriodicalId":45601,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Public Mental Health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2022-07-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45852470","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-06-17DOI: 10.1108/jpmh-04-2022-0036
Emma K. Bridger, D. Nettle
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to understand public perceptions of the role of income for improving mental health, since public perceptions shape political decision-making. Socioeconomic determinants such as poverty cause a great deal of mental ill-health, yet it is not clear whether the general public believes this to be true. Lay understandings of health often overemphasize the roles of individual habits and medical treatments and underappreciate the importance of socioeconomic determinants. Design/methodology/approach UK adults (n = 622) rated effectiveness of three interventions for reducing psychological distress: medication, psychotherapy, and providing sufficient income to cover necessities via a basic income. We manipulated whether participants rated effectiveness for an identified individual vs. the population in general. Participants also indicated their support for the introduction of the basic income scheme. Findings Increasing income was rated highly effective for reducing psychological distress. Effectiveness ratings for income provision were as high as those for psychotherapy, and higher than those for medication. There was also an interaction with framing: in the population framing, income provision was rated more effective than either of the other two interventions. There were high levels of support for introducing a universal basic income scheme in this population. Originality/value UK adults anticipate that income provision would be highly effective at reducing psychological distress, as or more effective than increasing access to psychotherapy or medication. Policymakers can assume that the public will be receptive to arguments for mental health interventions that tackle broader socioeconomic determinants, especially when these are framed in population terms.
{"title":"Public perceptions of the effectiveness of income provision on reducing psychological distress","authors":"Emma K. Bridger, D. Nettle","doi":"10.1108/jpmh-04-2022-0036","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/jpmh-04-2022-0036","url":null,"abstract":"Purpose The purpose of this paper is to understand public perceptions of the role of income for improving mental health, since public perceptions shape political decision-making. Socioeconomic determinants such as poverty cause a great deal of mental ill-health, yet it is not clear whether the general public believes this to be true. Lay understandings of health often overemphasize the roles of individual habits and medical treatments and underappreciate the importance of socioeconomic determinants. Design/methodology/approach UK adults (n = 622) rated effectiveness of three interventions for reducing psychological distress: medication, psychotherapy, and providing sufficient income to cover necessities via a basic income. We manipulated whether participants rated effectiveness for an identified individual vs. the population in general. Participants also indicated their support for the introduction of the basic income scheme. Findings Increasing income was rated highly effective for reducing psychological distress. Effectiveness ratings for income provision were as high as those for psychotherapy, and higher than those for medication. There was also an interaction with framing: in the population framing, income provision was rated more effective than either of the other two interventions. There were high levels of support for introducing a universal basic income scheme in this population. Originality/value UK adults anticipate that income provision would be highly effective at reducing psychological distress, as or more effective than increasing access to psychotherapy or medication. Policymakers can assume that the public will be receptive to arguments for mental health interventions that tackle broader socioeconomic determinants, especially when these are framed in population terms.","PeriodicalId":45601,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Public Mental Health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2022-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45664099","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}