scholarly journals A longitudinal study of mental wellbeing in students that transition into PhD study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Damian Scarf ◽  
Taylor Winter ◽  
Benjamin Riordan ◽  
John Hunter ◽  
Karen Tustin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Graduate Student ◽  
Bayesian Regression ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Mental Health Crisis ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Student Mental Health ◽  
Important Message

Journal editorials, career features, and the popular press, commonly talk of a graduate student mental health crisis. To date, studies on graduate student mental health have employed cross-sectional designs, limiting any causal conclusions regarding the relationship between graduate student and mental health. Here, we present the first longitudinal study on mental health in PhD students. Data were drawn from a longitudinal study of undergraduate students in New Zealand, allowing us to compare students who did, and did not, transition into PhD study following the completion of their undergraduate degree. Using multilevel Bayesian regression, we detected a 0.09 standard deviation decrease in mental health for students who enter PhD study. This finding is orders of magnitude smaller than one might expect based on previous cross-sectional research and provide an important message; that poor mental health is not an inevitable consequence of graduate study.

scholarly journals A Longitudinal Study of Mental Wellbeing in Students in Aotearoa New Zealand Who Transitioned Into PhD Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taylor Winter ◽  
Benjamin C. Riordan ◽  
John A. Hunter ◽  
Karen Tustin ◽  
Megan Gollop ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Graduate Student ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Graduate Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Student Mental Health ◽  
Aotearoa New Zealand

Journal editorials, career features, and the popular press commonly talk of a graduate student mental health crisis. To date, studies on graduate student mental health have employed cross-sectional designs, limiting any causal conclusions regarding the relationship between entry into graduate study and mental health. Here, we draw on data from a longitudinal study of undergraduate students in Aotearoa New Zealand, allowing us to compare participants who did, and did not, transition into PhD study following the completion of their undergraduate degree. Using multilevel Bayesian regression, we identified a difference in mental wellbeing between those who entered PhD study and those who did not. This difference, however, was largely due to those not entering PhD study displaying an increase in mental wellbeing. Participants that entered PhD study displayed a small decrease in mental wellbeing, with the posterior distribution of the simple effect heavily overlapping zero. This latter finding was orders of magnitude smaller than one might expect based on previous cross-sectional research and provides an important message; that a marked drop in mental health is not an inevitable consequence of entering graduate study.

Historicising the “Crisis” in Undergraduate Mental Health: British Universities and Student Mental Illness, 1944–1968

2020 ◽  
Vol 75 (2) ◽  
pp. 193-220
Author(s):  
Sarah Crook
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Higher Education ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Historical Context ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Mental Health Crisis ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Student Mental Health ◽  
Post War ◽  
Attention To Students

Abstract This article explores how and why student mental health became an issue of concern in British universities between 1944 and 1968. It argues that two factors drew student mental health to the attention of medical professionals across this period: first, it argues that the post-war interest in mental illness drew attention to students, who were seen to be the luminaries of the future, investing their wellbeing with particular social importance. Second, it argues that the development of university health services made students increasingly visible, endorsing the view that higher education posed distinctive yet shared mental challenges to young people. The article charts the expansion of services and maps the implications of the visibility of student mental distress for post-war British universities. It suggests that claims that British higher education is currently in the midst of an unprecedented mental health “crisis” should be seen within this broader historical context, for while the contours of the debates around student mental health have shifted substantially, evidence that there was anxiety around student mental wellbeing in the immediate post-war years undermines accusations that contemporary students constitute a unique “snowflake generation.”

scholarly journals Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on Mental Health of Healthcare Workers in India: A Questionnaire Based Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayaskant Sahoo ◽  
Swikruti Behera
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Personal Data ◽  
Working Hours ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Mental Health Crisis ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Self Reporting Questionnaire

Introduction: Healthcare workers across the globe are working tirelessly to keep the severity under control. The long working hours wearing PPE, the self-quarantine periods, staying away from family, and various other factors does influence the mental wellbeing of an individual. In a country like India mental health is still a poorly recognised issue even among healthcare professionals. Objectives: To assess the stress, anxiety and depression among healthcare professionals at the time of Coronavirus pandemic and estimating the same in Anaesthesiology Cohort.Material & Methods: The study was conducted using a self-reporting questionnaire. The questionnaire was made using Google forms and the link for participation was sent using various digital mediums e.g., email, WhatsApp, Facebook. The questionnaire was sent to a total of 886 doctors and there was a total of 256 responses were received. The questionnaire was submitted anonymously and no personal data was collected. The respondents were allowed to submit only once to prevent duplicity of response. We used the DASS 21 scale as the assessment tool. Data was collected using google forms and the collected data was transferred to a Microsoft Excel sheet for analysis.Results: Our study on 256 doctors 40.75% doctors were found to be suffering from Depression, 38.29% from anxiety & 32.4% from stress in the current pandemic situation. Anaesthesiologists were found to have 30.29% depression; Anxiety was found among 42.56% and stress was found among 37.24%.Conclusion: Stressors, like gruelling shifts, risk of infections, non-availability of protective kits, health risk to family and friends etc, are many and respite seems to be far. We need to address and acknowledge the mental health of healthcare workers and people working in critical care into consideration and find solutions to the underlying causes so that the current and future of the healthcare can be saved from mental health crisis.

