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Introduction: Person-centeredness (PC) is emerging as a hallmark of the 21st century, applied to medicine and health and a growing number of fundamental areas of human interest and concern. Objectives: The present study aims to conduct a conceptual analysis and a review of the literature on the relationship between the person-centered approach and public mental health (PMH). Methodology: The conceptual analysis of the relationship between PC and PMH will involve ontological and epistemological considerations. The review of the literature on such relationship will be conducted with the assistance of Google Scholar focused, first, on the density of pertinent scholarly publications along four periods from 1979 to 2022 and, second, on the thematic content of the recent literature. Results: The conceptual analysis showed on several grounds the value of PC for better understanding PMH and for optimizing PMH actions. The review of the literature revealed, first, the sustained growth of number of scientific papers concerning the relationship between PC and PMH along four 11-year periods from 1979 to 2022, strikingly so between the 20th and the 21st centuries. The review of the thematic content of papers published in 2023 revealed the contributions of PC for better understanding of and more effective actions in PMH, along with the identification of promising person-centered methods and procedures. Discussion: The findings of the present paper resonate well with major recent statements on identifying important new public health concerns, such as loneliness, and promising health strategies such as the integration of clinical and public health services and the incorporation of person-centered approaches into optimized public health policies. Conclusions: The value of person-centered approaches for enhancing PMH has been elucidated and documented. The findings resonate well with recent broad perspectives in health care and public health recommending PC as a key pivot for addressing health and related human and social concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper has highlighted the mental health development in Nepal. It covers the current state of mental health system and services and a throwback on the significant changes over a period of time. This review grabs a sneak into mental health plan/policies, prevalence; health facilities and human resources, monitoring and supervision, budget allocation, nongovernmental sector involvement, and international agreements. Every description in this paper is substantially based on the progression made at the different time frames, which provides clear understanding of the mental health situation in Nepal. Furthermore, this article throws insights on the main challenges to overcome the current situation on mental health and the associated treatment gap due to stigma toward mental illness, lack of appropriate budget allocation, shortage of human resources, and fear of discrimination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article announces awards given to several papers including the Marfatia Award to "Immunological Changes in Depression Before and After Treatment," Bhagwat Award to "Are Childhood Externalising Disorders the Harbinger of Early Alcohol Dependence?" and BPSS Award to "P 300: An Electrophysiological Endophenotype in OCD."

Background: People have practiced yoga and yagya (Homam or Agnihotra) as essential religious practices in India to maintain the environment, health, and wellness from time immemorial. Aim: The current bibliometric study was conducted to identify the published scientific data on the efficacy of yoga and Yagya on mental illness during the study period (1972-2021). Materials and Methods: A research query was generated and Scientometric data was collected from the "dimentions. ai" online database, resulting in a total of 8802 published research papers associated with the study. The obtained dataset was analyzed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses to evaluate the effect of yoga and yagya on mental illness. Results: The results indicated that most of the prolific authors are from highly productive institutions, with Harvard University on the top. The United States of America contributed the most in publications among countries, wherein author Shirley Telles published the most research paper related to yoga research. Conclusion: The current study shows that research related to yoga on mental health has a huge number of publications, but the research related to the efficacy of yagya need more attention of the scientific research. The outcome of this study can be utilized to identify the potential bibliometric endpoints with special emphasis on yoga and yagya on mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Depression is a major public health concern among Indian adolescents. Pre- and post-natal depression can often alter fetal development and have negative consequences on the physical and mental health of the mother. This paper aims to draw attention to the prevalence of depression and its correlates among currently married, ever-pregnant adolescents from two Indian States, i.e. Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Methods: This study utilizes data from a subsample (n = 3116) of the prospective cohort study Understanding the Lives of Adolescents and Young Adults (UDAYA) among 10 to 19 year-old adolescents. Bivariate analysis was performed to assess the prevalence of depression by sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics. To further access the predictors associated with depression a logistic regression model was applied. Results: Around one-tenth (9%) of pregnant adolescents had depression. Regression analysis indicated that substance use, religion, autonomy, considering attempting suicide, premarital relationship, violence, dowry, adverse pregnancy outcome, menstrual problem, and parental pressure for the child immediately after marriage were significantly associated with depression. Conclusions: This study confirms the pre-existing annotation that teen pregnancy is linked with depression. Findings indicate that Adolescent mothers experiencing violence, and a history of adverse pregnancy outcomes are at increased risk of developing depression. These study findings call for an urgent need to address depression