scholarly journals Suicide among Ugandan university students: evidence from media reports for 2010–2020

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Mark Mohan Kaggwa ◽  
Moses Muwanguzi ◽  
Elicana Nduhuura ◽  
Jonathan Kajjimu ◽  
Innocent Arinaitwe ◽  
...  

University students are in transition to adulthood and face multiple challenges that may lead to suicide. They are reported to have a higher risk of suicide by the World Health Organization. As there is no national suicide database in Uganda, we analysed student suicide using the press/media reports of suicides published between 2010 and 2020. A total of deaths by 23 suicide were identified: 19 were males, relationship problems were the main suicide reason (n = 6) and hanging was the most frequently used suicide method (n = 7). A strategic intervention to tackle suicide risk among university students is warranted.

2021 ◽  
pp. 104365962110469
Author(s):  
Giorgia Rudes ◽  
Claudia Fantuzzi

Introduction: The World Health Organization states that suicide is the second leading cause of death among youngs, and racism has been proven to have detrimental effects on both physical and mental health. These two plagues represent a public health priority, especially for susceptible minorities. Method: This systematic review analyzed 23 studies from multiple database searches, to understand the relationship between racism and suicidality in young minority groups. Results: The review demonstrated the correlation between racism and suicidality with the consequent development of mental disorders. There is strong evidence that the main suicide risk factor is acculturation, interpreted as the assimilation of the dominant culture with the loss of values from one’s cultural background. Discussion: Health care professionals should not underestimate the risk of suicidality associated with racism. Prevention is crucial and it should be implemented from a young age, in schools, through a joint intervention with children and their families, aiming toward integration without acculturation.


Author(s):  
Valentyn Savchenko ◽  
Нalyna Kharchenko ◽  
Olga Buriak ◽  
Iryna Omeri ◽  
Jevgenija Nevedomsjka ◽  
...  

Introduction. Maturity of personality, their inner world plays a substantial role in health development. For a reason, following the definition by the World Health Organization spirituality is one of human health components. Still, the level of personal maturity of an adult does not always comply with their age and can be lower. Aim is to determine the levels of personal maturity (internal development) of the humanitarian university students and to identify the peculiarities of their distribution depending on gender, duration of studying, specialty, confession of faith, and attitude to religion. Material and methods. 207 students of Borys Grinchenko Kyiv University, average age of the surveyed 19.46 ± 2.12. There were 105 males (50.7%), and 102 females (49.3%). For determination of the levels of personal maturity the questionnaire by Jose Stevens was implemented. There were 5 levels specificated: «baby», «junior», «teen», «young man/woman», and «adult». Results. Among the humanitarian university students of the specialties «physical therapy, ergotherapy» and «physical education and sports», in 62.8% (130/207) cases high levels of personal maturity were identified, in 32.4% (67/207) cases there were low levels. Among one fifth of the students (19.8%; 41/207) the combinations of several levels of personal maturity were identified. It was indicative of the youth’s failure to having an integral idea of their inner world and spirituality. The female students were more internally developed than the male ones, which was indicative of statistically substantial predominance of high levels of personal maturity among them — 66.7%; 68/102 (among the males — 48.6%; 51/105). Ideas of personal maturity among the senior students (the 4th and 5th years of studies) were more accomplished than the ones of the junior students (the 1st and 2nd years of studies). Following religious traditions both by the holders of religious beliefs and not, led to development of higher levels of personal maturity compared to those students not following religious traditions. Conclusions. One third of the humanitarian university students have low level of personal maturity (internal development). According to the level of personal maturity, females prevail over males. The students following religious traditions (the holders of religious beliefs and not) are more internally developed than those not following such traditions.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1953 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 88-95

The General Assembly, the Social Commission and the Economic and Social Council of the World Health Organization are to discuss the future of the United Nations' International Children's Emergency Fund during this year of 1953. Editorials have appeared in the press (New York Times, Apr. 6, 1953 and Chicago Daily Sun-Times, May 27, 1953) criticizing our government for not having paid U.N.I.C.E.F. its 1953 voluntary contribution of $9,814,000. A number of Fellows of the American Academy of Pediatrics have become concerned as to the plight in which U.N.I.C.E.F. finds itself and requested the matter be brought to the attention of the Executive Board at its meeting May 28-31, 1953 in Evanston. It was the opinion of the members contacting the Board that the work of the U.N.I.C.E.F. should be continued. The presence of this item on the agenda inspired the preparation of the enclosed resume of the evolution of W.H.O. and U.N.I.C.E.F. As the Executive Board found this information of value, they have suggested that it might be made available to other Fellows through publication in your section in Pediatrics. Our members may also be interested in the resolution passed by the Executive Board after deliberating on this subject.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Farris Iman Leong Bin Abdullah ◽  
Nor Shuhada Murad ◽  
Soo Huat Teoh ◽  
Mohd Afifuddin Mohamad

