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Akinyemi O, Ogundare T, Oladunjoye AF, Nasef KE, Lipscombe C, Akinbote JA, Bezold M. Factors associated with suicide/self-inflicted injuries among women aged 18-65 years in the United States: A 13-year retrospective analysis of the National Inpatient Sample database. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0287141. [PMID: 37788271 PMCID: PMC10547191 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Suicide is a significant cause of mortality in the United States, accounting for 14.5 deaths/100,000. Although there are data on gender disparity in suicide/self-inflicted injury rates in the United States, few studies have examined the factors associated with suicide/self-inflicted injury in females. OBJECTIVE To determine factors associated with suicide/self-inflicted injuries among women aged 18-65 years in the United States. METHODS Hospitalizations for suicide or self-inflicted injuries were identified using the National Inpatient Sample database from 2003-2015 using sample weights to generate national estimates. Independent predictors of suicide/self-inflicted injuries were identified using multivariable regression models. Interaction term analysis to identify the interaction between race/ethnicity and income were conducted. RESULTS There were 1,031,693 adult women hospitalizations in the U.S. with a primary diagnosis of suicide/self-inflicted injury in the study period. The highest suicide/self-inflicted injury risk was among women aged 31-45years (OR = 1.23, CI = 1.19-1.27, p < 0.05). Blacks in the highest income strata had a 20% increase in the odds of suicide/self-inflicted injury compared to Whites in the lowest socioeconomic strata (OR = 1.20, CI = 1.05-1.37, p <0.05). Intimate partner violence increased suicide/self-inflicted injury risk 6-fold (OR = 5.77, CI = 5.01-6.65, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION Suicide risk is among women aged 31-45 years, higher earning Black women, intimate partner violence victims, uninsured, and current smokers. Interventions and policies that reduce smoking, prevents intimate partner violence, addresses racial discrimination and bias, and provides universal health coverage are needed to prevent excess mortality from suicide deaths.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oluwasegun Akinyemi
- Clive O Callender Department of Surgery, Howard University, Washington, D.C., United States of America
| | - Temitope Ogundare
- Department of Psychiatry, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States of America
- Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Adeolu Funsho Oladunjoye
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Howard University, Washington, D.C., United States of America
| | - Kindha Elleissy Nasef
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Howard University, Washington, D.C., United States of America
| | - Christina Lipscombe
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Howard University, Washington, D.C., United States of America
| | - John Akinshola Akinbote
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Howard University, Washington, D.C., United States of America
| | - Maureen Bezold
- Department of Health Sciences and Social Work, Western Illinois University, Macomb, Illinois, United States of America
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Stites SD, Gurian A, Coykendall C, Largent EA, Harkins K, Karlawish J, Coe NB. Gender of Study Partners and Research Participants Associated With Differences in Study Partner Ratings of Cognition and Activity Level. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2023; 78:1318-1329. [PMID: 36790294 PMCID: PMC10394983 DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbad026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Studies of Alzheimer's disease typically include "study partners" (SPs) who report on participants' cognition and function. Prior studies show SP reports differ depending on the relationship between the SP and participant, that is, spouse or adult child. Adult children SPs are typically female. Could differing reports be due to gender? Knowing this may help explain variability in measurement. METHODS The Aging, Demographics, and Memory Study enrolled a subset of participants from the Health and Retirement Study. Each participant had an SP. Bivariate and multivariable regression models compared 718 SP-participant dyads. RESULTS In analyses of 4 groups defined by SP and participant gender, dyads composed of 2 women were less likely to identify as White (75.8%, 95% confidence interval [CI], 70.4-80.5) than dyads composed of 2 men (93.3%, 95% CI, 81.2-97.8). In analyses adjusted for the severity of cognitive and functional impairment, women SPs rated women participants as more active than they rated men, mean 2.15 (95% CI, 2.07-2.22) versus mean 2.30 (95% CI, 2.24-2.37), respectively, on a 4-point scale. Similarly, men SPs rated women participants as more active than they rated men, mean 2.1 (95% CI, 2.0-2.2) and mean 2.4 (95% CI, 2.3-2.5), respectively. In an analysis of cognitively unimpaired participants, women SPs rated participants' memory worse than men SPs did (p < .05). DISCUSSION SP and participant gender influence SPs' reports of another person's cognition and activity level. Our findings expand what is understood about how nondisease factors influence measures of disease severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shana D Stites
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Anna Gurian
- Division of Geriatric Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Cameron Coykendall
- Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Emily A Largent
- Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Kristin Harkins
- Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jason Karlawish
- Penn Memory Center, Departments of Medicine, Medical Ethics and Health Policy, and Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Norma B Coe
- Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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von Zimmermann C, Brückner L, Mühle C, Weinland C, Kornhuber J, Lenz B. Bioimpedance Body Measures and Serum Lipid Levels in Masculine Depression. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:794351. [PMID: 35928779 PMCID: PMC9343577 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.794351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a main reason for suicide, and serum lipids are involved in both affective disorders and related suicidal behavior. Moreover, masculine depression has been suggested as a subtype of depression with an increased risk for suicide. Here, we studied the relationship between body measures, serum lipids, suicidal thoughts, and masculine depression. Methods Depressed patients (44% women) were divided by a sex-separated median-split into a group of 81 "patients with masculine depression" (mean age ± standard error: 36.4 ± 1.6 years) and a group of 82 "patients with non-masculine depression" (age 45.7 ± 1.6 years) according to the Male Depression Risk Scale. We compared body measures, serum lipid levels, and past suicidal ideation between these groups and explored differences between these groups and 176 healthy controls (51% women; age 37.2 ± 1.0 years). Results Patients with masculine depression did not significantly differ from patients with non-masculine depression in any of the body measures, lipid markers, or suicidal thoughts. Compared to healthy controls, both patient groups showed significantly higher body fat (B[masculine depression] = 0.041 and B[non-masculine depression] = 0.050), lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (B = -0.045 and -0.044), and a higher risk for suicidal thoughts (B = 3.927 and 2.663) than healthy controls. Suicidal thoughts were significantly associated with lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL)/HDL ratios (B = -0.455) in patients with depression and with higher LDL cholesterol levels (B = 0.020) in healthy controls subjects. Limitation Correlational study design and focus on in-patients. Conclusion In the studied cohort, masculine depression was not significantly associated with the analyzed parameters of body measures, serum lipids, or suicidal thoughts in in-patients with depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia von Zimmermann