among adolescent mothers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chapter 5 of the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, referred henceforth as "the Act," lays down the "rights of person with mental illness" and it forms the core depth of this legislation. The Act makes provision for the care, treatment, and rehabilitation measures to reduce its recurrence. One of the main objectives of the Act is to make inclusion and rehabilitation of mentally ill persons into the society and help in eliminating the stigma attached to mental illness in India. The significance of the new Act is seen as soon as one turns to the facts, an estimated that 20% of Indians are likely to suffer from depression and 14% of Indians have mental disorders as per a WHO report. The Act covers everything from common to severe mental disorders and from mental hospitals to primary health-care centers. The Act decriminalizes the attempt of suicide having the presumption that the person who attempted suicide has undergone severe stress, and the Act mandates helping the person rather than punishing them. The Act provides the right of having access to treatment at affordable cost, and of good quality. The government must provide for a range of services including outpatient as well as inpatient services, medicines free of cost, specialized services of children and adolescents, etc. Another key feature is the implementation of medical insurance for treating those with mental illness at parity with physical illness by all insurers. However, the Act also has some shortcomings such as there is the breach of the fundamental right – "right to privacy" as the Act provides power to the nominated representative to unlimited access to the records of the persons with mental illness. Then, there is the question of the feasibility of implementation of the Act, which is the scarcity of resources, under the budget allocated to the National Mental Health Programme was just rupees 40 crores in FY18. This means that the budget allocated in India for mental health makes up only 0.06% of the total health-care budget. Further, there are only 3800+ registered psychiatrists in India when the need is for at least 13,500 psychiatrists, this explains the 80%–90% treatment gap that exists in India. Under the Act, individual persons living without family members or caregivers would struggle to get appropriate care in a Mental Health Establishment if their capacity is limited, by a mental disorder, even if it is limited for a short while if the medical practitioner tries to treat a person without valid consent, this might make them vulnerable to be charged for negligence and/or be prosecuted for assault or battery. Furthermore, the Act is silent on matters such as management of properties of persons with severe mental illness, rehabilitation, and integration of homeless mentally ill into the community. The Act further provides the police with the power to enter a person's private residence (without a magistrate's approval) if they have reason to believe that an individual is mentally ill. The Act does not mention the use of ambulance to transport such patients. This research paper will discuss all these points and more in detail, analyzing what the current Act offers and where it lacks or falls short of benefitting the ones it is meant to help, care, protect, and rehabilitate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current paper contextualizes mental health from a human rights-based perspective. It traces the multifarious efforts for realization of human rights of persons with mental illness in the Indian context. Alluding to the stigma and ostracism faced by the individuals with mental illness from their families and communities, the paper discusses the challenges to their care and essential treatment/services and available support. The paper also proposes few eclectic strategies for creation of an enabling and inclusive environment for persons with mental illness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Qualitative research methods (QRMs) bear a critical role in psychiatry as they explore the phenomenology of psychiatric illness and its sociocultural dimensions. However, there is limited evidence regarding its use in psychiatric research in India. Aim: This study, under the aegis of mapping qualitative health research in India initiative, attempted to landscape the use of QRMs in psychiatry and elicited expert opinion on its potential, perceived quality, and scope for improvement. Materials and Methods: We reviewed studies using qualitative methodology published in the Indian Journal of Psychiatry (IJP) and the abstracts presented at the Annual Conference of the Indian Psychiatric Society (ANCIPS) between 2010 and 2019. Titles and abstracts were screened and shortlisted; full-text articles were checked to identify the relevant ones. In addition, ten experts comprising psychiatry journal reviewers, editors, and conference scientific committee members were interviewed to elicit their views and suggestions. Results: Out of 356 papers published in IJP between 2010 and 2019, only 12 papers used QRMs: five qualitative and seven mixed methods. Out of 2297 abstracts published between 2010 and 2019 in ANCIPS, only 28 had used QRMs, consisting of 20 qualitative and eight mixed methods. The findings reveal that qualitative research is still an understudied domain in Indian psychiatry with a substantial need for rigor and quality. Conclusions: To catalyze the use of qualitative research in Indian psychiatry, continuing medical education programs through workshops or webinar mode need to be imparted. These trainings should aim at building skills on qualitative study design, data collection, analysis, and writing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Publication of papers related to psycho-social interventions in general and Behavior Therapy, in particular, in Indian Journal of Psychiatry has been limited. Though the first paper related to Behavior Therapy was published in 1952, a manual search of all available issues of the journal from 1949 showed that only 42 papers related to Behavior Therapy have been published till 2009. Among them 10 are case reports. Methodological limitations abound even in the papers on larger groups of patients. Studies using operant conditioning have been very few. Aversion therapy and