Mental Distress

Background: Conflict-induced displacement is a greater risk factor for mental health challenges, especially in countries where people have limited access to mental health services. This study examined the prevalence of mental distress, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and their relationship with key demographic variables and psychological capital among conflict-induced Internally Displaced People (IDP) in the Wag-Hemra Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia. Methods: The study used a cross-sectional quantitative design, and simple random sampling was used to recruit 367 IDPs from the Weleh IDP camp in Sekota town. The Psychological Capital Questionnaire (PCQ 12), Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K 10), and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder-Civilian Version (PCL-C) scales were used to collect data. STATA version 2021 was used to analyze data. Results: The prevalence of mental distress and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was 63% and 48 %, respectively. Mental distress and PTSD were higher among female participants (M = 27.4, 45.7), those who experienced rape (M = 32.6, 55.5), witnessed murder (M = 25.2, 46.1), widowed (M = 30.9, 44.9), illiterate (M = 28.1%, 47.2), and adolescents (M = 27.6, 45.5). Stepwise regression analysis indicated that psychological capital is a significant negative predictor of mental distress and PTSD (p = .000), with 26% mental distress and 20.9% variance in PTSD accounting for psychological capital, with self-efficacy being the strongest predicting component of psychological capital. Conclusion: The study underlined that mental health efforts should target enhancing psychological capital as the critical element in mitigating the psychological impacts of war and displacement. Training on improving self-efficacy, utilizing the solid spiritual and religious base of the IDP community to raise hope and optimism, and leveraging the communal culture to foster resilience could help reduce mental distress and the effects of PTSD among IDPs in the study area. Keywords Forced displacement, conflict-induced displaced people, internally displaced people, mental distress, trauma, mental health, post-traumatic stress disorder, psychological capital, war in Ethiopia, Amhara region

Mental illness and mental well-being are independent but correlated dimensions of mental health. Both are associated with social functioning (in opposite directions), but it is not known whether they modify the effects of one another. New treatment targets might emerge if improving mental well-being in people with serious mental illness improved functional outcomes independent of clinical status. To describe associations between mental well-being and functioning in people classified according to mental illness status. Cross-sectional data from 5485 respondents to the Health Survey for England 2014 were analysed. Mental illness status (including whether diagnosed by a professional) was by selfreport and grouped into four categories, including 'diagnosis of serious mental illness'. Mental well-being was measured using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale, and functioning by items from the EQ-5D. Mental distress was assessed using General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) items. Associations were examined using moderated regression models with group membership as an interaction term. Mental well-being score was associated with (higher) functioning score (P < 0.05). This association varied between mental illness groups, even after adjusting for age, gender, ethnicity, physical health and symptoms of mental distress (F(3) = 14.60, P < 0.001). The gradient of this association was greatest for those with diagnosed serious mental illness. Mental well-being was associated with higher functional status in people with mental illness, independent of the symptoms of mental distress and other confounders. The association was strongest in the diagnosed serious mental illness group, suggesting that mental well-being may be important in recovery from mental illness.

Background Mental illness and mental well-being are independent but correlated dimensions of mental health. Both are associated with social functioning (in opposite directions), but it is not known whether they modify the effects of one another. New treatment targets might emerge if improving mental well-being in people with serious mental illness improved functional outcomes independent of clinical status. Aims To describe associations between mental well-being and functioning in people classified according to mental illness status. Method Cross-sectional data from 5485 respondents to the Health Survey for England 2014 were analysed. Mental illness status (including whether diagnosed by a professional) was by self-report and grouped into four categories, including ‘diagnosis of serious mental illness’. Mental well-being was measured using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale, and functioning by items from the EQ-5D. Mental distress was assessed using General Health Questio...

Introduction: University students have been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, as significant changes supervened their academic and social life. To tackle these challenges, several adjustments in the educational methods may be warranted for cultivating a positive environment at higher education institutions. The aim of this study was to investigate the risk and protective factors of students' mental health and well-being as well as their potential for flourishing in an undergraduate clinical psychology course that took place online due to the COVID-19 restrictive measures and incorporated positive psychology exercises as a means to empower young people amid the adverse conditions of the lockdown. Methods: In total, 124 students attended the course and completed mental health (i.e., DASS-9, HADS, ERQ) and well-being (i.e., MHC-SF, SWLS, PANAS, GQ-6, BRS) measures at two time points (pre-and-post-test), during the first restrictions in Greece (March-June 2020). Results: According to the results, students aged 18-20 years old reported higher levels of stress [χ 2 = 14.72, p = 0.002], while students who felt that the quality of their studies had deteriorated [χ 2 = 6.57, p = 0.038] reported increased levels of anxiety. High levels of depression were correlated with worse relationships with significant others (z = 7.02, p = 0.030 and χ 2 = 11.39, p = 0.003 for family and friends, respectively), while gratitude and resilience were positively correlated with improved relationships with others, both during and after the lockdown. Factors associated with students' well-being were satisfaction with life and gratitude. Discussion: These results suggest that well-being enhancement factors may have added value to current educational practices for promoting students' mental health and well-being in times of crisis.

Distress tolerance is a crucial psychological outcome for medical students, as it denotes the capacity to endure negative emotional states. Low distress tolerance is a characteristic akin to a transdiagnostic risk factor [1]. It is a variable that transcends psychiatric diagnoses and elevates the likelihood that an individual will develop and sustain a broad spectrum of psychopathological issues [2] including anxiety, depression and substance use. The measurement of distress tolerance has been conducted using self-report measures and behavioral tasks (e.g.

