ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the utilization of psychological hotlines by the unemployed labor force during the COVID-19 epidemic and to explore their mental health status. METHODS: General demographic data, types of caller problems and other information of unemployed adult labor force callers to the HCM City assistance hotline were collected from 2019 to 2022, and group comparisons were made according to different genders, different age groups, and caller times to understand the mental health status of this group by assessing depressive mood and suicide risk.Taking high-risk calls as outcome variables, multivariate Logistic regression was carried out to explore the related factors affecting the mental health status of this group. RESULTS: A study of 6,297 cases found that males exhibited higher rates of major depression, suicidal ideation, planning, and behavior compared to females (P < 0.001). The youth group had significantly higher proportions of major depression and suicide risk compared to middle-aged and older individuals (P < 0.001). Calls in the second half of the night were associated with a higher proportion of callers reporting suicidal plans and preparations(P < 0.001). Young callers had an 11.04 times(OR=12.04,95%CI 3.523-41.148,P＜0.001)and senior callers had an 4.039 times (OR=5.039 95%CI 1.476-17.201,P=0.01) higher risk of suicidal behavior compared to middle-aged callers, and men were 1.211 times (OR=2.211 95%CI 1.423-3.435,P < 0.001)more likely to have high-risk calls than women. Gender and age were identified as influential factors for high-risk situations. CONCLUSION: Unemployed callers who were male, in the youth group, and who called in the second half of the night had relatively poorer mental health and were at higher risk for suicide.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Depressive DisorderABSTRACT
Purpose To (1) assess the prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms in community-dwelling patients with schizophrenia in China during the epidemic; (2) explore possible influencing factors.Methods Using a cross-sectional survey, we collected 15165 questionnaires. Assessments included demographic information, concern about COVID-19-related information, sleep status, anxiety and depressive symptoms, and accompanying illnesses. The 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) and the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) were used to evaluate depression and anxiety levels. Group comparison was conducted by t-test, ANOVA, or chi-square test wherever suitable with Bonferroni pairwise correction. Multivariate logistic regression were performed to identify predictors for anxiety and depression.Results 16.9% patients had at least moderate anxiety, and 34.9% had at least moderate depression. T-test showed that females scored higher on GAD-7 and PHQ-9 than males, and patients without accompanying long-standing diseases, who were not concerned about the COVID-19 had lower GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scores. ANOVA showed that participants aged from 30 to 39, with higher education scored higher on GAD-7, and patients with better sleep, having less concern about the COVID-19 had lower GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scores. Regression analysis indicated that participants aged 30–39 and 40–49 positively predicted anxiety, whereas patients aged 30–39 years positively predicted depression. Poor sleep, accompanying diseases, and concerning the COVID-19 pandemic were more likely to experience anxiety and depression.Conclusion Chinese community-dwelling schizophrenia patients had high anxiety and depression rates during the pandemic. These patients warrant clinical attention and psychological intervention, especially those with risk factors.
Subject(s)
COVID-19ABSTRACT
Background The 2019 Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) poses a huge challenge to the global public health. People with schizophrenia living in communities urgently need effective interventions to help them adjust to life and work, but they have not received enough attention. This study aims to assess the prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms in community-dwelling patients with schizophrenia in China during the epidemic, and to explore possible influencing factors.Methods Using a cross-sectional survey, we collected 15165 questionnaires. Assessments included subjects’ demographic information, knowledge of COVID-19-related information, sleep status, anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, and other accompanying illnesses. The Chinese versions of the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) and the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) were used to evaluate the depression and anxiety of patients.Results Moderate to severe anxiety accounted for 16.9%, and the percentage of moderate and above depression was 34.9%. T-test showed that females with schizophrenia had a significantly higher score of GAD-7 and PHQ-9 than males with schizophrenia (t=-2.03, P = 0.042; t=-3.27, P = 0.001), and patients without other accompanying long-standing diseases (t = 4.18, P < 0.001; t = 6.86, P < 0.001), not understanding COVID-19 (t = 8.17, P<0.001; t = 2.29, P = 0.022) had lower GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scores. ANOVA showed that participants aged from 30 to 39 (F = 2.8, ,P = 0.014), with higher educational levels (F = 4.0, ༌P = 0.007) scored higher on GAD-, ༌and patients with better sleep(F = 158.8, ༌P < 0.001; F = 284.0, ༌P < 0.001), having a simple knowledge of COVID-19 (F = 93.19, P<0.001; F = 95.30, P<0.001) had lower GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scores. Bivariate regression analysis indicated that participants aged 30–39 and 40–49 positively predicted anxiety, whereas only patients aged 30–39 years were positively predictive of depression. Participants with poor sleep, other long-standing diseases, knowing the COVID-19 pandemic were more likely to experience anxiety and depression.Conclusion Patients aged from 30 to 39, with poor sleep, other accompanying long-standing diseases, knowing the COVID-19 pandemic were potential factors of depression and anxiety. We need to strengthen psychological intervention for patients with schizophrenia.
Subject(s)
COVID-19ABSTRACT
AbstractsIn light of the novel coronaviruss (COVID-19s) threat to public health worldwide, we sought to elucidate COVID-19s impacts on the mental health of children and adolescents in China. Through online self-report questionnaires, we aimed to discover the psychological effects of the pandemic and its associated risk factors for developing mental health symptoms in young people. We disseminated a mental health survey through online social media, WeChat, and QQ in the five Chinese provinces with the most confirmed cases of COVID-19 during the late stage of the country-wide lockdown. We used a self-made questionnaire that queried children and adolescents aged 6 to 18 on demographic information, psychological status, and other lifestyle and COVID-related variables. A total of 17,740 children and adolescents with valid survey data participated in the study. 10,022 (56.5%), 11,611 (65.5%), 10,697 (60.3%), 6,868 (38.7%), and 6,225 (35.1%) participants presented, respectively, more depressive, anxious, compulsive, inattentive, and sleep-related problems compared to before the outbreak of COVID-19. High school students reported a greater change in depression and anxiety than did middle school and primary school students. Despite the fact that very few children (0.1%) or their family members (0.1%) contracted the virus in this study, the psychological impact of the pandemic was clearly profound. Fathers anxiety appeared to have the strongest influence on a childrens psychological symptoms, explaining about 33% of variation in the childs overall symptoms. Other factors only explained less than 2% of the variance in symptoms once parents anxiety was accounted for. The spread of COVID-19 significantly influenced the psychological state of children and adolescents. It is clear that children and adolescents, particularly older adolescents, need mental health support during the pandemic. The risk factors we uncovered suggest that reducing fathers anxiety is particularly critical to addressing young peoples mental health disorders in this time.