scholarly journals Medical Experiences from a Consular Repatriation and Evacuation Operation from Afghanistan in August 2021: A Field Report

Author(s):  
Karin Hugelius ◽  
Lisa Kurland

Abstract Following the Taliban influx in August 2021, several Western countries repatriated nationals and evacuated others from Kabul Airport in Afghanistan. This report aimed to describe medical experiences from the consular repatriation and evacuation operation. Memos from personal conversations with seven professionals involved in these operations formed the basis for this report. Minor trauma, gastrointestinal symptoms, dehydration, fever, and mental distress were common. Bandages, oral rehydration solution, and the administration of paracetamol were needed, in addition to medical evaluation of acuity. In consular repatriation and humanitarian evacuations, medical attendance should be prioritized to manage medical needs of individuals being evacuated, but also from a public health perspective. The medical needs covered a broad specter of infection disease symptoms, trauma, and mental health problems among patients of all ages. Since the nature of consular repatriations and evacuations can be challenging from safety and infrastructural aspects, general medical emergency awareness with an ability to effectively evaluate and manage both somatic and mental health emergencies on the ground and in the air, among both children and adults, is needed.

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monique Séguin ◽  
Guy Beauchamp ◽  
Charles-Édouard Notredame

Purpose: This study sets out to compare the presence of life events across different domains throughout the life course which may contribute to the burden of adversity experienced differently among men and women who died by suicide.Method: In a sample of 303 individuals (213 men and 90 women), data was derived from extensive clinical interviews conducted with informants. Models allowed the identification of patterns of life trajectories.Results: Overall, the burden of adversity was similar across the life course except for the 5–9, 25–29, and 30–34 age ranges, where a significant difference appeared between genders [t-test = 2.13 (p < 0.05), 2.16 (p < 0.05) and 3.08 (p < 0.005), respectively] that seems to disadvantage women. The early adversities of violence and neglect, between 0 and 19 years old, are important for both groups. During the life course, women were more exposed to interpersonal adverse events such as being victims of negligence and violence, relational difficulties or abuse from their spouse, as well as tension with their own children. Men encountered more academic difficulties, legal entanglements and financial difficulties, and were more than three times more likely to develop an alcohol/drug abuse problem than women.Conclusions: The data suggests some gender differences in exposure to longstanding and severe life problems contributing to suicide vulnerability. For women, the continuing burden emerges from chronic interpersonal adversities, whereas, for men, the adverse events are to a larger degree socially exposed, compounded with alcohol misuse. The adversities, especially those of a public or social nature, may be witnessed by others, which should favor the detection of vulnerability over the life course, and psychosocial or mental health services should be offered and provided earlier during the life course. Yet more men die by suicide than women. Resiliency and protective factors may benefit women to a greater degree. Future research should tackle the challenge of investigating these important elements. Meanwhile, from a public health perspective, access to psychosocial and mental health services and social acceptability of seeking services should be part of an ongoing effort in all institutional structures as a way of decreasing downstream mental health problems and vulnerability to suicide.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toshinobu Takeda ◽  
Yui Tsuji ◽  
Reiko Akatsu ◽  
Tatsuya Nomura

Abstract Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and its associated societal response are anticipated to have wide-ranging effects on youth development and mental health. The three most common mental health problems among university students are depression, anxiety, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Many factors that can threaten the mental health during the outbreak affect these three conditions as well as the sleep conditions of the undergraduate students. Thus, determining how these abrupt changes in students’ circumstances will impact their mental health is very important from a public health perspective. Objective: We investigated both usual conditions and changes during the outbreak in sleep, depression, and ADHD symptoms among undergraduate students. Methods: A total of 252 students, primarily juniors answered the online survey. Results: As a result, 12% of the students exceeded the cutoff score of the ADHD questionnaire before the pandemic and approximately 6-21 % of the students especially with ADHD traits rated their ADHD behaviors as worse during the outbreak. Additionally, changes in circadian rhythm, depression, and ADHD symptoms are intertwined and often create a vicious cycle. Conclusion: This study suggested that students with ADHD-trait is more susceptible to further deterioration in their daily lives during the pandemic. In case it is difficult to intervene with ADHD symptoms, approaching circadian rhythm or depression will be of clinical use.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (T1) ◽  
pp. 268-271
Author(s):  
Darmadi Darmadi ◽  
Riska Habriel Ruslie