Background: Social media over usage is becoming an addictive behaviour in medical students. This excessive use of social media websites is compromising the mental health of the medical students. Aim: To find the relation of social media overuse on mental well being of medical students. Study design: Cross-sectional study. Methodology: Third, Fourth and fifth year MBBS students of Akhtar Saeed Medical and Dental college, Lahore were included in the current study. 230 Questionnaires were distributed among the students. The questionnaire was in two parts. In one part 10 questions were asked, related to five famous social media websites usage. The second part of the questionnaire contained Kessler psychological distress scale. Out of 230 students, 195 students filled the questionnaires. Data was evaluated by using SPSS version 20. Results: Majority of the students (42 %) were turned out to be severely distressed. 37% students were doing well while 28% and 16% students had mild and moderate distress. All of the severely distressed students used facebook, instagram and watsapp. 98.43% students used snapchat and 82.81 % students used tiktok. Those with severe distress, were found to spend more than 1 hour per day on social media websites. Conclusion: It was concluded that there is a strong correlation of the time spent on social media with the mental well being of medical students. More time spent on social media had led to more mental distress in medical students.

Background: Social media over usage is becoming an addictive behaviour in medical students. This excessive use of social media websites is compromising the mental health of the medical students. Aim: To find the relation of social media overuse on mental well being of medical students. Study design: Cross-sectional study. Methodology: Third, Fourth and fifth year MBBS students of Akhtar Saeed Medical and Dental college, Lahore were included in the current study. 230 Questionnaires were distributed among the students. The questionnaire was in two parts. In one part 10 questions were asked, related to five famous social media websites usage. The second part of the questionnaire contained Kessler psychological distress scale. Out of 230 students, 195 students filled the questionnaires. Data was evaluated by using SPSS version 20. Results: Majority of the students (42 %) were turned out to be severely distressed. 37% students were doing well while 28% and 16% students had mild and moder...

T Th ho om ma as s A A. . G Gr ri ie eg ge er r, , M M. .D D. . D Do ou ug gl la as s A A. . W Wa al ld dr re ep p, , M M. .D D. . M Mo on ni ic ca a M M. . L Lo ov va as sz z, , M M. .D D. . R Ro ob be er rt t J J. . U Ur rs sa an no o, , M M. .D D. .

The mental health of asylum seekers has attracted significant interest and examination. Quantitative studies have consistently indicated that asylum seekers experience mental distress at a higher rate than both host populations and their refugee counterparts. Qualitative insight into asylum seekers' embodied experience of mental distress is limited. This qualitative narrative study aimed to explore African asylum seekers' everyday embodied experiences of mental distress. Sixteen semi-structured one-to-one interviews were conducted with African asylum seekers who had experienced mental distress and were receiving mental health care services in Ireland. Narrative data were analysed using a holistic analysis framework of narrative form and content. Participants described their everyday endurance of relentless rumination, shame, self-loathing, anger, and mistrust, and of becoming demoralised and hopeless. Study findings indicate that asylum seekers' mental distress interweaves the physical, psychological, emotional, and social realms, thus impacting on the whole of their being. Consequences for asylum seekers include feeling anaesthetised, having a severely diminished capacity to connect and interact with their external surroundings and other people, and, for some, efforts to end their life. Examinations of, and responses to, asylum seekers' mental distress must delve beyond the confines of diagnostic categorisations and codifications of symptomology. To achieve heightened understanding and efficacious interventions, we must empathetically listen and engage with asylum seekers' narratives of distress and the socio-cultural and sociopolitical context they inhabit.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate associations between mental distress and COVID-19-related changes in behavioral outcomes and potential modifiers (age, gender, educational attainment) of such associations. Study design: This was a cross-sectional study. Methods: An online survey using anonymous network sampling was conducted in China from April to May 2020 using a 74-item questionnaire. A national sample of 10,545 adults in 31 provinces provided data on sociodemographic characteristics, COVID-19-related mental distress, and changes in behavioral outcomes. Structural equation models were used for data analyses. Results: After adjusting for covariates, greater mental distress was associated with increased smoking (odds ratio [OR] ¼ 1.42, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.20e1.68 and OR ¼ 1.54, 95% CI: 1.31e1.82 per one standard deviation [SD] increase in mental distress) and alcohol consumption (OR ¼ 1.67, 95% CI: 1.45 e1.92 and OR ¼ 1.47, 95% CI: 1.24e1.75 per one SD increase in mental distress) among current smokers and drinkers and with both increased and decreased physical activity (ORs ranged from 1.32 to 1.56). Underweight adults were more likely to lose body weight (!1 kg; OR ¼ 1.63, 95% CI: 1.30e2.04), whereas overweight adults were more likely to gain weight (OR ¼ 1.61, 95% CI: 1.46e1.78) by the same amount. Association between mental distress and change in physical activity was stronger in adults aged !40 years (ORs ranged from 1.43 to 2.05) and those with high education (ORs ranged from 1.43 to 1.77). Mental distress was associated with increased smoking in males (OR ¼ 1.60, 95% CI: 1.37e1.87) but not females (OR ¼ 1.11, 95% CI: 0.82e1.51). Conclusions: Greater mental distress was associated with some positive and negative changes in behavioral outcomes during the pandemic. These findings inform the design of tailored public health interventions aimed to mitigate long-term negative consequences of mental distress on outcomes.

