Since the Russia–Ukraine war in February 2022, Europe has faced a significant humanitarian challenge, with approximately 6.3 million Ukrainian refugees seeking sanctuary abroad by the end of 2023. Poland has been a major host nation, registering about 1.4 million refugees under the Temporary Protection scheme by mid-2022. Despite efforts to integrate these refugees, challenges such as language barriers, legal complexities and housing persist. The Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) activities are needed; however, the gap exists in their offer. To address these challenges, the MHPSS Course was developed. This 15-day intensive training program aimed to equip professionals with the skills needed to support Ukrainian refugees’ mental health and psychosocial needs. The course included theoretical and practical components, fieldwork and evaluations, involving diverse experts and trainers. The MHPSS Course trained 23 participants, covering topics from humanitarian law to community-based interventions. 74% participants attended more than 80% of the course. The course facilitated networking among MHPSS practitioners in Poland, with participants engaging in ongoing professional collaboration through various platforms. The fieldwork topics encompassed a range of initiatives including legal aid, educational support, creative therapies and specialised mental health services for Ukrainian refugees in Poland. These efforts, led by various organisations, aimed to address the diverse needs of refugees through community-based interventions and targeted support programs. Despite recruitment challenges, the course’s comprehensive approach proved effective in enhancing local capacity for mental health support. The integration of cultural sensitivity and interdisciplinary perspectives enriched the learning experience. Ongoing support and monitoring are essential to sustain the momentum and impact of these efforts.
Angel Hor Yan Lai, Shijuan Wei, Kylie Wing Yin Wong
et al.
Abstract This study investigated the effects of “Healing Space,” a co-production- and school-based initiative aimed at promoting positive psychosocial health among secondary school students in Hong Kong. Designed according to the Self-Determination Theory, Healing Space sought to enhance positive mental health attitudes, psychological well-being, and social connectedness among participants. Using a two-wave quasi-experimental design, students completed baseline and post-test assessments using standardized measurements based on their program participation (service co-producer group: n = 171; service user group: n = 400; waitlisted control group: n = 348). The results demonstrated significant interaction effects between ‘time’ and ‘group’ on self-compassion and mental illness-related self-stigma, with participants in the service co-producer and service user group showing a faster rate of change compared to the control group. There were no statistically significant differences between the service co-producer and service user group, suggesting that Healing Space exerted a comparable influence on both groups of students. Additionally, the program did not yield statistically significant findings in indicators of social connectedness. Implications for research, practice, and policy are discussed.
Apurba Saha, Mona Alice Marbaniang, Monikornika Kakoty
et al.
Introduction: Suicide is a major public health issue. The WHO included the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) populations among the vulnerable groups of highest risk of suicide. This study, therefore, seeks to bring out the risk factors and preventive measures of suicide among the lesbian and gay youth. Methods: The study used descriptive study design with a quantitative method. The inclusion criteria include lesbian and gay youth between the age group of 22 and 25 years and pursuing Master’s degree. Through purposive sampling technique, 40 participants were selected. A structured interview schedule was constructed for this study. It was administered to understand the perceptions of participants on the risk factors and preventive measures. Results: The analysis revealed that majority of the participants agreed that lack of support, societal stigma, etc, are risks factors that may lead to suicide amongst the lesbian and gay youth, and majority participants also agree that certain preventive measures can be adopted to reduce the risk of suicide. Conclusions: Findings of the analysis highlighted differences in the characteristics of suicide among the lesbian and gay youth. Suicide prevention efforts and actions must be taken sensitively and culturally for the sexual minority populations.
Only a small proportion of refugees requiring treatment actually receive psychotherapy. Alongside structural barriers, it has been hypothesized that causal attributions for mental health problems that deviate from Western explanatory models may reduce refugees' help-seeking behavior. Prevailing assumptions suggest that refugees predominantly hold causal beliefs that are incompatible with the rationales of psychotherapy. Testing these assumptions requires a reliable assessment tool to evaluate refugees' causal beliefs. Therefore, we developed the Causal Attributions for Mental Health Problems Scale (MH-CAUSE) and validated it in a sample of Middle Eastern refugees living in Germany (N = 429). The outcomes of the psychometric analysis, which included exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, internal consistency, and convergent validity, indicate that the MH-CAUSE is a suitable instrument for assessing refugees' causal beliefs about mental health problems. Our findings suggest that refugees' causal attributions are in line with a biopsychosocial-spiritual model of mental illness. Contrary to common assumptions, the majority of participants predominantly explained mental illness via psychosocial and biomedical causes, whereas spiritual beliefs were relevant only for a minority of participants. We observed significant associations between causal beliefs and help-seeking attitudes and behavior. However, effect sizes were only small to moderate. While mental health beliefs might contribute to mental health inequities, alleged cultural differences of refugees should not be overemphasized.