progressive muscle relaxation have been very frequently used. The published articles are reviewed under the various diagnostic categories. Publications in the recent years have been mostly on Cognitive Behavior Therapy. Even after 57 years of co-existence, the relationship between Behavior Therapy and Indian Psychiatry remains a tenuous one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resilience has received increased attention among both practitioners and scholars in recent years. Child resilience has received notable attention in disaster risk reduction (DRR) during the creation of the Sendai Framework 2015-2030 to improve child protection in the event of disasters. As resilience is a subjective concept with a variety of definitions, this study evaluates its different factors and determinates in the existing research to clarify the path for the near future and objective research. A systematic literature review was conducted by searching and selecting the peer-reviewed papers published in four main international electronic databases including PubMed, SCOPUS, WEB OF SCIENCE, and PsycINFO to answer the research question: "What are the criteria, factors or indicators for child resilience in the context of a natural disaster?" The process was based on PRISMA guidelines. In total, 28 papers out of 1838 were selected and evaluated using thematic analysis. The results are shown in two separate tables: one descriptive and the other analytical. Two main themes and five subthemes for criteria for child resilience in a disaster have been found. The factors found cover the following areas: mental health, spiritual health, physical, social behavior, and ecological, and as well as environmental. The majority of the included studies mentioned the scattered criteria about children resilience without any organized category. Although this concept is multifactorial, additional research is needed to develop this study and also observe other kinds of disasters such as human-made disasters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

World over, more women than men, suffer from common mental disorders that arise from social, psychological, and physiological differences on account of gender-based discrimination. Gender affects not only the rates of disorders, but also risk, timing of onset and course, diagnosis, treatment, and adjustment to mental disorder. The current paper contextualizes a feminist understanding to the role of gender in mental health. It discusses the role of sociocultural factors with respect to women and mental health leading to the violation of rights of women throughout their life cycle thereby impacting their sense of well-being and overall mental health. It also suggests few eclectic strategies to promote the well-being of women and prevention of mental disorder from a feminist lens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychiatric practice in India is marked by an increasing gulf between largely urban-based mental health professionals and a majority rural population. Based on the premise that any engagement is a mutually constructed humane process, an understanding of the culture of psychiatry including social process of local knowledge acquisition by trainee psychiatrists is critical. This paper reviews existing literature on training of psychiatrists in India, the cultural construction of their professional identities and autobiographical reflections. The results reveal a scarcity of research on how identities, knowledge, and values are constructed, contested, resisted, sustained, and operationalized through practice. This paper hypothesizes that psychiatric training and practice in India continues to operate chiefly in an instrumental fashion and bears a circular relationship between cultural, hierarchical training structures and patient--carer concerns. The absence of interpretative social science training generates a professional identity that predominantly focuses on the patient and his/her social world as the site of pathology. Infrequent and often superfluous critical cultural reflexivity gained through routine clinical practice further alienates professionals from patients, caregivers, and their own social landscapes. This results in a peculiar brand of theory and practice that is skewed toward a narrow understanding of what constitutes suffering. The authors argue that such omissions could be addressed through nuanced ethnographies on the professional development of psychiatrists during postgraduate training, including the political economies of their social institutions and local cultural landscapes. Further research will also help enhance culturally sensitive epistemology and shape locally responsive mental health training programs. This is critical for majority rural Indians who place their trust in State biomedical care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mt. Nyiragongo in Goma, DR Congo, exploded on 22 May 2022. In the Philippines, on 1 July 2021, the Taal volcano, considered a restive volcano, spewed a 0.62 mile-high plume of gas and steam into the air, cascading a mass evacuation. Without any prior warning, Goma and central Manila were in a state of emergency, not knowing what to expect and how to react. Volcanoes provide a conduit by which magma – the earth's molten rock, gases and water – may interact with human biological systems. The importance of effective pre-disaster planning cannot be over-emphasised in such situations. The article dwells on the volcanic phenomena, which can cause many health hazards during the eruption and in between eruptions. The vast majority of volcanogenic fatalities in the past few centuries have resulted from events at the proximity – such as pyroclastic density currents, lahars and suffocation or building/roof collapse from ash or debris – and also distal events, such as tsunamis, which may travel for hundreds of miles from the active site, and indirect consequences of eruptions, such as famine or infectious disease outbreaks, including podoconiosis, fluorosis, geophagy, iodine deficiency disorders and rift valley fever. Although technology and geology can give a better lead time, predicting natural hazards and formulating, a plan in advance will obviously be very helpful for public health professionals. This paper is intended for health-care workers to understand the health problems faced due to a volcanic