teniendo en cuenta la carga de enfermedad que representan y que algunos trastornos mentales del adulto tienen su origen en la ni ñez o en la adolescencia, lo cual exige un mayor conocimiento del problema para dise ñar intervenciones oportunas y disminuir las complicaciones a largo plazo. Objetivo: Determinar la prevalencia y los factores asociados de los trastornos en los últimos 30 días y los últimos 12 meses. Métodos: Se aplicó la entrevista estructurada Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children (DISC-P), que provee diagnósticos del DSM-IV a los cuidadores de ni ños no institucionalizados de 7-11 a ños. Se evaluaron los siguientes trastornos: depresión mayor, distimia, ansiedad generalizada, ansiedad de separación, déficit de atención e hiperactividad en sus tres presentaciones (mixto, inatento e hiperactivo), negativista desafiante y de conducta. El instrumento fue asistido por computador. Resultados: Se presentan las prevalencias de los trastornos tanto en los últimos 30 días como en los últimos 12 meses. En general se observa una prevalencia de cualquiera de los trastornos medidos del 3% (intervalo de confianza del 95% [IC95%], 2,2%-4,0%) en los últimos 30 días y del 4,7% (IC95%, 3,6%-6,2%) en los últimos 12 meses. Son más frecuentes en las mujeres. El trastorno por déficit de atención e hiperactividad es el más frecuente (el 2,3 y el 3,0%). Además, los trastornos de la conducta de inicio habitual en la infancia son los más frecuentes en este grupo etario, con prevalencias del 2,5% en los últimos 30 días y el 3,2% en el último a ño. Se presentan factores de riesgo asociados. Conclusiones: La ENSM de 2015 provee una información sobre la realidad de la situación mental de los ni ños de 7-11 a ños de Colombia que permitirá dise ñar estrategias de prevención, diagnóstico y tratamiento más apropiados y precisos.

With all the emphasis on havingmoreconversation about mental health, remarkably little attention has been paid tohow exactlywe want to be having it. In what follows, we review five areas about which sharp differences currently exist: (a) Biology—how are physiological contributors to mental distress being framed? (b) Symptoms—how should we best work with distressing signs in the body? (c) Action steps—what needs to happen to improve mental health in the nation? (d) Barriers—what are the primary barriers that need to be overcome in improving public mental health? (e) Lifestyle—what role do lifestyle choices play in mental health? After illustrating the different positions being taken on each of these questions, we then consider the diverging implications for individuals and families facing these problems. We conclude with recommendations as to how the larger dialogue on mental health could become more inclusive and productive.

To examine the prevalence of mental and physical distress indicators among women of reproductive age and the association of these indicators with cigarette smoking and alcohol use, by pregnancy status. The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data for several years were aggregated across states and weighted for this analysis. Seven measures of self-reported mental and physical distress and general health were examined along with demographic variables. Overall, 6.7% (95% confidence interval ͓CI͔ 6.5-6.9) of women reported frequent physical distress, 12.3% (95% CI 12.0 -12.6) reported frequent mental distress, 9.9% (95% CI 9.4 -10.4) reported frequent depression, 18.4% (95% CI 17.8 -19.1) reported feeling anxious, and 34.3% (95% CI 33.5-35.1) reported that they frequently did not get enough rest. At the time of the survey 4.6% of the women were pregnant. Pregnant women were less likely than nonpregnant women to report frequent mental distress. Although there was attenuation of cigarette smoking and alcohol use during pregnancy, those with mental and physical distress were more likely to consume cigarettes and alcohol than were those without such experiences. High proportions of reproductive-age women report frequent mental and physical distress. Women experiencing mental and physical distress were more likely to report consuming cigarettes and alcohol than women without such experiences. (Obstet Gynecol 2004;104:477-83.

Background: Globally, more than three billion persons using the Internet daily, with the common being youths and young persons. Internet addiction among university students in Ethiopia has not been studied. The current study aims to explore the magnitude and related factors of internet addiction among Wollo University students in Ethiopia.Objectives: The main objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and related factors of internet addiction among Wollo University students, Northeast, Ethiopia, 2019.Methods: A community university-based cross-sectional study was conducted among Wollo University students from April 10 to May 10, 2019, G.C. A total of six hundred three students were participated in the study using a pretested and self-administered structured questionnaire. The Young’s Internet Addiction Test instrument was used to assess the level of internet addiction. Results: Generally, the prevalence of internet addiction (IA) among the current internet users was 85 % (...

In patients with very severe closed head injury (CHI), returning to work is often problematic. The present study focuses on a persistent complaint of these patients, viz. mental fatigue. To study this, the effect of sustained workload is assessed in a continuous dynamic divided attention task. Three types of measures are employed: performance loss with time-on-task, and subjective reports and cardiovascular measures of mental effort and distress. Eight very severe CHI patients (mean post-traumatic amnesia duration 51 days, mean age 23 years, (SD 6.4) and eight hospital controls (mean age 29 years, (SD 5.9) were tested. No differences were found between the patients and controls in the effects of task load on performance and the amount of mental effort, even in very demanding simulated work conditions. This parallels previous findings in less demanding laboratory tasks of sustained attention. Effects of CHI were found on both subjective and physiological indicators of distress. Compared to the controls, patients showed stronger effects on systolic blood pressure and subjectively experienced load.

