Mental Health: Global Challenges Journal

The Psychometric Properties of the Environmental Worry Index

2024-01-06T19:42:03+02:00

Introduction: Environmental-related hazards are a global problem; consequently, an Environmental Worry Index (EWI) was developed; however, the psychometric properties of this scale in the Spanish population are unavailable.
Purpose: The objective of this study was to adapt and examine the psychometric properties of an Environmental Worry Inventory (EWI) in a Spanish-speaking student population.
Methodology: This study adopted a cross-sectional design. It used a snowball sampling technique to collect data using the compact questionnaire comprise of EWI, Climate Anxiety Scale (CAS), and Big Five Inventory (BFI-15) from 251 participants in 2023 among students of Autonomous University of Ciudad Juárez (UACJ), Juárez, Mexico.
Results: Results of exploratory factor analysis (EFA), the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO=0.891) and Bartlett's Test of Sphericity (p < 0.001) showed adequate data. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA; ?2 (5) = 78,595, CFI = 0.94, and RMSEA=0.078) demonstrated adequate goodness of fit. EWI was associated with CAS, and neuroticism dimension of BFI-15. It has an acceptable overall Cronbach Alpha coefficient (? = 0.890); the two subscale factors’ reliability coefficients ranged from .80 to .89.
Conclusion: The study concluded that EWI is reliable, valid and recommended for use among Mexicans especially the Spanish speaking students.

Harvard Medical School Global Mental Health: Trauma and Recovery Course: What is the Global Impact? Three Year’s Results

2024-03-11T22:26:34+02:00

Purpose: This paper describes and documents an innovative blended learning Global Mental Health: Trauma and Recovery certificate training course. This course combines a two-week face-to-face training in Orvieto, Italy with a five-month follow-up online virtual training as a learning experience for global health care practitioners. Continuing medical education (CME) accreditation is offered upon completion. This course utilized an innovative blended learning model with a community of practice approach, a combination of lectures and discussions, and online in-depth group case study discussions.

Methodology: Data was collected by self-reported anonymous evaluation by participants of three continuous years of the CME Global Mental Health: Trauma and Recovery certificate training course sponsored by Harvard Medical School. One hundred fifty-five participants (n= 39 in 2011; n = 57 in 2012; n=59 in 2013) underwent a pre- and post-course evaluation to determine sustained confidence in performing medical and psychiatric care to traumatized patients and communities, as well as to determine their learning of the Global Mental Health Action Plan (GMHAP).

Results: Over the course of three independent years, a total of 155 participants were evaluated. There was evidence for significant improvement in their confidence levels in all clinical areas (diagnosis; treatment of trauma; use of psychotropic medication) when comparing baseline to completion of the six-month course. All ten dimensions of the GMHAP and nine medical and psychiatric aspects of treatment revealed significant improvement in confidence levels. Regression analysis also indicated similar results after the adjustment of demographic covariates. Physicians and participants with mental health and social work background had significantly higher confidence. Participants who were MD’s or psychiatrists had higher confidence in most of the categories of confidence except for self-care, understanding culture, collaboration, and policy and financing. The model showed no difference in learning based upon gender and level of development of country of origin.

Conclusion: The evaluation of this blended learning CME program provides evidence of significant enhancement of clinical practice and planning skills in health care practitioners working with highly traumatized patients and communities worldwide. This successful training over the past 18 years has gone far to achieve the health and mental health capacity building as requested by the Ministers of Health from post-conflict societies in the historic Rome meeting in 2004.

Syndemic Burden: Bridging the gap between Tuberculosis and Mental Health Care for Integrated Patient-Centered Solutions – a comprehensive review

2024-02-03T20:42:58+02:00

Introduction: Mental health issues are prevalent, yet their treatment remains inadequate. Tuberculosis presents substantial mental health challenges. Their co-occurrence is a frequent phenomenon. However, the integration of mental health professionals or services is not a common practice.

Purpose: To review the evidence about the relation between tuberculosis and mental health, and its consequences concerning the implementation of policies and services.

Methodology: We conducted a comprehensive review using the MeSH terms "Tuberculosis" and "Mental Health" on PubMed, spanning from 2011 to December 2021. We identified and assessed systematic reviews, regular reviews, scoping review and meta-analyses for their appropriateness and relevance.

Results: A total of 341 studies were accessed for eligibility and 19 studies were included. Mental disorders and tuberculosis are frequent comorbidities. Their relation is commonly described as “syndemic”. Shared risk factors, social vulnerabilities, and upstream social determinants are prevalent in both conditions. There is a potential for the integration of both conditions into policy and service organization.

Conclusions: Mental disorders treatment gap could be shortened by addressing mental health problems among TB patients. The WHO Global End TB Strategy prioritizes integrated patient-centered care, and fostering collaborative partnerships between tuberculosis and mental health services could enhance its implementation

Well-being of mental health workers during the Russian-Ukrainian War

2024-03-24T12:35:31+02:00

Introduction: While the detrimental impact of the Russian-Ukrainian War on mental health of Ukrainian population has been well-documented, less attention has been given to mental health workers (MHWs) providing mental health support services amid the war.

Purpose: To examine levels of domain-specific well-being in Ukrainian MHWs; identify and quantify the relative importance of factors associated with well-being; and examine interactions of risk and protective factors in relation to each well-being domain.

Methodology: A convenience sample of 178 MHWs completed a survey that assessed their well-being, and sociodemographic, war-related, mental health, and psychosocial characteristics.

Results: Lower levels of mental health difficulties such as anxiety and posttraumatic stress symptoms, and higher levels of psychosocial factors such as higher optimism, gratitude, and presence and search for meaning were associated with higher well-being. MHWs with high levels of protective psychosocial factors were more likely to report higher well-being even in the presence of mental health difficulties.

Conclusions: Results of this study provide insight into the levels and correlates of multiple well-being domains among Ukrainian MHWs amid the ongoing war. They further suggest that interventions to mitigate mental health difficulties and bolster protective psychosocial factors may help promote well-being in this population