scholarly journals A learning development-faculty collaborative exploration of postgraduate research student mental health in a UK university

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Russell Delderfield ◽  
Mathias Ndoma-Egba ◽  
Kirsten Riches-Suman ◽  
James Boyne
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Administrative Support ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Research Student ◽  
Postgraduate Research ◽  
Induction Practices ◽  
Learning Development ◽  
Research Students ◽  
Collaborative Exploration

Mental ill-health is an escalating problem in higher education. Not only does this impact students’ ability to learn, it can lead to poor completion, with learners opting to withdraw from studies, even if attainment has been satisfactory. The aim of this study was to gain insight about perceptions of poor mental health from postgraduate research students in a diverse UK university and canvas opinion regarding how the University could improve this. A short, pragmatic survey with basic quantitative and qualitative responses was distributed. This was analysed by a team comprising the learning developer responsible for postgraduate researcher learning development, academics and a doctoral student. The study found that poor mental health was evident, with over three quarters of respondents reporting some experience of mental ill-health. We identified five areas in need of attention: University Systems, Supervisor Training, Well-being Monitoring, Building Networks, and Finance. Sources of University-based stress were finance, administrative support, and an environment where a perception that poor mental health was an expectation rather than a problem was experienced. Students preferred to access support outside the academic environment. This is the first study of its kind at a diverse, plate-glass UK university, to consider research student mental ill-health, with a staff-student team working with data, and the learning developer spear-heading changes across postgraduate research. These findings have already influenced university strategy, staff training, and induction practices. The synthesis of the five areas could be used to visualise where further work is needed to improve mental health in these learners.

scholarly journals The Researcher Toolkit: a preventative, peer-support approach to postgraduate research student mental health

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie R. Homer ◽  
Linda Solbrig ◽  
Despina Djama ◽  
Anne Bentley ◽  
Sarah Kearns ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Critical Pedagogy ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Interdisciplinary Collaboration ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Population Total ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Researcher Development ◽  
Postgraduate Research ◽  
Research Students

Purpose Rates of mental ill-health among postgraduate research students (PGRs) are alarmingly high. PGRs face unique challenges and stigma around accessing support. The purpose of this paper is to introduce The Researcher Toolkit: a novel, open-source, preventative approach to PGR mental health. The Toolkit empowers PGRs and promotes positive research culture. This paper describes and evaluates the Toolkit to encourage adoption across the sector. Design/methodology/approach Four workshops were designed by integrating researcher development, critical pedagogy and psychological knowledge of well-being. A diverse group of PGRs co-designed workshops and delivered them to their peers. Workshops engaged 26% of the PGR population (total 116 attendees). PGR Workshop Leaders and attendees submitted anonymous, online feedback after workshops (74 total responses). A mixed-method approach combined quantitative analysis of ratings and qualitative analysis of open-ended comments. Findings Feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Workshops were universally appealing, enjoyable and beneficial and the peer-support approach was highly valued, strongly supporting adoption of the programme in other universities. Findings are discussed alongside wider systemic factors and recommendations for policy. Practical implications The Toolkit translates readily to other UK institutions and can be adapted for use elsewhere. Recommendations for practice are provided. Originality/value The Researcher Toolkit is a novel PGR well-being initiative. Its originality is threefold: its approach is prevention rather than intervention; its content is new and bespoke, created through interdisciplinary collaboration between psychologists, researcher development professionals and PGR stakeholders; and support is peer-led and decentralised from student support services. Its evaluation adds to the limited literature on PGR well-being and peer-support.

scholarly journals Military spouses with deployed partners are at greater risk of poor perinatal mental health: a scoping review

2019 ◽  
Vol 165 (5) ◽  
pp. 363-370 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren Rose Godier-McBard ◽  
L Ibbitson ◽  
C Hooks ◽  
M Fossey
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Perinatal Period ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Adverse Outcomes ◽  
Military Spouses ◽  
Perinatal Mental Health

