Examining Post-Migration Social Determinants as Predictors of Mental and Physical Health of Recent Syrian Refugees in Canada: Implications for Counselling, Practice, and Research

2020 ◽  
Vol 54 (4) ◽  
pp. 778-802
Author(s):  
Ben C. H. Kuo ◽  
Lais Granemann ◽  
Avideh Najibzadeh ◽  
Riham Al-Saadi ◽  
Monira Dali ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Social Determinants ◽  
Perceived Control ◽  
Syrian Refugees ◽  
Physical Health Outcomes ◽  
Health Model ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

In response to the increasing number of Syrian refugees being resettled in Canada and worldwide, the present study set out to explore and examine critical post-migration predictors of mental health and physical health of adult Syrian refugees (n = 235) living in Windsor, Ontario. Using survey data collected from the national SyRIA-lth project and grounded in the Social Determinants of Health model, this study tested demographic, contextual, and psychosocial predictors in two regression models of mental health and physical health, respectively. The results showed that both predictive models were significant in explaining Syrian refugees’ mental and physical health outcomes, as hypothesized. Specifically, age, gender, satisfaction of health services, perceived control, and perceived stress predicted mental health in significant ways, whereas age, satisfaction of health services, and perceived stress predicted physical health in significant ways as well. Implications for practice and research with Syrian refugees, given the identified risk and protective factors of health, are considered.

The impact of economic crisis on mental and physical health in Italy

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (02) ◽  
pp. 103-110
Author(s):  
S. Tomassi ◽  
M. Ruggeri
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Economic Crisis ◽  
Social Determinants ◽  
Great Recession ◽  
Economic Recession ◽  
Behavioural Disorders ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

Summary Background: The global crisis that began in 2007 has been the most prolonged economic recession since 1929. It has caused worldwide tangible costs in terms of cuts in employment and income, which have been widely recognised also as major social determinants of mental health (1, 2). The so-called “Great Recession” has disproportionately affected the most vulnerable part of society of the whole Eurozone (3). Across Europe, an increase in suicides and deaths rates due to mental and behavioural disorders was reported among those who lost their jobs, houses and economic activities as a consequence of the crisis.

Mental health recovery and physical health outcomes in psychotic illness: Longitudinal data from the Western Australian survey of high impact psychosis catchments

2020 ◽  
pp. 000486742095426
Author(s):  
Vera A Morgan ◽  
Anna Waterreus ◽  
Taryn Ambrosi ◽  
Johanna C Badcock ◽  
Kay Cox ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Psychosocial Interventions ◽  
Service Utilisation ◽  
Personal Recovery ◽  
Psychotic Illness ◽  
Physical Health Outcomes ◽  
Community Rehabilitation ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

Objective: There is a dearth of longitudinal data on outcomes in prevalent cases of psychotic illness across a range of ages and levels of chronicity. Our aim was to describe changes over time in mental and physical health outcomes, as well as patterns of service utilisation that may have influenced outcomes, in a representative prevalence sample of 641 Western Australians with a psychotic illness who, at Wave 1, were part of the National Survey of High Impact Psychosis. Methods: In Wave 1 (2010, 2012), a two-phase design was employed to ensure representativeness: Phase 1 psychosis screening took place in public mental health and non-government organisation services, while, in Phase 2, a randomised sample was interviewed. In Wave 2, 380/641 (59%) of participants were re-interviewed, with interviews staggered between 2013 and 2016 (follow-up time: 2.3–5.6 years). Data collection covered mental and physical health, functioning, cognition, social circumstances and service utilisation. Mental health outcomes were categorised as symptomatic, functional and personal recovery. Physical health outcomes covered metabolic syndrome and its component criteria. Results: In mental health, there were encouraging improvements in symptom profiles, variable change in functional recovery and some positive findings for personal recovery, but not quality of life. Participants ranked physical health second among challenges. Metabolic syndrome had increased significantly. While treatment for underlying cardiovascular risk conditions had improved, rates of intervention were still very low. More people were accessing general practices and more frequently, but there were sharp and significant declines in access to community rehabilitation, psychosocial interventions and case management. Conclusion: Although we observed some positive outcomes over time, the sharp decline in access to evidence-based interventions such as community rehabilitation, psychosocial interventions and case management is of great concern and augurs poorly for recovery-oriented practice. Changes in service utilisation appear to have influenced the patterns found.

