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Copyright of Médecine is the property of John Libbey Eurotext Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The idea of applying various forms of physical activity for the betterment of physical health and the reduction of chronic medical conditions is ubiquitous. Despite evidence of successful applications of physical activity for improvement of mental health dating back to antiquity, it has until recent years remained unconventional to consider exercise as an intervention strategy for various mental health conditions. The past two decades, however, have seen a relative explosion of interest in understanding and applying various programs and forms of exercise to improve mental health. Here, our purpose is to provide a comprehensive and updated overview of the application of exercise as a strategy for improving mental health. In the present paper we first summarize contemporary research regarding short- and long-term impacts of exercise on mental health. Then an overview of the putative mechanisms and neurobiological bases underpinning the beneficial effects of exercise is provided. Finally, we suggest directions for future research as well as a series of concrete recommendations for clinicians who wish to prescribe physical activity as part of patient mental health management., (Copyright © 2023 L'Encéphale, Paris. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Aim: Assess the impact of stress and Burnout syndrome on health workers during the COVID-19 pandemic., Method: A survey through an online questionnaire was conducted among health personnel, completed with a paper questionnaire collection, Information was collected on demographics, COVID-19 unit activity, the Burnout syndrome calculated by the Maslach Burnout Inventory scale, is defined by high levels of exhaustion and depersonalization when the total score reaches 30 and 12 points respectively and by a low level of professional accomplishment from a total score of 40, the level of stress perception is calculated by the post-traumatic stress scale, whose threshold is equal or greater than 44 points., Results: 345 responses were included concerning doctors, paramedics and technical-administrative staff working in an Algerian health facility between October 2021 and January 2022. Prevalence rates were 44.3% for burnout, 30.1% for depersonalization and 56.2% for low achievement, the prevalence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder was 38.6% of study participants. Analysis of risk factors among caregivers (physicians and paramedics) showed that burnout was related to age (p=0.041), the notion of the workplace in a dedicated COVID-19 patient unit (p=0.009) and the occurrence of death in the health professional's entourage (p=0,015). The occurrence of a death event among those around caregivers is a risk factor for post-traumatic stress syndrome with a OR=2.02, IC 95% [1,17-3,47]., Conclusion: Knowledge of the impact of COVID-19 on health professionals is an important element in maintaining their mental health and is a key consideration when managing health crises.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), like all public safety personnel (PSP), are frequently exposed to potentially psychologically traumatic events that contribute to posttraumatic stress injuries (PTSI). Addressing PTSI is impeded by the limited available research. In this protocol paper, we describe the RCMP Study, part of the concerted efforts by the RCMP to reduce PTSI by improving access to evidence-based assessments, treatments and training as well as participant recruitment and RCMP Study developments to date. The RCMP Study has been designed to (1) develop, deploy and assess the impact of a system for ongoing annual, monthly and daily evidence-based assessments; (2) evaluate associations between demographic variables and PTSI; (3) longitudinally assess individual differences associated with PTSI; (4) augment the RCMP Cadet Training Program with skills to proactively mitigate PTSI; and (5) assess the impact of the augmented training condition (ATC) versus the standard training condition (STC). Participants in the STC (n = 480) and ATC (n = 480) are assessed before and after training and annually for 5 years on their deployment date; they also complete brief monthly and daily surveys. The RCMP Study results are expected to benefit the mental health of all participants, RCMP and PSP by reducing PTSI among all who serve.

Copyright of Sante Mentale au Quebec is the property of Revue Sante Mentale au Quebec and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Well-being in academia is obviously tied to levels of burnout experienced by academics. Why are these levels increasing and how is their increase related to the marketization and neoliberalisation of universities? What should we, as academics, do in order to counter this trend and improve both our well-being and that of our students as well as society? These questions are addressed through experimental writing, employing techniques that are unusual for linguistics, namely autoethnography, in order to reflect on academic careers and the problems of mental health and harassment experienced by PhD students. Drawing inspiration from “transformative praxis”, this paper describes the approach of social justice teaching and conscientization. Focusing in particular on the theme of environmental education, the paper reflects on how introducing social justice teaching in academic courses is likely to prove helpful to prevent burnout and dissatisfaction. The second part of the paper describes the author’s experience with university courses about ecolinguistics and the feedback received from students, including a selection of their comments.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: Governments across the world were forced to impose social distancing and lockdown measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, caused by coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 that emerged in December 2019. Following the declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic, the disruptions, including restrictive measures such as school closures had severe impacts on the physical, emotional and mental health of all people, especially children with special needs. There was also scant data, particularly in low-to-middle-income countries. Existing literature stems mostly from western countries, thus the need to perform a comprehensive review on this topic. THE RESEARCH PROBLEM AND METHODS: The primary objective of the systematic review is to understand the impact of COVID-19 and restrictive measures such as school closures on the educational outcomes and physical and mental health of school-going children with special needs. THE PROCESS OF ARGUMENTATION: This systematic review used the PRISMA 2020 checklist where four databases and grey literature were searched for full text articles, peer reviewed publications in the English language that were published during January 2019–December 2021. RESEARCH RESULTS: The literature search identified 1294 publications, of which 25 key papers were selected. These studies investigate the impact on children with special needs across the globe, with a majority of papers from Europe. We found that COVID-19 and the digitalization of schooling had severe impacts on the physical and mental health of children with special needs and their parents/caregivers. CONCLUSIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND APPLICABLE VALUE OF RESEARCH: These studies highlight the need for an inclusive school environment to ensure that the learning outcomes for children everywhere are achieved. Further, a hybrid model that includes classroom learning with novel inventive methods would be beneficial for children with special needs.

