Comparing Mediators and Moderators of Mental Health Outcomes from the Implementation of Group Problem Management Plus (PM+) among Venezuelan Refugees and Migrants and Colombian Returnees in Northern Colombia.

Colombia hosts the largest number of refugees and migrants fleeing the humanitarian emergency in Venezuela, many of whom experience high levels of displacement-related trauma and adversity. Yet, Colombian mental health services do not meet the needs of this population. Scalable, task-sharing interventions, such as Group Problem Management Plus (Group PM+), have the potential to bridge this gap by utilizing lay workers to provide the intervention. However, the current literature lacks a comprehensive understanding of how and for whom Group PM+ is most effective. This mixed methods study utilized data from a randomized effectiveness-implementation trial to examine the mediators and moderators of Group PM+ on mental health outcomes. One hundred twenty-eight migrant and refugee women in northern Colombia participated in Group PM+ delivered by trained community members. Patterns in moderation effects showed that participants in more stable, less marginalized positions improved the most. Results from linear regression models showed that Group PM+-related skill acquisition was not a significant mediator of the association between session attendance and mental health outcomes. Participants and facilitators reported additional possible mediators and community-level moderators that warrant future research. Further studies are needed to examine mediators and moderators contributing to the effectiveness of task-shared, scalable, psychological interventions in diverse contexts.

Repeated Suicide Attempts Among Service Users of An Emergency Service in Northern Colombia: Characteristics, Associated Factors, And Management / Intento de Suicidio Repetido en Usuarios de un Servicio de Emergencias En Colombia Del Norte: Características, Factores Asociados y Manejo

Abstract Suicide has increased close to 60% in the last four decades worldwide. In Colombia, during the year 2019, 10,9% of violent deaths were due to suicide. This study aimed to identify risk factors predicting repeated suicide attempts. It also aimed to describe the management of suicidal behaviour within an emergency department of Northern Colombia. Dataset comprised 336 medical records of individuals seeking medical assistance for intentional self-harm between 2008-2019; 136 medical records were associated with previously reported suicide attempts. Results from a multivariate logistic regression showed that suicide ideation and having a history of psychiatric disorders significantly predicted repeated suicide attempts. Furthermore, repeated attempts were more likely in underaged individuals and young adults. Management of patients engaging in suicidal behaviour involved hospitalization and outpatient mental health services. However, a few patients were sent home with recommendations or were non-compliant. Findings from this study highlight the importance to develop evidence-based screening and monitoring protocols that prevent repeated suicide attempts.

Resumen El suicidio ha aumentado en cerca de un 60% en los últimos cuarenta años. En Colombia, para el año 2019, el 10.9% de las muertes violentas se presentaron por suicidio. Este estudio busca identificar los factores de riesgo asociados con los intentos repetidos de suicidio y además realiza un análisis descriptivo del manejo dado a estos pacientes. Esta investigación utiliza la base de datos de la unidad de emergencias en un hospital del norte de Colombia, y se centra en los pacientes que acudieron al hospital por intento de suicidio entre enero de 2008 y junio de 2019. La base de datos presenta 336 casos de los cuales el 81% corresponden a intentos suicidas y 19% a gestos. Resultados de un análisis de regresión logística multivariada mostraron que la ideación suicida y la historia de desorden psiquiátrico predecían significativamente los intentos suicidas repetidos y que los intentos repetidos eran más probables en el grupo de individuos menores de edad y en adultez temprana. El tratamiento administrado a los pacientes fue hospitalización y servicios ambulatorios; un porcentaje fue enviado a casa con recomendaciones. Los hallazgos de este estudio destacan la importancia del desarrollo de protocolos estandarizados basados en evidencia para prevenir los intentos repetidos.