scholarly journals The importance and availability of adjustments to improve access for autistic adults who need mental and physical healthcare: findings from UK surveys

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. e043336
Author(s):  
Samuel Brice ◽  
Jacqui Rodgers ◽  
Barry Ingham ◽  
David Mason ◽  
Colin Wilson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Healthcare Provision ◽  
Healthcare Settings ◽  
Autistic People ◽  
Autistic Adults ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

Objectives To investigate autistic people’s views on the importance and availability of adjustments to mental and physical healthcare provision. To explore whether specific categories of adjustments can be identified and to identify any differences in their importance and availability between mental and physical healthcare. Design Data from two studies, both employing a cross-sectional survey design. Setting UK-based autistic adults registered with the Adult Autism Spectrum Cohort-UK were contacted by post or online. In both studies, recruitment was staged over a 12-month period. Non-responders were sent a single reminder letter 2 weeks after initial contact. Participants 537 autistic adults completed a survey about mental health services (51% response rate), 407 completed the physical health survey (49% response rate). Within these samples, 221 participants completed both surveys. Primary outcome measures Each study developed a bespoke survey to explore participants’ views on mental and physical health services, respectively. Both included an identical list of adjustments that participants rated based on importance and availability. Results Three factors of important adjustments were identified: sensory environment, clinical and service context, and clinician knowledge and communication. Adjustments across healthcare settings were widely rated as being important yet rarely available. One significant difference between the importance of adjustments available through mental and physical health services was identified. Participants reported that having access to a clinician who is willing to adapt their approach to suit the person’s preferences was significantly more important for participants attending mental health settings (p=0.001). Conclusions Autistic people reported the limited availability of important adjustments in current healthcare provision. To address unmet need and tackle the health inequalities faced by autistic people attending physical and mental healthcare settings, healthcare providers should offer adjustments relating to the three identified factors. Future research should focus on identifying and addressing service provider barriers to implementation.

Expanding collaborative care: integrating the role of dietitians and nutrition interventions in services for people with mental illness

2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott B Teasdale ◽  
Geogina Latimer ◽  
Annette Byron ◽  
Vanessa Schuldt ◽  
Josephine Pizzinga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Dietary Intervention ◽  
Nutrition Therapy ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Dietary Practices ◽  
Physical Health Outcomes ◽  
People With Mental Illness ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

Objective: This article aims to draw mental health clinicians’ attention to the connections between nutrition and mental health, and the roles that Accredited Practising Dietitians play in improving mental and physical health through dietary change. Methods: Selective narrative review. Results: Unhealthy dietary practices are common in high prevalence and severe mental illness. Epidemiological evidence demonstrates that nutrients and dietary patterns impact on mental health. In addition, poor physical health is well documented in people with mental illness and the greatest contributor to the mortality gap. Dietary intervention studies demonstrate improved mental and physical health outcomes. Accredited Practising Dietitians translate nutrition science into practical advice to improve the nutritional status of patients with mental illness, and prevent and manage comorbidities in a variety of care settings. Conclusions: Medical Nutrition Therapy offers opportunities to improve the physical and mental health of people living with mental illness.

scholarly journals Does Emotional Intelligence Matter in Tough Times? A Moderated Mediation Model for Explaining Health and Suicide Risk amongst Short- and Long-Term Unemployed Adults

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 797
Author(s):  
Sergio Mérida-López ◽  
Natalio Extremera ◽  
Cirenia Quintana-Orts ◽  
Lourdes Rey
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Emotional Intelligence ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Suicide Risk ◽  
Moderated Mediation ◽  
Mediation Model ◽  
Moderated Mediation Model ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

