Effect of Mental Hospital Volunteer Work on Career Choice

1969 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-40
Author(s):  
Murdo M. Dowds ◽  
James A. Kulik ◽  
Karl E. Scheibe
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
College Students ◽  
Mental Hospital ◽  
Health Professions ◽  
Volunteer Work ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Volunteer Program ◽  
Career Plans ◽  
Academic Year

This study was designed to investigate the effect of participation in a mental hospital volunteer program on students' subsequent career plans and activities. Responses of the volunteers on follow-up questionnaires were compared with those of two control groups of college students not in the program. The number of volunteers planning careers in mental health professions increased significantly after participation in the program while the control groups showed little change in career plans. The volunteers also evaluated their summer's experience as highly important for their future vocational plans, and a high percentage planned to spend their next summer engaged in mental health activities. The program had only limited effects, however, on the academic-year behaviors of the volunteers.

scholarly journals A machine learning approach for predicting suicidal thoughts and behaviours among college students

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa Macalli ◽  
Marie Navarro ◽  
Massimiliano Orri ◽  
Marie Tournier ◽  
Rodolphe Thiébaut ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
College Students ◽  
Positive Predictive Value ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
Screening Tools ◽  
Receiver Operating Curve ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Suicidal Thoughts ◽  
One Year

AbstractSuicidal thoughts and behaviours are prevalent among college students. Yet little is known about screening tools to identify students at higher risk. We aimed to develop a risk algorithm to identify the main predictors of suicidal thoughts and behaviours among college students within one-year of baseline assessment. We used data collected in 2013–2019 from the French i-Share cohort, a longitudinal population-based study including 5066 volunteer students. To predict suicidal thoughts and behaviours at follow-up, we used random forests models with 70 potential predictors measured at baseline, including sociodemographic and familial characteristics, mental health and substance use. Model performance was measured using the area under the receiver operating curve (AUC), sensitivity, and positive predictive value. At follow-up, 17.4% of girls and 16.8% of boys reported suicidal thoughts and behaviours. The models achieved good predictive performance: AUC, 0.8; sensitivity, 79% for girls, 81% for boys; and positive predictive value, 40% for girls and 36% for boys. Among the 70 potential predictors, four showed the highest predictive power: 12-month suicidal thoughts, trait anxiety, depression symptoms, and self-esteem. We identified a parsimonious set of mental health indicators that accurately predicted one-year suicidal thoughts and behaviours in a community sample of college students.

Use of the Creating Opportunities for Parent Empowerment Program to Decrease Mental Health Problems in Ugandan Children Surviving Severe Malaria: A Randomized Controlled Trial

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Bangirana ◽  
Annet Birabwa ◽  
Mary Nyakato ◽  
Ann J. Nakitende ◽  
Maria Kroupina ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Severe Malaria ◽  
Behavioral Problems ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Caregiver Depression ◽  
Randomized Controlled

Abstract Background: Severe malaria is associated with long-term mental health problems in Ugandan children. This study investigated the effect of a behavioral intervention for caregivers of children admitted with severe malaria, on the children’s mental health outcomes six months after discharge.Methods: This randomized controlled trial was conducted at Naguru Hospital in Kampala, Uganda from January 2018 to July 2019. Caregiver and child dyads were randomly assigned to either a psychoeducation arm providing information about hospital procedures during admission (control group) or a behavioral arm providing information about the child’s possible emotions and behavior during and after admission and providing age appropriate games for the caregiver and child (intervention group). Pre- and post-intervention assessments for caregiver anxiety and depression (Hopkins Symptom Checklist) and child mental health problems (Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire and the Child Behavioral Checklist) were done during admission and six months after discharge respectively. T-tests, analysis of covariance and Chi-Square were used to compare outcomes between the two treatment arms.Results: There were 120 caregiver-child dyads recruited at baseline with children aged 1.45 years to 4.89 years (mean age 2.85 years, SD = 1.01). The intervention and control groups had similar sociodemographic, clinical and behavioral characteristics at baseline. Caregiver depression at baseline, mother’s education and female sex of the child were associated with behavioral problems in the child at baseline (p<0.05). At six months follow-up, there was no difference in the frequency of behavioral problems between the groups (6.8% vs 10% in intervention vs. control groups, respectively, p = 0.72). Caregiver depression and anxiety scores between the treatment arms did not differ at six months follow-up. Conclusion: This behavioral intervention for caregivers and their children admitted with severe malaria had no effect on the child’s mental health outcomes at six months. Further studies need to develop interventions for mental health problems after severe malaria in children with longer follow-up time.ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03432039