Along other breakthroughs in computer sciences, such as artificial intelligence, virtual characters (i.e. digitally represented characters featuring a human appearance or not) are foreseen as potential providers of mental healthcare services. However, their current use in clinical practice is marginal and limited to an assistive role to help clinicians in their practices. Safety and efficiency concerns, as well as a general lack of knowledge and experience, may explain this discrepancy between the expected (sometimes futuristic) and current use of virtual characters. An overview of recent evidence would help pinpoint the main concerns and challenges pertaining to their use in mental healthcare. Objective This paper aims to inform relevant actors, including clinicians, on the potential of virtual characters in mental healthcare practices and to raise awareness on societal challenges regarding their use. Method A narrative literature review was conducted to summarize basic and clinical research findings, and to outline an in-depth discussion on various societal caveats related to the inclusion of virtual characters. Results Basic studies highlight several characteristics of the virtual characters that seem to influence patient-clinician interactions. These characteristics can be classified into two categories: perceptual (e.g. realism) and social features (i.e. attribution of social categories such as gender). To this day, many interventions and/or assessments using virtual characters have shown various levels of efficiency in mental health, and certain elements of a therapeutic relationship (e.g. alliance and empathy) may even be triggered during an interaction with a virtual character. To develop and increase the use of virtual characters, numerous socioeconomic and ethical issues must be examined. Although the accessibility and the availability of virtual characters are an undeniable advantage for their use in mental healthcare, some inequities about their application remain. In addition, the accumulation of biometric data (e.g. heart rate) could provide valuable information to clinicians and could help develop autonomous virtual characters, which raises concerns over issues of security and privacy. This paper proposes some recommendations to avoid such undesirable outcomes. Conclusion Due to their promising features, the inclusion of virtual characters will no doubt be increasingly prevalent in mental healthcare services. All involved actors should thus be informed about specific challenges raised by such breakthroughs. They should also actively participate in discussions regarding the development of virtual characters in order to adopt unified recommendations for their safe and ethical use in mental healthcare.

Objective The central objective of this paper is to explore the dynamic interactions between 5 sets of variables, which are Sociodemographic Characteristics, Satisfaction with Life, Perceived Discrimination, Religiosity and Emotional Distress within Montreal's Tariqa Qadiriya Boudchichiya, a Muslim Sufi way whose origins are Moroccan and date back to the 18th century. Method As a method, we considered psychological distress as the dependent variable and performed univariate descriptive statistical analyzes, bivariate correlation analyzes (Pearson correlation), one-way ANOVA analyzes, and multivariate analyzes (linear regressions). Results Our results, although preliminary due to a relatively small sample (n = 56), allow us to put forward a new hypothesis suggesting that the intense spiritual practice that characterizes the Tariqa, would allow "a work of the self on self" through a set of "techniques of the self" (Foucault) that contribute to a certain emotional well-being, if not to mental health. Conclusion Our conclusion underlines the importance of investigating more in depth the possible contribution of religiosity to the subject's capacity to act on oneself in order to emerge as a spiritual, ethical and political subject.

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Copyright of Canadian Journal of Health History is the property of University of Toronto Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Médecine Thérapeutique: Pédiatrie is the property of John Libbey Eurotext Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Sante Mentale au Quebec is the property of Revue Sante Mentale au Quebec and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper explores the potential contribution of trees and forest to the mental wellbeing of diverse populations in Britain. We use a conceptual framework that makes a distinction between three different levels of engagement: everyday life; green health promotion; and green therapeutic care. We then use researched and evaluated case studies in Britain to provide examples associated with these three levels of engagement. The case studies illustrate that practical approaches and interventions are developing rapidly in the Britain. Finally we discuss the main pathways and mechanisms that link mental health and wellbeing and trees and forests. We outline that there are limitations to the current international evidence base and call for consistent approaches within and between countries using a range of methodologies to capture the nuances of the complex relationships between trees, forests and mental health and wellbeing.