Abstract Purpose: Despite the significant impact of COVID-19 on mental health among university students, data on the related quality of life (QoL) are lacking in this group of the population. This study aimed to evaluate quality of life (QoL) and determine its association with various factors and social support among university students during the COVID-19 pandemic after the end of movement lockdown. Methods: This was an online, cross-sectional study recruited a total of 316 participants. Participants were administered a self-reported questionnaire to gather data on demographic, personal, clinical and psychological characteristics; the 21-item depression, anxiety and stress scale (DASS-21) to assess the severity of their depressive, anxiety and stress symptoms; the multidimensional scale of perceived social support (MSPSS) to assess the degree of social support; and the World Health Organization quality of life-BREF (WHOQoL-BREF) to assess QoL. Results: The psychological and social QoL scores were lower than the non-pandemic norms of the general population, while the physical health and environmental QoL scores were comparable. After adjusting for relevant demographic, personal, and clinical variables, religious coping; greater number of hours of online classes attended; and greater social support from family, friends and significant others were found to be significantly associated with higher QoL among the participants. Frustration because of study disruption, living in areas with a high prevalence of COVID-19 cases, and a higher severity of depressive and stress symptoms were significantly associated with lower QoL. Conclusion: COVID-19 impaired the QoL of university students even after the movement lockdown was lifted.


Author(s):  
Farwa Kazmi ◽  
Priyadarshini Ray ◽  
Muskaan Bhagchandani ◽  
Mohammed Khalil Mogharbel ◽  
Zubin Hassan Mubin ◽  
...  

Background: Researchers have become concerned with caffeine because of risks of addiction, as shown by latest studies. World Health Organization identify caffeine dependence as a clinical disorder. The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of Caffeine Use Disorder among participants and identify determinants of Caffeine Use Disorder among participants.Methods: Questionnaires were distributed among university students who consumed caffeinated products and were older than 18 years of age. The research was carried out in 3 universities in Ajman, UAE. The data collected was analyzed using SPSS software.Results: It was found that the prevalence of Caffeine Use Disorder among caffeine consumers was 69%. The prevalence of Caffeine Use Disorder was significantly higher among students: who believed that their consumption had increased since joining the university (p<0.001) compared to other categories. The risk of Caffeine Use Disorder was higher among participants who consumed caffeine to: feel awake (OR=1.567, 95% CI:1.05-2.34), be more productive (OR=2.06, 95% CI:1.28-3.22), and because of peer pressure (OR=2.4, 95% CI:1.03-5.62) and who believed that their caffeine consumption had increased since joining the university (OR=3.68, 95%CI:2.49-5.44).Conclusion: The prevalence and risk of having Caffeine Use Disorder was high among university students, hence more research should be conducted and actions should be taken to reduce the prevalence of Caffeine Use Disorder.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 192-192
Author(s):  
Nadia Ivanna González Ezquivel ◽  
Mitzy Dafne Ramírez Romero ◽  
Josefina Ruiz Esparza ◽  
Carlos Olvera Sandoval ◽  
Daniela González Valencia

Abstract Objectives To implement the Nutritional Health Promotion Center (CEPSAN) in the population student of the Mexicali medical school during 2019. Methods Descriptive study. It was performed in university students and external volunteers, both sexes; each participant had a nutritional medical history; anthropometric measurement, estimation of the Body Mass Index and analysis of body composition by electrical bioimpedance in ioi 353 equipment; total energy expenditure was determined and an individualized food plan was provided, a challenge system based on the health recommendations of the World Health Organization 2012 was established, food consumption frequency questionnaire (one week) was applied. The results were coded and captured in The Food Processor ESHA version 2016 to estimate nutrients, the protocol was repeated every 15 days. Results Nutritional consultations were carried out with initial medical assessment to a total of n = 84 participants, 50% (n = 42) were university students and the other 50% were external volunteers. 52% of university students were normal weight, while 34% overweight, 12% obese and 2% underweight. 71% of external volunteers were overweight and obese. The average energy consumption in university students was 3000 kcal per day, a guideline to indicate an adequate consumption in quality and quantity during nutritional counseling. The average waist-to-hip index value in university women was 0.82 and in men 0.93, both below the risk point. In external volunteers, the waist-to-hip index was 0.87 and 0.95, women and men, respectively. Conclusions In the first stage of CEPSAN, it was possible to standardize the general care procedure, the timely identification of health risk in patients and the promotion of nutritional health through individualized meal plans. Funding Sources Programa para el Desarrollo Profesional Docente, 2019. UABC-PTC-775.