This study contributes to knowledge on psychosomatic research by examining a moderated mediation model in which emotional intelligence (EI) is related to mental health, physical health and suicide risk through perceived stress, in samples of short-term (n = 364) and long-term (n = 594) unemployed individuals. The moderating effect of emotional intelligence on the relationships between perceived stress and mental and physical health and suicide risk was tested. The results showed that emotional intelligence was positively associated with mental and physical health and negatively associated with perceived stress and suicide risk. The proposed model only predicted mental health and suicide risk in the long-term unemployed sample. This suggests that emotional intelligence may act as a buffer against the negative impact of unemployment-related stress on mental health and suicide risk when unemployment is prolonged. Therefore, interventions targeting both the promotion of mental health and the prevention of suicide risk via the promotion of emotional abilities may consider length of unemployment.

Childhood adversities in UK treatment-seeking military veterans

2020 ◽  
pp. jramc-2019-001297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jana Ross ◽  
C Armour ◽  
D Murphy
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Military Veterans ◽  
Childhood Adversities ◽  
Physical Health Outcomes ◽  
Common Mental Health Problems ◽  
History Of ◽  
Mental Health Difficulties ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

IntroductionThe long-term consequences of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on adult physical and mental health are well documented in the literature. The current study sought to examine this relationship in a sample of UK treatment-seeking military veterans.MethodsThe data were collected through a cross-sectional self-report survey from military veterans who have sought help for mental health difficulties from a veteran-specific UK-based charity. The response rate was 67.2% (n=403) and the effective sample for this study consisted of 386 male veterans. Participants’ history of ACEs and current mental/physical health difficulties were assessed. A latent class analysis was conducted to categorise participants into subgroups based on their ACEs and the relationship of these to the mental and physical health outcomes was examined.ResultsFive classes of veterans with different combinations of ACEs were identified. A total of 97% reported at least one ACE. There were minimal differences between the classes on mental and physical health outcomes, but the total number of ACEs was related to aggression, common mental health problems and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).ConclusionsNo combination of ACEs was specifically predictive of adverse mental/physical health difficulties in our sample. Instead, those with a higher number of ACEs may be more prone to developing problems with aggression, common mental health problems and PTSD. Assessing the history of childhood adversities in military veterans is therefore important when veterans are seeking help for mental health difficulties, as some of these may be related to childhood adversities and may need to be addressed in treatment.

scholarly journals Burn-out and mental health of minority medical students in Hungarian medical education.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zsuzsanna Szél ◽  
Zsuzsa Győrffy
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Final Analysis ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Burn Out ◽  
High Level ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

Abstract Background Previous researches suggested that minority students are more exposed to discrimination and mistreatment at university, therefore may have higher risk of mental and physical health problems. Methods An online questionnaire was conducted among medical students of the 4 Hungarian medical universities (N=530). The survey contained questions about general demographic data, health behavior, burnout, mental and physical health issues and discrimination. Results 29.6% of students self-identified as minority. High level burnout was indicated by 48.1% of respondents, while another 27.0% showed moderate level. High level burn-out was associated with minority status (84.6% vs. 71.0%; p<0.001), discrimination (83.0% vs. 68.5%, p< 0.001), lower level of social support (89.0% vs 69.0%, p<0.001) and higher levels of perceived stress (57.1% vs. 95.4%) in the chi-squared test. Higher scores on trait (B = 0.123; p<0.001) and state anxiety (B = 0.082; p<0.001) subscales of STAI and lower score of resilience (B= -0.168; p<0.001) were significantly associated with higher level of burnout in the univariate model. In our final analysis, perceived stress, resilience, minority identity and experienced discrimination remained significant. Conclusions Belonging to a minority community might need to be considered an essential factor leading to burnout in Hungarian medical students. Our research suggests that minority medical students have poorer mental health and higher risk for burnout.

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