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) emerges in Wuhan, China and becomes a pandemic on March 2020. Its manifestations mainly cover respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms. In fact, mental health disorders are common in patients with COVID-19 but receive minimum attention. AIM: We aimed to discuss mental health disturbances in relation to COVID-19 and its management. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We gathered literature regarding the topic from electronic sources, including PubMed and Google Scholar. RESULTS: There are several pathogeneses proposed regarding the incidence of mental health problems. The symptoms of mental health problems vary widely and also affect health-care personnel. Diagnosing mental health problem in COVID-19 patients is quite difficult because no examinations are specific enough. The management of mental health problems includes psychological and medical managements. CONCLUSION: Further study regarding mental health problem and its management in patients with COVID-19 is mandatory.  


Author(s):  
J. Lyne ◽  
L. Connellan ◽  
R. Ceannt ◽  
K. O’Connor ◽  
E. Shelley

Abstract Mental health issues are fast becoming one of society’s greatest health challenges with evidence of higher levels of illness and strain on psychiatric services. The reasons for this trend of increasing mental health problems across the population are complex and there is an urgent need to research and deliver effective public mental health strategies. In this perspective piece we argue that psychiatrists and public health physicians have unique knowledge and perspectives on population mental health. The development of interdisciplinary initiatives and training posts would result in clinicians with expertise to drive forward public mental health strategies. Focused and sustained advocacy and collaboration are necessary for prioritisation of public mental health on policymakers’ agendas.


2000 ◽  
Vol 42 (01) ◽  
pp. 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen R Zubrick ◽  
Jennifer J Kurinczuk ◽  
Brett M C McDermott ◽  
Robert S McKelvey ◽  
Sven R Silburn ◽  
...  

2010 ◽  
Vol 69 (3) ◽  
pp. 131-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Félix Neto

This study investigated mental health problems and their predictors among adolescents from returned immigrant families. The sample consisted of 360 returned adolescents (mean age = 16.8 years; SD = 1.9). The mean duration of a sojourn in Portugal for the sample was 8.2 years (SD = 4.5). A control group of 217 Portuguese youths were also included in the study. Adolescents from immigrant families reported mental health levels similar to those of Portuguese adolescents who have never migrated. Girls showed more mental health problems than boys. Younger adolescents showed fewer mental health problems than older adolescents. Adaptation variables contributed to mental health outcomes even after acculturation variables were accounted for. Implications of the study for counselors are discussed.


2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 242-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
Éva Kállay

Abstract. The last several decades have witnessed a substantial increase in the number of individuals suffering from both diagnosable and subsyndromal mental health problems. Consequently, the development of cost-effective treatment methods, accessible to large populations suffering from different forms of mental health problems, became imperative. A very promising intervention is the method of expressive writing (EW), which may be used in both clinically diagnosable cases and subthreshold symptomatology. This method, in which people express their feelings and thoughts related to stressful situations in writing, has been found to improve participants’ long-term psychological, physiological, behavioral, and social functioning. Based on a thorough analysis and synthesis of the published literature (also including most recent meta-analyses), the present paper presents the expressive writing method, its short- and long-term, intra-and interpersonal effects, different situations and conditions in which it has been proven to be effective, the most important mechanisms implied in the process of recovery, advantages, disadvantages, and possible pitfalls of the method, as well as variants of the original technique and future research directions.


1979 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 205-206
Author(s):  
MARILYN T. ERICKSON

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