Prevalence of probable mental illness among college students in a select university in Bangalore rural district.

Background: Mental health is an important aspect in defining the “health status” of a person. Mental health of young adults plays an important role in shaping one’s life, social relationships, career and ultimately a country’s economy. Aims & Objective: (1) To assess the prevalence of probable mental illness among college students in a select university in Bangalore rural district; (2) To find the risk factors associated with probable mental illness. Material and Methods: This study was a cross sectional study undertaken at a private university (having colleges dealing with various academic streams under it) in Bangalore rural district. 404 students under the university were taken for the study considering the sample size required was 300. The General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28) was used to screen each participant for mental illness. Data was analyzed using measures of central tendency, frequencies & Chi square test. Results: A total of 404 students participated in the study. Males were 265 (65.6%) and females were 139 (34.4%). The mean age of the participants was 20.37 years with SD 1.7 years. Age of the participants ranged between 18- 26 years. A total of 152 (38%) participants were screened positive for mental illness. Probable mental illness was significantly higher among: (a) females; (b) those who reported abuse by parents; (c) those who reported gender bias at home; (d) whose parents were separated/ divorced/ one parent had died; (e) those who were day scholars. Whereas no significant association was found between probable mental illness and (a) age; (b) academic streams; (c) parental marital disharmony; (d) absence of siblings; (e) father being alcoholic. About 50 (12%) participants reported to have had definite suicidal thoughts. Conclusion: The prevalence of probable mental illness is 38% in this study which is high. We recommend screening programmes for mental illness among college students which can go long way in preventing severe forms of mental illness and dire consequences like suicide among young adults

Acceptance of Disability : The Mindset of Stroke Patients / The Japanese Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine

Until the time arrives when stroke patients truly recognize themselves as handicapped (living with their disabilities), it is well known that they usually pass through the five stages of grief, namely : denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. It is difficult to know which stage a patient is at, but we have found that a patient's writing, their letters, the occasional poem, etc are all of great use to identify the stage. Patients who are satisfied with their present lives are more able to accept their situation and therefore have fewer tendencies toward suicidal thoughts. The richness of their lives helps them to overcome their disabilities and enables them to return back to society. We should not force our patients, especially those in the denial or confusion stage, to accept their disabilities and rather must try to listen sincerely about their suffering and their stories. Most patients with brain strokes are encouraged to do their best “ganbare" by medical staff such as nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech language hearing therapists and doctors, and their family members and their friends. Usually, they are pleased to hear these words. However, some patients may perceive such encouragement as stressful, but if we know how to use these words in a supportive, positive manner, then they can be useful words in the care of stroke patients.

Construction of a Structural Model about Male and Female Adolescents' Alienation, Depression, and Suicidal Thoughts / 간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was designed to construct a structural model explaining alienation, depression, and suicidal thoughts in male and female adolescents. METHOD: Data was collected by questionnairs from 204 male and 208 female students selected randomly in high schools in K city. RESULTS: This study found that depression was significantly affected by alienation, and was indirectly affected through alienation by school attachment, peer relationships, and academic performance. Suicidal thoughts were greatly affected by depression, and were directly and indirectly influenced by alienation. It was confirmed that alienation turned out to be a important mediating variable, while it had a effect significant on depression and suicidal thoughts. Also there were significant differences in affecting factors among male and female students. CONCLUSION: Intervention strategies for preventing alienation, depression and suicidal thoughts should be different according to gender. In addition, specific nursing intervention plans, including parent education and role training programs, fostering of humanistic and achievement-focused educational environment, peer support programs, and individual counselling, need to be developed and implemented to lessen a feeling of alienation from family and school.

The relation between physical illness and suicidal thoughts in general population in DongDa district, Hanoi city

2.280 people living in DongDa district, Hanoi city were randomly selected and interviewed concerning the health status, the physical illness the emotional troubles as well as the habit of use of alcohol, sleeping medication, pain medication, and their suicidal thought in whole life. The results showed that there is an association between the suicidal thoughts and cancer, asthma. Anxiety, depression and fear were considered predictors for these thoughts, the habit for using sleeping and pain relief medications were associated statistic significantly with the suicidal thoughts but there was not an association with the use of alcohol.