scholarly journals Everybody Present: Exploring the Use of an In-Class Meditation Intervention to Promote Positive Mental Health Among University Students

2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-21
Author(s):  
Paula Gardner ◽  
Kaitlyn Kerridge
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
University Students ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Classroom Environment ◽  
Final Analysis ◽  
Positive Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Crisis ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Cross Sectional Design

There is a growing mental health crisis among university students in Canada. The purpose of this pilot study was to explore the effect of an in-class mindfulness intervention on the mental health of undergraduate students. Cross-sectional design was used and data were collected using self-reported questionnaires that included scale-rated and open-ended questions (n = 435). Integrating open-ended themes with statistical findings, the final analysis suggests the intervention had a positive effect on the mental health of student participants. A classroom environment that fosters learning, builds community, and encourages compassion were identified as ways in which the intervention “works” to promote positive mental health.

scholarly journals Increase in prevalence of current mental disorders in the context of COVID-19: analysis of repeated nationwide cross-sectional surveys

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Winkler ◽  
T. Formanek ◽  
K. Mlada ◽  
A. Kagstrom ◽  
Z. Mohrova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Anxiety Disorders ◽  
Mental Disorder ◽  
Suicide Risk ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Scale Up ◽  
Mental Health Crisis ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Health Crisis

Abstract Aims The United Nations warned of COVID-19-related mental health crisis; however, it is unknown whether there is an increase in the prevalence of mental disorders as existing studies lack a reliable baseline analysis or they did not use a diagnostic measure. We aimed to analyse trends in the prevalence of mental disorders prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods We analysed data from repeated cross-sectional surveys on a representative sample of non-institutionalised Czech adults (18+ years) from both November 2017 (n = 3306; 54% females) and May 2020 (n = 3021; 52% females). We used Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) as the main screening instrument. We calculated descriptive statistics and compared the prevalence of current mood and anxiety disorders, suicide risk and alcohol-related disorders at baseline and right after the first peak of COVID-19 when related lockdown was still in place in CZ. In addition, using logistic regression, we assessed the association between COVID-19-related worries and the presence of mental disorders. Results The prevalence of those experiencing symptoms of at least one current mental disorder rose from a baseline of 20.02 (95% CI = 18.64; 21.39) in 2017 to 29.63 (95% CI = 27.9; 31.37) in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The prevalence of both major depressive disorder (3.96, 95% CI = 3.28; 4.62 v. 11.77, 95% CI = 10.56; 12.99); and suicide risk (3.88, 95% CI = 3.21; 4.52 v. 11.88, 95% CI = 10.64; 13.07) tripled and current anxiety disorders almost doubled (7.79, 95% CI = 6.87; 8.7 v. 12.84, 95% CI = 11.6; 14.05). The prevalence of alcohol use disorders in 2020 was approximately the same as in 2017 (10.84, 95% CI = 9.78; 11.89 v. 9.88, 95% CI = 8.74; 10.98); however, there was a significant increase in weekly binge drinking behaviours (4.07% v. 6.39%). Strong worries about both, health or economic consequences of COVID-19, were associated with an increased odds of having a mental disorder (1.63, 95% CI = 1.4; 1.89 and 1.42, 95% CI = 1.23; 1.63 respectively). Conclusions This study provides evidence matching concerns that COVID-19-related mental health problems pose a major threat to populations, particularly considering the barriers in service provision posed during lockdown. This finding emphasises an urgent need to scale up mental health promotion and prevention globally.

scholarly journals Mental health consequences of long-term stays in refugee camps: Preliminary evidence from Moria

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
willemine van de Wiel ◽  
Carla Castillo-Laborde ◽  
Francisco Urzúa I. ◽  
Michelle Fish ◽  
Willem F. Scholte
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Length Of Stay ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Average Length ◽  
Case Definition ◽  
Living Conditions ◽  
Refugee Camps ◽  
Mental Health Crisis ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Health Crisis