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Lena Brückner
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Christiane Mühle
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Christian Weinland
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Johannes Kornhuber
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Bernd Lenz
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
- Department of Addictive Behavior and Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health (CIMH), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
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4
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Boxer A, Gill PR. Predicting Anxiety from the Complex Interaction Between Masculinity and Spiritual Beliefs. Am J Mens Health 2021; 15:15579883211049021. [PMID: 34587766 PMCID: PMC8489773 DOI: 10.1177/15579883211049021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Research suggests that adherence to traditional and hegemonic masculinities can be detrimental to men’s mental health. In particular, anxiety can result from the incongruence between idealised and lived experiences. Emerging research suggests that holding spiritual beliefs may protect against such anxiety. This Australian study investigated whether two aspects of spiritualism (Spiritual Openness and Spiritual Support) could moderate the relationship between four stereotypical masculine behaviours (Success Dedication, Restrictive Emotionality, Inhibited Affection and Exaggerated Self-Reliance and Control) and anxiety. A cross-sectional, correlational design, with a heterogeneous, Western community sample included 331 male participants aged 18–67 (M = 24.57, SD = 10.37). In partial support of the hypotheses, two significant moderation models were found. Both Spiritual Support and Spiritual Openness moderated the relationship between Exaggerated Self-Reliance and Control and anxiety. There were no significant moderations for Success Dedication, Restrictive Emotionality, and Inhibited Affection. Masculinity and spiritualism did not have significant direct effects on anxiety. These findings suggest that when working with men and their mental health, it may be important to consider the congruence between their behaviors and belief systems, as spirituality was only protective against anxiety where these beliefs were congruent with masculine self-reliance and control. It appears that the potential benefit of spirituality in reducing masculine anxiety is dependent on the man being more open to external supports, and having a lower need for control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Boxer
- Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Peter Richard Gill
- Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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5
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Ray JG, Guttmann A, Silveira J, Park AL. Mortality in a cohort of 3.1 million children, adolescents and young adults. J Epidemiol Community Health 2020; 74:260-268. [PMID: 31915240 PMCID: PMC7035693 DOI: 10.1136/jech-2019-213365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2019] [Revised: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 12/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many youth deaths occur in the first year of life, from prematurity and anomalies. Detailing mortality after age 1 year may differentially guide preventive strategies in children, adolescents and young adults. METHODS A cohort study in Ontario, Canada comprised 3 139 698 children born from 1990 to 2016. Adjusted HR (aHR) for death between 1 and 24 years were generated, comparing demographic variables and parity. RESULTS After a median of 13.7 years of follow-up, 6930 deaths occurred between ages 1 and 24 years (incidence rate 17.0 per 100 000 person-years), peaking at age 23 years (43.7 per 100 000). The aHR for death was higher among males than females (1.44, 95% CI 1.37 to 1.51), rural versus urban areas (1.48, 95% CI 1.39 to 1.58), lowest versus highest income areas (1.39, 95% CI 1.29 to 1.51) and at parity 1 (1.16, 95% CI 1.10 to 1.23), parity 2 (1.34, 95% CI 1.23 to 1.45), parity 3+ (1.96, 95% CI 1.74 to 2.21), each relative to a child without an older sibling. Among males, the proportion of deaths due to injury jumped from 30% before age 15 years to 65% thereafter, and in females, from 28% to 51%. Intentional self-harm/assault explained 11% of injury-related deaths among males before age 15 years, and 20% thereafter, with respective figures of 18% and 17% for females. Deaths outside of hospital increased with age, from 35% at age 1 year, to 66% at age 22 years. CONCLUSION There is a heightened susceptibility of dying starting at age 15 years, especially among males, from injury, and arising outside of hospital.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel G Ray
- Medicine, and Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada .,Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,ICES, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Astrid Guttmann
- ICES, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Pediatrics, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jose Silveira
- Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Production Losses Associated with Alcohol-Attributable Mortality in the European Union. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16193536. [PMID: 31546662 PMCID: PMC6801817 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16193536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2019] [Revised: 09/13/2019] [Accepted: 09/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The economic aspects of alcohol misuse are attracting increasing attention from policy makers and researchers but the evidence on the economic burden of this substance is hardly comparable internationally. This study aims to overcome this problem by estimating production losses (indirect costs) associated with alcohol-attributable mortality in 28 European Union (EU) countries in the year 2016. This study applies the prevalence-based top-down approach, societal perspective and human capital method to sex- and age-specific data on alcohol-related mortality at working age. The alcohol-attributable mortality data was taken from estimates based on the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016. Uniform data on labor and economic measures from the Eurostat database was used. The total production losses associated with alcohol-related deaths in the EU in 2016 were €32.1 billion. The per capita costs (share of costs in gross domestic product (GDP)) were €62.88 (0.215%) for the whole EU and ranged from €17.29 (0.062%) in Malta to €192.93 (0.875%) in Lithuania. On average, 81% of the losses were associated with male deaths and mortality among those aged 50-54 years generated the highest burden. Because alcohol is a major avoidable factor for mortality, public health community actions aimed at limiting this substance misuse might not only decrease the health burden but also contribute to the economic welfare of European societies.