Visszatekintve az elmúlt néhány évben zajlott világjárvány időszakára szinte mindannyian megtapasztaltuk a magány és az izoláció élményét. A pandémia alatti időszakban jellemző volt a bezártság, a mindennapi ritmus megváltozása. Kevesebbet tudtunk mozogni és ritkábbá váltak a lehetőségek a különböző aktivitások, rekreációs tevékenységek végzésére. A bezártság, a korlátozott mozgáslehetőségek következtében a mozgásszervi funkciók csökkentek. A társas kapcsolatok hiánya pedig sokaknál az érzelmi funkciók beszűkülését eredményezhették. Az izoláció hazánkban is fokozottan érinti az idős embereket. Jelen tanulmányban szeretnénk megszólítani mindenkit, mind a segítő szakmában dolgozó szakembereket, mind a társadalom tagjait, hogy támogassuk együttesen az idősebb korosztály társas aktivitásának növelését a magány és az izoláció elkerülése érdekében. Számos programlehetőség kínálkozik az idősebb korosztály számára is, ahol együtt mozgásra, tanulásra, beszélgetésre, kreativitásra ösztönző társakkal kapcsolódhatnak. A szerzők elsősorban a gyógytornász szakmai szempontokat képviselik jelen tanulmányban. A cikk kiemelten foglalkozik a mozgás, a meditáció, a légzés, illetve a tudatos jelenlét témáival annak érdekében, hogy felhívja a figyelmet az öntörődés, önismeret, önszeretet, a befelé figyelés jelentőségére a jóllét és az egészség szempontjából.
Quinn K. Storey, David Kealy, Zac E. Seidler
et al.
The therapeutic relationship has emerged as one of the most important components of successful treatment outcomes, regardless of the specific form of therapy. Research has now turned its attention to better understanding how the therapeutic relationship contributes to patient improvement. Extant literature contends that a strong therapeutic relationship may help reduce a patient’s sense of existential isolation (i.e., a sense of not feeling understood by others). Research indicates that existential isolation might be especially problematic for men, potentially increasing their risk for suicidality. This study investigated the association between strength of the therapeutic relationship and psychological distress and suicidality among men who received psychotherapy, and whether existential isolation mediated this association. A total of 204 Canadian men who had previously attended psychotherapy participated in a cross-sectional survey, completing measures of the quality of their most recent therapeutic relationship, existential isolation, depression and anxiety symptoms, and suicidality. Regression with mediation analysis was conducted. Two models were tested; one with depression/anxiety symptoms as the dependent variable and the other with suicidality as the dependent variable. Both mediation models emerged as significant, indicating an indirect effect for quality of the therapeutic relationship on symptoms of anxiety/depression and suicidality through existential isolation. The findings suggest that a positive therapeutic relationship can contribute to men feeling less isolated in their experiences in life (i.e., less existentially isolated), thereby helping mitigate psychological distress and suicidality.
Despite the rapidly growing need to understand mental health challenges faced by refugee subpopulations, there is a dearth of literature exploring mental health conceptualization through the unique refugee lens. Guided by historical trauma theory, we gathered data using a two-phase explanatory sequential mixed-methods study (quantitative: n = 40; qualitative: n = 6) in a Midwestern U.S. region to understand mental health conceptualization from the Bhutanese refugee perspective by examining the cultural meaning and perception of mental health, describing experiences of mental health problems, and examining cultural protective factors and coping strategies. We argue that recognition of refugees’ conceptualization of mental health and identification of cultural protective factors is paramount to healing. Findings emphasize the need to understand historical and cultural perspectives in cross-cultural contexts for the development and implementation of culturally responsive services. Our study also contributes to emerging knowledge on methodological rigor in research among understudied, hard-to-reach, small populations.
Grace S. Woodard, Noah S. Triplett, Hannah E. Frank
et al.