eruption, and this understanding, along with the recommendations given, will enable them to plan and prepare for the management of relief, rescue and medical care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: The theme of the 7th International Day of Yoga on June 21, 2021, was "Yoga For Wellness," focusing on practice of yoga for physical and mental well-being. Since the concept of such a celebration was suggested by the UN General Assembly in 2014, yoga teaching has blossomed in almost all nations. However, a loss of rigor in the treatment of traditional yoga has resulted. Commercial aspects have reduced yoga to physical, breathing, and concentration exercises. Aims: The aim of this paper is to discuss three neglected Yogaṅgas, the Yamāḥ, Niyamāḥ and Pratyahāraḥ, and their potential benefits (siddhi) for society in the world today. Materials and Methods: We consulted four different reputed translations of Patanjali Yoga Sutra, during which, we generally hit on new, previously untreated aspects of the Sanskrit text. Results: Using an holistic perspective on the whole text, we provide new translations of pāda II's twenty sūtras concerning the Yamāḥ, Niyamāḥ, and Pratyahāraḥ. Practices to inculcate each of them are also explained. Conclusions: Traditional yoga highlights the important need to build a good character and helps develop the self-discipline to achieve high levels of both balance of mind and presence of mind; i.e., to live in the present moment, with union (yoga) of mind and body, and of thoughts, words and action, and lead a life of integrated restful alertness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Loneliness is an abstract construct defined in multiple ways. It is a feeling of disconnectedness, emotional isolation, and subjective feeling of lacking social relationships. Research shows loneliness to be common in older people, which, in turn, is a potent risk factor for various physical and psychosocial health conditions. Chronic loneliness is a predisposing factor for suicide, worsens cognitive outcomes, and impairs quality of living. Conventionally, aging is associated with "loss of vitality" and the "desperate need to retain older abilities." In contrast to these concepts, eastern views center around acceptance, "letting go" and aging with a greater sense of purpose. Traversing loneliness with self-esteem is viewed over a consistent resistance against loneliness. Self-acceptance, wisdom, and understanding the processes of emotional aging can foster hope and resilience which help navigate the inevitable loneliness that may arise in old age due to a multitude of factors. Spirituality has various intersections with mental well-being, however, it is often considered to be an esoteric concept. In this paper, we provide an Indian understanding of accepting and dealing with loneliness through the daily implementation of spiritual practices in life as well as mental health interventions. The four ashramas of Hinduism are discussed with special relevance to Vanaprastha Ashrama (forest-dweller), which signifies renunciation and acceptance associated with aging. The actionable areas with respect to spirituality and its philosophical underpinnings in mitigating loneliness in older people are also highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychiatric advanced directives (PADs) are utilized by mental health patients to direct their psychiatric care including assigning surrogates for medical decision-making, listing preferred inpatient psychiatric/ treating facilities, preferred medication regimens to stabilize acute psychiatric condition and to facilitate the patient’s overall interaction with the mental health system. This article reviews the rationale behind PADs, how they can be utilized to reduce the need for de-escalation techniques, restraints and chemical anxiolysis by partnering with patients in the delivery of their care. This paper will also briefly address some of the practical limitations that Emergency Physicians and allied health care providers might face in attempting to honor PADs including the inability to admit to preferred facilities due to staff shortages or other issues associated with the global COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: Coronavirus is spreading across the globe since December 2019. As India's first case was reported on January 30, 2020, the spread of this virus is experiencing by our population. As a result, there are extensive emotional distress and anxiety among populations due to this pandemic. Screening mental health is important for psychological well-being of any individual during this pandemic. The objective of this study was to validate the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS) in an Indian population. Materials and Methods: The research proposal was laid out before an ethical clearance committee, which approved the conduct of the research and consequent publication of the paper. Data were collected from 246 respondents through online. CAS, developed by Lee (2020), was adopted for the study. Informed consent was given by all the respondents, and their participation was voluntary. AMOS and SPSS were used to calculate confirmatory factor analysis and other statistical analyses. Bartlett's test of sphericity and Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) test, and Cronbach's alpha, were also calculated. Convergent validity was calculated through average variance extracted (AVE) and composite reliability (CR) in Microsoft Excel. Results, and Conclusions: Bartlett's test of sphericity was highly significant measuring Chi-square = 494.004, df = 10, and P < 0.001. The KMO was acceptable at 0.805. Fit indices (P < 0.001, Chi-square/df = 3.24, goodness of fit index = 0.976, Tucker-Lewis index = 0.954, and comparative fit index = 0.977) are statistically significant. Cronbach's alpha coefficient (0.822), AVE (0.526), and CR (0.745) were adequate. The overall findings of the analyses demonstrate that the CAS is a reliable and valid scale that evaluates the severity levels of dysfunctional anxiety linked to COVID-19 in an Indian sample. CAS is applicable to measure the level of dysfunctional coronavirus anxiety in the Indian population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: General hospital psychiatry units (GHPUs) are the major providers of mental health services in