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7
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The Perceived Impact of Suicide Bereavement on Specific Interpersonal Relationships: A Qualitative Study of Survey Data. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16101801. [PMID: 31117207 PMCID: PMC6572476 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16101801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2019] [Revised: 05/08/2019] [Accepted: 05/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
People bereaved by suicide have an increased risk of suicide and suicide attempt, yet report receiving less support than people bereaved by other sudden deaths. Reductions in support may contribute to suicide risk, yet their nature is unclear. We explored the impact of suicide bereavement on the interpersonal relationships of young adults in the UK using an online survey to collect qualitative data. We conducted thematic analysis of free-text responses from 499 adults to questions capturing the impact of bereavement on relationships with partners, close friends, close family, extended family, and other contacts. We identified four main themes describing the changes in relationships following the suicide: (1) Social discomfort over the death (stigma and taboo; painfulness for self or others to discuss; socially prescribed grief reactions); (2) social withdrawal (loss of social confidence; withdrawal as a coping mechanism); (3) shared bereavement experience creating closeness and avoidance; (4) attachments influenced by fear of further losses (overprotectiveness towards others; avoiding attachments as protective). These findings contribute to understanding deficits in support and pathways to suicidality after suicide bereavement. Such disrupted attachments add to the burden of grief and could be addressed by public education on how to support those bereaved by suicide.
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8
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Sargeant H, Forsyth R, Pitman A. The Epidemiology of Suicide in Young Men in Greenland: A Systematic Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2018; 15:E2442. [PMID: 30388882 PMCID: PMC6266058 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15112442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2018] [Revised: 10/25/2018] [Accepted: 10/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Suicide is the leading cause of death among young men aged 15⁻29 in Greenland, but few epidemiological studies have described this problem. We aimed to summarise descriptive epidemiological studies of suicide in young men in Greenland compared with other demographic groups in Denmark and Greenland to inform future suicide prevention strategy. We searched PubMed, PsycINFO, and Embase using an agreed search strategy to identify English-language papers describing suicide epidemiology in Greenlandic men aged 15⁻29. We followed PRISMA guidelines in screening and appraising eligible publications. Eight articles fulfilled inclusion criteria of 64 meeting search criteria. Findings covering 1970⁻2011 supported a dramatic rise in suicide rates in Greenlandic men aged 15⁻24 from 1976, who remained the highest-ranking demographic group over 1976⁻2011 compared with men and women of all age groups in Denmark and Greenland. Highest rates recorded were almost 600 per 100,000 per year in men aged approximately 20⁻23 over 1977⁻1986. No studies described suicide epidemiology after 2011, and no studies described risk factors for suicide in young men. Given the very high suicide rates recorded for young men over 1976⁻2011, such studies will be essential for informing the development and evaluation of appropriate preventive interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Alexandra Pitman
- UCL Division of Psychiatry, London W1W 7NF, UK.
- Camden & Islington NHS Foundation Trust, London NW1 0PE, UK.
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9
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Pitman A, De Souza T, Khrisna Putri A, Stevenson F, King M, Osborn D, Morant N. Support Needs and Experiences of People Bereaved by Suicide: Qualitative Findings from a Cross-Sectional British Study of Bereaved Young Adults. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2018; 15:ijerph15040666. [PMID: 29614053 PMCID: PMC5923708 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15040666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2018] [Revised: 03/29/2018] [Accepted: 03/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
People bereaved by suicide are at increased risk of suicide, but evidence is lacking that available interventions reduce suicide risk. Few large-scale studies have described the views of suicide-bereaved people regarding their needs for support. Our objective was to explore the nature of young adults' experiences of support after bereavement by suicide and their views on valued and unhelpful aspects. We conducted a cross-sectional study of staff and students aged 18-40 at 37 United Kingdom (UK) higher educational institutions in 2010, eliciting qualitative responses to two questions probing experiences of support and unmet needs after the suicide of a close contact. We conducted thematic analysis of responses from 420 adults bereaved by suicide, of whom 75% had received support after the loss. We identified three broad descriptive areas corresponding to important aspects of support: value and experiences of the support received; views on specific support needs; and reasons for not seeking support. We found that needs for emotional support exist throughout the social networks of people who die by suicide but are often hidden. Our findings suggest a need for proactive offers of support from family, friends, and professionals after suicide, repeated regularly in case a bereaved person does not feel ready for support early on.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Pitman
- UCL Division of Psychiatry, University College London, Maple House, 149 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 7NF, UK.
- Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust, St Pancras Hospital, London NW1 0PE, UK.
| | - Tanisha De Souza
- North East London NHS Foundation Trust, Memory Service, Broad Street Health Centre, Morland Road, Dagenham, Essex RM10 9HU, UK.
| | - Adelia Khrisna Putri
- UGM Faculty of Psychology, Jl. Sosio Humaniora 1, Sleman, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia.
| | - Fiona Stevenson
- UCL Research Department of Primary Care & Population Health, Rowland Hill St, London NW3 2PF, UK.
| | - Michael King
- UCL Division of Psychiatry, University College London, Maple House, 149 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 7NF, UK.
| | - David Osborn
- UCL Division of Psychiatry, University College London, Maple House, 149 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 7NF, UK.
- Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust, St Pancras Hospital, London NW1 0PE, UK.
| | - Nicola Morant
- UCL Division of Psychiatry, University College London, Maple House, 149 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 7NF, UK.