Evolution and Sustainability of the Helping Hands Volunteer Program: Consumer Recovery and Mental Health Comparisons Six Years On

2006 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 88-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank P. Deane ◽  
Retta Andresen
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Social Contact ◽  
Service Utilisation ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Volunteer Program ◽  
Mental Health Consumers ◽  
Volunteer Participation ◽  
Consumer Recovery

AbstractThe Helping Hands program commenced in 1999 and partners volunteers with mental health consumers for support and to increase social contact, recreational and friendship opportunities. The aim of the present study is to describe the evolution and sustainability of the program over the first 6 years. A description of consumers accessing the program using recovery-oriented measures and traditional measures of behavioural functioning is also provided. Service data was collected on the development of the program, service utilisation, volunteer participation and funding patterns. Cross-sectional measures of recovery and baseline and follow-up Health of the Nation Outcome Scales (HoNOS) were collected on 27 participants. Results showed that the Helping Hands program has evolved significantly since start-up with the development of numerous recreational, health and support groups and 48 active volunteers and 62 active clients. Consumer feedback indicates that the service increases the quality of life of participants considerably. Current clients showed less severe disability at referral than did the original group. There were improvements in the area of relationships on the HoNOS for those who had baseline and follow-up measures. The high volunteer participation rates and positive consumer outcomes represent significant value in return for the modest level of funding.

scholarly journals Measuring mental health and well-being of South African undergraduate students

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irma Eloff ◽  
Marien Graham
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Student Mental Health ◽  
Time Points ◽  
Psychological Flourishing ◽  
Academic Year ◽  
Health And Well Being

Abstract Background Increased investment in optimal student mental health and well-being has been noted by universities around the world. Studies show the need for contextually relevant, granular understandings of specific aspects of student mental health and well-being. Methods A survey was conducted at two time points – at the beginning and end of the academic year – at a large, urban university in South Africa. The Mental Health Continuum-Short Form, the Flourishing Scale, and the Fragility of Happiness Scale were used in the testing of undergraduate students from a variety of scientific disciplines. Two separate comparisons were made, based on the baseline data (n = 551) and the follow-up data (n = 281). In Comparison 1 (baseline, n = 443; follow-up, n = 173), two independent, biographically (very) similar groups were compared. Comparison 2 (n = 108) compared the results from the baseline and follow-up of the same group of students who completed the instruments at both time points. Results Results indicate a significant decline in mental health and well-being for both groups (independent and dependent) over the course of the academic year. Both follow-up groups were found to have lower psychological, emotional and social well-being, psychological flourishing, and reduced mental health, in comparison with the baseline groups. Conclusions The statistically significant decreases in the mental health and well-being of participants in this study indicate the need for substantive interventions to support student mental health and well-being. Strong foci for well-being interventions should include self-efficacy, sense of direction, meaning and creating a sense of belonging.

scholarly journals PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN THE TREATMENT OF DEPRESSION IN COLLEGE STUDENTS

2022 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 68-71
Author(s):  
Xiaowei He
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
College Students ◽  
Physical Exercise ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Observation Group ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Level Of Evidence ◽  
Treatment Of Depression ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
And Control

ABSTRACT Introduction: The mental health of college students is getting more and more attention from society. Physical exercise as a means of psychotherapy and mental health has become common at home and abroad. Objective: We explore the effect of prescribing physical exercise in the treatment of depression in college students. Methods: College students who had been diagnosed with depression were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, each with 18 patients. The control group received drug treatment. The observation group received sports therapy in addition to drug therapy. Results: There was a statistically significant difference in HAMD scores between the observation and control groups in the first week (P<0.01). Conclusions: Exercise can play a role in treating depression patients rapidly, safely, and efficiently. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - investigation of treatment results.

