Factors associated with suicide risk among Brazilian graduate students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Though pandemic-related suicides are a concern, little is known about factors potentially linking graduate student life and suicide risk. This study identified factors associated with suicide risk among Brazilian graduate students (N = 5,344) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Utilizing the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview, this study revealed that 31.5% of participants presented some risk for suicide: 16.6% "low risk," 4.7% "moderate risk," and 10.2% "high risk." Higher income and religious affiliation were identified as protective factors. Identified risk factors encompass non-heterosexual orientation, a history of depression or posttraumatic stress or common mental disorders diagnoses, the use of medications-both general and psychopharmaceuticals-without medical prescription, antipsychotics use, alcohol consumption, lack of health insurance, and dissatisfaction with life as a result of accessing social media networks. The high vulnerability of graduate students to suicide risk highlights the need for institutional suicide prevention initiatives.

Mundo de Pólus serious game for people with bipolar disorder.

BACKGROUND: Serious games are play-based technologies designed to teach users a wide range of concepts and skills applicable in the non-virtual environment. OBJECTIVES: This paper describes the process of developing a serious game for people with bipolar disorder to promote symptom recognition and the safe use of medications. METHODS: This study was based on the User-Centered Design methodological model and the theoretical framework for Participatory Design. We conducted interviews with health professionals and discussion circles with people with bipolar disorder and their family members in order to identify the learning needs related to symptom recognition and safe medication use. A categorical analysis was completed of the participants' reports and the scientific literature and formed the basis for the design of Mundo de Pólus. RESULTS: The game development process had three pillars (detailed in this manuscript): missions, simulation, and journal. The serious game focuses on the users' perceptions about their experience with the disorder, their interpersonal relationships, coping strategies, use of medications, and non-pharmacological treatments. CONCLUSIONS: These scientific and technological outcomes are useful to promote literacy and safety in medication therapy for people with bipolar disorder.

Where to seek help? Barriers to beginning treatment during the first-episode psychosis.

OBJECTIVE: As decreasing the duration of untreated psychosis has been highlighted as key indicator in relation to improved prognosis, this study aims to identify the access barriers to beginning early treatment of young people in first-episode psychosis (FEP), based on family reports on the experience of perceiving illness and help-seeking. METHOD: A qualitative research was carried out with 12 relatives of 12 young people passing through their first psychiatric hospital admission as a result of their FEP. Depth interviews were used for data collection and thematic content method for data analysis. RESULTS: Barriers to beginning treatment were lack of knowledge and difficulty in recognizing mental illness, lack of knowledge on where to seek specialized treatment, and stigma and resistance to psychiatric treatment. CONCLUSION: It was demonstrated that the family members are protagonists in the search for treatment of young people in their FPE, given that the initiative for seeking treatment came from them.

Adherence to Psychotropic Medications and Associated Factors in Primary Health Care.

The study aims were to analyze patients' adherence to psychotropic medications and its association with sociodemographic factors, therapeutic regimen, presence of common mental disorders, and illness factors. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in ten Primary Health Care units in Brazil. The tools were the Measurement of Treatment Adherence Test and the Self Reporting Questionnaire. Nonadherence to psychotropic drugs was 88.9%. There was association between adherence and age and among patients positive for Common Mental Disorders (97.8%). In the multivariate analysis this association was not maintained. Findings indicate strategies are needed to improve medication adherence in the Primary Health Care services. However, no strategy will be effective if patients and their families are not involved in the process.