The Climate Change and Health Adaptation Program (CCHAP) is a program within the First Nations Inuit Health Branch of Indigenous Services Canada (which was previously under the responsibility of Health Canada). The CCHAP supports Inuit and First Nation communities in mitigating and adapting to the health impacts of climate change. The impacts of climate change on Indigenous health can be observed in multiple areas including, but not limited to, food security, cultural medicines, mental health and landbased practices. This program seeks to address the needs of climate change and health in First Nation and Inuit communities to support resiliency and adaptation to a changing climate both now and in the future through its emphasis on youth and capacity building. The commentary is based on the Program's eleven years of experience working with and for Indigenous communities and provides an overview of the CCHAP model and the work it has and continues to support. This paper demonstrates three examples of community-based projects to mitigate and adapt to the health impacts of climate change to demonstrate climate change resiliency within Indigenous communities., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Objectives: Recovery is a process through which people experiencing mental illness learn to live with their disorder and reach social insertion and citizenship. This positive approach focuses on a person's competencies and strengths rather than on the symptoms. Within this philosophy, peer support has been unevenly developing in mental health services worldwide with roots in the South-American social programs for homeless people and in the American recovery circles in the field of addiction. Therapeutic efficiency of peer support has been proven by several studies including a control group, as being at least as good as traditional services and even better in some specific areas such as reduction of need for emergency services and ability to reach "difficult" patients. The integration of former psychiatric services users in mental health services can take several forms, from the participation to scientific research studies to the direct involvement in a professional team at mental health facilities. In this context, our research aims to sum up the situation in France in comparison with other countries., Methods: We conducted a worldwide literature review in English and in French on peer support experiences and policies in mental health services, using medical and psychological databases (PsycInfo, PsycArticles, SantéPsy, Cairn, Medline, Wiley Interscience and PubPsych) on a recent period: 2005-2016. In total, 32 relevant scientific papers have been included in our research. In some cases, we have also used official reports, blogs, Internet sites, and mass media articles when they were relevant., Results: Our results show that this movement has been long to develop in France, with controversies having been raised since the beginning on the role that peers should play and confusion with existing social integration programs in the associative sector. Drawing inspiration from the Canadian model, a recent "peer mentor" initiative has been analyzed after 2 years of existence: many benefits for services users such as the optional aspect of this care process, a more authentic therapeutic relationship, a less normative frame, an active partnership, and a more optimistic philosophy aiming to make "small steps" towards improvement have been reported. Health professionals and peer mentors themselves have found benefits during the process. However, several limits such as difficulties to find a place with regards to the psychiatric team and difficulties to take advantage of the peer specificity, resulting in a significant attrition of the number of peer mentors, could be observed. A few other important initiatives focused on social insertion and using the help of professional peer support have been developed in recent years, but they seem to have encountered the same issues about positioning themselves both in terms of day-to-day integration in the professional environment and in the job title given by institutions which rarely corresponds to their experience and specificity. In addition, it remains difficult to obtain reliable information, as only a few papers have been published on this matter. Also, while some evaluation studies are currently being carried out, independent quantitative studies of the few running programs seem to lack in this field., Conclusions: In our presentation, taking into account the difficulties that were raised in French programs and the lessons of practical experiences at work in other countries, we propose recommendations for larger and more effective implementations of peer support programs in France. As this new kind of care is emerging and seems promising in terms of benefits for not only the users but also the peer supporters and the teams of health professionals, we also insist on the need for a systematic scientific and objective evaluation of the programs., (Copyright © 2018 L'Encéphale, Paris. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

The paper proposes an interpretation of two aesthetically convincing contemporary novels (L. Salvayre: La Compagnie des spectres, and C. Mavrikakis: Fleurs de crachat) dealing with the issues of memory (individual and collective, communicative and cultural). It proves that both texts, focusing on the intergenerational transmission of memories of the tragic events of World War II, come to the same conclusions as well-known memory theorists. On the one hand, they suggest that the duty to remember the victims of the past cannot be negated. On the other, they remind that memory cannot be promoted to the goal and the sole purpose of existence. Indeed, it is always necessary to keep the right measure, the so-called juste mémoire (Ricoeur). Phenomena such as saturation of memory by traumatic events (Robin), selective trauma-centred memory, "sacralisation" or "abuse of the memory" (Todorov) threaten the mental health of the individual. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychosocial risks and work suffering. The work related mental disorders are one of the main concerns for physicians and for occupational health policy. In addition of the difficulties to take appropriate preventive measures, due to nature and the complexity of this issue, the mental health and its occupational risk factors certainly need some clarification. It's important not to confuse risk factors and adverse consequences. Another key point is the cognitive mediation, and thus its subjective nature, therefore this process is subject to intra and extra variability between the risk factors and health consequences. The aim of this synthesis paper is to shed light on the matter and to bring informations on epidemiological data., Competing Interests: F.-X. Lesage déclare n’avoir aucun lien d’intérêts.

