Protocol for a Mental Health and Substance Use Trend Study: the World Mental Health-International College Student (WMH-ICS) Survey in Canada (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Brittany Jones ◽  
Carolina Judkowicz ◽  
Kristen L. Hudec ◽  
Richard J. Munthali ◽  
Ana Paula Prescivalli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Substance Use ◽  
College Student ◽  
University Students ◽  
Risk Mitigation ◽  
Survey Instrument ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The World ◽  
International College ◽  
Over Time

BACKGROUND The World Health Organization (WHO) World Mental Health-International College Student (WMH-ICS) initiative aims to screen for mental health and substance use problems among post-secondary students on a global scale as well as to develop and evaluate evidence-based preventive and ameliorative interventions for this population. The epidemiologic surveys—a core component of the WMH-ICS initiative—are self-administered online questionnaires that generate diagnostic estimates for a wide range of common mental disorders and have been administered to over 95,000 students across 16 countries around the world. This protocol paper presents the Canadian version of the WMH-ICS survey, detailing the adapted survey instrument, the unique weekly cross-sectional administration, the multi-tiered recruitment strategy, and the associated risk mitigation protocols. OBJECTIVE This paper aims to provide a methodological resource for researchers conducting cross-national comparisons of WMH-ICS data, as well as to serve as a useful guide for those interested in replicating the outlined cross-sectional methodology to better understand how mental health and substance use vary over time among university students. METHODS The online survey is based on the WMH-ICS survey instrument and has been modified to the Canadian context by the addition of questions pertaining to Canadian-based guidelines and the translation of the survey to Canadian French. The survey was administered through the Qualtrics survey platform and was sent to an independent stratified random sample of 350 students per site weekly, followed by two reminder emails. Upon survey closure every week, a random subsample of 70 non-responders were followed up with via phone or through a personal email in an effort to decrease non-responder bias. The survey is accompanied by an extensive risk mitigation protocol that stratifies respondents by level of need and provides tailored service recommendations, including a facilitated expedited appointment to student counselling services for those at increased risk of suicide. RESULTS In February 2020, the Canadian survey was deployed at the University of British Columbia. This was followed by deployment at Simon Fraser University (November 2020) and McMaster University (January 2021). Additional Canadian sites are currently in various stages of assessment and implementation. As of November 18th 2021, 21,143 responses have been collected. CONCLUSIONS The Canadian version of the WMH-ICS survey is based on a novel methodological approach centered on the weekly administration of a comprehensive cross-sectional survey to independent stratified random samples of university students. After 22 months of consecutive survey administration, we have developed and refined a survey protocol that has proven effective in engaging students at three Canadian institutions, allowing us to track how mental health and substance use vary over time using an internationally developed university student survey based on DSM-5 criteria.

Childhood adversities and mental disorders in first-year college students: results from the World Mental Health International College Student Initiative

2022 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Mathilde M. Husky ◽  
Ekaterina Sadikova ◽  
Sue Lee ◽  
Jordi Alonso ◽  
Randy P. Auerbach ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
College Students ◽  
College Student ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Type Number ◽  
Childhood Adversities ◽  
World Mental Health ◽  
The World ◽  
International College ◽  
Role Impairment

Abstract Background This study investigates associations of several dimensions of childhood adversities (CAs) with lifetime mental disorders, 12-month disorder persistence, and impairment among incoming college students. Methods Data come from the World Mental Health International College Student Initiative (WMH-ICS). Web-based surveys conducted in nine countries (n = 20 427) assessed lifetime and 12-month mental disorders, 12-month role impairment, and seven types of CAs occurring before the age of 18: parental psychopathology, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, neglect, bullying victimization, and dating violence. Poisson regressions estimated associations using three dimensions of CA exposure: type, number, and frequency. Results Overall, 75.8% of students reported exposure to at least one CA. In multivariate regression models, lifetime onset and 12-month mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders were all associated with either the type, number, or frequency of CAs. In contrast, none of these associations was significant when predicting disorder persistence. Of the three CA dimensions examined, only frequency was associated with severe role impairment among students with 12-month disorders. Population-attributable risk simulations suggest that 18.7–57.5% of 12-month disorders and 16.3% of severe role impairment among those with disorders were associated with these CAs. Conclusion CAs are associated with an elevated risk of onset and impairment among 12-month cases of diverse mental disorders but are not involved in disorder persistence. Future research on the associations of CAs with psychopathology should include fine-grained assessments of CA exposure and attempt to trace out modifiable intervention targets linked to mechanisms of associations with lifetime psychopathology and burden of 12-month mental disorders.

scholarly journals The World Health Organization World Mental Health International College Student initiative: An overview

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. e1761 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pim Cuijpers ◽  
Randy P. Auerbach ◽  
Corina Benjet ◽  
Ronny Bruffaerts ◽  
David Ebert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
College Student ◽  
World Health Organization ◽  
World Health ◽  
World Mental Health ◽  
The World ◽  
International College ◽  
Health Organization

scholarly journals From Stress to Psychopathology: Relationship with Self-Reassurance and Self-Criticism in Czech University Students