India. Unlike in high-income countries, GHPUs in India are also the main training centers for providing postgraduate training in psychiatry and allied disciplines. Aim: This paper traces the history of the GHPUs in India from beginning to the present. Material and Methods: PubMed, old issues of the Indian Journal of Psychiatry and related sources were searched with key words general hospital and psychiatry both electronically and manually to look for the related literature. Results: The history of the development of GHPUs is discussed under 3 phases: beginning to the preindependence period, independence to the year of the launch of the National Mental Health Programme of India, and afterward. Contributions of the GHPUs towards service development, teaching, research, community awareness and reducing stigma, and their future scope are discussed. Conclusion: GHPUs have been a revolutionary development in India with great contribution in the field of mental heath [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interface of policy and legislation is crucial in making quality mental health care accessible in an effective manner. Shortage of psychiatrists and other mental health personnel in India poses a huge challenge in delivering mental health care. The social context is instrumental in subjecting the mentally ill to human rights violations and discriminations with low awareness, illiteracy, superstitions, denial, and the prevailing social perception of mental illness in India. The enormity of problem requires a multipronged approach supported by a robust policy with specific achievable goals. Mental health policy relies on the legal framework to achieve its goals, and ameliorate the lives of persons with mental disorders. Policy and legislation are two complementary approaches for improving mental health care and services. International developments in mental health care have brought a paradigm shift from "charity" to "rights" based approach which is very much reflected in India's first-ever Mental Health Policy, 2014, and the newly enacted Mental Healthcare Act, 2017. This shift entails a "participatory" approach for developing community-based facilities, services, and rehabilitation provisions. An analytical approach has been adopted to gauge the likely outcome of the combined role of this ambitious policy and law in light of existing mental health-care infrastructure and "social context." An attempt has been made to highlight the main concerns and challenges in effective implementation of new law while putting forth feasible solutions to attain the policy goals. The paper concludes on a note that legal and health measures should work in tandem and eventual convergence be directed toward the best interest of mentally ill persons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This paper aimed at assessing the influence that probiotic supplement had on mental health and metabolic conditions of children suffering attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Materials and Methods: A number of 34 children with ADHD were selected randomly. Participants were randomly allocated into a group receiving 8 × 109 CFU/g probiotic supplements (n = 17) and a group receiving placebo (n = 17) during an 8-week time period. Clinical symptoms were recorded applying the rating scale of ADHD (ADHD-RS), Children's Depression Inventory (CDI), and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) both at onset of the study and after the 8-week interval. Moreover, samples of blood were also taken at the beginning and after the 8-week interval so that the metabolic information could be evaluated. Results: The probiotic supplementation could bring about a considerable decrease in total ADHD-RS (β −3.31; 95% confidence interval [CI]: −5.60, −1.02; P = 0.006) and HAM-A (β −1.91 [0.18]; 95% CI, −3.41, −0.41; P = 0.01) than that of the placebo. In addition, probiotic supplementation brought about a considerable decrease in high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) of serum (β −2.05 mg/L; 95% CI, −3.57, −0.52; P = 0.01) as well as a substantial rise in plasma overall antioxidant volume (TAC) (β 66.26 mmol/L; 95% CI, 36.83, 95.68; P < 0.001) than that of the placebo. No meaningful effects were observed on CDI and other metabolic features after the intake of probiotic supplements. Conclusions: Taking probiotic by children suffering ADHD could affect ADHD-RS, HAM-A, hs-CRP of serum, and TAC levels in plasma, while it did not show any effects on CDI and other metabolic profiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic restricted movement, closed businesses, and economic activities which disproportionately affected people globally. This pandemic has resurfaced the existing cracks in the societal set-up and has pushed the vulnerable and marginalized communities like migrant workers, people with disabilities, geriatric population, and commercial sex workers (CSWs) to an edge for their existence. Materials and Methods: Due to the paucity of peer-reviewed research publications on CSWs, formative research was conducted to identify the determinants and attributes of the challenges faced by CSWs during COVID-19 situation in India. Media scanning approach was used to collate literature from newspaper and magazine reporting, and peer-reviewed articles were referred from research-based search engines. Results: In total, 31 articles were included for content analysis and four domains of issues i.e., economic, social, psychological and health related challenged faced by them were identified which are supported with the verbatims of the community members as reported in the data sources considered for this study. It was identified that the CSWs adopted several protective measures and coping strategies to deal with the pandemic situation. Conclusion: This research highlighted that there is a need for further exploration of issues among CSWs by conducting studies among the communities. Furthermore, this paper provides a scope for future implementation research by identifying the key priorities and determinants of the challenges among the personal livelihood of CSWs in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to describe the implementation of a remote mindfulness program designed to serve as a mental health resource for MS-speech-language pathology students coping with the initial restrictions