Abstract Background Over the last decade, millions of refugees have arrived in Europe. Upon arrival refugees reside in designated refugee camps which, even though originally designed to home refugees on a short stay basis only, developed into long-stay facilities. Some of these camps have detention-like characteristics and dire living conditions. One such example is Moria camp on the island of Lesvos, Greece, which has been repeatedly reported for being overcrowded, unhygienic, and unsafe. This study explores the incidence of acute mental health crises and their relationship with the length of stay in the camp. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted using routinely collected data on 857 consultations during 90 nights at an emergency night clinic in Moria camp. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore whether the length of stay in the camp was predictive of the occurrence of acute mental health crises. Results Of all consultations (n=857), 25⋅5% (n=219) were related to mental health problems; 17⋅4% (n=38) of these met the study’s case definition of acute mental health crisis. Such crises were positively associated with the length of stay in the camp (p=0⋅044); the odds ratio increases with 1·03 for every 10% increase in days of residence. This is notable when considering the average length of stay in the camp (71 days). Conclusion Acknowledging that this study does not provide causal effects on the relation between length of stay and mental health crises, the established link can hardly be related to anything else but the inhumane living conditions in the camp, its inhabitants’ lack of future expectations, and the scarce provision of mental health services. This form of neglect urgently calls for attention of the medical world and Europe’s policy makers.

scholarly journals Mental health consequences of long-term stays in refugee camps: preliminary evidence from Moria

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Willemine van de Wiel ◽  
Carla Castillo-Laborde ◽  
I. Francisco Urzúa ◽  
Michelle Fish ◽  
Willem F. Scholte
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Length Of Stay ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Average Length ◽  
Case Definition ◽  
Living Conditions ◽  
Mental Health Crisis ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Health Crisis

Abstract Background Ever since the implementation of the EU-Turkey deal, most refugees that enter Greece via sea are confined to the island on which they arrive until their asylum claims are adjudicated, where they generally reside in camps. Some of these camps have detention-like characteristics and dire living conditions, such as Moria camp on the island of Lesbos, Greece. Aid-organizations have stated that the situation in camp Moria deteriorates the mental health of its inhabitants and there is qualitative evidence to support this. This study explores the quantitative relationship between the incidence of acute mental health crises and the length of stay in the camp. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted using routinely collected data on 856 consultations of 634 different patients during 90 nights at an emergency clinic in Moria camp. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore whether the length of stay in the camp was predictive of the occurrence of an acute mental health crisis. Results Of the 634 patients, the majority were men (59·3%), the average age was 23·2 years [0–71], and 24·3% was < 18 years. 25·5% (n = 218) of consultations were related to mental health problems; 17·0% (n = 37) of these met the study’s case definition of an acute mental health crisis. Such crises were positively associated with the length of stay in the camp (p = 0·011); the odds ratio of a mental health crisis increases with 1·03 for every 10% increase in days of residence in the camp. This is notable when considering the average length of stay in the camp is 71 days. Conclusion This study offers quantitative support for the notion that the adverse conditions in Moria camp deteriorate the mental health of its inhabitants as suggested in qualitative research. Although this study does not provide evidence of causality, it is likely that the poor and unsafe living conditions, challenging refugee determination procedures, and a lack of mental health services in the camp are significant contributing factors. We urgently call for Europe’s policymakers to honour the ‘51 Geneva refugee convention and terminate the neglectful situation on the Greek archipelago.

scholarly journals Mental health consequences of long-term stays in refugee camps: Preliminary evidence from Moria

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
willemine van de Wiel ◽  
Carla Castillo-Laborde ◽  
Francisco Urzúa I. ◽  
Michelle Fish ◽  
Willem F. Scholte
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Length Of Stay ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Average Length ◽  
Case Definition ◽  
Living Conditions ◽  
Mental Health Crisis ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Health Crisis

Abstract Background Ever since the implementation of the EU-Turkey deal, most refugees that enter Greece via sea are confined to the island on which they arrive until their asylum claims are adjudicated, where they generally reside camps. Some of these camps have detention-like characteristics and dire living conditions, such as Moria camp on the island of Lesbos, Greece. Aid-organizations have stated that the situation in camp Moria deteriorates the mental health of its inhabitants and there is qualitative evidence to support this. This study explores the quantitative relationship between the incidence of acute mental health crises and the length of stay in the camp. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted using routinely collected data on 856 consultations of 634 different patients during 90 nights at an emergency clinic in Moria camp. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore whether the length of stay in the camp was predictive of the occurrence of an acute mental health crisis. Results Of the 634 patients, the majority were men (59·3%), the average age was 23·2 years [0–71], and 24·3% was <18 years. 25·5% (n=218) of consultations were related to mental health problems; 17·0% (n=37) of these met the study’s case definition of an acute mental health crisis. Such crises were positively associated with the length of stay in the camp (p=0011); the odds ratio of a mental health crisis increases with 1·03 for every 10% increase in days of residence in the camp. This is notable when considering the average length of stay in the camp is 71 days. Conclusion This study offers quantitative support for the notion that the adverse conditions in Moria camp deteriorate the mental health of its inhabitants as suggested in qualitative research. Although this study does not provide evidence of causality, it is likely that the poor and unsafe living conditions, challenging refugee determination procedures, and a lack of mental health services in the camp are significant contributing factors. We urgently call for Europe’s policymakers to honor the ‘51 Geneva refugee convention and terminate the neglectful situation on the Greek archipelago.

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