In patients with very severe closed head injury (CHI), returning to work is often problematic. The present study focuses on a persistent complaint of these patients, viz. mental fatigue. To study this, the effect of sustained workload is assessed in a continuous dynamic divided attention task. Three types of measures are employed: performance loss with time-on-task, and subjective reports and cardiovascular measures of mental effort and distress. Eight very severe CHI patients (mean post-traumatic amnesia duration 51 days, mean age 23 years, (SD 6.4) and eight hospital controls (mean age 29 years, (SD 5.9) were tested. No differences were found between the patients and controls in the effects of task load on performance and the amount of mental effort, even in very demanding simulated work conditions. This parallels previous findings in less demanding laboratory tasks of sustained attention. Effects of CHI were found on both subjective and physiological indicators of distress. Compared to the controls, patients showed stronger effects on systolic blood pressure and subjectively experienced load.

IntroductionImproving the mental health of young people is a global public health priority. In Latin America, young people living in deprived urban areas face various risk factors for mental distress. However, most either do not develop mental distress in the form of depression and anxiety, or recover within a year without treatment from mental health services. This research programme seeks to identify the personal and social resources that help young people to prevent and recover from mental distress.Methods and analysisA cross-sectional study will compare personal and social resources used by 1020 young people (aged 15–16 and 20–24 years) with symptoms of depression and/or anxiety and 1020 without. A longitudinal cohort study will follow-up young people with mental distress after 6 months and 1 year and compare resource use in those who do and do not recover. An experience sampling method study will intensively assess activities, experiences and mental distress in subgroups over s...

ObjectiveTo explore which resources and activities help young people living in deprived urban environments in Latin America to recover from depression and/or anxiety.DesignA multimethod, qualitative study with 18 online focus groups and 12 online structured group conversations embedded into arts workshops.SettingThis study was conducted in Bogotá (Colombia), Buenos Aires (Argentina) and Lima (Peru).ParticipantsAdolescents (15–16 years old) and young adults (20–24 years old) with capacity to provide assent/consent and professionals (older than 18 years of age) that had experience of professionally working with young people were willing to share personal experience within a group, and had capacity to provide consent.ResultsA total of 185 participants took part in this study: 111 participants (36 adolescents, 35 young adults and 40 professionals) attended the 18 focus groups and 74 young people (29 adolescents and 45 young adults) took part in the 12 arts workshops. Eight categories ca...

Background Mental distress is a major public health problem which includes anxiety, depression and somatic symptoms such as sleeping problems, fatigue and headache. University students are consistently reported to have higher levels of mental distress compared to the general population. Although university students with mental distress have significantly impaired cognitive functioning, learning disabilities and poor academic performance, the burden of this problem in Tanzania is unknown. This study aimed to determine prevalence and factors associated with mental distress among undergraduate students in northern Tanzania. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate students at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College from April–July 2018. Simple random sampling technique using probability proportional to size was used to sample students from their respective classes. Mental distress was screened using the self-reporting questionnaire (SRQ-20). Data was a...

Women report significantly higher levels of mental distress than men in community studies around the world. We provide further evidence on the origins of this mental health gender-gap using data from 789 adults, primarily spousal pairs, from 300 families in Delhi, India. These data were collected between 2001 and 2003. We first confirm that, like in other studies, women report higher levels of mental distress and that gender differences in education, household expenditures and age do not explain the mental health gender-gap. In contrast, women report significantly higher levels of distress than men in families with adverse reproductive outcomes, particularly the death of a child. Controlling for adverse reproductive outcomes sharply reduces the mental health gender-gap. Finally, mental health is strongly correlated with physical health for both men and women, but there is little evidence of a differential response by sex. We complement this empirical description with anthropological analysis based on ethnographic interviews with 100 men and 100 women. With the help of these ethnographic interviews we show how adverse life events for women are experienced as the inability to maintain the domestic, which seems to be at stake within their life worlds. We raise issues for further research on the apparent finding that the mental health of women and men are differentially affected by adverse reproductive events in the family in this sample.

Psychological distress is often linked to and negatively affects the outcomes of chronic medical conditions; however, data on psychological distress and its predictors among individuals with chronic medical illnesses are scarce in developing countries like Ethiopia. The main objective of this study was to assess the magnitude and predictors of psychological distress among people living with chronic medical illness and the general population. A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in Mecha demographic research center, Northwest Ethiopia. The participants were selected from the general population and outpatient departments. Kessler-10 (K-10) was used to assess psychological distress. The magnitude of psychological distress among people living with chronic medical illness and those from the general population was 62.0% and 35.1%, respectively. The odds of psychological distress in people living with chronic medical illness was three times more than the one in the general population. Divorced marital status, family history of chronic medical illness, and low social support were statistically significantly associated with psychological distress in both groups. The magnitude of psychological distress was significantly higher among people living with chronic medical illness. Routine screening of such cases for psychological distress during their visits for their medical illness helps take appropriate therapeutic interventions.

Physical inactivity is a global public health priority, yet people living with a disability or long-term health condition, such as those who experience mental distress, continue to face inequalities and barriers to participation in sport and physical activity. These inequalities are considered an occupational injustice, in terms of participation in health enhancing occupations being restricted for these groups of people, despite them wanting to be more active. This study aimed to gain an in-depth understanding of the nature and value of participating in a UK based community football project, for people with experience of mental distress. Twenty-three people took part in this first strand of a larger participatory action research study, which used the World Café as a method for structuring and recording conversations. Data from the three World Café events were analysed collectively and thematically. The study's findings reveal tensions, nuances, and subtleties that exist in relation to the reciprocal relationship between playing football and people's health and well-being. The complexity of enabling participation in sport and physical activity amongst marginalised groups, such as people with experience of mental distress, is highlighted.