Copyright of Sante Mentale au Quebec is the property of Revue Sante Mentale au Quebec and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objectives This article aims to situate the concept of mental health in a historical perspective. This article presents the most commonly used measurement tools in Canada and elsewhere in the world to assess specific and multiple dimensions of mental health; when available, psychometric properties are discussed. Finally, research findings on quality of life and mental health determinants are presented.Methods A literature review of concepts, measurement and determinants of mental health is presented in this paper. The selection of measurement scales presented is based on the findings of the research reports conducted by the second author, an expert on mental health measures, for Health Canada and Statistics Canada.Results Mental health is more than the absence of mental illness; rather it is a state of complete well-being, which refers to our ability to enjoy life and deal with the challenges we face. Accordingly, mental health and mental illness are not extremes of the same continuum, but distinct yet correlated concepts. The traditional conceptualization suggesting that mental health represents simply the absence of mental illness has been replaced, in the last few decades, by a more holistic characterization, which directly concerns public health. The components of mental health include emotional well-being/quality of life (QOL) and psychological and social well-being. Mental health influences the personal and social functioning of individuals, justifying the importance of intervening upstream to promote mental health. Specific scales are relevant for obtaining a detailed measure of one aspect of well-being in particular (emotional/quality of life, psychological or social well-being); however, to account for the global mental health status, measurement tools that integrate all three forms of well-being (emotional, psychological and social) should be privileged. A diversity of determinants at the individual, social and neighbourhood levels influence quality of life and well-being. These determinants are interrelated, and the complex and cumulative interaction of these determinants involves the use of comprehensive strategies for mental health promotion.Conclusion We hope this article provides the reader with information to become familiar with the concepts and tools that aim at informing research, public health surveillance, public policy and programs for mental health promotion.

Copyright of Sante Mentale au Quebec is the property of Revue Sante Mentale au Quebec and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: This paper presents a vision of mental health using the model of psychological flexibility of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). ACT is a representative approach of the third wave of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT). This article first describes the theoretical and practical aspects of ACT and, in a second part, reviews some of the empirical data supporting its clinical use. Due to the high rate of comorbidity in mental health settings, transdiagnostic approaches in CBT, such as ACT, have recently become popular and particularly appealing to various clinical settings., Method: The theoretical aspects underlying ACT, as well as its clinical components in the treatment of psychopathology were described based on major books in this area, such as Hayes, Strosahl and Wilson (2012). A descriptive literature review was undertaken to explore the data on the efficacy of ACT for the treatment of mental health problems. Psycinfo and Medline, as well as the Association for Contextual Science website were analyzed for relevant articles. The key search terms were: "Acceptance and Commitment therapy" or "ACT" or "acceptance" or "mindfulness" or "defusion." The reference lists of the articles retrieved were also analyzed. The articles that were not in English or French were excluded., Results: Data suggest that ACT is particularly effective for stress, anxiety disorders, depression, substance abuse and various chronic medical conditions. The six processes of the model of psychological flexibility have been validated based on the results of correlational and meditational studies. More than seventy randomized clinical trials and a meta-analysis including 18 randomized control trials conclude that ACT is more effective than waiting list, placebo and treatment as usual control conditions., Conclusion: ACT is a promising and evidence-based approach in mental health for the treatment of anxiety and depression as well as for complex and chronic conditions. More research is needed to further validate its theoretical model and further refine our understanding of how ACT could be effective for the management of mental health illness and how it could enhance quality of life for people who suffer from these conditions.