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10
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Pitman A, Khrisna Putri A, De Souza T, Stevenson F, King M, Osborn D, Morant N. The Impact of Suicide Bereavement on Educational and Occupational Functioning: A Qualitative Study of 460 Bereaved Adults. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2018; 15:ijerph15040643. [PMID: 29614731 PMCID: PMC5923685 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15040643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2018] [Revised: 03/28/2018] [Accepted: 03/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
People bereaved by suicide are at an increased risk of suicide and of dropping out of education or work. Explanations for these associations are unclear, and more research is needed to understand how improving support in educational or work settings for people bereaved by suicide might contribute to reducing suicide risk. Our objective was to explore the impact of suicide on occupational functioning. We conducted a cross-sectional online study of bereaved adults aged 18-40, recruited from staff and students of British higher educational institutions in 2010. We used thematic analysis to analyse free text responses to two questions probing the impact of suicide bereavement on work and education. Our analysis of responses from 460 adults bereaved by suicide identified three main themes: (i) specific aspects of grief that impacted on work performance, cognitive and emotional domains, and social confidence; (ii) structural challenges in work or educational settings including a lack of institutional support, the impact of taking time off, and changes to caring roles; and (iii) new perspectives on the role of work, including determination to achieve. Institutional support should be tailored to take account of the difficulties and experiences described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Pitman
- UCL Division of Psychiatry, Maple House, 149 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 7NF, UK.
- Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust, St Pancras Hospital, London NW1 0PE, UK.
| | - Adelia Khrisna Putri
- UGM Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Jl. Sosio Humaniora 1, Sleman, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia.
| | - Tanisha De Souza
- North East London NHS Foundation Trust, Memory Service, Broad Street Health Centre, Morland Road, Dagenham, Essex, RM10 9HU, UK.
| | - Fiona Stevenson
- UCL Research Department of Primary Care & Population Health, Rowland Hill St, London NW3 2PF, UK.
| | - Michael King
- UCL Division of Psychiatry, Maple House, 149 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 7NF, UK.
| | - David Osborn
- UCL Division of Psychiatry, Maple House, 149 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 7NF, UK.
- Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust, St Pancras Hospital, London NW1 0PE, UK.
| | - Nicola Morant
- UCL Division of Psychiatry, Maple House, 149 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 7NF, UK.
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Abstract
Men are a numerical minority group receiving a diagnosis of, and treatment
for, depression. However, community surveys of men and of their mental
health issues (e.g. suicide and alcoholism) have led some to suggest that
many more men have depression than are currently seen in healthcare
services. This article explores current approaches to men and depression,
which draw on theories of sex differences, gender roles and hegemonic
masculinity. The sex differences approach has the potential to provide
diagnostic tools for (male) depression; gender role theory could be used to
redesign health services so that they target individuals who have a
masculine, problem-focused coping style; and hegemonic masculinity
highlights how gender is enacted through depression and that men's
depression may be visible in abusive, aggressive and violent practices.
Depression in men is receiving growing recognition, and recent policy
changes in the UK may mean that health services are obliged to incorporate
services that meet the needs of men with depression.
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12
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Pitman A, Nesse H, Morant N, Azorina V, Stevenson F, King M, Osborn D. Attitudes to suicide following the suicide of a friend or relative: a qualitative study of the views of 429 young bereaved adults in the UK. BMC Psychiatry 2017; 17:400. [PMID: 29237447 PMCID: PMC5729247 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-017-1560-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2017] [Accepted: 11/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND People bereaved by suicide are at increased risk of suicide attempt and suicide, but explanations for these associations remain theoretical. It is possible that the experience of suicide bereavement modifies personal attitudes towards suicide, but the nature of these changes remains unexplored. There is a need to understand personal attitudes to suicide following suicide bereavement, as this may inform the development of suicide prevention interventions. Our aim was to explore the attitudes of young adults bereaved by suicide towards their own likelihood of dying by suicide. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study of staff and students aged 18-40 at 37 United Kingdom (UK) higher educational institutions in 2010. Ethical approval was granted by the UCL Research Ethics Committee. Qualitative responses to a question probing attitudes to own suicide were provided by 429 respondents who had experienced bereavement by the suicide of a close contact. We identified key themes in this dataset using thematic analysis. RESULTS Analysis identified four main themes: suicide as a more tangible option (whether feared or not); identification with the deceased and awareness of shared vulnerabilities to suicide; personal determination to avoid suicide; and beliefs regarding safeguards against suicide. These themes reflected a broad split in participants' views regarding own likelihood of dying by suicide, influenced by the degree to which own suicide was feared and the extent to which they felt in control of determining a suicide death. Whilst the majority described an aversion to the idea of attempting suicide themselves, largely through an awareness of the impact on others, a minority described their experiences as having normalised suicide as a personal option. CONCLUSIONS The views of a sample of UK-based adults bereaved by suicide suggest that exposure to the suicide of a close friend or relative can influence attitudes to suicide in ways that could influence own risk of suicide attempt. The normalising attitudes to suicide observed in a minority of respondents could contribute to the observed association between suicide bereavement and suicide attempt.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Pitman
- UCL Division of Psychiatry, Maple House, 149 Tottenham Court Road, London, W1T 7NF, UK. .,Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust, St Pancras Hospital, St Pancras Way, London, NW1 0PE, UK.