BackgroundPoor mental health in the perinatal period is associated with a number of adverse outcomes for the individual and the wider family. The unique circumstances in which military spouses/partners live may leave them particularly vulnerable to developing perinatal mental health (PMH) problems.MethodsA scoping review was carried out to review the literature pertaining to PMH in military spouses/partners using the methodology outlined by Arksey and O’Malley (2005). Databases searched included EBSCO, Gale Cengage Academic OneFile, ProQuest and SAGE.ResultsThirteen papers fulfilled the inclusion criteria, all from the USA, which looked a PMH or well-being in military spouses. There was a strong focus on spousal deployment as a risk factor for depressive symptoms and psychological stress during the perinatal period. Other risk factors included a lack of social/emotional support and increased family-related stressors. Interventions for pregnant military spouses included those that help them develop internal coping strategies and external social support.ConclusionsUS literature suggests that military spouses are particularly at risk of PMH problems during deployment of their serving partner and highlights the protective nature of social support during this time. Further consideration needs to be made to apply the findings to UK military spouses/partners due to differences in the structure and nature of the UK and US military and healthcare models. Further UK research is needed, which would provide military and healthcare providers with an understanding of the needs of this population allowing effective planning and strategies to be commissioned and implemented.

scholarly journals Individual- and Relationship-Level Factors Related to Better Mental Health Outcomes following Child Abuse: Results from a Nationally Representative Canadian Sample

2016 ◽  
Vol 61 (12) ◽  
pp. 776-788 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tracie O. Afifi ◽  
Harriet L. MacMillan ◽  
Tamara Taillieu ◽  
Sarah Turner ◽  
Kristene Cheung ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Child Abuse ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Canadian Community Health Survey ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Abuse History ◽  
Good Mental Health ◽  
Nationally Representative

Objective: Child abuse can have devastating mental health consequences. Fortunately, not all individuals exposed to child abuse will suffer from poor mental health. Understanding what factors are related to good mental health following child abuse can provide evidence to inform prevention of impairment. Our objectives were to 1) describe the prevalence of good, moderate, and poor mental health among respondents with and without a child abuse history; 2) examine the relationships between child abuse and good, moderate, and poor mental health outcomes; 3) examine the relationships between individual- and relationship-level factors and better mental health outcomes; and 4) determine if individual- and relationship-level factors moderate the relationship between child abuse and mental health. Method: Data were from the nationally representative 2012 Canadian Community Health Survey: Mental Health ( n = 23,395; household response rate = 79.8%; 18 years and older). Good, moderate, and poor mental health was assessed using current functioning and well-being, past-year mental disorders, and past-year suicidal ideation. Results: Only 56.3% of respondents with a child abuse history report good mental health compared to 72.4% of those without a child abuse history. Individual- and relationship-level factors associated with better mental health included higher education and income, physical activity, good coping skills to handle problems and daily demands, and supportive relationships that foster attachment, guidance, reliable alliance, social integration, and reassurance of worth. Conclusions: This study identifies several individual- and relationship-level factors that could be targeted for intervention strategies aimed at improving mental health outcomes following child abuse.

scholarly journals Shame Mediates the Relationship Between Pain Invalidation and Depression

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brandon L. Boring ◽  
Kaitlyn T. Walsh ◽  
Namrata Nanavaty ◽  
Vani A. Mathur
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Social Withdrawal ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Internalized Shame ◽  
Self Worth ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

The experience of pain is subjective, yet many people have their pain invalidated or not believed. Pain invalidation is associated with poor mental health, including depression and lower well-being. Qualitative investigations of invalidating experiences identify themes of depression, but also social withdrawal, self-criticism, and lower self-worth, all of which are core components of shame. Despite this, no studies have quantitatively assessed the interrelationship between pain invalidation, shame, and depression. To explore this relationship, participants recounted the frequency of experienced pain invalidation from family, friends, and medical professionals, as well as their feelings of internalized shame and depressive symptoms. As shame has been shown to be a precursor for depression, we further explored the role of shame as a mediator between pain invalidation and depressive symptoms. All sources of pain invalidation were positively associated with shame and depressive symptoms, and shame fully mediated the relationship between each source of pain invalidation and depression. Relative to other sources, pain invalidation from family was most closely tied to shame and depression. Overall, findings indicate that one mechanism by which pain invalidation may facilitate depression is via the experience of shame. Future research may explore shame as a potential upstream precursor to depression in the context of pain. Findings provide more insight into the harmful influence of pain invalidation on mental health and highlight the impact of interpersonal treatment on the experiences of people in pain.