related to COVID-19. A cursory review of the literature outlining the negative social, emotional, and psychological impact COVID-19 has had on graduate students is presented. The benefits of mindfulness practice are well-documented, therefore, making it an appropriate mental health resource for minimizing the loneliness, stress, anxiety, and uncertainty experienced by students. Elements of a remote mindfulness program implemented within days of the stay-at-home order are described including the theoretical framework, session content, as well as strategies, techniques, and resources for independent practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic was confirmed to have spread to Slovakia on 6th March 2020. To date of paper submission, it has very favorable course. However, since the beginning healthcare workers have been working under increasing pressure, anxiety and fear. Aim: Authors evaluated the psychosocial impact of COVID-l9 pandemic on mental health experts and their clinical practice in Slovakia. Materials and Methods: A total of 157 mental health experts (79% women) submitted their responses via online questionnaire. Results: The most frequent occupation categories were 38.2% outpatient psychiatrists, 26.1% inpatient psychiatrists and 20.4% psychologists. The mental health experts felt maximum of stress during the peak of Slovak COVID-19 crisis, which was identified as the situation just after the declaring the state of emergency by Slovak government. The main sources of stress were statistical data, prognoses and other public presented information. Mental health experts felt mainly personal stress, then general and working stress. They identified also pathological effect of COVID-19 pandemic on the mental status of their patients, especially with anxiety and affective disorders and advantages of use of telemedicine. Conclusion: Psychosocial support in Slovakia was newly organized in COVID-19 pandemic for medical professionals, patients and other inhabitants under high stress within a very short time. This unexpected situation has revealed to Slovakia the need for reform of the mental healthcare system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contribution of researchers from India in the field of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has been substantial. Over 250 papers have been published by authors from India in the past five decades on this issue; about half of these have appeared in the Indian Journal of Psychiatry. This article summarizes the papers on ECT research that have appeared in the Journal. A bulk of these articles has focused on establishing the efficacy in different disorders. Considerable numbers of papers describe refinement in the ECT procedure, including anesthetic modification, ECT machine and EEG monitoring. Papers on neurobiology of ECT and long-term follow-up of ECT-treated patients form a minority. Despite the decline in the use of ECT across the globe, papers on ECT have only increased in the recent decades in the Journal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Care and treatment outside the setting of mental hospitals have been termed community psychiatry. This paper, based largely on publications on this subject in the IJP, discusses work on development of mental health services outside the hospitals, National and District Mental Health Programs, some accounts of Indian families, alternative modes of treatment in communities and a few miscellaneous issues. Very few papers are data driven and most of them are descriptive and opinionated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to understand the linkages between disaster and its impact on mental health. To fulfil this objective, an attempt has been made to examine the existing qualitative literature on disaster and mental health. In this paper, disaster and mental health as a concept has been used in a holistic sense. Based on the review of literature, the following broad themes have been identified: natural disaster and its impact on mental health, man-made disaster and its effect on mental health, effects of industrial disaster on mental health. It examines the post-disaster behavioural and psychological symptoms associated with an impairment in functioning. By this review, various protective factors, including resilience and other coping strategies which amplified the individual's capacity while encountering negative situations, have been identified. The effectiveness of post-disaster intervention techniques is also highlighted. Better preparedness and community empowerment can improve the condition of the vulnerable population affected by the disaster. Thus, efforts should be given for holistic rehabilitation of the affected population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yoga is being used as a mind-body complementary and alternative medicine intervention to help people with specific physical and mental health issues. In terms of the study area, yoga is an attractive field with various scopes and also contributes to scientific research. In this context, the current study is simply aimed at fully identifying the function of yoga intervention on students in academic institutions, as well as evaluating the available research data in this sector. A search query of relevant keywords was strategized and optimized to extract the information of research articles published from 1992 to 2021 from the "Dimention.ai" database. The obtained dataset was analyzed using PRISMA to evaluate the effect of interventions. The results indicate that the United States has published the maximum number of scholarly publications (553) among all countries. If we talk about organisation Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana from India has published the most of the articles (39) in the field of yoga education. The journal "Mindfulness" (14) and author "Shirley Telles" (14) from the "Patanjali Research Foundation-India" have published the highest scholarly articles. In the bibliometric coupling of distinct clusters, the strongest link strengths among the authors, countries, and organizations were observed for "Khalsa, Satbir S." (4915), "The United States" (47347), and "Harvard University" (8485), respectively. The current study indicated that yoga education studies have a huge spectrum of publications. Moreover, these bibliometric indicators provide