scholarly journals Effectiveness of an Internet- and App-Based Intervention for College Students With Elevated Stress: Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mathias Harrer ◽  
Sophia Helen Adam ◽  
Rebecca Jessica Fleischmann ◽  
Harald Baumeister ◽  
Randy Auerbach ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
College Students ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Waitlist Control ◽  
Symptoms Of Depression ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Waitlist Control Group

BACKGROUND Mental health problems are highly prevalent among college students. Most students with poor mental health, however, do not receive professional help. Internet-based self-help formats may increase the utilization of treatment. OBJECTIVE The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to evaluate the efficacy of an internet-based, app-supported stress management intervention for college students. METHODS College students (n=150) with elevated levels of stress (Perceived Stress Scale 4-item version, PSS-4 ≥8) were randomly assigned to either an internet- and mobile-based stress intervention group with feedback on demand or a waitlist control group. Self-report data were assessed at baseline, posttreatment (7 weeks), and 3-month follow-up. The primary outcome was perceived stress posttreatment (PSS-4). Secondary outcomes included mental health outcomes, modifiable risk and protective factors, and college-related outcomes. Subgroup analyses were conducted in students with clinically relevant symptoms of depression (Center for Epidemiological Studies’ Depression Scale >17). RESULTS A total of 106 participants (76.8%) indicated that they were first-time help-seekers, and 77.3% (intervention group: 58/75; waitlist control group: 58/75) showed clinically relevant depressive symptoms at baseline. Findings indicated significant effects of the intervention compared with the waitlist control group for stress (d=0.69; 95% CI 0.36-1.02), anxiety (d=0.76; 95% CI 0.43-1.09), depression (d=0.63; 95% CI 0.30-0.96), college-related productivity (d=0.33; 95% CI 0.01-0.65), academic work impairment (d=0.34; 95% CI 0.01-0.66), and other outcomes after 7 weeks (posttreatment). Response rates for stress symptoms were significantly higher for the intervention group (69%, 52/75) compared with the waitlist control group (35%, 26/75, P<.001; number needed to treat=2.89, 95% CI 2.01-5.08) at posttest (7 weeks). Effects were sustained at 3-month follow-up, and similar findings emerged in students with symptoms of depression. CONCLUSIONS Internet- and mobile-based interventions could be an effective and cost-effective approach to reduce consequences of college-related stress and might potentially attract students with clinically relevant depression who would not otherwise seek help. CLINICALTRIAL German Clinical Trial Register DRKS00010212; http://www.drks.de/drks_web/navigate.do? navigationId=trial.HTML&TRIAL_ID=DRKS00010212 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6w55Ewhjd)

scholarly journals Use of the creating opportunities for parent empowerment programme to decrease mental health problems in Ugandan children surviving severe malaria: a randomized controlled trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Bangirana ◽  
Annet Birabwa ◽  
Mary Nyakato ◽  
Ann J. Nakitende ◽  
Maria Kroupina ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Severe Malaria ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Behavioural Intervention ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Caregiver Depression ◽  
Randomized Controlled

Abstract Background Severe malaria is associated with long-term mental health problems in Ugandan children. This study investigated the effect of a behavioural intervention for caregivers of children admitted with severe malaria, on the children’s mental health outcomes 6 months after discharge. Methods This randomized controlled trial was conducted at Naguru Hospital in Kampala, Uganda from January 2018 to July 2019. Caregiver and child dyads were randomly assigned to either a psycho-educational arm providing information about hospital procedures during admission (control group), or to a behavioural arm providing information about the child’s possible emotions and behaviour during and after admission, and providing age appropriate games for the caregiver and child (intervention group). Pre- and post-intervention assessments for caregiver anxiety and depression (Hopkins Symptom Checklist) and child mental health problems (Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire and the Child Behaviour Checklist) were done during admission and 6 months after discharge, respectively. T-tests, analysis of covariance, Chi-Square, and generalized estimating equations were used to compare outcomes between the two treatment arms. Results There were 120 caregiver-child dyads recruited at baseline with children aged 1.45 to 4.89 years (mean age 2.85 years, SD = 1.01). The intervention and control groups had similar sociodemographic, clinical and behavioural characteristics at baseline. Caregiver depression at baseline, mother’s education and female child were associated with behavioural problems in the child at baseline (p < 0.05). At 6 months follow-up, there was no difference in the frequency of behavioural problems between the groups (6.8% vs. 10% in intervention vs control groups, respectively, p = 0.72). Caregiver depression and anxiety scores between the treatment arms did not differ at 6 months follow-up. Conclusion This behavioural intervention for caregivers and their children admitted with severe malaria had no effect on the child’s mental health outcomes at 6 months. Further studies need to develop interventions for mental health problems after severe malaria in children with longer follow-up time. Trail registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03432039

