Collaborating With Parks and Recreation Departments to Address Youth Health

2021 ◽  
pp. 152483992110367
Author(s):  
Deb Risisky ◽  
James MacGregor
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
New England ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Collaborative Partnerships ◽  
Health And Wellness ◽  
Parks And Recreation ◽  
Health Agencies ◽  
Recreation Directors ◽  
Park And Recreation

Adolescence is an important time for addressing health, including mental health, obesity, substance use, and food insecurity. As the myriad health and wellness needs of community members expands, it becomes increasingly difficult for one profession alone to address these needs. The park and recreation field was founded to address the health and wellness needs of people, and much of their programming is focused on youth. Thus, municipal park and recreation departments are becoming increasingly involved in collaborative partnerships with other health-serving agencies within their community. This study explored park and recreation directors’ experiences in collaborating with health agencies to better address health and wellness factors that affect the youth in their communities. This phenomenological qualitative study employed in-depth interviews with park and recreation directors and used thematic analysis. Nine interviews were conducted from four of the six New England states. The most common health concern seen by the directors was mental health, primarily behavioral health challenges. Parks and recreation collaboration with public health organizations ranged from none to close collaborations; directors regularly spoke about wanting to strengthen their collaborations. Public health and park and recreation staff have similar challenges with staffing and resources; additionally, they have complimentary skills with regard to planning and implementing health-related programs. For that reason, creating purposeful collaborative partnerships between public health agencies and park and recreation departments, focused on measurable outcomes, may increase benefits to the health of youth in a community.

scholarly journals Online information on face masks in Italian and English websites: deficiencies and responsibilities of search engines

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaily Meta ◽  
Daria Ghezzi ◽  
Alessia Catalani ◽  
Tania Vanzolini ◽  
Pietro Ghezzi
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Search Engines ◽  
Information Quality ◽  
Quality Criteria ◽  
Face Mask ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Public Health Agencies ◽  
Health Agencies ◽  
The Usa

AbstractCountries have major differences in the acceptance of face mask use for the prevention of COVID-19. We analyzed 450 webpages returned by searching the string “are face masks dangerous” in Italy, the UK and the USA using three search engines (Bing, Duckduckgo and Google). The majority (64-79%) were pages from news outlets, with few (2-6%) pages from government and public health agencies. Webpages with a positive stance on masks were more frequent in English (50%) than in Italian (36%), and those with a negative stance were more frequent in Italian (28% vs. 19% in English). Google returned the highest number of mask-positive pages and Duckduckgo the lowest. Google also returned the lowest number of pages mentioning conspiracy theories and Duckduckgo the highest. Webpages in Italian scored lower than those in English in transparency (reporting authors, their credentials and backing the information with references). When issues about the use of face masks were analyzed, mask effectiveness was the most discussed followed by hypercapnia (accumulation of carbon dioxide), contraindication in respiratory disease, and hypoxia, with issues related to their contraindications in mental health conditions and disability mentioned by very few pages. This study suggests that: 1) public health agencies should increase their web presence in providing correct information on face masks; 2) search engines should improve the information quality criteria in their ranking; 3) the public should be more informed on issues related to the use of masks and disabilities, mental health and stigma arising for those people who cannot wear masks.

scholarly journals Use of Prescribed Psychotropics during Pregnancy: A Systematic Review of Pregnancy, Neonatal, and Childhood Outcomes

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Creeley ◽  
Denton
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Clinical Research ◽  
Prenatal Exposure ◽  
Psychotropic Drugs ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Neurodevelopmental Outcomes ◽  
Mother And Child

This paper reviews the findings from preclinical animal and human clinical research investigating maternal/fetal, neonatal, and child neurodevelopmental outcomes following prenatal exposure to psychotropic drugs. Evidence for the risks associated with prenatal exposure was examined, including teratogenicity, neurodevelopmental effects, neonatal toxicity, and long-term neurobehavioral consequences (i.e., behavioral teratogenicity). We conducted a comprehensive review of the recent results and conclusions of original research and reviews, respectively, which have investigated the short- and long-term impact of drugs commonly prescribed to pregnant women for psychological disorders, including mood, anxiety, and sleep disorders. Because mental illness in the mother is not a benign event, and may itself pose significant risks to both mother and child, simply discontinuing or avoiding medication use during pregnancy may not be possible. Therefore, prenatal exposure to psychotropic drugs is a major public health concern. Decisions regarding drug choice, dose, and duration should be made carefully, by balancing severity, chronicity, and co-morbidity of the mental illness, disorder, or condition against the potential risk for adverse outcomes due to drug exposure. Globally, maternal mental health problems are considered as a major public health challenge, which requires a stronger focus on mental health services that will benefit both mother and child. More preclinical and clinical research is needed in order to make well-informed decisions, understanding the risks associated with the use of psychotropic medications during pregnancy.

scholarly journals Australian R U OK?Day campaign: improving helping beliefs, intentions and behaviours

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna M. Ross ◽  
Bridget Bassilios
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Monitoring And Evaluation ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Life Problems ◽  
Helping Behaviours