Few have examined how employment is linked to trends in mental health among young adults across economic contexts in more recent years. To better understand the burden of non-employment and mental distress in this age group, this study examines the association of short-term (<1 year) and long-term (1+ year) out-of-work status with mental health across three recessions among young men and women ages 18-34. We report sex-stratified estimates of frequent mental distress (FMD), out-of-work status, and their association through adjusted prevalence ratios across 27 cycles of the U.S. Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (1993-2019). We found that FMD increased by 112% in men and 120% in women between 1993-2019, with 55% (men) and 44% (women) of this increase occurring between 2016 and 2019. Short-term (PR men = 1.53, 95%CI 1.46-1.61; PR women = 1.34, 95%CI 1.29-1.40) and longterm (PR men = 1.61, 95%CI 1.51-1.71; PR women = 1.28, 95%CI 1.22-1.34) out-of-work status were each associated with a higher risk of FMD during this period. The magnitude of associations between long-term out-of-work status and FMD significantly varied across cycles, and was strongest after the 1991 recession in men and the 2008 recession in women. Whereas employment represents an important determinant of mental health among young adults, particularly during economic downturns, it did not suffice to explain the rise in mental distress in this age group in more recent years.

Context: There is limited evidence on the extent of the perceived need for professional mental health care and barriers to the delivery of mental distress services among university students in low and middle-income countries. Objective: The current study was designed to assess the prevalence of mental distress, perceived need for professional mental health care and barriers to the delivery of the service for regular undergraduate university students. Methods: A multi-stage sampling technique was used to recruit 1135 regular undergraduate university students. Symptoms of mental distress were evaluated using the Self-Reported Questionnaire (SRQ-20) and a score of eight and above was used to identify positive cases. The perceived need for professional mental health care was assessed using one question with binary responses, whereas barriers to mental health care were assessed using Barriers to Access to Care Evaluation (BACE-30) tool. The association of demographic variables with total mean scores of BACE-III sub-scales was modeled using multiple linear regression. Results: The prevalence of mental distress symptoms was 34.6% and the perceived need for professional mental health care was 70.5%. The top five barriers to receiving professional mental health service were (a) thinking the problem would get better by itself, (b) being unsure where to go to get professional care, (c) wanting to solve the problem by own, (d) denying mental health problem, and (e) preferring to get alternative forms of mental care. Conclusions: The high prevalence of mental distress, mental health care gap, and the report of barriers to professional mental health care among Ethiopian regular undergraduate students is a call for action. Keywords: Mental distress, Perceived need, Barrier, and Professional mental health care.

Context: There is limited evidence on the extent of the perceived need for professional mental health care and barriers to the delivery of mental distress services among university students in low and middle-income countries. Objective: The current study was designed to assess the prevalence of mental distress, perceived need for professional mental health care and barriers to the delivery of the service for regular undergraduate university students. Methods: A multi-stage sampling technique was used to recruit 1135 regular undergraduate university students. Symptoms of mental distress were evaluated using the Self-Reported Questionnaire (SRQ-20) and a score of eight and above was used to identify positive cases. The perceived need for professional mental health care was assessed using one question with binary responses, whereas barriers to mental health care were assessed using Barriers to Access to Care Evaluation (BACE-30) tool. The association of demographic variables with total mean scores of BACE-III sub-scales was modeled using multiple linear regression. Results: The prevalence of mental distress symptoms was 34.6% and the perceived need for professional mental health care was 70.5%. The top five barriers to receiving professional mental health service were (a) thinking the problem would get better by itself, (b) being unsure where to go to get professional care, (c) wanting to solve the problem by own, (d) denying mental health problem, and (e) preferring to get alternative forms of mental care. Conclusions: The high prevalence of mental distress, mental health care gap, and the report of barriers to professional mental health care among Ethiopian regular undergraduate students is a call for action. Keywords: Mental distress, Perceived need, Barrier, and Professional mental health care.

Context: There is limited evidence on the extent of the perceived need for professional mental health care and barriers to the delivery of mental distress services among university students in low and middle-income countries. Objective: The current study was designed to assess the prevalence of mental distress, perceived need for professional mental health care and barriers to the delivery of the service for regular undergraduate university students. Methods: A multi-stage sampling technique was used to recruit 1135 regular undergraduate university students. Symptoms of mental distress were evaluated using the Self-Reported Questionnaire (SRQ-20) and a score of eight and above was used to identify positive cases. The perceived need for professional mental health care was assessed using one question with binary responses, whereas barriers to mental health care were assessed using Barriers to Access to Care Evaluation (BACE-30) tool. The association of demographic variables with total mean scores of BACE-III sub-scales was modeled using multiple linear regression. Results: The prevalence of mental distress symptoms was 34.6% and the perceived need for professional mental health care was 70.5%. The top five barriers to receiving professional mental health service were (a) thinking the problem would get better by itself, (b) being unsure where to go to get professional care, (c) wanting to solve the problem by own, (d) denying mental health problem, and (e) preferring to get alternative forms of mental care. Conclusions: The high prevalence of mental distress, mental health care gap, and the report of barriers to professional mental health care among Ethiopian regular undergraduate students is a call for action. Keywords: Mental distress, Perceived need, Barrier, and Professional mental health care.