Aim: The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the impact of income inequality on various indexes of mental health and on happiness in wealthy nations. Initially, the unequal distribution of income is documented in wealthy nations, especially in the United States of America. After the World War II, income equality was at a level never reached before, but since the eighties, income inequality has raised dramatically in many industrialized countries. The 2008 crisis has worsened the situation in many of them, particularly in the United States. Furthermore, prejudices have increased against women, Blacks, Spanish-speakers and those who receive social welfare., Method: A selective review of the literature is made in order to document the impact of income inequality on a few indicators of mental health (from WHO, UN, UNICEF, OCDE and World Bank) and on happiness, defined here as life satisfaction., Results: Income inequality is positively related to the following indexes: Index of Mental Illness from the WHO (0.73), Index of the United Nations' Office on Drug Consumption (0.63) and a composite Index of ten psychosocial problems, constituted by Wilkinson and Pickett, 2013 (0.87). On the other hand, income inequality is negatively associated to the UNICEF Index of Child Well-Being (-0.71). Furthermore, the level of anxiety and of depression is higher in countries where income inequality is greater. The correlation between happiness and income inequality in the 23 wealthy nations is -0.48; this correlation becomes -0.41 after control of the effect of the GNP (Gross National Product). These results support the idea that it is relative income - not absolute income - which matters in the evaluation of our life and of our happiness. In underdeveloped nations, any increase in GNP promotes the well-being of the citizens; whereas in wealthy nations, it is the equality of the distribution that is more important. Many arguments supporting the causal relation from income inequality to psychosocial problems and unhappiness are presented. In reality, this income inequality is like a "virus" which affects the well-being of the entire population., Conclusion: Even if the increase of mental problems may be explained by many factors - historical, cultural, ethnic, social, and societal - these factors do not eliminate the effect of income inequality. In order to counter the effects of income inequality and to promote a "flourishing" mental health, the professionals of human sciences are invited to take into account this reality in the implementation of their interventions and to participate to the elaboration of social politics as well as in the education process of the general population.

The interconnectedness of oral, mental, sexual, and reproductive health (OMSRH) in adolescence lends itself to the exploration of novel approaches to facilitate comprehensive access of this population to the relevant health services. This paper proposes an integrated one-stop-shop approach to increase adolescents’ access to OMSRH care by leveraging on dental clinics as a template for integration. The interconnectedness of oral, mental, sexual, and reproductive health (OMSRH) in adolescents prompts exploration of novel approaches to facilitate comprehensive access of this population to the relevant health services. This paper proposes an integrated one-stop-shop approach to increasing adolescents´ access to OMSRH care by leveraging on dental clinics as a template for integration, using a non-stigmatized platform to deliver stigmatized healthcare. Novel proposals are needed to enhance adolescents´ access to health care they are in dire need of. Effective, integrated health care for this population is lacking, especially across various health areas. This is a proposal for leveraging dental clinics for integrated OMSRH care, using facility-based services, to adolescents. Emphasis will be placed on reducing stigma as a barrier to service accessibility, acceptability, equitability and appropriateness. Empirical studies will be required to test the feasibility, validity and effectiveness of this proposed model.

Copyright of Sante Mentale au Quebec is the property of Revue Sante Mentale au Quebec and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Résumé Le thème de la santé mentale a considérablement élargi le champ d’intervention de la psychiatrie et de la psychologie, en invitant ces disciplines à considérer non seulement la maladie mais, dans l’accomplissement personnel, l’accès au bien-être. Cette vision de la santé a fortement essaimé au cours des années 1960, notamment dans l’antipsychiatrie. Il n’y est donc pas seulement question d’une perspective thérapeutique mais bien d’une véritable philosophie politique et morale dont on peut tenter de retracer les origines et les fondements. À ce titre, l’article, revenant sur les écrits fondateurs de William James, cherche d’abord à montrer combien la notion de santé mentale est indubitablement liée aux principes d’une psychologie du soi. Partant de ce premier éclairage, il entend ensuite indiquer de quelle manière cette pensée a cherché à mêler un parti épistémologique et méthodologique au projet d’une clinique susceptible d’aiguiller le changement social. Psychology and psychiatry have significantly extended their scope of action by addressing the topic of mental health and by focusing, beyond the study of disabilities, on well-being through personal development. This approach was already widely popular in the 1960's, especially in the field of anti-psychiatry. As a result, mental health, as a therapeutic perspective, went on to become a major concern for moral and political philosophy. This paper aims to trace back the origins of this shift and delineate its foundations. To this end, the pioneering work of William James serves as a basis for showing how the notion of mental health relates to the tenets of the psychology of the self. Then, this paper uses this analysis to demonstrate how this approach combined epistemological and methodological principles to support a new clinical project that was supposed to contribute to social change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health is the property of Canadian Periodical for Community Studies Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Sante Mentale au Quebec is the property of Revue Sante Mentale au Quebec and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The purpose of this paper is to review the current scientific knowledge on mental health promotion interventions aimed at children and adolescents. Definitions of mental health, mental health prevention and mental health promotion are provided. The current state of knowledge in this area was assessed based on a specific method involving selection, a literature review and a classification of mental health promotion interventions identified using scientific databases. Seventeen interventions were identified as having an effect on youth mental health. Half of these interventions are aimed at the general population, while the other half target vulnerable individuals. The majority of the interventions are aimed at children aged 5 and over. Half of the interventions are multimodal, while unimodal interventions include programs aimed at promoting psychosocial competencies in children. An increased understanding of internationally recognized programs should promote reflection on current professional practice in France.

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Copyright of Sante Mentale au Quebec is the property of Revue Sante Mentale au Quebec and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Author-supplied Abstracts.)