| | - Hedvig Nesse
- UCL Division of Psychiatry, Maple House, 149 Tottenham Court Road, London, W1T 7NF UK
| | - Nicola Morant
- UCL Division of Psychiatry, Maple House, 149 Tottenham Court Road, London, W1T 7NF UK
| | - Valeriya Azorina
- UCL Division of Psychiatry, Maple House, 149 Tottenham Court Road, London, W1T 7NF UK
| | - Fiona Stevenson
- 0000000121901201grid.83440.3bUCL Research Department of Primary Care and Population Health, UCL Medical School, Royal Free Campus, Rowland Hill St, London NW3 2PF, UK
| | - Michael King
- UCL Division of Psychiatry, Maple House, 149 Tottenham Court Road, London, W1T 7NF UK ,grid.439468.4Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust, St Pancras Hospital, St Pancras Way, London, NW1 0PE UK
| | - David Osborn
- UCL Division of Psychiatry, Maple House, 149 Tottenham Court Road, London, W1T 7NF UK ,grid.439468.4Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust, St Pancras Hospital, St Pancras Way, London, NW1 0PE UK
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13
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Robinson A, Chesters J, Cooper S. People's Choice: Complementary and Alternative Medicine Modalities. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016. [DOI: 10.1177/1533210107302436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The diversity within CAM use in the community, and the beliefs, concerns, and characteristics of the users of individual CAM modalities was explored via a survey mailed to a randomly selected sample of 1,308 people in different metropolitan and rural localities in Victoria, Australia. The response rate was 40% ( n = 459). The respondents' overall current CAM use was 52% and lifetime use was 85%. Chiropractic (50%), massage therapy, (50%), and vitamin or herbal supplements (39%) were the most frequently used modalities. A set of beliefs labeled holistic health care beliefs strongly predicted the use of Natural Remedy and Wellness modalities. Users of these modalities were more likely to be female, under the age of 60, and tertiary educated. Rurality characteristics did not predict rural CAM usage and were equally present in metropolitan and rural respondents. The respondents' decisions concerning CAM involved choosing a modality that fit their self-assessed health care needs.
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Chachamovich E, Kirmayer LJ, Haggarty JM, Cargo M, Mccormick R, Turecki G. Suicide Among Inuit: Results From a Large, Epidemiologically Representative Follow-Back Study in Nunavut. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY. REVUE CANADIENNE DE PSYCHIATRIE 2015; 60:268-75. [PMID: 26175324 PMCID: PMC4501584 DOI: 10.1177/070674371506000605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2014] [Accepted: 09/01/2014] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The Inuit population in Canada's North has suffered from high rates of death by suicide. We report on the first large-scale, controlled, epidemiologically representative study of deaths by suicide in an Indigenous population, which investigates risk factors for suicide among all Inuit across Nunavut who died by suicide during a 4-year period. METHODS We identified all suicides by Inuit (n = 120) that occurred between January 1, 2003, and December 31, 2006, in Nunavut. For each subject, we selected a community-matched control subject. We used proxy-based procedures and conducted structured interviews with informants to obtain life histories, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Axis I and II diagnoses, and measures of impulsive and (or) aggressive traits. RESULTS Compared with control subjects, subjects who died by suicide were more likely to have experienced childhood abuse (OR 2.38; 95% CI 1.39 to 4.08), have family histories of major depressive disorder (P = 0.002) and suicide completion (P = 0.02), and have been affected by major depressive disorder (OR 13.00; 95% CI 6.20 to 27.25), alcohol dependence (OR 2.90; 95% CI 1.59 to 5.24), or cannabis dependence (OR 3.96; 95% CI 2.29 to 6.8) in the last 6 months. In addition, subjects who died by suicide were more likely to have been affected with cluster B personality disorders (OR 10.18; 95% CI 3.34 to 30.80) and had higher scores of impulsive and aggressive traits (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS At the individual level, clinical risk factors for suicide among Inuit are similar to those observed in studies with the general population, and indicate a need for improved access to mental health services. The high rate of mental health problems among control subjects suggests the need for population-level mental health promotion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Chachamovich
- Psychiatrist, McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec; Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec
| | - Laurence J Kirmayer
- Psychiatrist, James McGill Professor, and Director, Division of Social and Transcultural Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec; Senior Investigator, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec
| | - John M Haggarty
- Psychiatrist and Professor, Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Division of Clinical Sciences, Thunder Bay, Ontario
| | - Margaret Cargo
- Future Fellow, School of Population Health, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Rod Mccormick
- Counselling Psychologist, Thompson Rivers University, Aboriginal Education, Kamloops, British Columbia
| | - Gustavo Turecki
- Psychiatrist, Professor of Psychiatry, and Director, McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec; Director, Quebec Network for Suicide, Mood Disorders and Comorbidities, Montreal, Quebec
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15
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Characteristics of Women Who Have Had Cosmetic Breast Implants That Could Be Associated with Increased Suicide Risk: A Systematic Review, Proposing a Suicide Prevention Model. Arch Plast Surg 2015; 42:131-42. [PMID: 25798383 PMCID: PMC4366693 DOI: 10.5999/aps.2015.42.2.131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2014] [Revised: 07/21/2014] [Accepted: 07/26/2014] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
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Ng CJ, Teo CH, Ho CCK, Tan WP, Tan HM. The status of men's health in Asia. Prev Med 2014; 67:295-302. [PMID: 25117523 DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2014.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2014] [Revised: 08/01/2014] [Accepted: 08/02/2014] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study aims to compare health status and its risk factors between men and women who are from countries of different income status in Asia. METHOD We have included 47 Asian countries and 2 regions in this study. Life expectancy, mortality rate from communicable disease, non-communicable disease and injuries, the prevalence of non-communicable diseases risk factors and their trends were extracted from the WHO and respective governmental database. Subgroup analysis was performed based on country income groups. RESULTS Overall, men have shorter life expectancy and higher mortality rates compared to women. Men from higher-income countries lived longer compared to men from lower-income countries. There is a wide variation of male life expectancy in upper and lower middle income countries. The mean systolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose and body mass index in Asia have also increased over the years. CONCLUSION This study confirms that Asian men have poorer health compared to women besides the growing concerns on NCD risk factors. The findings from this study calls for a concerted effort to find solutions in addressing men's health problems in Asia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chirk Jenn Ng
- Department of Primary Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia.