Background Most evidence-based treatments (EBTs) for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety disorders include exposure; however, in community settings, the implementation of exposure lags behind other EBT components. Clinician-level determinants have been consistently implicated as barriers to exposure implementation, but few organizational determinants have been studied. The current study examines an organization-level determinant, implementation climate, and clinician-level determinants, clinician demographic and background factors, as predictors of attitudes toward exposure and changes in attitudes following training. Method Clinicians ( n = 197) completed a 3-day training with 6 months of twice-monthly consultation. Clinicians were trained in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for anxiety, depression, behavior problems, and trauma-focused CBT (TF-CBT). Demographic and background information, implementation climate, and attitudes toward exposure were assessed in a pre-training survey; attitudes were reassessed at post-consultation. Implementation climate was measured at the aggregated/group-level and clinician-level. Results Attitudes toward exposure significantly improved from pre-training to post-consultation ( t (193) = 9.9, p < .001; d = 0.71). Clinician-level implementation climate scores did not predict more positive attitudes at pre-training ( p > .05) but did predict more positive attitudes at post-consultation (ß = −2.46; p < .05) and greater changes in those attitudes (ß = 2.28; p < .05). Group-level implementation climate scores did not predict attitudes at pre-training, post-consultation, or changes in attitudes (all p s > .05). Higher frequency of self-reported CBT use was associated with more positive attitudes at pre-training (ß = −0.81; p < .05), but no other clinician demographic or background determinants were associated with attitudes at post-consultation (all p > .05) or with changes in attitudes (all p > .05). Conclusions Clinician perceptions of implementation climate predicted greater improvement of attitudes toward exposure following EBT training and consultation. Findings suggest that organizational determinants outside of training impact changes in clinicians’ attitudes. Training in four EBTs, only two of which include exposure as a component, resulted in positive changes in clinicians’ attitudes toward exposure, which suggests non-specialty trainings can be effective at changing attitudes, which may enable scale-up.
Akitoshi Takeda, Shinobu Minatani, Akira Ishii
et al.
Abstract11 AbbreviationsBDI, Beck Depression Inventory; CFS, Chalder Fatigue Scale; EDSS, Expanded Disability Status Scale; HC, Health control subjects; MMSE, Mini-Mental State ExaminationMS, Multiple sclerosis; PASAT, Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test; QoL, Quality-of-lifeSD, Standard deviation; SDMT, Symbol Digit Modalities Test; VC, Visual cancellation;: Background: Depression and fatigue are debilitating symptoms in multiple sclerosis (MS), which affect cognitive function. This study investigated the association between depression and fatigue, and whether depression or fatigue influences cognition in MS patients. Methods: Twenty MS patients were included. The severity of fatigue was assessed using the Chalder Fatigue Scale (CFS), which classified CFS_Physical and CFS_Mental fatigue and MMSE. Depression was assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Attention deficit was evaluated using several tasks. The CFS scores, the BDI scores and performance during the attention tasks were compared between MS patients and healthy control subjects (HCs). Correlations between CFS sub-scores, BDI values, and participants’ attention performance were also investigated. Results: The total CFS, BDI, and MMSE scores were significantly worse in MS patients compared to HCs (p < 0.05). The CFS_Mental sub-score was significantly correlated with performance on attention tasks (p < 0.05). MS patients with severe depression exhibited the worst scores on attention tests and significantly higher CFS_Mental sub-scores than the remaining MS patients and HCs. The BDI scores of MS patients with severe depression correlated with disease duration. In the remaining MS patients, attention tests and BDI scores did not differ significantly from those in HCs. Limitations: This study had a small sample size, which limits generalization. Premobid cognitive functions were not matched. Conclusion: Mental fatigue is closely associated with attention deficit. Depression affects mental fatigue and attention in MS patients.
Yayoi Shigemune, Shoko Saito, Kentaro Hiromitsu
et al.
Background: Tumors trigger both depression and anxiety about death because they can be terminal. However, the relationship between depression and time perspective in patients with life-threatening diseases remains unclear. In this study, we examined the effects of depression on time perspective in patients with brain tumors using a projective method, i.e., the Circle Test. Methods: Participants (40 depressed patients, Dp; 35 non-depressed patients, NDp; and 40 healthy non-depressed controls, NDc) were administered the Circle Test of time perspectives and self-rating depression scales before and after surgery. The Circle Test data were analyzed using traditional indices, i.e., time dominance and relatedness, and novel measurements, i.e., time area and proportion. Results: Although the traditional indices showed no differences, the results for the novel measurements differed among the Dp, NDp, and NDc groups. The overall time perspective was smaller in the Dp group than in the NDc group; furthermore, the proportions of the future and past perspectives were higher and lower, respectively, in the Dp group compared to the NDp group. Limitations: Patients with brain tumors and depressed controls could not be compared, because no healthy control was depressed. Differences in depression-related changes in time perspective between patients with brain tumors and healthy controls should be examined in future studies. Conclusions: Depressed patients with brain tumors may experience changes in time perspectives according to the results for our novel measurements, and this might play an important role in treatment adherence.
