Depression in public officials during the COVID-19 pandemic in Paraguay: a web-based study

Abstract Background According to the World Health Organization, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has created situations that have a negative effect on people and threaten their mental health. Paraguay announced the Estado de Emergencia Sanitaria (Presidential Decree No. 3456) on March 16, 2020, which was followed by the imposition of a 24-h restriction on movement order on March 21. Self-quarantine at home may have been the most effective method of preventing the spread of infectious diseases; however, with the global pandemic becoming more prolonged and the consequent lengthening of the 24-h self-quarantine period, it is highly probable that both physical and psychological problems will arise. Methods In this study, a web-based cross-sectional method was used to analyze the factors influencing COVID-19-induced depressive feelings in Paraguayan public officials. Results Public officials reported a high level of depressive symptoms with a high level of apprehension in early stage of COVID-19. In addition, this study identified that when the self-quarantine period increased, levels of depressive feelings also increased. Since self-quarantine is characterized by the requirement that individuals endure an undetermined period within a confined area, it may have caused stress and anxiety, as well as the consequent experience of depressive feelings. Conclusions Paraguayan government should develop a program for the delivery of mental health care and services to public officials in COVID-19 Pandemic period. Moreover, a program is required for people facing deteriorating mental health due to social isolation and loneliness caused by social distancing during the prolonged period of self-quarantine. Finally, mental health care programs should be organized in a community-focused way by utilizing online systems to enhance the effectiveness of mental health recovery.

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Investigating the Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on the Psychological Health of University Students and Their Attitudes Toward Mobile Mental Health Solutions: Two-Part Questionnaire Study (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.19876 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Nidal Drissi ◽

Ayat Alhmoudi ◽

Hana Al Nuaimi ◽

Mahra Alkhyeli ◽

Shaikha Alsalami ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Care ◽

University Students ◽

Mental Health Care ◽

United Arab Emirates ◽

World Health ◽

Web Based ◽

Psychological Issues ◽

Mobile Mental Health ◽

The Impact

BACKGROUND The COVID-19 outbreak was first reported to the World Health Organization on December 31, 2019, and it was officially declared a public health emergency of international concern on January 30, 2020. The COVID-19 outbreak and the safety measures taken to control it caused many psychological issues in populations worldwide, such as depression, anxiety, and stress. OBJECTIVE The objectives of this study were to assess the psychological effects of the lockdown due to the COVID-19 outbreak on university students in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and to investigate the students’ awareness of mobile mental health care apps as well as their attitudes toward the use of these apps. METHODS A two-part self-administered web-based questionnaire was delivered to students at United Arab Emirates University. The first part of the questionnaire assessed the mental state of the participants using the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), while the second part contained questions investigating the participants’ awareness of and attitudes toward mental health care apps. Students were invited to fill out the web-based questionnaire via social media and mailing lists. RESULTS A total of 154 students participated in the survey, and the majority were female. The results of the GHQ-12 analysis showed that the students were experiencing psychological issues related to depression and anxiety as well as social dysfunction. The results also revealed a lack of awareness of mental health care apps and uncertainty regarding the use of such apps. Approximately one-third of the participants (44/154, 28.6%) suggested preferred functionalities and characteristics of mobile mental health care apps, such as affordable price, simple design, ease of use, web-based therapy, communication with others experiencing the same issues, and tracking of mental status. CONCLUSIONS Like many groups of people worldwide, university students in the UAE were psychologically affected by the lockdown due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Although apps can be useful tools for mental health care delivery, especially in circumstances such as those produced by the outbreak, the students in this study showed a lack of awareness of these apps and mixed attitudes toward them. Improving the digital health literacy of university students in the UAE by increasing their awareness of mental health care apps and the treatment methods and benefits of the apps, as well as involving students in the app creation process, may encourage students to use these tools for mental health care.