| | - Chin Hai Teo
- Department of Primary Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
| | - Christopher Chee Kong Ho
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, National University of Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Wei Phin Tan
- Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, 111 S 11th St, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Hui Meng Tan
- Department of Primary Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
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Tong SF, Khoo EM, Low WY, Ng CJ, Wong CH, Yusoff HM, Abu Bakar AI, Tan HM, Jiwa M. Health Innovation Project: A Concept Paper on a Virtual Health Promotion Program for Men. JOURNAL OF MEN'S HEALTH 2014. [DOI: 10.1089/jomh.2013.0020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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18
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Wilson NJ, Cordier R, Wilson Whatley L. Older male mentors' perceptions of a Men's Shed intergenerational mentoring program. Aust Occup Ther J 2013; 60:416-26. [DOI: 10.1111/1440-1630.12090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/17/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nathan J. Wilson
- Centre for Disability Research and Policy; Faculty of Health Sciences; The University of Sydney; Lidcombe New South Wales Australia
| | - Reinie Cordier
- School of Occupational Therapy and Social Work; Curtin University, Perth Western Australia Australia
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Wilson NJ, Cordier R. A narrative review of Men's Sheds literature: reducing social isolation and promoting men's health and well-being. HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE IN THE COMMUNITY 2013; 21:451-463. [PMID: 23343146 DOI: 10.1111/hsc.12019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Men's Sheds are community-based organisations that typically provide a space for older men to participate in meaningful occupation such as woodwork. Men's Sheds are considered an exemplar for the promotion of men's health and well-being by health and social policy-makers. The objective of this literature review was to determine the state of the science about the potential for Men's Sheds to promote male health and well-being. Between October 2011 and February 2012, we conducted searches of databases, the grey literature and manual searches of websites and reference lists. In total, we found 5 reports and 19 articles about Men's Sheds. The majority of the literature has emanated from Australian academics and is about older men's learning in community contexts. There is a limited body of research literature about Men's Sheds; the literature consists of either descriptive surveys or small qualitative studies. The range of variables that might contribute towards best practice in Men's Sheds has not yet been adequately conceptualised, measured, tested or understood. Future research should be focussed on the health and well-being benefits of Men's Sheds; it needs to incorporate social determinants of health and well-being within the study designs to enable comparison against other health promotion research. Without this research focus, there is a danger that the potential health and well-being benefits of Men's Sheds as supportive and socially inclusive environments for health will not be incorporated into future male health policy and practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan J Wilson
- Faculty of Health Sciences, The Centre for Disability Research and Policy, The University of Sydney, Australia Faculty of Medicine, Health and Molecular Sciences, James Cook University, Australia.
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20
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White A, McKee M, de Sousa B, de Visser R, Hogston R, Madsen SA, Makara P, Richardson N, Zato ski W, Raine G. An examination of the association between premature mortality and life expectancy among men in Europe. Eur J Public Health 2013; 24:673-9. [DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckt076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
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Mendez-Bustos P, Lopez-Castroman J, Baca-García E, Ceverino A. Life cycle and suicidal behavior among women. ScientificWorldJournal 2013; 2013:485851. [PMID: 23533350 PMCID: PMC3603326 DOI: 10.1155/2013/485851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2012] [Accepted: 01/23/2013] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
It is nowadays accepted that, independently of methodological issues, women commit fewer suicides than men but make more frequent attempts. Yet, female suicidal risk varies greatly along the lifetime and is linked to the most significant moments in it. A wide analysis of the existing literature was performed to provide a narrative description on the evolution of female suicidal rates from childhood to old age, considering the milestones in their life history. A detailed analysis of gender differences in suicidal behavior is key to establish preventive measures and priorities. More specific studies are needed to adapt future interventions on female suicide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Mendez-Bustos
- Department of Psychology, Catholic University of Maule, Avenida San Miguel 3605, Talca, Chile
| | - Jorge Lopez-Castroman
- Department of Psychiatry, Fundacion Jimenez Diaz Hospital, Autonoma University, CIBERSAM Avenida Reyes Catolicos 2, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Enrique Baca-García
- Department of Psychiatry, Fundacion Jimenez Diaz Hospital, Autonoma University, CIBERSAM Avenida Reyes Catolicos 2, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10032, USA
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Muller A, Ramsden VR, White G. Is There a Need for Men's Health Training for Family Physicians in Canada? ISRN FAMILY MEDICINE 2013; 2013:931265. [PMID: 24959578 PMCID: PMC4041253 DOI: 10.5402/2013/931265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2013] [Accepted: 02/13/2013] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Objective. The goal of this study was to explore which topics were rendered important to incorporate into a men's health curriculum for family medicine resident training. Design. A mixed-methodology was used. A case study method with a sequential transformative strategy was utilized. A quantitative survey was sent to the 17 program directors of Canadian family medicine training programs. This was followed by a qualitative phase with interviews of selected program directors and two focus groups with practicing family physicians from a rural and an urban clinic. Main Findings. Certain issues were identified for incorporation into a men's health curriculum for family medicine resident training. These issues were grouped in three groups: male sexual and reproductive health, general topics, and procedures specific to men's health. Conclusion. It appears that there is no formal curriculum to address any of these issues in any of the current family medicine training programs in Canada. Based on the information gathered from participants in this study, there is a great need for such a curriculum to exist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andries Muller