Shinrin-yoku (forest bathing) is a cost-effective healing practice that has recently attracted the interest of social scientists who have attributed it, in part, to mental health benefits. Japanese university students suffer from high rates of mental health problems, and the number of suicides remains high despite the total number of suicides in Japan decreasing. Effective mental health approaches which increase mental wellbeing and self-compassion, and reduce associated deficits, such as loneliness, are sought after for Japanese students; however, healthful treatment has not been identified to date. Accordingly, this pre-post-pilot study evaluated the levels of mental wellbeing, self-compassion, and loneliness among 25 Japanese undergraduate students who participated in a three-day shinrin-yoku retreat in Fukushima. Measurements were taken prior, straight after, and two weeks post-intervention. One-way ANOVA with Tukey post hoc analysis revealed that the mean scores of self-compassion, common humanity, and mindfulness increased statistically significantly from pre-retreat to follow-up. The mean scores of mental wellbeing and loneliness did not statistically significantly change. The positive effects on self-compassion indicate that shinrin-yoku retreat should be evaluated within a larger sample and in a shorter time frame to establish optimal shinrin-yoku parameters in this arena.
Numerous commentators have noted a historic ambivalence between religion and psychiatry. However, a growing body of evidence indicates an association between mental health and various religious activities, both private and public. As such, there are growing calls for greater religious sensitivity among mental health clinicians, to help unlock the potentially healing aspects of religiosity. So far, most literature from English-speaking countries has focused on Christianity and mental health, with little attention paid to Muslim mental health. This is the fastest growing religion in English-speaking countries, and the mental health of Muslims in these countries is under-researched. As such, the present paper summarises new directions in the mental health and religion literature, with a focus on the mental health of Muslims in English-speaking countries.
ABSTRACT The present critical review examines the role of religious healing in mental health in Greece. After describing the history of psychiatry in Greece, and the close links between medicine and religion, we discuss the role of various ritual contexts in healing mental distress. Findings suggest that supernatural explanatory models of mental illness, such as the evil eye and spirit possession still appear to be prevalent in many parts of Greece. Despite the availability of mainstream psychology, patients and their families commonly resort to religious healers. The perception is that ritual healing is effective in alleviating symptoms of mental distress. While studies suggest that ritual participation can be efficacious, there is a need for future research to examine the efficacy of religious healing for mental disorders. Ethnographic methods will play a significant role in understanding how ritual attendees perceive healing and biomedical assessments elucidate physiological changes.
ABSTRACT In many contexts, emotional ailments have been considered problems of religious or spiritual origin. Historically, religious groups were often the primary providers of mental health care. This changed over time with advances in medicine and Freud’s writings framing religion/spirituality (R/S) as a sign of neurosis. In the early- to mid-twentieth century, mental health and R/S were often viewed by Western clinicians and patients as separate and antithetical. Recent decades have been marked by another shift in thought, with increased interest in the overlap between mental health and R/S, and recognition that R/S may in fact serve protective and healing roles in the face of emotional suffering. There has been a concomitant increase in research investigating the connections between R/S and mental health, along with increased development and application of clinical interventions addressing the two in combination. In this narrative review, we summarize the history of how mental health and R/S have been viewed as relating to one another, recent research evidence on the effects of R/S on mental health, and clinical implications of these findings. We conclude with a discussion of ongoing challenges and opportunities in the study and application of how mental health and R/S affect one another.
Religious reinforcement of mental health stigma is a widespread obstacle to treatment. Understanding its principal causes-fundamentalist thinking, communal bonding, misattribution of psychopathology, traditional beliefs and healing practices, and adverse experiences with secular providers-is a prerequisite to effective mitigation. This requires a sensitive search for common ground, efforts to work within community values, attempts to address both psychiatric and spiritual concerns, and educational interventions tailored to these challenges. Addressing religious reinforcement through collaboration between providers of psychiatric and spiritual care requires further study.
Bruna Felisberto de Souza, Jamile Claro de Castro Bussadori, José Ricardo de Carvalho Mesquita Ayres
et al.
Abstract Objective: To analyze the interactions between nursing and hospitalized high-risk pregnant women regarding the possibilities and limits of providing care guided by the principle of comprehensiveness. Method: A qualitative study based on the conceptual framework of comprehensiveness and developed from the precepts of thematic content analysis. Data were collected through open interviews and observation of the care scenario of twelve nursing professionals with hospitalized high-risk pregnant women. Results: Twelve (12) nursing professionals participated in the study. Nursing practices are portrayed from two thematic categories: “Embracement: emotional and informational support” and “Assessing and monitoring gestational risk”. The findings revealed intentions to embrace women, providing informal and emotional support, but under weaknesses in intersubjective relationships. There is an emphasis on “technical success”, not always sufficiently articulated with “practical success” in care actions, with harm to achieving comprehensiveness. Conclusion: The findings revealed that an emphasis on the biomedical management of obstetric risk and structural and organizational limitations of work end up hindering incorporating into daily care the concerns and knowledge necessary for constructing its comprehensiveness.