This paper reviews and summarizes the available literature on Haitian mental health and mental health services. This review was conducted in light of the Haitian earthquake in January 2010. We searched Medline, Google Scholar and other available databases to gather scholarly literature relevant to mental health in Haiti. This was supplemented by consultation of key books and grey literature relevant to Haiti. The first part of the review describes historical, economic, sociological and anthropological factors essential to a basic understanding of Haiti and its people. This includes discussion of demography, family structure, Haitian economics and religion. The second part of the review focuses on mental health and mental health services. This includes a review of factors such as basic epidemiology of mental illness, common beliefs about mental illness, explanatory models, idioms of distress, help-seeking behavior, configuration of mental health services and the relationship between religion and mental health.

Background: The aim of this paper is to review available knowledge on sexual orientation and mental health, especially for women., Methods: Papers published in English or French, between 1997 and 2007, were selected in PubMed using the following keywords "homosexuality/sexual orientation and mental health/depression/suicide". To be retained, papers had to contain findings from quantitative surveys comparing homosexual and heterosexual adults. In all, this review analyses 22 papers including two that are based on the same survey., Results: This review found a general pattern of poorer mental health for homosexuals and even more so for bisexuals compared to heterosexuals. Results are especially consistent regarding elevated risk of suicide attempts.

Background: In 2002-2003, a Needs, Gaps and Opportunities Assessment (NGOA) was conducted to investigate relationships between socio-economic dimensions of housing and health. Recent reviews of the literature point to a dearth of research on the socio-economic dimensions of housing and health, despite its potential for promoting health., Methods: The NGOA sought to identify research needs and gaps, and future opportunities for research in housing, socio-economic status and health. The methods used included a literature scan, a scan of research capacity, eight regional stakeholder workshops across Canada, and an open-ended e-mail survey of stakeholders. In this paper, we report the findings of the stakeholder consultations., Findings: The main finding of the NGOA was that there is a significant dearth of research on housing as a socio-economic determinant of health but enormous potential for conducting high-impact, longitudinal and quasi-experimental research in the area. Of particular interest to stakeholder participants in the NGOA were the economic aspects of housing and health; the impact of housing on health for vulnerable subgroups (e.g., Aboriginal peoples, immigrants, children, seniors); the role of socio-economically and ethnically mixed communities; and the interaction between socio-economic aspects of housing and biophysical hazards in the home., Conclusion: The NGOA demonstrated that there is a substantial audience eager for knowledge on housing as a socio-economic determinant of health and that such knowledge could make an immediate impact on policy decision-making and program operation. Although knowledge gaps are substantial, the NGOA clearly identifies opportunities for high-impact, longitudinal and quasi-experimental research. Recently signed federal-provincial funding agreements for housing make the findings of the NGOA timely. Moreover, the NGOA results demonstrate how research on housing as a socio-economic determinant of health could be a strategy for improving our understanding of the effects of social environments on health and for reducing health disparities.

Spain is generally regarded as one of the European countries most affected by the Great Recession starting in 2008 and subsequent restrictive policies. In the first part of this paper we attempt to understand the impacts of the crisis on the welfare state that have led to health inequalities, with a special emphasis on the history of the Spanish National Health System from mid-twentieth century onwards. We also examine citizens’ responses to austerity measures within the health system, highlighting the role of the “white tides” movement. In the second part of the paper, we provide a selective review of the main findings on the effects of the Great Recession in the country, focusing particularly on its outcomes on mental health and on inequalities in health and healthcare use. We conclude that key policies need to be directed towards “the causes of the causes” of health inequalities, a complicated challenge in the current phase of capitalism.

This paper provides a cultural critique of the concept of trauma by examining the generational narratives of toromā in the Iranian context and the psychologization of memory in the aftermath of the 1980s. It examines memory-work as a cultural and political resource for witnessing and historicizing the otherwise muted discourse of the Iran-Iraq War and the anomie of the 1980s Iran. The paper elaborates on the concept of rupture, as an alternative to trauma, for its recognition of the complexity, multiplicity, and diffusion of historical conditions and their afterlife. These narratives of rupture show how generations are constructed and negotiated, not temporally, but based on the political and emotional stakes of how, and what, one remembers, thereby informing the identity politics of young Iranians and generating new socialities and cultural forms. The paper approaches the psychological afterlife of social anomie as both a clinical and a cultural/political experience and raises questions about the ethics of engagement with the two constructed concepts of “mental health” and the “Middle East.”