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Investigating the Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on the Psychological Health of University Students and Their Attitudes Toward Mobile Mental Health Solutions: Two-Part Questionnaire Study

JMIR Formative Research ◽

10.2196/19876 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (10) ◽

pp. e19876 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Nidal Drissi ◽

Ayat Alhmoudi ◽

Hana Al Nuaimi ◽

Mahra Alkhyeli ◽

Shaikha Alsalami ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Care ◽

University Students ◽

Mental Health Care ◽

United Arab Emirates ◽

World Health ◽

Web Based ◽

Psychological Issues ◽

Mobile Mental Health ◽

The Impact

Background The COVID-19 outbreak was first reported to the World Health Organization on December 31, 2019, and it was officially declared a public health emergency of international concern on January 30, 2020. The COVID-19 outbreak and the safety measures taken to control it caused many psychological issues in populations worldwide, such as depression, anxiety, and stress. Objective The objectives of this study were to assess the psychological effects of the lockdown due to the COVID-19 outbreak on university students in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and to investigate the students’ awareness of mobile mental health care apps as well as their attitudes toward the use of these apps. Methods A two-part self-administered web-based questionnaire was delivered to students at United Arab Emirates University. The first part of the questionnaire assessed the mental state of the participants using the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), while the second part contained questions investigating the participants’ awareness of and attitudes toward mental health care apps. Students were invited to fill out the web-based questionnaire via social media and mailing lists. Results A total of 154 students participated in the survey, and the majority were female. The results of the GHQ-12 analysis showed that the students were experiencing psychological issues related to depression and anxiety as well as social dysfunction. The results also revealed a lack of awareness of mental health care apps and uncertainty regarding the use of such apps. Approximately one-third of the participants (44/154, 28.6%) suggested preferred functionalities and characteristics of mobile mental health care apps, such as affordable price, simple design, ease of use, web-based therapy, communication with others experiencing the same issues, and tracking of mental status. Conclusions Like many groups of people worldwide, university students in the UAE were psychologically affected by the lockdown due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Although apps can be useful tools for mental health care delivery, especially in circumstances such as those produced by the outbreak, the students in this study showed a lack of awareness of these apps and mixed attitudes toward them. Improving the digital health literacy of university students in the UAE by increasing their awareness of mental health care apps and the treatment methods and benefits of the apps, as well as involving students in the app creation process, may encourage students to use these tools for mental health care.

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Electronic Mental Health as an Option for Egyptian Psychiatry: Cross-Sectional Study

JMIR Mental Health ◽

10.2196/19591 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (8) ◽

pp. e19591

Author(s):

Mostafa Mamdouh Kamel ◽

Jean Nicolas Westenberg ◽

Fiona Choi ◽

Katarina Tabi ◽

Adel Badawy ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Care ◽

Mental Health Care ◽

Health Care System ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Web Based ◽

Current Health ◽

Mental Health Care System ◽

Current Health Care System ◽

Care System

Background Egypt is a country of nearly 100 million citizens, and there are less than 1000 registered psychiatrists. The mental health care system is under resourced and nearly inaccessible for the majority of the population. In addition, youth under the age of 25 years represent 50% of Egyptian citizens; however, there are no specific services addressing their unique needs. How can the needs of the largest population in the Middle East be effectively addressed? Is a web-based framework an option for Egyptian psychiatrists to serve the population? Objective The aims of this study were to better understand the opinions of psychiatrists on the current state of mental health care services in Egypt and their current knowledge on electronic mental health (EMH); assess the attitudes of Egyptian psychiatrists toward web-based interventions and telemedicine for mental health; and identify perceived advantages and barriers of EMH development in Egypt. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted online among 640 Egyptian psychiatrists. It included a total of 36 items within a set of 16 questions asking about EMH literacy, integrating EMH into the mental health care system, and the perceived priorities and barriers of EMH. The sampling was supported by Tanta University, a large academic institution close to Cairo. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 25 (IBM Corp). Descriptive statistics, the chi-square test, the independent sample t test, and analysis of variance were applied. Results A total of 188 participants responded (response rate of 29.4%), of which 54.2% (102/188) were female and 54.3% (102/188) were between 30 and 45 years old. Less than half of the participants thought that the current health care system was efficient for adults (69/155, 44.4%), and even less thought it was efficient for youth (44/155, 28.3%). Almost all participants agreed that EMH would be beneficial for patient care (147/155, 94.8%) and that integrating EMH into the current health care system would be a good idea (118/155, 76.2%). The highest rated utility of web-based solutions was documentation, followed by psychoeducation and communication with professionals. The main advantages were to improve access to care in rural areas of the country and its convenience. Conclusions There is scarcity of mental health resources in Egypt. Egyptian psychiatrists are interested in EMH and believe web-based platforms can become part of the solution for the Egyptian mental health care system.