significant endpoints to evaluate research output productivity and quality. The study's findings aid in developing a framework for additional research in the field of yoga and its usage in the academic environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although there has been a lot of research focused on the effect of war on child refugees, along with those impacted directly, there are no recent studies comparing these two groups side‑by‑side. In this paper, we review psychiatric comorbidities associated with children (defined as 17‑year‑olds and younger) exposed to war, with an additional emphasis on approaches to treatment. In addition, we aim to understand these children’s thoughts and insights into their situation(s). We will do so by presenting narratives given by close relatives of (1) two children currently in Ukraine in the midst of the war, (2) another young Ukrainian child war refugee who was able to recently leave the country, and (3) an adult and his experiences of being a war refugee and then resettling in the United States as a child. We never know when or where a war will begin. It is important that we have mental health professionals that can help children through the current and unexpected adversities that arise with war and displacement. These children need assistance with their uncertainties about the future and the risk of disruption of peace or comfort. Moreover, mental health disparities are substantial amongst children exposed to the traumas associated with war, and treatment is limited. We share this research to encourage mental health professionals to seek understanding of the impact the current war is having on Ukrainian youth. It is our hope that, with presenting these narrative accounts, mental health providers will gain a deeper understanding of what these children are encountering and will become prepared to support them and their mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mental Health Issues are an important public health problem. It has also social and economic costs. The Government of India is implementing the National Mental Health Program which includes upgrading of Psychiatry services of the medical colleges so as to provide community psychiatry services. This concept paper discusses the modalities of setting up a data base of psychiatric illnesses in the field practice areas of a medical college located in the twin township of Pimpri-Chinchwad, Pune District, Maharashtra. This database will enable practice of community psychiatry in collaboration with the Department of Community Medicine and can be a model for adoption in other medical institutions and nonteaching public hospitals as well as private hospitals. Most psychiatric illnesses require follow up and a good digital tracking system would minimise attritions. It would also facilitate community based research in mental disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Health systems are adapting to the unique challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Social distancing has forced clinicians to provide their services through online platforms in high income countries. Similar trends have been noticed in Low and middle-income countries (LAMIC). Digital health can help LAMIC address traditional barriers to care by overcoming issues related to stigma, discrimination, staffing, and physical and geographical resource constraints. Mobile phone subscriptions exceed 80% of the population in many LAMICs. Mobile platforms represent a viable resource in overcoming the significant mental health gap in LAMIC. This paper discusses the enormous potential that digital health has to transform healthcare delivery in LAMICs, as well as numerous challenges to implementation. We also discuss the need to develop national digital health strategies and suggest solutions to some of the barriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper is an autobiographical account of growth of Psychiatry in India, during the last six decades. It highlights on the development of treatment modalities in psychiatry especially on psychopharmacological drugs. The establishment of general hospital psychiatry and manpower development in the field of mental health are other areas which are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Decades of conflict and cycles of disasters in Afghanistan have caused enormous impacts on health, the economy, and even national security. Objectives: We aimed to assess the levels of depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms and their determinants among Afghan healthcare workers. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 830 Afghan healthcare workers working in public and private hospitals was conducted between May and July 2021. We employed a non-probability sampling method to select our subjects. The questionnaire was composed of sections on sociodemographic information, working conditions, and Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). Multivariable linear regression models were fitted using SPSS 21 to identify determinants of mental health symptoms among Afghan healthcare workers at a 5% significance level. Results: Of all participants, 52.3% (435) had symptoms of depression, 48.8% (405) anxiety, and 46.9% (389) stress. The likelihood of mental health symptoms was higher among those who worked in an urban setting (P = 0.001), were physically inactive (P = <0.001), had a decrease in income or an unpaid salary in the past six months (P = <0.001), thinking of leaving Afghanistan (P = <0.001), had medical comorbidity (P = <0.001), and being single (P = 0.048)]. Conclusion: This study highlights the important findings about the psychological health of healthcare workers in Afghanistan. These findings suggest rapid, actionable, and locally relevant interventions to assure potential improvements in working and living conditions for the health staff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses research by Sharad Philip and colleagues, reported in the April 2024 issue of the Indian Journal of Psychiatry, focusing on the utilization of emojis in youth mental health research in South Asia. Topics include the varied purposes of emojis in mental health assessment, their potential advantages and limitations, and the need for their integration into psychometric research methodologies to address cultural and linguistic challenges.