1995 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 96-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.H.Y. Wei

Dental research in the last 50 years has accomplished numerous significant advances in preventive dentistry, particularly in the area of research in fluorides, periodontal diseases, restorative dentistry, and dental materials, as well as craniofacial development and molecular biology. The transfer of scientific knowledge to clinical practitioners requires additional effort. It is the responsibility of the scientific communities to transfer the fruits of their findings to society through publications, conferences, media, and the press. Specific programs that the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) has developed to transmit science to the profession and the public have included science transfer seminars, the Visiting Lecture Program, and hands-on workshops. The IADR Strategic Plan also has a major outreach goal. In addition, the Federation Dentaire Internationale (FDI) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have initiated plans to celebrate World Health Day and the Year of Oral Health in 1994. These are important strategies for the application of scientific findings in prevention.


Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 2519
Author(s):  
Aleksandra Wisłowska-Stanek ◽  
Karolina Kołosowska ◽  
Piotr Maciejak

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 700,000 people die per year due to suicide. Suicide risk factors include a previous suicide attempt and psychiatric disorders. The highest mortality rate in suicide worldwide is due to depression. Current evidence suggests that suicide etiopathogenesis is associated with neuroinflammation that activates the kynurenine pathway and causes subsequent serotonin depletion and stimulation of glutamate neurotransmission. These changes are accompanied by decreased BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) levels in the brain, which is often linked to impaired neuroplasticity and cognitive deficits. Most suicidal patients have a hyperactive hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. Epigenetic mechanisms control the above-mentioned neurobiological changes associated with suicidal behaviour. Suicide risk could be attenuated by appropriate psychological treatment, electroconvulsive treatment, and drugs: lithium, ketamine, esketamine, clozapine. In this review, we present the etiopathogenesis of suicide behaviour and explore the mechanisms of action of anti-suicidal treatments, pinpointing similarities among them.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haiyun Chu ◽  
Yanjie Yang ◽  
Jiawei Zhou ◽  
Wenbo Wang ◽  
Xiaohui Qiu ◽  
...  

Background: World Health Organization recognizes suicide as a public health priority. This study aimed to investigate the risk life events which led university students to consider suicide and explore the protective mechanism of social support (including subjective support, objective support, and support utilization) on suicide risk.Methods: Three thousand nine hundred and seventy-two university students were recruited in Harbin, China. Social Support Rating Scale, Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the 25-item scale of suicide acceptability were used to collect participants' information. Descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation, and mediation analysis were employed for statistical analysis.Results: “Drug addict,” “infected with HIV,” and “incurable illness” were the top three events that led university students to consider suicide. Social support played an important protective role against suicide risk. Subjective support and support utilization had total effects on suicide acceptability, including direct and indirect effects. Anxiety (indirect effect = −0.022, 95% CI = −0.037 ~ −0.009) and depressive symptoms (indirect effect = −0.197, 95% CI = −0.228 ~ −0.163) mediated the relationship between subjective support and suicide acceptability; meanwhile, the association between support utilization and suicide acceptability was mediated by anxiety (indirect effect = −0.054, 95% CI = −0.088 ~ −0.024) and depressive symptoms (indirect effect = −0.486, 95% CI = −0.558 ~ −0.422). However, the protective impact of objective support worked totally through decreasing anxiety (indirect effect = −0.018, 95% CI = −0.035 ~ −0.006) and depressive symptoms (indirect effect = −0.196, 95% CI = −0.246 ~ −0.143). Moreover, the mediation effects of depressive symptoms had stronger power than anxiety in the impact of social support on suicide risk.Conclusions: Among Chinese university students, suicide acceptability was elevated when there was a health scare. Social support effectively reduced suicide risk via decreasing anxiety and depressive symptoms. From the mental health perspective, families, peers, teachers, and communities should work together to establish a better social support system for university students, if necessary, help them to seek professional psychological services.


Author(s):  
Ann John ◽  
Marcos Del Pozo Banos ◽  
Keith Lloyd

IntroductionThe World Health Organization recognizes suicide as a public health priority. Recent studies have focused on health care contacts for those who complete suicide to highlight opportunities for intervention. In Wales, electronic health records (EHR) are routinely collected, providing an invaluable opportunity for researching suicide risk factors. Objectives and ApproachWe aim at linking primary and secondary EHRs to identify suicide risk factors for those between 10 and 24 years of age. We linked 7 different demographic and health datasets from the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage Databank UK, and identified a total of 471 cases between 2001 and 2015, 10 matched controls of same gender and age (±1 year), as well as cases’ and controls’ mothers. We measured a number of factors from primary and secondary care including self-harm, mental health issues and drugs and alcohol misuse. We used conditional logistic regression to conduct our analyses. ResultsPreliminary results suggest that environmental factors extracted from cohabitants and mothers have a statistically significant effect even after adjusting for deprivation. Self-harm, possible maltreatment and alcohol and drugs misuse seem to be strongest factors of those studied. Factors related to mental health have smaller and more complex effects when adjusting for deprivation. Conclusion/ImplicationsOur preliminary analysis indicate that EHR can be linked to study the effect of the environment on suicide risk. Once completed, we hope this study will help to identify other suicide risk factors, improve our knowledge of the mechanisms underlying suicide and help to identify opportunities for intervention and improve care.


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