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Electronic Mental Health as an Option for Egyptian Psychiatry: Cross-Sectional Study (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.19591 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Mostafa Mamdouh Kamel ◽

Jean Nicolas Westenberg ◽

Fiona Choi ◽

Katarina Tabi ◽

Adel Badawy ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Care ◽

Mental Health Care ◽

Health Care System ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Web Based ◽

Current Health ◽

Mental Health Care System ◽

Current Health Care System ◽

Care System

BACKGROUND Egypt is a country of nearly 100 million citizens, and there are less than 1000 registered psychiatrists. The mental health care system is under resourced and nearly inaccessible for the majority of the population. In addition, youth under the age of 25 years represent 50% of Egyptian citizens; however, there are no specific services addressing their unique needs. How can the needs of the largest population in the Middle East be effectively addressed? Is a web-based framework an option for Egyptian psychiatrists to serve the population? OBJECTIVE The aims of this study were to better understand the opinions of psychiatrists on the current state of mental health care services in Egypt and their current knowledge on electronic mental health (EMH); assess the attitudes of Egyptian psychiatrists toward web-based interventions and telemedicine for mental health; and identify perceived advantages and barriers of EMH development in Egypt. METHODS A cross-sectional survey was conducted online among 640 Egyptian psychiatrists. It included a total of 36 items within a set of 16 questions asking about EMH literacy, integrating EMH into the mental health care system, and the perceived priorities and barriers of EMH. The sampling was supported by Tanta University, a large academic institution close to Cairo. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 25 (IBM Corp). Descriptive statistics, the chi-square test, the independent sample <i>t</i> test, and analysis of variance were applied. RESULTS A total of 188 participants responded (response rate of 29.4%), of which 54.2% (102/188) were female and 54.3% (102/188) were between 30 and 45 years old. Less than half of the participants thought that the current health care system was efficient for adults (69/155, 44.4%), and even less thought it was efficient for youth (44/155, 28.3%). Almost all participants agreed that EMH would be beneficial for patient care (147/155, 94.8%) and that integrating EMH into the current health care system would be a good idea (118/155, 76.2%). The highest rated utility of web-based solutions was documentation, followed by psychoeducation and communication with professionals. The main advantages were to improve access to care in rural areas of the country and its convenience. CONCLUSIONS There is scarcity of mental health resources in Egypt. Egyptian psychiatrists are interested in EMH and believe web-based platforms can become part of the solution for the Egyptian mental health care system.

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Depression in Public officials during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Paraguay: A Web-based Study

10.21203/rs.3.rs-105798/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Ji Eon Kim ◽

Ji Ho Lee ◽

Yanghee Kang ◽

Sun Ha Lee ◽

Hyein Shin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Intervention Program ◽

Research Area ◽

Mental Health Recovery ◽

Public Officials ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Web Based ◽

Online Systems ◽

Factors Influencing ◽

Depressive Feelings

Abstract Background: This study investigated the factors influencing depressive feelings in Paraguayan public officials caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: This study used a web-based cross-sectional method to analyze the factors influencing COVID-19-induced depressive feelings in Paraguayan public officials. The study’s research area was Asuncion and Limpio in Paraguay. Results: The results of Model 4 indicated high levels of depressive feelings among public officials, as well as concerns about COVID-19 infection among female public officials. The study also found that public officials’ high levels of depressive feelings were related to the duration of COVID-19 self-quarantine periods. Conclusions: The conclusions drawn from these findings were as follows: First, a targeted intervention program should be developed for female public officials who were found to be more vulnerable to depressive feelings. Second, a program should be developed for people facing deteriorating mental health due to social isolation and loneliness caused by social distancing during prolonged periods of self-quarantine. Third, mental health care programs should be organized in a community-focused way, and online systems should be utilized for more effective mental health recovery.

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Youth Experiences With Referrals to Mental Health Services in Canada: Protocol for a Web-Based Cross-Sectional Survey Study

JMIR Research Protocols ◽

10.2196/16945 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. e16945

Author(s):