scholarly journals Promotion of mental health in young adults via mobile phone app: study protocol of the ECoWeB (emotional competence for well-being in Young adults) cohort multiple randomised trials

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Newbold ◽  
F. C. Warren ◽  
R. S. Taylor ◽  
C. Hulme ◽  
S. Burnett ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Young People ◽  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Primary Endpoint ◽  
Emotional Competence ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Link Type ◽  
Self Help

Abstract Background Promoting well-being and preventing poor mental health in young people is a major global priority. Building emotional competence (EC) skills via a mobile app may be an effective, scalable and acceptable way to do this. However, few large-scale controlled trials have examined the efficacy of mobile apps in promoting mental health in young people; none have tailored the app to individual profiles. Method/design The Emotional Competence for Well-Being in Young Adults cohort multiple randomised controlled trial (cmRCT) involves a longitudinal prospective cohort to examine well-being, mental health and EC in 16–22 year olds across 12 months. Within the cohort, eligible participants are entered to either the PREVENT trial (if selected EC scores at baseline within worst-performing quartile) or to the PROMOTE trial (if selected EC scores not within worst-performing quartile). In both trials, participants are randomised (i) to continue with usual practice, repeated assessments and a self-monitoring app; (ii) to additionally receive generic cognitive-behavioural therapy self-help in app; (iii) to additionally receive personalised EC self-help in app. In total, 2142 participants aged 16 to 22 years, with no current or past history of major depression, bipolar disorder or psychosis will be recruited across UK, Germany, Spain, and Belgium. Assessments take place at baseline (pre-randomisation), 1, 3 and 12 months post-randomisation. Primary endpoint and outcome for PREVENT is level of depression symptoms on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 at 3 months; primary endpoint and outcome for PROMOTE is emotional well-being assessed on the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale at 3 months. Depressive symptoms, anxiety, well-being, health-related quality of life, functioning and cost-effectiveness are secondary outcomes. Compliance, adverse events and potentially mediating variables will be carefully monitored. Conclusions The trial aims to provide a better understanding of the causal role of learning EC skills using interventions delivered via mobile phone apps with respect to promoting well-being and preventing poor mental health in young people. This knowledge will be used to develop and disseminate innovative evidence-based, feasible, and effective Mobile-health public health strategies for preventing poor mental health and promoting well-being. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov (www.clinicaltrials.org). Number of identification: NCT04148508 November 2019.

Does precarious employment ruin youth health and marriage? Evidence from Egypt using longitudinal data

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 391-406
Author(s):  
Mesbah Fathy Sharaf ◽  
Ahmed Shoukry Rashad
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Longitudinal Data ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Job Insecurity ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Youth Workers ◽  
Fixed Effects Model ◽  
Precarious Employment ◽  
Content Type

Purpose This study aims to analyze whether precarious employment is associated with youth mental health, self-rated health and happiness in marriage and whether this association differs by sex. Design/methodology/approach This paper uses longitudinal data from the Survey of Young People in Egypt conducted in 2009 and 2014 and estimates a fixed-effects model to control for time-invariant unobserved individual heterogeneity. The analysis is segregated by sex. Findings The results indicate that precarious employment is significantly associated with poor mental health and less happiness in marriage for males and is positively associated with poor self-reported health for females. The adverse impact of precarious work is likely to be mediated through poor working conditions such as low salary, maltreatment at work, job insecurity and harassment from colleagues. Social implications Governmental policies that tackle job precariousness are expected to improve population health and marital welfare. Originality/value Egypt has witnessed a significant increase in the prevalence of precarious employment, particularly among youth, in recent decades, yet the evidence on its effect on the health and well-being of youth workers is sparse. This paper adds to the extant literature by providing new evidence on the social and health repercussions of job precariousness from an understudied region.