scholarly journals Effectiveness of Probiotic, Prebiotic, and Synbiotic Supplementation to Improve Perinatal Mental Health in Mothers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vidhi Desai ◽  
Anita L. Kozyrskyj ◽  
Stuart Lau ◽  
Omolara Sanni ◽  
Liz Dennett ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Maternal Mental Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Perinatal Period ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Anxiety Symptoms ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
And Control

Introduction: There is an emerging interest in modulating the gut microbiota to target the gut-brain axis and improve maternal mental health in the perinatal period. This systematic review evaluated the effectiveness of prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics supplementation during pregnancy to reduce the risk of maternal mental health problems in the perinatal period.Methods: Electronic biomedical databases and clinical trial registries were searched from database inception through August 2020 to identify randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) evaluating the effect of probiotic, prebiotic, or synbiotic supplements administered to women during pregnancy on measures of perinatal depression, anxiety, and other mental health outcomes. Study selection, risk of bias appraisal, and data extraction were independently performed by two reviewers. Pooled mean differences (MD) and odds ratios (pOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated in random-effects meta-analyses for the outcomes of interest in the review.Results: From 3,868 studies identified through the search strategy, three RCTs of low risk of bias involving 713 participants were included, all three testing probiotics. There were no differences between probiotics and control groups in the mean depression scores (MD −0.46; 95% CI −2.16, 1.25) at end of follow-up. Although statistical significance was not achieved, probiotics showed an advantage in the proportion of participants scoring below an established cut-off for depression (pOR 0.68; 95% CI 0.43, 1.07). Compared to placebo, probiotics in pregnancy reduced anxiety symptoms (MD −0.99; 95% CI −1.80, −0.18); however, this advantage was not translated in a reduction in the proportion of participants scoring above an established cut-off for anxiety (pOR 0.65; 95% CI 0.23, 1.85). There were no differences between probiotics and control groups in global mental health scores at end of follow-up (MD 1.09; 95% CI −2.04, 4.22).Conclusion: There is limited but promising evidence about the effectiveness of probiotics during pregnancy to reduce anxiety symptoms and reduce the proportion of women scoring ABOVE a cut-off depression score. There is a lack of RCT evidence supporting prebiotics and synbiotics supplementation for similar purposes in the perinatal period. More research is needed before prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics are recommended to support maternal mental health and well-being in the perinatal period.Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO, CRD42019137158.

The effect of acceptance and commitment therapy on the mental health of students with an emotional breakdown

2019 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Seyedeh Maryam Noormohamadi ◽  
Mokhtar Arefi ◽  
Karim Afshaini ◽  
Keivan Kakabaraee
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Acceptance And Commitment Therapy ◽  
Educational Institutions ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Commitment Therapy ◽  
Acceptance And Commitment ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Experimental Group

Abstract Background Mental health is a significant part of one’s health and it is very important to pay attention to mental health. Objectives The aim of the study was to examine the effect of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) on the mental health of adolescents with an emotional breakdown (EB). Methods This was a semi-experimental study, in which the students with an EB were divided into two groups: the experimental and control groups. Twenty people were selected using the convenience sampling method and randomly assigned to the ACT and control groups (each with 10 people). After obtaining consent to participate in the study, they were asked to fill the questionnaires as a pre-test. Then, the experimental group was treated for nine individual sessions (weekly one session). As this was a repeated measurement method, in sessions 3, 6 and 9, the questionnaires were completed again and the follow-up period was 1 month after the end of the interventions. Results Before the intervention, there was no difference between the score of the impact of love and rumination among the students in the experimental and control groups (p > 0.05); but after the intervention, the score of the impact of love and rumination in the experimental group decreased (p < 0.05). Conclusions It is suggested that ACT should be used at counseling centers of universities and educational institutions.

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