Shalini Lal ◽

Danielle Joanna Starcevic ◽

Rebecca Fuhrer

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Care ◽

Mental Health Services ◽

Health Services ◽

Mental Health Care ◽

Youth Mental Health ◽

Health Concern ◽

Referral Process ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Web Based

Background Youth mental health is an important public health concern affecting low-, middle-, and high-income countries, and many young people in need of mental health services do not receive the care they need when they need it. An early step in accessing mental health care is the referral process, yet most of the research done on pathways to care has focused on clinical populations (eg, first-episode psychosis) recruited from mental health care settings. There has been limited research attention on the experiences of referral to mental health services from the perspectives of youth recruited from the general population who may or may not have received the services they need. Objective This study aims to investigate the experiences that youth between the ages of 17 and 30 years have with referrals to mental health services and to better understand their perspectives on the use of technology to facilitate referrals. Methods This study will use a cross-sectional, Web-based survey design. A convenience sample of 400 participants from 3 Canadian provinces (Quebec, Ontario, and British Columbia), between the ages of 17 and 30 years, will be recruited via Facebook and will be invited to complete a Web-based survey anonymously. A questionnaire including a series of quantitative and qualitative questions will ask participants about their sociodemographic characteristics, past experiences with referral and access to mental health services, and opinions about using technology to facilitate the referral process. Results Participant recruitment is planned to be initiated by early January 2020 and is estimated to be completed by May 2020. Data will be analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression or chi-square tests for quantitative data, and descriptive content analysis will be used for the qualitative data. Conclusions The results of this study can help inform the improvement of referral policies and procedures in youth mental health service delivery. A better understanding of young people’s perspectives on referral processes and their opinions on how these processes can be improved are essential to providing appropriate and timely access to mental health care. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) PRR1-10.2196/16945

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Training school teachers in Malawi about substance misuse and trauma: the need for a sustainable strategy

The Journal of Mental Health Training Education and Practice ◽

10.1108/jmhtep-07-2020-0049 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (6) ◽

pp. 480-488

Author(s):

Nicola Evans ◽

Rhiannon Lane ◽

Gemma Stacey-Emile ◽

Anthony Sefasi

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Care ◽

Mental Health Care ◽

Substance Misuse ◽

World Health Organisation ◽

World Health ◽

Content Type ◽

Sustainable Improvement ◽

Post Measure ◽

Health Need

Purpose The World Health Organisation found depression to be the fourth leading cause of disability in Malawi (Bowie, 2006) with the prevalence of mental health need in children and young people in Malawi estimated between 10 and 30% (Kutcher et al., 2019). One option to address this was to provide schoolteachers with skills and knowledge related to mental health so they can better support children. There is generally a lack of evidence of the utility or feasibility of school-based mental health literacy programmes in low to medium income countries (LMIC). This paper aims to report on a project to train schoolteachers in Malawi on aspects of mental health. Design/methodology/approach The aim of this project was to determine the acceptability and feasibility of delivering a training initiative in Malawi to teachers to better enable them to recognise and cope with school children who had been exposed to trauma and substance misuse. Findings Feedback was generated through the use of a specifically designed pre and post measure, focus groups, interviews and observations of the teaching delivery. Practical implications Teachers found the training built on their existing knowledge and they requested further opportunities for training and consultation about how to manage difficult presentations. It was evident that teachers did not know how to access mental health care or support for children whose needs could not be met by schoolteachers alone. Originality/value For a sustainable improvement for children’s mental health care in this context, further training becomes valuable when located as part of a network of joined up health and educational services.

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Shaping Blended Care: Adapting an Instrument to Support Therapists in Using eMental Health

JMIR Mental Health ◽

10.2196/24245 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (11) ◽

pp. e24245

Author(s):