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasuhiro Kotera ◽  
Jaroslava Dosedlova ◽  
Denise Andrzejewski ◽  
Greta Kaluzeviciute ◽  
Makoto Sakai
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
University Students ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Transactional Model ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Path Analyses ◽  
As Stress

AbstractPsychological stress has become a major concern, potentially leading to diverse health problems including psychopathology such as depression and anxiety. Transactional Model of Stress and Coping is an established model, conceptualizing stressful experiences via person–environment relationship. This cross-sectional study aimed to explore the pathway from stress to depression/anxiety, with a focus on self-criticism (inadequate-self and hated-self) and self-reassurance (reassured-self) in Czech students who suffered from high prevalence of mental health problems. Convenience sample of 119 undergraduates completed the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 and the Forms of the Self-Criticizing/Attacking & Self-Reassuring Scale. Correlation and path analyses were conducted. The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines were used to aid an accurate and complete report of the study. Depression, anxiety, and stress were positively associated with inadequate-self and hated-self while negatively associated with reassured-self. Both inadequate-self and hated-self partially mediated the stress–depression and stress–anxiety relationships, whereas reassured-self only partially mediated the stress–depression relationship. Inadequate-self had greater impact on the stress–depression/anxiety pathways than hated-self and reassured-self. Findings indicate that clinical treatment may benefit from targeting the feelings of inadequacy to prevent stress progressing to psychopathology. This is particularly relevant as stress levels are rising globally. Our findings offer developments to the Transactional Model, and help practitioners and educators identify solutions to protect mental health of Czech university students.

scholarly journals The Association between Sociocultural Factors and Substance Use among Haramaya University Students

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 117822182110045
Author(s):  
Zelalem Tadese Feyisa
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Alcohol Use ◽  
University Students ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Sociocultural Factors ◽  
University Management ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Negatively Associated ◽  
Khat Use

All the associated risk factors were not equally responsible for influencing individuals either in alcohol use, khat use, tobacco, or cannabis use. This study attempted to examine sociocultural factors influencing university students in substance use by comparing one with another. A cross-sectional study was carried out. The study used a quantitative approach to collect data from 384 students. Compared with their involvement in khat use, female students were positively influenced in cigarette and hashish use (Adjusted Odds Ratio, AOR = 1.102, 95% CI: 1.056, 1.149) and alcohol use (AOR = 1.066, 95% CI: 1.021, 1.113). The involvement of students in alcohol use (AOR = 0.884, 95% CI: 0.838, 0.932) and cigarettes and hashish use (AOR = 0.909, 95% CI: 0.866, 0.953) were negatively associated with stress related to their academic activities. The involvement of students in alcohol use (AOR = 0.942, 95% CI: 0.906, 0.979) was negatively associated with parental influences; involved in alcohol use (AOR = 0.445, 95% CI: 0.210, 0.941) was negatively associated with the thoughts of considering substances as an energizer. The involvement of students in alcohol use (AOR = 4.980, 95% CI: 1.614, 15.368) was positively associated with peer influences. It was, thus, suggested that the management of Haramaya University should work on creating awareness of the negative consequences of substance use. Concerned professionals, including sociologists, psychologists, and health workers, should work on raising students’ awareness as it was possible to undertake their studies without substance use. Moreover, the university management is strongly recommended to expand recreational centers within the campus. Lastly, Haramaya woreda administration should restrict the availability and accessibility of these substances around the campus.

scholarly journals Depressive Symptoms in Swiss University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Their Correlates

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 1458 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Volken ◽  
Annina Zysset ◽  
Simone Amendola ◽  
Anthony Klein Swormink ◽  
Marion Huber ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
University Students ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Binary Logistic Regression ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
National Population ◽  
Student Cohorts ◽  
Containment Measures

Background: COVID-19 containment measures and the uncertainties associated with the pandemic may have contributed to changes in mental health risks and mental health problems in university students. Due to the high burden of the disease, depression is of particular concern. However, knowledge about the prevalence of depressive symptoms in Swiss university students during the pandemic is limited. We therefore assessed the prevalence of depressive symptoms and their change during the COVID-19 pandemic in a large sample of Swiss university students. Methods: We assessed depressive symptoms in two cross-sectional cohorts of university students (n = 3571) in spring and autumn 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and compared them with a matched sample of the Swiss national population (n = 2328). Binary logistic regression models estimated prevalence with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Results: Adjusted prevalence of depressive symptoms in female (30.8% (95% CI: 28.6–33.0)) and male students (24.8% (95% CI: 21.7–28.1)) was substantially higher than in the matching female (10.9% (95% CI: 8.9–13.2)) and male (8.5% (6.6–11.0)) pre-pandemic national population. Depressive symptoms in the two consecutive student cohorts did not significantly differ. Conclusions: More than a quarter of Swiss university students reported depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic, which was substantially higher as compared to the matched general population. Universities should introduce measures to support students in such times of crisis and gain an understanding of the factors impacting mental health positively or negatively and related to university structures and procedures.

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