- Academic Family Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 3311 Fairlight Drive, Saskatoon, SK, Canada S7M 3Y5
| | - Vivian R Ramsden
- Research Division, Department of Academic Family Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, West Winds Primary Health Centre, 3311 Fairlight Drive, Saskatoon, SK, Canada S7M 3Y5
| | - Gill White
- College of Medicine, Regina General Hospital, 1440-14th Avenue, Regina, SK, Canada S4P 0W5
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Tong SF, Low WY. Public health strategies to address Asian men's health needs. Asia Pac J Public Health 2012; 24:543-55. [PMID: 22815311 DOI: 10.1177/1010539512452756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Men's health discourse has been around for more than 2 decades. The higher mortality rates and the shorter life expectancy in Asian men compared with their women counterparts show the disadvantaged status of men's health. Thus, discussions on men's health should address their health needs and not be confined to sex-specific male urology and reproductive health. In Asia, assessing men's health needs is challenging because of the vast differences in the socioeconomic status and the diverse culture among its member countries. Although, the epidemiology of men's health provides the focus for what to address in improving men's health, having an optimal strategy requires the understanding of men's health-seeking behaviors and the social determinants surrounding them. Thus, public health approaches addressing health behaviors and health promotion in the society should be one of the keys in improving men's health status. Locally relevant information is needed to inform effective public health approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seng Fah Tong
- Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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24
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Branney P, Witty K, Bagnall AM, South J, White A. ‘Straight to the GP; that would be where I would go’: An analysis of male frequent attenders’ constructions of their decisions to use or not use health-care services in the UK. Psychol Health 2012; 27:865-80. [DOI: 10.1080/08870446.2011.636443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
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Abstract
Suicide is second to only accidental death as the leading cause of mortality in young men across the world. Although suicide rates for young men have fallen in some high-income and middle-income countries since the 1990s, wider mortality measures indicate that rates remain high in specific regions, ethnic groups, and socioeconomic groups within those nations where rates have fallen, and that young men account for a substantial proportion of the economic cost of suicide. High-lethality methods of suicide are preferred by young men: hanging and firearms in high-income countries, pesticide poisoning in the Indian subcontinent, and charcoal-burning in east Asia. Risk factors for young men include psychiatric illness, substance misuse, lower socioeconomic status, rural residence, and single marital status. Population-level factors include unemployment, social deprivation, and media reporting of suicide. Few interventions to reduce suicides in young men have been assessed. Efforts to change help-seeking behaviour and to restrict access to frequently used methods hold the most promise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Pitman
- University College London Mental Health Sciences Unit, London, UK.
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26
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Self-reported drug use and mortality among a nationwide sample of Swedish conscripts - a 35-year follow-up. Drug Alcohol Depend 2011; 118:383-90. [PMID: 21664771 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2011.04.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2010] [Revised: 04/25/2011] [Accepted: 04/29/2011] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Drug users in clinical samples have elevated mortality compared with the general population, but little is known about mortality among users of drugs within the general population. AIM To determine whether self-reported use of illicit drugs and non-prescribed sedatives/hypnotics among young men in the general population is related to mortality. METHODS A 35-year follow-up of 48024 Swedish men, born 1949-1951 and conscripted in 1969/1970, among whom drug use was reported by 8767 subjects. Cross-record linkage was effected between individual data from the Swedish conscription and other national registers. Deaths and causes of death/1000 person-years were calculated. Cox PH regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for death with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). An HR was calculated for users of different dominant drugs at conscription compared with non-users by age interval, after adjusting for confounders and hospitalisation with a drug-related diagnosis. RESULTS Drug users showed elevated mortality (HR 1.61, p<0.05) compared with non-users. After adjusting for risk factors, users of stimulants (HR 4.41, p<0.05), cannabis (HR 4.27, p<0.05), opioids (HR 2.83, p>0.05), hallucinogens (HR 3.88, p<0.05) and unspecified drugs (HR 4.62, p<0.05) at conscription with a drug-related diagnosis during follow-up showed an HR approaching the standard mortality ratios in clinical samples. Among other drug users (95.5%), only stimulant users showed statistically significantly increased mortality (HR 1.96, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS In a life-time perspective, drug use among young men in the general population was a marker of premature death, even a long time after exposure.