The current study explores the relationship between psychological difficulty following immigration, and well-being and coping with age-related tasks among emerging adults. In-depth interviews were conducted with 68 young immigrants (19-25 years) from the Former Soviet Union in Israel, focusing on the immigration experience and its related distress. One year later, levels of functioning were assessed (levels of psychological symptoms, reaction to and coping with stressful life events and achievement of developmentally appropriate tasks). Results showed that emotional distress from the immigration experience affected later functioning. However the impact was not uniform. Among emerging adults with initially lower psychological health, experienced immigration distress significantly impacted in a negative way on coping and on the level of independent decision making. Emerging adults with an initially overall healthy psychological organization, while also experiencing immigration distress, were less likely to be negatively affected by it. Results also suggest that a premature tendency to try to cope with cultural ambivalence during the first years following immigration had a negative impact on individuals' coping and functioning.

The burden of mental illness of inmates in low and middle income countries (LMICs) prisons was higher than in the developed ones. Positive interventions common in reversing the increasing prevalence of inmates’ mental distress in developed countries are rare in Nigeria, a LMICs. This study contributed to initiate mental health promotion in Nigerian prisons through studying mediating effect of positive interventions, specifically spirituality and resilience on inmates’ mental wellbeing. Mental distress of 63 male inmates of Bida prison, North-centre Nigeria was assessed with GHQ-12. The impact of resilience and spirituality on mental distress was measured by Resilience Scale and brief Spirituality Involvement and Beliefs Scale respectively. The mean age of participants was 27.27years (SD = 1.43years) and 70% of them had mental distress. Variables with statistically significant experience of mental distress were being single and having high mean resilience score. The study demonstrate...

Introduction: The media is the main information source about mental distress and influences people’s meaning-making. Overall, biomedical narratives of mental distress and portrayals of dangerousness have mainly been depicted. Print media is the most researched genre overall while in the realm of non-fictional television, news programmes have been explored the most. Studies have mainly utilised quantitative methodologies and there is a paucity of research on factual television documentaries (FTDs). Method: A qualitative study which utilised a narrative analysis methodology was conducted to analyse portrayals of mental distress, dominant narratives, counternarratives and absent narratives in two FTDs broadcasted in the UK. Moving visual images were analysed in conjunction with spoken words. Results: ‘Anxiety’ is portrayed as a ‘condition’ with ranges of severity. Psychosocial causes are purported and psychological therapy is portrayed as a means for ‘patients’ to learn how to manage ‘...

job insecurity. Poor chances for advancement (promotion), verbal or physical harassment from superiors, health and safety risks were also identified sources of mental distress at work place . Working environment and co-worker communication, administrative issues (office politics and competition), family relationship and level of income were found to be highly associated with the occurrence of mental distress among health professionals; especially when employees fail to purchase adequate food, clothing and services in their salary which affects their self-esteem as well as the sense of control over one's life . Mental distress was found to be a big treat for institutions to deliver the required goals due to increasing in the turnover rate of staffs, shifting profession to non-clinical ones . Many of lost work days each year are due to absenteeism, sick leave and unreasonable leave from work are attributed to mental distress and most of health professional employees consider quitting their jobs because of complaining about emotional instability and unable to solve stressful conditions of their work .

Background: A better understanding of attitudes and beliefs held by traditional healers and utilizers of traditional medicine concerning mental health conditions in Liberia is important as Liberia seeks to improve its delivery of mental healthcare in the context of scarce resources and recovery from civil war. Methods: A qualitative research design was used to collect data from 24 Liberian traditional healers, and 11 utilizers of Liberian traditional medicine. Participants were queried about mental health problems in Liberia, treatments, and attitudes towards modern healthcare. Qualitative data were probed and aggregated using content analysis. Results: Mental health problems described by study participants included: Open Mole, African Science, Epilepsy, Depres- sion and Mental Illness (trauma/substance use). Mental health problems were often associated with socioeconomic distress, and participants described their attitudes and beliefs concerning mental healthcare, traditional medic...

The psychosocial stressors related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns have been shown to lead to an exacerbation of suicide risk. The present study aims to examine (a) the contribution of mental pain intensity to psychological distress and suicidal ideation during the COVID-19 pandemic and (b) the protective role of mental pain tolerance in buffering these adverse mental health effects. A total of 652 adults (74.2% female, M = 33.99 years, SD = 13.74) were assessed through an online survey during the first mandatory lockdown in Italy. Participants completed measures of mental pain intensity and tolerance, psychological distress, and suicidal ideation. Results showed that mental pain intensity significantly predicted increases in psychological distress and suicidal ideation while mental pain tolerance significantly buffered the adverse effects of mental pain intensity on psychological distress and suicidal ideation. The findings highlight that tolerance for mental pain may act as a powerful protective factor during the pandemic. Evidence-based public health interventions fostering tolerance for mental pain during a pandemic are needed in order to effectively reduce suicide in potential risk groups. The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak worldwide has led many countries to issue unprecedented physical distancing measures in an attempt to contain the spread of the

Background: In sub-Saharan Africa, mental and substance-related disorders account for 19% of all years lived with disability, yet the intersection between poverty and mental distress is poorly understood since most psychiatric research is conducted in high-income countries. Aims: To examine the prevalence of and associations between food insecurity, mental distress and suicidal ideation in three rural village clusters in sub-Saharan Africa. Method: Cross-sectional multivariate analysis of sociodemographic variables associated with mental distress and suicidal ideation in three countries. The sample included 1,142 individuals from three rural village clusters in Nigeria ( n = 380), Uganda ( n = 380) and Ghana ( n = 382). Food insecurity was measured based on the number of months in the previous year that the respondent’s family reported being ‘unable to eat two square meals per day’. Mental distress was assessed using the Kessler non-specific psychological distress scale (K6) and sui...