Sense of meaning influences mental functioning in chronic renal patients

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (12) ◽  
pp. 1978-1988 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luca Iani ◽  
Marco Lauriola ◽  
Andrea-René Angeramo ◽  
Elena Malinconico ◽  
Piero Porcelli
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Renal Disease ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
End Stage Renal Disease ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Physical Symptoms ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Spiritual Well Being ◽  
Stage Renal Disease ◽  
End Stage

In this preliminary study, we examined whether aspects of spiritual well-being accounted for mental and physical health-related quality of life in 68 patients with end-stage renal disease, when controlling for age, type of treatment, physical symptoms, and worries. Hierarchical multiple regressions showed that meaning was associated with better mental health, while worry and physical symptoms also accounted for poor mental health. Faith and peace did not contribute to mental health. Older age, type of treatment (hemodialysis), and physical symptoms accounted for poor physical health. Our findings suggest that clinicians should include spiritual well-being in future interventions for end-stage renal disease patients.

Mental health status of clients from three HIV/AIDS palliative care projects

2004 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 125-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
DANIEL KARUS ◽  
VICTORIA H. RAVEIS ◽  
KATHERINE MARCONI ◽  
PETER SELWYN ◽  
CARLA ALEXANDER ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
New York ◽  
Palliative Care ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Underserved Populations ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Status ◽  
History Of ◽  
Meaning And Purpose

Objective:To describe mental health status and its correlates among clients of three palliative care programs targeting underserved populations.Methods:Mental Health Inventory (MHI-5) scores of clients from programs in Alabama (n= 39), Baltimore (n= 57), and New York City (n= 84) were compared.Results:Mean MHI-5 scores did not differ among sites and were indicative of poor mental health. Significant differences were noted among sites with regard to client sociodemographics, physical functioning, and perceptions of interpersonal relations. Results of multivariate regression models estimated for each site suggest variation in the relative importance of potential predictors among sites. Whereas poorer mental health was primarily associated with history of drug dependence at Baltimore and more physical symptomatology at New York, better mental health was most strongly correlated with more positive perceptions of interpersonal relationships at Baltimore and increasing age and more positive perceptions of meaning and purpose in life at New York.Significance of results:The data presented suggest the importance of assessing clients' history of and current need for mental health services. Evidence of a relationship between positive perceptions of meaning and purpose and better psychological function underscores the importance of existential issues for the overall well-being of those who are seriously ill.

scholarly journals Video game play is positively correlated with well-being

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 202049
Author(s):  
Niklas Johannes ◽  
Matti Vuorre ◽  
Andrew K. Przybylski
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Video Game ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Need Satisfaction ◽  
Game Play ◽  
New Horizons ◽  
Video Game Play ◽  
Play Behaviour ◽  
Adequate Data

People have never played more video games, and many stakeholders are worried that this activity might be bad for players. So far, research has not had adequate data to test whether these worries are justified and if policymakers should act to regulate video game play time. We attempt to provide much-needed evidence with adequate data. Whereas previous research had to rely on self-reported play behaviour, we collaborated with two games companies, Electronic Arts and Nintendo of America, to obtain players' actual play behaviour. We surveyed players of Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville and Animal Crossing: New Horizons for their well-being, motivations and need satisfaction during play, and merged their responses with telemetry data (i.e. logged game play). Contrary to many fears that excessive play time will lead to addiction and poor mental health, we found a small positive relation between game play and affective well-being. Need satisfaction and motivations during play did not interact with play time but were instead independently related to well-being. Our results advance the field in two important ways. First, we show that collaborations with industry partners can be done to high academic standards in an ethical and transparent fashion. Second, we deliver much-needed evidence to policymakers on the link between play and mental health.

scholarly journals Designing a short course for graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) in mathematics: principles and practice

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 31
Author(s):  
Cosette Crisan ◽  
Melissa Rodd
Keyword(s):  
Teaching Assistants ◽  
Graduate Teaching Assistants ◽  
Practitioner Research ◽  
Research Student ◽  
Doctoral Research ◽  
Graduate Teaching ◽  
Short Course ◽  
Postgraduate Research ◽  
Research Students ◽  
Mathematics Research

Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) are postgraduate research students who contribute to the teaching of undergraduates while they pursue their own doctoral research. This paper reports on a mathematics-specific 10 learning hour introduction to teaching for postgraduate mathematics research student GTAs. The principles that guided the design of the course are discussed and results from our practitioner research are presented. We found that ‘training’ could not be delivered in such a short course yet, paradoxically perhaps, education could be achieved, given the qualities of our GTA participants.

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