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Bhugra D, Liebrenz M, Ventriglio A, Ng R, Javed A, Kar A, Chumakov E, Moura H, Tolentino E, Gupta S, Ruiz R, Okasha T, Chisolm MS, Castaldelli-Maia J, Torales J, Smith A. World Psychiatric Association-Asian Journal of Psychiatry Commission on Public Mental Health. Asian J Psychiatr 2024; 98:104105. [PMID: 38861790 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2024.104105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
Although there is considerable evidence showing that the prevention of mental illnesses and adverse outcomes and mental health promotion can help people lead better and more functional lives, public mental health remains overlooked in the broader contexts of psychiatry and public health. Likewise, in undergraduate and postgraduate medical curricula, prevention and mental health promotion have often been ignored. However, there has been a recent increase in interest in public mental health, including an emphasis on the prevention of psychiatric disorders and improving individual and community wellbeing to support life trajectories, from childhood through to adulthood and into older age. These lifespan approaches have significant potential to reduce the onset of mental illnesses and the related burdens for the individual and communities, as well as mitigating social, economic, and political costs. Informed by principles of social justice and respect for human rights, this may be especially important for addressing salient problems in communities with distinct vulnerabilities, where prominent disadvantages and barriers for care delivery exist. Therefore, this Commission aims to address these topics, providing a narrative overview of relevant literature and suggesting ways forward. Additionally, proposals for improving mental health and preventing mental illnesses and adverse outcomes are presented, particularly amongst at-risk populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dinesh Bhugra
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neurosciences, Kings College, London SE5 8AF, United Kingdom.
| | - Michael Liebrenz
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Roger Ng
- World Psychiatric Association, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Anindya Kar
- Advanced Neuropsychiatry Institute, Kolkata, India
| | - Egor Chumakov
- Department of Psychiatry & Addiction, St Petersburg State University, St Petersburg, Russia
| | | | | | - Susham Gupta
- East London NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Roxanna Ruiz
- University of Francisco Moaroquin, Guatemala City, Guatemala
| | | | | | | | | | - Alexander Smith
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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Edet B, Essien E, Eleazu F, Abang R, Ochijele E, Daniel F. The Relative Role of Family Affluence and Social Support on Depression and Self-Esteem among Adolescents in Nigeria: a Cross-Sectional Study. Acta Med Acad 2023; 52:201-211. [PMID: 38407087 PMCID: PMC10945323 DOI: 10.5644/ama2006-124.421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To assess the relative importance of social support and family affluence in depression and self-esteem among adolescents in Calabar, Nigeria. METHODS This cross-sectional study was conducted among adolescent students in Calabar, Nigeria. Using stratified random sampling, 332 students were selected for participation. The Family Affluence Scale (FAS), Oslo Social Support Scale (OSS), Becks Depression Inventory (BDI) and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Inventory (RSES) were administered. To facilitate comparisons, the sample was divided into four groups: those with low OSS and low FAS scores, those with low OSS and high FAS scores, those with high OSS and low FAS scores, and those with high scores in both OSS and FAS. Groups were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis Test. Linear regression analysis was conducted to determine the predictors of depression and self-esteem. All analyses were performed using IBM SPSS version 21. RESULTS Respondents with low levels of social support, irrespective of family affluence, had significantly higher depression scores and significantly lower self-esteem scores (P< 0.05). In linear regression analyses, social support (95%CI [-1.35,-0.58]) and female gender (95%CI [1.49,5.29]) emerged as predictors of depression, while social support (95%CI [0.25,0.64]) and age (95%CI [-0.79,-0.11]) emerged as predictors of self-esteem. Affluence did not predict depression or self-esteem. CONCLUSIONS Social support is of greater relative importance in depression and self-esteem in our study. In developing nations with lean resources, enhanced social support might buffer against the effect of low socio-economic status on mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bassey Edet
- Department of Clinical Services, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria
| | | | - Franklin Eleazu
- Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW), United Kingdom
| | - Roger Abang
- Department of Clinical Services, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria
| | | | - Faithful Daniel
- Clinical and Community Research Division, First On-Call Initiative Portharcourt, Nigeria
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Kennedy SH, Bekele M, Berlin NL, Ranganathan K, Hamill JB, Haileselassie E, Oppong J, Newman LA, Momoh AO. A Prospective Evaluation of the Quality of Life and Mental Health Implications of Mastectomy Alone on Women in sub-Saharan Africa. Ann Surg 2023; 278:e1080-e1086. [PMID: 37144388 DOI: 10.1097/sla.0000000000005891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Assess quality of life and mental health implications of mastectomy for breast cancer on sub-Saharan African women. BACKGROUND Mortality rates amongst women diagnosed with breast cancer in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are high, with disparities in survival relative to women in high income countries partly attributed to advanced disease at presentation. Fears of the sequelae of mastectomy are a prominent reason for presentation delays. There is a critical need to better understand the effects of mastectomy on women in SSA to inform preoperative counseling and education for women with breast cancer. METHODS Women with breast cancer in Ghana and Ethiopia undergoing mastectomy were followed prospectively. Breast related quality-of-life and mental health measures were evaluated preoperatively, 3 and 6 months postoperatively, using BREAST-Q, PHQ-9, and GAD-7. Bivariate and logistic regression analyses evaluated changes in these measures for the total cohort and between sites. RESULTS A total of 133 women from Ghana and Ethiopia were recruited. The majority of women presented with unilateral disease (99%) and underwent unilateral mastectomy (98%) with axillary lymph node dissection. Radiation was more common in Ghana ( P <0.001). Across most BREAST-Q subscales, women from both countries reported significantly decreased scores at 3 months postoperative. At 6 months, the combined cohort reported decreased scores for breast satisfaction (mean difference, -3.4). Women in both countries reported similar improvements in anxiety and depression scores postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS Women from Ghana and Ethiopia who underwent mastectomy experienced a decline in breast-related body image while also experiencing decreased levels of depression and anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah H Kennedy