Abstract Background Suicide is a major public health concern and has been recognised as a public health priority. R U OK?Day aims to prevent suicide by encouraging and empowering Australians to reach out to friends and family who might be experiencing personal difficulties. This study aims to update the evaluation of the public awareness campaign ‘R U OK?Day’ that was conducted using 2014 data. Methods Data from 2013 participants were collected via an online survey following the R U OK?Day campaign implemented in 2017. Outcome measures included campaign awareness and participation, past 12-month help-seeking, helping beliefs, helping intentions and helping behaviours. Data were analysed using z-tests, Chi square and regression analyses in SPSS. Results Both campaign awareness and participation have increased since 2014, from 66% and 19% to 78% and 32%. Campaign exposure was associated with stronger beliefs in the importance and the ease of asking “Are you okay?”, and increased the likelihood of intentions to use recommended helping actions by two to three times compared to those not exposed to the campaign. Participants who were exposed to the R U OK?Day campaign were up to six times more likely to reach out to someone who might be experiencing personal difficulties compared to those not exposed to the campaign. Interestingly, those who had sought help from a mental health professional in the past 12 months were more likely to be aware of, and participate in, the campaign, suggesting people experiencing mental health issues recognise the value of seeking—and giving—social support. Conclusions The R U OK?Day campaign continues to be relevant and effective in spreading key messages about the importance of reaching out to others and empowering members of the community to have conversations about life problems. The campaign’s impact is increasing over time through increased campaign awareness and participation, and improving helping beliefs, intentions and behaviours. Ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the campaign’s impact is vital and may inform potential changes needed to further enhance its impact.

scholarly journals Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on socioeconomic and mental health aspects in Nepal

2020 ◽  
Vol 66 (8) ◽  
pp. 748-755 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kritika Poudel ◽  
Pramod Subedi
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Spiritual Health ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Limited Resources ◽  
Public Health Concern ◽  
Psychosocial Effects ◽  
Safety Nets ◽  
The People

Background: Public health concern is increasing with recent rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in Nepal. To curb this pandemic, Nepal is facing some forms of lockdown, encouraging people to implement social distancing so as to reduce interactions between people which could eventually reduce the possibilities of new infection; however, it has affected the overall physical, mental, social and spiritual health of the people. Methods: Published articles related to psychosocial effects due to COVID-19 and other outbreaks were searched and reviewed. Conclusion: While many countries are supporting their citizens with sophisticated health safety-nets and various relief funds, some developing countries have unique challenges with vulnerable populations and limited resources to respond to the pandemic. This review presents the consequences of pandemic and lockdown on socioeconomic, mental health and other aspects in Nepalese society.

Driving Frequency and Its Impact on Road Rage Offending and Victimization: A View From Opportunity Theory

2013 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 602-618 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Asbridge ◽  
Jennifer Butters
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Individual Factors ◽  
Driving Frequency ◽  
Road Rage ◽  
Public Health Concern ◽  
Research Attention ◽  
Opportunity Theory ◽  
Using Data

Road rage has been described as a key criminal justice and public health concern. Although research attention to this issue has expanded dramatically, most of this work has focused on the identification of predisposing individual factors. It is equally important to begin to assess those factors that may modify the likelihood of road rage including the broader structural opportunities that are connected with the propensity to be involved in a road rage incident. Drawing on opportunity theory, this article examines whether there is a relationship between increased opportunities to be involved in road rage and an increased likelihood of being a road rage victim or offender. The analysis is further extended to specifically test whether this relationship is linear, thereby examining the applicability of the opportunity saturation hypothesis. Using data from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) Monitor, our findings support both the application of opportunity theory to understanding road rage and the presence of opportunity saturation. Although a clear relationship exists between kilometers driven and experiences of road rage, evidence emerged suggesting there may be a threshold whereby increased opportunities for road rage do not lead to road rage behavior.

Mental health is an urgent public health concern

2013 ◽  
Vol 61 (3) ◽  
pp. 185-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy P. Hanrahan ◽  
Gail W. Stuart ◽  
Kathleen R. Delaney ◽  
Connie Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Public Health Concern

Schizophrenia and paranoid disorders in late life

2012 ◽  
pp. 1546-1550
Author(s):  
Barton W. Palmer ◽  
Gauri N. Savla ◽  
Thomas W. Meeks
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Differential Diagnosis ◽  
Late Life ◽  
Classification Systems ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Psychotic Symptoms ◽  
Important Public Health

Estimates of the point-prevalence of paranoia and other psychotic symptoms among persons age ⋚ 65 years have ranged from approximately 4 per cent to 6 per cent, and may be as high as 10 per cent among those age ⋚ 85 years. Although the majority of these symptoms occur as secondary psychoses in the context of Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias, the population of people with schizophrenia is ageing along with the general ‘greying’ of the industrialized world, and mental health care for older adults with schizophrenia is expected to be an increasingly important public health concern. This chapter covers clinical features, classification systems, diagnosis and differential diagnosis, epidemiology, aetiology, course and prognosis, treatment, and management.

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