Background. Caregiving to individuals with mental illness is a broad responsibility, including not only practical help and care but also emotional support. Cross-sectional studies in different localities suggested a significant burden of mental distress among caregivers of patients with epilepsy, but we are not aware about the condition in Ethiopia. Therefore, the aim of the current study is to assess the prevalence and associated factors of mental distress among caregivers of patients with epilepsy in Ethiopia. Methods. An institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted in

and family . Until today countries whose economies where characterized as emerging have been distancing themselves from important scientific areas such as IT or other similar sectors that will lead the next industrial revolution. May this reallocation of funding provide for these economies a chance to support their education system not to fall behind .

Background: Prior studies have suggested that the darkness of winter impacts the level of mental distress and sleeping problems. Our study investigated whether people living in the sub-arctic had more sleeping problems or mental distress during winter. Methods: The cross sectional population Tromsø Study was conducted in Tromsø, North Norway, at 69.4 degrees North and above the Arctic Circle. The study included entire birth cohorts and random samples of the population aged 30 to 87 years. Data was collected continuously from 1 October 2007 to the end of December 2008 except July. 8951 persons completed questionnaires including the HSCL-10 and the MCTQ. Results: There were no significant differences in the reporting of current mental distress depending on season. Significantly more reported current sleeping problems in winter than in the other seasons, and less sleeping problems was found in spring. Conclusions: In this sub-arctic population, insomnia was most prevalent in winter, but there were no significant seasonal differences in mental distress. Although some people in the sub-arctic clearly are mentally negatively affected by the darkness of winter, the negative impact of winter on mental distress for the adult population is not conclusive.

To study the association between paternal mental health and physically aggressive behavior in children. This study is based on 19,580 father-child dyads from the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa). Fathers' mental health was assessed by self-report (Symptom Checklist-5, SCL-5) in week 17 or 18 of gestation. Children's behavior (hitting others) was obtained by mothers' reports. A multinomial logistic regression model was performed. Expectant fathers' high level of psychological distress was found to be a significant risk factor only for girls hitting, adjusted OR=1.46 (1.01-2.12), p=0.043, but not for boys. High levels of mental distress in fathers predict their daughters' hitting at five years of age.

Welfare recipients were often considered the least deserving of COVID-related support. Despite the recent attention paid to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, few studies have explored the mental distress experienced by welfare recipients. This cross-sectional study on female Comprehensive Social Security Allowance recipients in Hong Kong aimed to explore their level of mental distress and its association with a range of risk factors specific to welfare recipients. Hence, 316 valid cases from a local community center responded to our online survey. We found that 52.3%, 23.4%, and 78% of the participants showed moderate to extremely severe depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms, respectively. A higher level of mental distress was associated with having a psychiatric diagnosis, poorer social, and greater concerns over disciplining children, the living environment, daily expenses and being infected by COVID-19. Unexpectedly, being married, having a permanent residence, and having a job were not significant protective factors for this group. The models explained 45.5%, 44.6%, and 52.5% of the overall variance in the level of depression, anxiety, and stress (p < 0.01), respectively. Our findings have important implications for supporting female welfare recipients during a public health crisis and may help frontline staff and professionals provide prompt assistance to this group in need.

Since January 2020 Elsevier has created a COVID-19 resource centre with free information in English and Mandarin on the novel coronavirus COVID-19. The COVID-19 resource centre is hosted on Elsevier Connect, the company's public news and information website. Elsevier hereby grants permission to make all its COVID-19-related research that is available on the COVID-19 resource centre -including this research content -immediately available in PubMed Central and other publicly funded repositories, such as the WHO COVID database with rights for unrestricted research re-use and analyses in any form or by any means with acknowledgement of the original source. These permissions are granted for free by Elsevier for as long as the COVID-19 resource centre remains active.

Introduction Mental health is recognized as a critical component of public health Given the close relationship between mental health and life style and the importance of students as valuable human resources, the present study aimed at determining the relationship between life style and mental health among medical students in Sousse during COVID-19 pandemic. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional observational study in university students from the first to the fifth grade of the Faculty of Medicine of Sousse during the academic year 2020/2021. Data were collected anonymously via an online questionnaire published on the Facebook groups of each grade, on december 2020. The online survey consisted of three sections. The first one aimed to collect sociodemographic information. The second section of the survey addressed recent lifestyle choices and the third one assessed psychological distress using the French version of 12 items of The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). The significa...