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Tong SF, Low WY, Ismail SB, Trevena L, Willcock S. Malaysian primary care doctors' views on men's health: an unresolved jigsaw puzzle. BMC FAMILY PRACTICE 2011; 12:29. [PMID: 21569395 PMCID: PMC3117703 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2296-12-29] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2010] [Accepted: 05/12/2011] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Men have been noted to utilise health care services less readily then women. Primary care settings provide an opportunity to engage men in health care activities because of close proximity to the target group (men in the community). Understanding attitudes towards men's health among Malaysian primary care doctors is important for the effective delivery of health services to men. We aimed to explore the opinions and attitudes of primary care doctors (PCDs) relating to men's health and help-seeking behaviour. METHODS A qualitative approach to explore the opinions of 52 PCDs was employed, using fourteen in-depth interviews and eight focus group discussions in public and private settings. Purposive sampling of PCDs was done to ensure maximum variation in the PCD sample. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim for analysis. Open coding with thematic analysis was used to identify key issues raised in the interview. RESULTS The understanding of the concept of men's health among PCDs was fragmented. Although many PCDs were already managing health conditions relevant and common to men, they were not viewed by PCDs as "men's health". Less attention was paid to men's help-seeking behaviour and their gender roles as a potential determinant of the poor health status of men. There were opposing views about whether men's health should focus on men's overall health or a more focused approach to sexual health. There was also disagreement about whether special attention was warranted for men's health services. Some doctors would prioritise more common conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and hypercholesterolaemia. CONCLUSIONS The concept of men's health was new to PCDs in Malaysia. There was wide variation in understanding and opposing attitudes towards men's health among primary care doctors. Creating awareness and having a systematic approach would facilitate PCDs in delivering health service to men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seng Fah Tong
- Department of Family Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Discipline of General Practice, University of Sydney Medical Program, Sydney, Australia
| | - Wah Yun Low
- Medical Education and Research Development, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | | | - Lyndal Trevena
- School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Simon Willcock
- Discipline of General Practice, University of Sydney Medical Program, Sydney, Australia
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Sargalska J, Miranda R, Marroquín B. Being Certain about an Absence of the Positive: Specificity in Relation to Hopelessness and Suicidal Ideation. Int J Cogn Ther 2011. [DOI: 10.1521/ijct.2011.4.1.104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Branney P. Book Review: Murray A. (2008) The T&G Story: A History of the Transport & General Workers Union 1922-2007. London: Lawrence & Wishart. (244 pp). Am J Mens Health 2010. [DOI: 10.1177/1557988309338322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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Abstract
The aging man is becoming a major burden to Asian countries because of the current poor health status of Asian men and the aging Asian population. Life expectancy at birth for men is shorter than women by an average of 4 years in Asian countries and major causes of death are cardiovascular disease, cancers, injuries and infections. However, there are considerable variations between Asian countries because of great disparity in socioeconomic status. Male-specific disorders, such as male sexual health and urological conditions, are other major health burdens because they have a great impact on men's quality of life. More importantly, many risk factors to the causes of mortality and morbidities, such as high-risk behavior and smoking, can be improved with health promotion and early intervention. The current evidence suggests that the poor health status of men is the result of their poor health care utilization, negative health-seeking behavior, the adverse social environment for men and gender-insensitive health care delivery. However, much evidence is still needed as Asian countries have great diversity in culture, societal values and men's needs. Asian time-tested wisdom on a balanced healthy lifestyle to longevity should be explored as potential men's health promotional programs. Taking into account Asian men's health-care needs, a gender-streamlined approach and man-friendly health care delivery should be on the national agenda in managing the aging man.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seng Fah Tong
- Department of Family Medicine, National University of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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31
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Bailey I. An Analysis of Sea Kayaking Incidents in New Zealand 1992–2005. Wilderness Environ Med 2010; 21:208-18. [DOI: 10.1016/j.wem.2010.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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Evans REC, Simon AE, Wardle J. Public perceptions of the harms and benefits of testicular cancer education: a qualitative study. Cancer Epidemiol 2010; 34:212-9. [PMID: 20060797 DOI: 10.1016/j.canep.2009.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2009] [Revised: 12/03/2009] [Accepted: 12/09/2009] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The value of testicular cancer (TC) education, and in particular advice on testicular self-examination (TSE), has been widely debated by health professionals. One concern centres on its potential to cause unnecessary anxiety among the target population. Views outside the health professional community about TC education's potential benefits and harms have not previously been described. The objective of this study was to investigate the range of views expressed by specific groups thought to have an interest in provision of TC education. METHODS One-to-one, in-depth interviews with 37 men and women were completed. Participants included TC patients, men with no prior diagnosis of TC, and parents and teachers of adolescent boys. Verbatim transcripts were analysed using the Framework approach to produce a thematic description of views expressed. RESULTS Participants were unanimously in favour of TC education. Key perceived benefits included earlier cancer detection through increasing knowledge of symptoms leading to better treatment outcomes, and motivating help-seeking by reducing emotional barriers such as fear of cancer or embarrassment. Anxiety was acknowledged as a possible harm but was not expected to be widespread or serious. CONCLUSION TC education is viewed favourably by members of the public likely to be interested in its provision. Education's potential to cause anxiety was not considered a disincentive to promoting disease awareness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth E C Evans
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
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33
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Smith JA, White AK, Richardson N, Robertson S, Ward M. The men's health policy contexts in Australia, the UK and Ireland: advancement or abandonment? CRITICAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2009. [DOI: 10.1080/09581590903074944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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O'Brien R, Hunt K, Hart G. 'The average Scottish man has a cigarette hanging out of his mouth, lying there with a portion of chips': prospects for change in Scottish men's constructions of masculinity and their health-related beliefs and behaviours. CRITICAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2009; 19:363-381. [PMID: 20352030 PMCID: PMC2845931 DOI: 10.1080/09581590902939774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2008] [Revised: 04/01/2009] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Men's apparent resistance to recommended health practices and their engagement with 'high-risk' behaviours has been associated with an increased risk of morbidity or mortality. Recent work has highlighted the need to think critically about the health-promoting behaviours that men appear reluctant to engage in, as well as examining those they embrace, and explore the gendered meanings that men attribute to their beliefs and behaviours. This article presents men's discussions of the 'practices of masculinity' and examines their relation to, and implications for, men's health-related behaviours as articulated in 15 focus group discussions (59 participants in total). The data capture both the experiences of men who felt pressured to engage in behaviours that may be harmful to their health in order to appear masculine and the accounts of those who regarded themselves as freer to embrace salutogenic health practices. Less is known about the circumstances that might encourage men to re-think their engagement in performances of masculinity that have potentially detrimental effects on their health. The data presented here suggest that ageing, illness, and fatherhood were some of the experiences that prompted men to re-evaluate their health practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- R. O'Brien
- Department of Primary Health Care, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - K. Hunt
- MRC Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - G. Hart
- Department of Primary Care and Population Studies, Centre for Sexual Health and HIV Research, University College London, London, UK
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White A, Fawkner HJ, Holmes M. Is there a case for differential treatment of young men and women? Med J Aust 2007; 185:454-5. [PMID: 17137439 DOI: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2006.tb00647.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2006] [Accepted: 08/04/2006] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alan White
- Centre for Men's Health, Leeds Metropolitan University, Leeds, United Kingdom. a.whiteATleedsmet.ac.uk
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