Background: Unhealthy life-style leads to mental ill-health and poor quality of life and is the major determinant of a wide range of lifestyle disorders. The aim was to 1) review the work relating to life style modification for promoting mental health and 2) Present recommendations on life-style modification for mental health and wellbeing. Material and Methods: The work on life style changes for promotion of mental health was retrieved from the scientific literature and critically reviewed. Conclusions: Recommendations on 'Life-style modification for mental health and wellbeing' are presented. 20 specific components of healthy life style included are: Routine, time management, prayer, basic activities, reading newspaper, study/work, exercise, recreation/ relaxation/ talent promotion, education, cognitive activities, social networking, guidelines for behavior, peer group, social group, marriage/family, life skills, physical health, health education, mobile use, and digital media. The lifestyle modification package is comprehensive and geared to promote mental health and well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Unwanted pregnancy has many negative consequences in terms of women's physical and mental health. Resilience is a process of utilizing important resources to maintain mental health in the face of stress. In addition, resilience can be promoted through. This study was performed to evaluate the effect of resiliency training on the mental health and resilience of pregnant women with an unwanted pregnancy. Materials and Methods: This randomized clinical trial was conducted on 66 women in Sabzevar, Iran, in 2020 with unwanted pregnancies, mild or moderate mental health problems, and low resilience. The participants were randomly divided into two groups through a simple lottery. In the intervention group, resilience training was performed once a week in groups of 10-15 people in six training sessions, each lasting 60 to 90 minutes. Mental health and tolerability were measured using the 28-item General Health Questionnaire and the Connor-Davidson Resilience scale before the intervention, and immediately after and 1 month after the intervention. Results: The mean (SD) of mental health immediately 35.46 (5.59) and 1 month after the intervention 33.73 (3.85) in the intervention group (F = 91.23; p < 0.001) was reduced significantly compared to the control group (F = 94.02; p < 0.001). The results of the mean (SD) showed that the resilience training intervention significantly increased the resilience score in the intervention group 84.36 (8.49)(compared to the control group (49.13) 6.67)((p < 0.001). Conclusions: Resilience training was effective in promoting the mental health and resilience of pregnant women with unwanted pregnancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Issues related to human factor -- ergonomics influence the health of the students and contribute to their well-being. Human factor -- ergonomics should be considered since the distinction between mind and body or mental and physical health is more artificial than actual. Perturbation in one affects the other; hence, simple steps to alter ergonomics can improve medical students' overall well-being and quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mental health policymakers are now tasked with maximizing the efficient and effective use of mental health resources as a result of fundamental changes to mental health laws. A crucial step in this process is ensuring optimal resource allocation across the service. Multiple biases prevent policymakers from allocating resources to mental health, resulting in a violation of the right to health, an increase in suffering, and a heavy economic burden associated with mental illness. This article provides a summary of Indian mental health policy, examines Indian public perceptions of mental health, and assesses the impact of these perceptions on legislation and mental health resource allocation. Understanding resource allocation from the perspective of policymakers can enhance psychiatrists' ability to influence the process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the role of psychiatrists in actively participating in media, especially newspapers, magazines, and electronic and social media, to convey accurate and scientifically valid mental health information to the public. It emphasizes the need for psychiatrists to counter biases, myths, and misconceptions prevalent in the media and highlights the importance of effective science communication to combat stigma and misunderstandings about mental illness.

This clinical practice guide traces the role of art and creativity in mental health and well-being. This is a difficult task since the evidence from research spans a wide variety of fine art forms and different aspects of creativity. Hence, we have tried to combine both evidence-based research as well as our clinical experience and practice in the field of arts in utilizing creative pursuits as a life skill and a well-being initiative. The focus of the guidelines is preventive and promotional with relevance to mental health. We also hope that this should be a beginning in encouraging psychiatrists in India to use art-based therapies in their clinical practice. This will further our knowledge of how arts can be a therapeutic intervention as well as a well-being tool. It will also build on the evidence base on how art impacts our mental health. Creativity is undeniably one of humanity's most valued traits; the capacity to produce new ideas, innovations, and art is perhaps the most striking characteristic of the human brain. "Art" has evolved, and what is art, has been redefined over human history. The domain of "art" refers to the diverse range of activities that often use imagination to express ideas and feelings. Whilst the boundaries of what constitutes art or creativity may sometimes appear esoteric, we still can identify a range of creative pursuits: visual, musical, verbal, literary, dance, or creative pursuits related to our body movements and a range of forms of newer integrated forms and those that use technology are recognized as art forms. As in most ancient traditions, in India, we have a plethora of fine art traditions many of which have a highly systematic practice around their learning. We believe this is an asset that we need to nurture and celebrate. We begin by tracing the footsteps of Indian fine arts being a mental health promotional tool in ancient India. We then proceed to describe the scope of creative pursuits for different populations and its relevance in school and child mental health. We offer suggestions as to how creative art forms can be utilized in a practical way in daily life, schools, and care of the elderly. It is to be noted that the entire focus here is the process of creativity and not the completed product or the achievement related to the same. Hence, it is relevant to each one of us and to anyone who wishes to be healthy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The guideline discusses the various milestones in typical neurodevelopment and the various checkpoints where atypical development can be picked up. There is also a remarkable influence of epigenetics and parenting on child development and well-being. It is also essential to establish effective communication to facilitate healthy child development. Well being in children is largely impacted by schooling, curricular design, inclusivity, teacher training and awareness of newer developments, parent teacher interaction. A clinician must also be well acquainted with the National Education Program and its impact. A healthy environment, exercise, adequate nutrition, microplastics on children and adolescents, global warming are key factors in the development of children. It is indispensable for clinicians to approach well-being in a scientific way and get a clear understanding of the laws and policies for child welfare and protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]