Background: There are compelling theoretical and empirical reasons that link household food insecurity to mental distress in the setting where both problems are common. However, little is known about their association during pregnancy in Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted to examine the association of household food insecurity with mental distress during pregnancy. Six hundred and forty-two pregnant women were recruited from 11 health centers and one hospital. Probability proportional to size (PPS) and consecutive sampling techniques were employed to recruit study subjects until the desired sample size was obtained. The Self Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20) was used to measure mental distress and a 9-item Household Food Insecurity Access Scale was used to measure food security status. Descriptive and inferential statistics were computed accordingly. Multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate the effect of food insecurity on mental distress. Results: Fifty eight of the respondents (9 %) were moderately food insecure and 144 of the respondents (22.4 %) had mental distress. Food insecurity was also associated with mental distress. Pregnant women living in food insecure households were 4 times more likely to have mental distress than their counterparts (COR = 3.77, 95 % CI: 2.17, 6.55). After controlling for confounders, a multivariate logistic regression model supported a link between food insecurity and mental distress (AOR = 4.15, 95 % CI: 1.67, 10.32). The study found a significant association between food insecurity and mental distress. However, the mechanism by which food insecurity is associated with mental distress is not clear. Further investigation is therefore needed to understand either how food insecurity during pregnancy leads to mental distress or weather mental distress is a contributing factor in the development of food insecurity.

The whole world struggles to combat COVID-19 pandemic forcing nations to take extreme measures in an attempt to prevent outbreaks and save lives. It has been noted that COVID-19 has established itself as a risk factor for psychological distress among the population of different subgroups. There are several factors such as uncertainties, controversies, misinformation, social isolation, stigma and discrimination which are escalating the risk of massive mental distress among the public. Nepal is trying to increase its effort to combat COVID-19 by adopting community containment measures, but the mental health of the frontline health workforce, service providers and the general public seems to be highly overshadowed. In this aspect, this paper aims to shed light over different aspects of mental health issues emerging in Nepal during the time of COVID-19 lockdown, along with some of its potential contributing factors. Nepal lacks adequate infrastructure and human resource to provide mental healthcare services effectively in case of any massive mental distress. In this state of resource deprivation, providing education and training regarding psychosocial issues to health system leaders, first responders and health care professionals could be a key to address the population need at present and to prevent further complications.

ObjectivesTo estimate the prevalence of anxiety and depression and identify the associated factors among people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) visiting diabetes clinics of Pokhara Metropolitan, Nepal.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingThree diabetes clinics in Pokhara Metropolitan, Nepal, from May to July 2021.Participants283 people with T2DM visiting selected diabetes centres of Pokhara Metropolitan.Outcome measuresAnxiety and depression were the outcome measures. Face-to-face interviews were conducted using a structured questionnaire comprising information related to participants’ sociodemographic profile and several factors along with Hospital Anxiety and Depression-Anxiety subscale and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 to assess the levels of anxiety and depression, respectively. Pearson’s Χ2tests and binary logistic regression were performed to examine association between dependent and independent variables at 5% level of significance.ResultsThe prevalence of anxiety and dep...

The whole world struggles to combat COVID-19 pandemic forcing nations to take extreme measures in an attempt to prevent outbreaks and save lives. It has been noted that COVID-19 has established itself as a risk factor for psychological distress among the population of different subgroups. There are several factors such as uncertainties, controversies, misinformation, social isolation, stigma, and discrimination which are escalating the risk of massive mental distress among the public. Nepal is trying to increase its effort to combat COVID-19 by adopting community containment measures, but the mental health of the frontline health workforce, service providers, and the general public seems to be highly overshadowed. In this aspect, this paper aims to shed light on different aspects of mental health issues emerging in Nepal during the time of COVID-19 lockdown, along with some of its potential contributing factors. Nepal lacks adequate infrastructure and human resource to provide menta...

Background: Hazardous alcohol use is known to be comorbid with insomnia problems. The present study examined the prevalence of insomnia and if the odds of insomnia differed between women and men with a hazardous alcohol use. Methods: Cross-sectional data from the seventh survey of the Norwegian population-based Tromsø Study 2015-2016 (participation 65%). The sample included 19 185 women and men 40-96 years. Hazardous alcohol use was defined by the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) and insomnia by the Bergen Insomnia Scale. Covariates included socio-demographics, shift work, somatic conditions and mental distress defined by Hopkins Symptom Check List-10 (HSCL-10). Mental distress was also included as a moderator. Results: Insomnia was more prevalent among participants with a hazardous alcohol use (24.1%) than without (18.9%), and participants who had hazardous alcohol use had higher odds of insomnia (odds ratio = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.20, 1.85). The association turned non-significant after adjustment for mental distress. Adding mental distress as a moderator variable revealed a higher odds of insomnia among hazardous alcohol users having no or low-tomedium levels of mental distress, but not among participants with high levels of mental distress. Insomnia was more prevalent among women and men reporting hazardous alcohol use. When mental distress was treated as a moderator, hazardous alcohol use did not yield higher odds for insomnia among those with high levels of mental distress. This suggests that mental distress may play an important role in the association between hazardous alcohol use and insomnia. And that the impact of alcohol on insomnia may differ depending on the severity of mental distress.

The paper explores the relationship between unemployment and mental distress. The analysis draws upon data from the 1992 British Household Panel Study (BHPS). Six different measures of mental distress are used. Controlling for a number of individual characteristics, unemployed individuals are found to suffer significantly higher odds of experiencing a marked rise in anxiety, depression and loss of confidence and a reduction in self-esteem and the level of general happiness even compared with individuals in low-paid employment. This finding highlights the involuntary nature of unemployment. The results also suggest that all six measures of psychological well-being are lower in middle age compared with younger and older age groups. In addition, women appear to be tess affected by unemployment than men.