Abstract: Objective: Fight against discrimination and stigmatization of people living with mental health disorder has become one of the most important political public health objectives. It has been identified as one of the five priorities of the 2008 European Pact for Mental Health and Well-Being. Stigmatization impacts the quality of life and jeopardizes the social integration. It has been shown that compliance to medical care was also impacted by individuals’ perception of their stigmatization. Numerous international programs targeting general population have been elaborated since the last decades, but those communication strategies haven’t raised the interests of researchers and academics. Hence, very few data are available to set new objectives to lower the social impact of stigmatization in people living with mental health condition. Material and methods: This paper examines the rational and effectiveness of different anti-stigma campaign targeting mental health. By reviewing the scientific literature and policy documents on different strategies to address and lower stigmatization, we identified a typology of stigma-orientated actions and policies. Communication campaigns are the most common instrument used to address stigmatization. They are sometimes associated with communication programs targeting representations in general population through campaigns as well as representations in subgroups, through local and/or national actions. Specific information and training for journalists have also been experienced. Results: Very few researches have observed convincing effects of anti-stigma campaigns in general population. Evaluations of the communication campaigns have revealed that they had a limited impact on representations. Attitudes towards people living with a mental disorder were still negative 5 years after the Changing Mind campaign, although there was an impact on the perceived distance by the respondents (how people living with mental health condition feel different from us). Actions targeting media and journalists led to ambivalent results, with a rise of positively connoted journal articles as well as negatively connoted papers. Conclusions: Campaigns targeting general objectives have not been proven to be effective. Some authors state that they should be replaced by local actions and programs, orientated to specific subgroups and should (a) associate the psychiatric services users and their families, (b) empower people living with mental health conditions, (c) be developed upon the experience of people who are been stigmatized. The rational of past communication campaigns as well as global communication programs were impaired by the absence of an operational definition of the problem addressed (discrimination, stigma, and stigmatization). Lack of empirical data on stigmatization jeopardizes the effects of these campaigns and their potential development. Conflict of interests in people managing the campaigns and the absence of systematic evaluation are also pointed as limitation for future developments. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

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Copyright of Acta Psychiatrica Belgica is the property of Acta Psychiatrica Belgica SRMMB and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract: Professionals working in a service for young people with gender identity disorder (GID) often experience a particular type of pressure in the course of the work, which makes thinking and decision-making very difficult. The paper suggests that an examination of the position of the professional and of its service within the system may bring some relief and be a starting point to direct thinking and possibly action. The perceived position of the professional and of the Gender Identity Development Service within the wider organisation of a psychotherapy and mental health trust is discussed. The paper makes reference to the model developed by Lagenhove and Harré as described by Campbell and Groenbaek in their book Taking positions in the organisation. The position taken by the professional or the service is also explored as a possible re-enactment of the psychological dynamics of the young people with GID and their families. This view is based on Britton''s paper on the mirroring and re-enactment of individual and family dynamics in the professional network. A view is put forward that this dynamic leads the professional or the service to the risky position of “working at the edge”. The paper discusses processes that could facilitate the move from a position of being psychologically at an edge to the more secure position of being in the mainland. These involve exploration of the model of care and the relationship of the professional to the wider organisation in which the service is located and to self help organisations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Under the Belgian Social Defence Law (1964), mentally disordered offenders who are deemed to lack criminal responsibility have to be interned in an ‘Institution of Social Defence’ rather than in a prison. There, they are supposed to receive specialised treatment before their rehabilitation and re-insertion into the community. This paper discusses expertise practice in relation to the Social Defence Law. The paper first gives a description of the requirements of the law. The paper then presents the prevalence of clinical syndromes (axis 1) and of personality disorders (axis 2) among a sample of internees (N =98). The sample presents a high co-morbidity (2.6) of axis I syndromes, and of axis 2 personality disorders (1.7), the majority of them (64%) present both axis diagnoses. The paper also discusses the prevalence of a high psychopathy as measured by the PCL-R among internees (5-8%) as compared to prison inmates given the aim of the law of protecting the society against dangerous individuals. The paper shows that the Social Defence Law embraces a very large spectrum of psychiatric diagnoses including personality disorders and psychopathy. The following recommendations could improve expertise practices: (a) the consideration of earlier propositions relating to the improvement of the Social Defence Law; (b) a comparative research between psychiatric diagnoses of internees and of inmates; (c) a better definition of clinical criteria relating to the application of the law; (d) the implementation of a specialised observation unit before the decision to intern; (e) the need to go beyond a dichotomous conception of the ability to control; (f) the consideration of contextual factor of dangerousness; (g) encouraging the use of validated risk and clinical assessment instruments; (h) a better financing for expert work. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article discusses the impact of exclusion from work to the quality of psychiatry user's lives. The paper describes the process experienced by the majority of users after retirement, which in many cases ends with a wish for paid work. The exclusion of psychiatry users is sanctioned by early and extensive retiring and by legislation that only allows minimal work for retired persons, in Slovenia. Exclusion has a negative impact upon various aspects of mental functioning, resulting in poverty. It also prevents users from participation in leisure time activities accessible to people. This area has been all but neglected until now. A number of cases have been presented that show how users were granted paid work elsewhere. The paper concludes with the author's proposals to solve the problem in Slovenia.