- Section of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Mahteme Bekele
- Department of Surgery, St. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Nicholas L Berlin
- Section of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Kavitha Ranganathan
- Division of Plastic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Jennifer B Hamill
- Section of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Etsehiwot Haileselassie
- Department of Surgery, St. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Joseph Oppong
- Department of Surgery, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Lisa A Newman
- Department of Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY
| | - Adeyiza O Momoh
- Section of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI
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Cherewick M, Dahl RE, Bertomen S, Hipp E, Shreedar P, Njau PF, Leiferman JA. Risk and protective factors for mental health and wellbeing among adolescent orphans. Health Psychol Behav Med 2023; 11:2219299. [PMID: 37274749 PMCID: PMC10234133 DOI: 10.1080/21642850.2023.2219299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Research has demonstrated the importance of understanding risk factors for mental health and wellbeing. Less research has focused on protective factors that protect mental health and promote wellbeing in diverse contexts. Estimating structural paths from risk protective factors to psychopathology and wellbeing can inform prioritization of targeted investment in adolescent health programs that seek to modify factors that are most closely associated with mental wellbeing. Study objective The purpose of this study was to examine risk factors (e.g. emotional neglect, emotional abuse, physical neglect, stigma) and protective factors (e.g. community relationships, self-esteem, and autonomy) among adolescent orphans, protective associations with depression, anxiety and externalizing behaviors and promotive associations with hope, happiness, and health. Methods The analytic sample was collected between January and March of 2019 and included 350 adolescent orphans ages 10-15 from three districts in Tanzania. Participants completed survey interviews, 75-90 min in length, that measured risk and protective factors, psychological symptoms, and mental wellbeing measures. Results Results of the fitted structural equation model indicated that structural paths from protective factors to psychopathology (β = -0.53, p = 0.015) and mental wellbeing (β = 0.72, p = 0.014) outcomes were significant. Structural paths from risk factors to psychopathology (β = -0.34, p = 0.108) and mental wellbeing (β = -0.24, p = 0.405) were not significant. Conclusion In a sample of vulnerable youth, protective factors (e.g. community relationships, self-esteem, and autonomy) were significantly associated with reduced depression, anxiety and externalizing behaviors and increased hope, happiness, and health in a structural equation model that included risk factors (emotional neglect, emotional abuse, physical neglect). Results suggest that strong community relationships, self-esteem and autonomy may be important modifiable factors to target in intervention programs aimed at supporting adolescent mental wellbeing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan Cherewick
- Department of Community and Behavioral Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Ronald E. Dahl
- Institute of Human Development, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Samantha Bertomen
- Department of Community and Behavioral Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Emily Hipp
- Department of Biostatistics and Informatics, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Priyanka Shreedar
- Department of Community and Behavioral Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz, Aurora, CO, USA
| | | | - Jenn A. Leiferman
- Department of Community and Behavioral Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz, Aurora, CO, USA
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Anabwani-Richter F, Swanson T, Dlamini S, Katulege K, Daire C, Singhal G. The Silent Pandemic: the Impact of COVID-19 on the Mental Health of Adolescents Living with HIV. CURRENT TROPICAL MEDICINE REPORTS 2022; 9:207-217. [PMID: 36277680 PMCID: PMC9579544 DOI: 10.1007/s40475-022-00270-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Purpose of Review The pandemic caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has resulted in millions of confirmed cases and likely more than six million deaths globally Worldometer (2022). We sought to understand secondary mental effects in adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) on the African continent caused by lockdowns, school closures, and other restriction measures for infection control. We reviewed the broader literature and conducted 86 retrospective chart reviews of mental health disorders of ALHIV and interventions utilized at a pediatric clinic in Eswatini. Recent Findings ALHIVs are disproportionately affected by mental health disorders. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated adverse mental health outcomes of adolescents on the African continent, especially for ALHIV. There have been many calls for researchers, clinicians, and governments to prioritize mental health in adolescents going forward. Summary In pediatric clinics in Eswatini, Malawi, and Uganda, there were psychosocial measures in place prior to the COVID-19 pandemic for ALHIV. After looking closely at a pediatric clinic in Eswatini, we found that many interventions were paused and new psychosocial interventions compatible with social distancing were instead utilized by clinicians. Even so, after multidisciplinary management comprising of interventions such as psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy, referral to psychologists/psychiatrists, and enrollment in peer support groups, the PHQ-9 depressions scores of ALHIV during the COVID-19 significantly improved. We found that there is a need for age-specific standardized tools to measure depression in ALHIV. Furthermore, more research is needed on the effectiveness and scope of psychosocial interventions for ALHIV post-COVID-19 throughout Eswatini and the African continent.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Trina Swanson
- Baylor College of Medicine Children’s Foundation - Eswatini, Mbabane, Eswatini
| | - Sandile Dlamini
- Baylor College of Medicine Children’s Foundation - Eswatini, Mbabane, Eswatini ,grid.39382.330000 0001 2160 926XBaylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX USA
| | - Kizito Katulege
- grid.423308.e0000 0004 0397 2008Baylor College of Medicine Children’s Foundation - Uganda, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Chikabachi Daire
- Baylor College of Medicine Children’s Foundation - Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | - Geeta Singhal
- grid.416975.80000 0001 2200 2638Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX USA
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