Does household income mediate the association between education and health in Canada?

2020 ◽  
pp. 140349482091753
Author(s):  
Gerry Veenstra ◽  
Adam Vanzella-Yang
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Mental Health Problem ◽  
Health Problem ◽  
Household Income ◽  
International Study ◽  
Binary Logistic Regression ◽  
Health Indicators ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
Education And Health

Objectives: The study aim was to investigate whether household income mediates the association between education and health in a nationally representative sample of Canadian adults. Methods: The data came from the Longitudinal and International Study of Adults linked to income data from the Canada Revenue Agency. Odds ratios and predicted probabilities from binary logistic regression models were used to describe associations between education and (a) self-rated health, (b) longstanding illness or health problem, (c) emotional, psychological or mental health problem and (d) symptoms of psychological distress. The Karlson–Holm–Breen decomposition method was used to investigate the potentially mediating role of household income in these associations. The analyses were conducted separately for women and men. Results: Education was significantly associated with all four health indicators for both women and men. Of the four health indicators, education was most strongly associated with self-rated health for both women and men. Education was more strongly associated with self-rated health and the presence of an emotional, psychological or mental health problem for women than for men. Curiously, men with a postgraduate degree were significantly more likely than men with a bachelor degree to report symptoms of psychological distress. Only modest proportions of the associations between education and health could be attributed to differences in household income. Education and household income manifested independent associations with all four health indicators among women and with three of four health indicators among men. Conclusions: Education and household income are joint and independent predictors of health in Canada. Accordingly, both should be included in research on socioeconomic health inequalities in this context.

Youth mental health competencies in regional general practice

2020 ◽  
pp. 103985622097005
Author(s):  
Oliver Smith ◽  
Jessica Bergmann ◽  
Ulrich Schall
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young People ◽  
Mental Health Problem ◽  
Health Problem ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Young Patients ◽  
Youth Mental Health ◽  
Young Person ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Hunter Region

Objective: General practitioners (GPs) are key health professionals for referrals to mental health specialists. Youth mental health issues are particularly challenging, requiring a competent assessment and understanding of appropriate referral pathways. We surveyed local GPs about their understanding of youth mental health problems and needs to competently look after young patients. Methods: GPs working in the Hunter region were contacted via email, fax and post over a 6-month period in 2019. Results: Seventy-five GPs participated. They reported 577 of 1698 (34%) of young people seen 2 weeks prior to being surveyed presented with a mental health problem. Predominantly, referrals were to private practice psychologists and Headspace. Almost a third (31%) reported having limited understanding of ‘at-risk mental state’ and are ‘not always comfortable’ when facing a young person with a mental health problem. Nearly all (95%) expressed interest in attending specialised training. GPs identified treatment costs, scarce access to psychiatrists and limited patient engagement as the main obstacles to help young people. Conclusions: Effective treatment of a mental health problem relies on early identification. GPs are seeing young people on a regular basis but don’t feel well equipped for this task and are keen to up-skill, which needs to be addressed by targeted training.

When Being Upset Is Not A Mental Health Problem

Psychiatry ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 67 (2) ◽  
pp. 153-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Wessely
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Problem ◽  
Health Problem

Socioeconomic disparities in psychological distress in a nationally representative sample of Japanese adolescents: A time trend study

2016 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 278-286 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuko Kachi ◽  
Aya Abe ◽  
Emiko Ando ◽  
Tomoyuki Kawada
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Confidence Interval ◽  
Household Income ◽  
Odds Ratio ◽  
Representative Sample ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Japanese Adolescents ◽  
Nationally Representative

Objective: Socioeconomic status as a determinant of mental health problems has received scant attention in Japan, which has long been considered an egalitarian society. This study examined the association between socioeconomic status and psychological distress and its trends over 6 years among Japanese adolescents. Methods: We used data from a nationally representative sample of 9491 adolescents aged 12–18 years who participated in three repeated cross-sectional surveys between 2007 and 2013. The K6 scale was used to assess psychological distress. Socioeconomic status indicators included household income, parental education, parental working status and household structure. Results: Psychological distress prevalence decreased significantly from 2007 (10.7%) to 2013 (7.6%). However, the socioeconomic status patterns of psychological distress were consistent through the study period. Adolescents living in both lower (odds ratio = 1.61; 95% confidence interval = [1.27, 2.05]) and higher income households (odds ratio = 1.30; 95% confidence interval = [1.03, 1.62]) were more likely to report psychological distress than their middle-income counterparts. Adolescents with low household income were more likely to feel stress from interpersonal relationships and less likely to have help-seeking behaviors, while those with high household income were more likely to feel stress about school achievement. Psychological distress was also associated with parental poor education and single parenthood. Conclusions: Socioeconomic status disparities in adolescent psychological distress were evident and consistent during the 6-year period. There is a unique U-shaped relationship between household income and psychological distress among adolescents in Japan, unlike those from other countries. However, the underlying mechanisms may differ by income status. Future prevention efforts should consider socioeconomic status as a determinant of adolescent mental health problems.

How Serious is the Hoarding Problem?

Hoarding ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gail Steketee ◽  
Christiana Bratiotis
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Problem ◽  
Health Problem ◽  
Chronic Condition ◽  
Over Time

How do I know when my saving is really a problem? As we indicated in Chapter 2, hoarding is a chronic condition that is likely to worsen over time if left untreated. This initially private mental health problem can rapidly become a significant...

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