Copyright of Revue Francophone de Recherche en Ergotherapie is the property of Communaute Pour l Avancement de la Recherche Appliquee Francophone en Ergotherapie and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper describes the HIV-related mental health concerns of a sample of 128 persons with HIV infection in Montréal who participated in a larger national survey of HIV-related mental health needs and services in Canada. We examined mental health distress in persons with HIV infection in Montréal compared to other cities in Canada, and in subgroups of HIV-infected Montrealers defined on the basis of sex, age, diagnosis, and risk factor status. Results demonstrate that although HIV infection has a strong and far reaching impact on mental health, there are differences in the types of concerns and issues that are distressing to specific groups of Montréal respondents. Uncertainty about the future and not being able to realize life goals, as well as feelings of helplessness and fears about potential adverse neurological consequences of HIV disease, were major sources of psychological distress. Feelings of depression, anxiety, and anger, as well as concerns about increasing physical disability, pain, infecting others, confidentiality, and finances were predominant concerns among specific subgroups. Differences between respondents in terms of source of income, age, and sex, and to a lesser extent diagnosis and risk factor status, were associated with varying levels of mental health distress. Although respondents in Montreal (and Vancouver) were more distressed than respondents in Toronto and Halifax, these differences appear to be due primarily to differences in age and source of income. Findings from this study will be useful to policy makers and health planners in developing services to meet the mental health needs of HIV infected adults.

In psychiatric epidemiology, culture has often been treated in one of two ways: as a confounding variable to be controlled or as an explanation for unexpected findings. In cases where culture is presented as an explanation, there is often little detailed examination of how culture shapes responses to psychiatric interviews. In this paper, I will argue that culture plays a central role in influencing responses to psychiatric interviews in at least three ways: culture affects the way people respond to psychiatric interviews; culture influences the valuation of specific symptom items; and cultural categories are embedded in responses to psychiatric interviews. Through a review of research on the mental health of Latino populations, I will examine the roles of cultural categories in shaping responses to psychiatric epidemiology studies and will outline an alternative research approach to simultaneously exploring psychiatric diagnostic categories and cultural idioms of distress.

Biomaterials with intelligence can respond to variations in physiological factors. Additionally, they react to external stimuli that influence many attributes of allopathic drugs (technological advances medicine). Smart biomaterials are employed in a variety of therapies to enhance the care of different illnesses. Bio-based smart materials can be molded into a variety of soft designs, such as textiles, hydrogel, membranes film, aerogels, nanofibers, and fabrics, which are advantageous for wearable sensors when compared to polymers generated from petroleum. In this paper, sleep patterns are examined closely in relation to mental health, with a particular focus on bio-signal processing in identifying sleep-related disorders. According to the study, sleep stage analysis is critical to improving therapeutic outcomes for individuals suffering from depression due to its physiological influence. Biologically compatible smart devices enhance advanced biological capture techniques such as electroencephalography (EEG), electrocardiogram (ECG), and electromyography (EMG). As a result, these features increase sensor reliability, accuracy and reliability, ensuring high signal fidelity. The use of biocompatible smart-material based devices with artificial intelligence provides a revolutionary approach to the diagnosis of complex interconnected disorders of mental illness, sleep disorders and schizophrenia, including neural changes and its recurrence to identify sleep phases and identify trauma-related disturbances, and sophisticated machine learning provides in-depth insights.

This paper studies the effects of the war on the civilian and military lebanese populations from 1975 to 1987. A review of the literature on war psychiatry is presented as an introduction in order to estimate its applicability to Lebanon, and it seems that all the morbid conditions described in the different wars are to be found in Lebanon. A study on the military population was undertaken, focusing on the comparison of the morbid conditions before and during the war. It shows that war has led to a decrease of malingering and generalized anxiety disorders but to an increase of neurotic and psychotic reactions. A comparison of these conditions with those found in Vietnam shows a greater proportion of generalized anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorders among Marines in Vietnam. The milicians of the Lebanese Forces differ from the Lebanese Army soldiers by a higher proportion of antisocial personality disorders and anxiety neuroses. Among the civilian population war does not seem to have significantly modified in-patient morbidity in the main psychotic, affective and neurotic diagnostic categories. Drug abuse whose frequency has considerably increased during the war is studied in detail. In conclusion, the author analyzes the factors having contributed to the relative psychological resistance of the Lebanese population.

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health is the property of Canadian Periodical for Community Studies Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)