Hanneke Kip ◽

Jobke Wentzel ◽

Saskia M Kelders

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Care ◽

Mental Health Care ◽

Focus Groups ◽

Phase 1 ◽

Participatory Development ◽

Project Team ◽

Related Factors ◽

Web Based ◽

Blended Care

Background Although eMental health interventions, especially when delivered in a blended way, have great potential to improve the quality and efficiency of mental health care, their use in practice lags behind expectations. The Fit for Blended Care (FfBC) instrument was developed to support therapists and clients in shaping blended care in a way that optimally fits their needs. However, this existing version cannot be directly applied to specific branches of mental health care as it is too broad and generic. Objective The goal of this study is to adapt the existing FfBC instrument to fit a specific, complex setting—forensic mental health care—by means of participatory development with therapists. Methods The participatory process was divided into 4 phases and was executed by a project team consisting of 1 manager, 3-5 therapists, and 1 researcher. In phase 1, general requirements for the adaptation of the existing instrument were discussed in 2 focus groups with the project team. In phase 2, patient-related factors that influence the use of an existing web-based intervention were elicited through semistructured interviews with all 18 therapists working at an outpatient clinic. In phase 3, multiple focus groups with the project teams were held to create the first version of the adapted FfBC instrument. In phase 4, a digital prototype of the instrument was used with 8 patients, and the experiences of the 4 therapists were discussed in a focus group. Results In phase 1, it became clear that the therapists’ main requirement was to develop a much shorter instrument with a few items, in which the content was specifically tailored to the characteristics of forensic psychiatric outpatients. The interviews showed a broad range of patient-related factors, of which 5 were used in the instrument: motivation for blended treatment; writing about thoughts, feelings, and behavior; conscientiousness; psychosocial problems; and social support. In addition, a part of the instrument was focused on the practical necessary preconditions that patients should fill by themselves before the treatment was developed. The use of the web-based prototype of the instrument in treatment resulted in overall positive experiences with the content; however, therapists indicated that the items should be formulated in a more patient-centered way to encourage their involvement in discussing the factors. Conclusions The participatory, iterative process of this study resulted in an adapted version of the FfBC instrument that fits the specific forensic context and supports shared decision making. In general, the adaptiveness of the instrument is important: its content and implementation should fit the type of care, the organization, and eHealth intervention. To adapt the instrument to other contexts, the guidelines described in this paper can be followed.

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Syrian Refugees in Canada: Clinical Experience in Mental Health Care

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2017.01.996 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 41 (S1) ◽

pp. S620-S620

Author(s):

K. Bazaid

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Care ◽

Mental Health Care ◽

Well Being ◽

World Health ◽

Idioms Of Distress ◽

Syrian Refugees ◽

Competing Interest ◽

And Migration ◽

Health Organization

War is the most serious of all threats to health (World Health Organization, 1982) and can have severe and lasting impacts on mental health. Forced displacement and migration generate risks to mental well-being, which can result in psychiatric illness. Yet, the majority of refugees do not develop psychopathology. Rather, they demonstrate resilience in the face of tremendous adversity. The influx of Syrian refugees to Canada poses challenges to the health care system. We will present our experience to date in the Ottawa region, including a multisector collaborative effort to provide settlement and health services to newly arriving refugees from the Middle East and elsewhere. The workshop will be brought to life by engaging with clinical cases and public health scenarios that present real world clinical challenges to the provision of mental health care for refugees.Objectives(1) Understand the predicament of refugees including risks to mental health, coping strategies and mental health consequences, (2) know the evidence for the emergence of mental illness in refugees and the effectiveness of multi-level interventions, (3) become familiar with published guidelines and gain a working knowledge of assessment and management of psychiatric conditions in refugee populations and cultural idioms of distress.How will the participants receive feedback about their learning? Participants will have direct feedback through answers to questions. The authors welcome subsequent communication by email. Presenters can give attendants handouts on pertinent and concise information linked to the workshop.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

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Transcultural telepsychiatry and its impact on patient satisfaction

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/s0924-9338(11)73929-3 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 26 (S2) ◽

pp. 2227-2227

Author(s):

D. Mucic

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Care ◽

Mental Health Care ◽

Mother Tongue ◽

Social Institution ◽

Physical Contact ◽

Patient Acceptability ◽

Advantages And Disadvantages ◽

High Level ◽

Further Development

IntroductionNational and International telepsychiatry service was established between Denmark and Sweden in order to increase access to cross-cultural expertise. Patient acceptability study was conducted to assess the patients’ attitudes toward the quality, advantages and disadvantages of telepsychiatry service.MethodsOver a period January 2005-December 2007, 61 patients were treated via telepsychiatry by clinicians that speak patientsrespective mother tongues. Video-conferencing equipment connected the Little Prince Psychiatric Centre in Copenhagen with two hospitals, one asylum seekers’ centre and one social institution in Denmark. These stations were also connected to the Swedish department of the Centre. Number of languages spoken was 9 while the number of nationalities treated was 11. No interpreter assistance has been used.After the end of the telepsychiatry contact all patients were asked to complete a satisfaction questionnaire.ResultsPatients reported a high level of acceptance and satisfaction with telepsychiatry. They expressed a wish to use telepsychiatry via their mother tongue, rather than interpreter-assisted mental health care in the future.DiscussionThe restricted physical contact and non-verbal communication of telepsychiatry was compensated by the fact that the doctor and patient spoke the same language and had similar cultural and/or national references. The results of the survey may contribute to further development of, primarily, European Telepsychiatry Network. However, this model may be used for conducting of larger international telepsychiatry service capable to provide mental health care toward diversity of patient populations underserved on their mother tongue worldwide.

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