International and domestic university students' mental health over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany: Comparison between 2020, 2021, and 2022.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic affected university students' mental health worldwide. International students were presenting high levels of stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms before the pandemic. This study aimed to investigate (i) differences between various timepoints of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020, 2021, and 2022) in mental health outcomes and social and emotional aspects in domestic and international students, separately, (ii) differences between international and domestic students between the three timepoints on mental health outcomes and social and emotional aspects, and (iii) possible moderation effects of timepoints on mental health outcomes and social and emotional aspects of domestic and international students. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data from three cross-sectional anonymous online surveys conducted in German universities were analyzed and compared. Data were collected in 2020, 2021, and 2022, respectively, with a total N = 14,498. Depressive symptoms, hazardous alcohol use, social support, self-efficacy, resilience, perceived stress, and loneliness were assessed through standardized self-report instruments. Differences between domestic and international students in mental health outcomes, and social and emotional aspects across three timepoints were assessed with one-way and two-way ANCOVAs. RESULTS: Regardless of the timepoint, international students presented more depressive symptoms and perceived stress, lower perceived social support and resilience, but higher levels of self-efficacy and less alcohol consumption compared to domestic students. A significant interaction effect between timepoint and student status emerged only for loneliness. CONCLUSIONS: International students generally presented poorer mental health outcomes than domestic students. Mental health care and prevention such as low-threshold, online counseling should address university students, especially international students.

Acceptability and Feasibility of Online Support Groups for Mental Health Promotion in Brazilian Graduate Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Longitudinal Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 aggravated already existing difficulties and added new challenges for students. Owing to the gap between needed and available psychological services, group interventions may offer a helpful strategy for student mental health promotion. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the acceptability and feasibility of a 4-week online support group program designed for mental health promotion tailored to graduate students at a Brazilian public university in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic (May 2022 to June 2022). METHODS: Participants in the program took part in online support groups based on a pilot group facilitated by a trained clinical psychologist. Self-administered, standardized web-based questionnaires were assessed at the baseline (T0; before the intervention), postintervention (T2), and follow-up (T3; after 4-6 weeks) time points. We measured sociodemographic variables, treatment credibility and expectancy (Credibility and Expectancy Questionnaire), satisfaction (Client Satisfaction Questionnaire), negative effects of the intervention (Negative Effects Questionnaire), depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-9 [PHQ-9]), and participants' quality of life (abbreviated World Health Organization Quality of Life assessment). A 9-answer option questionnaire and open-ended questions also assessed the group's perceived positive and negative outcomes. RESULTS: The total sample comprised 32 participants. Most (23/32, 72%) were doctoral students. Credibility and expectancy scores were high. Participants' satisfaction (Client Satisfaction Questionnaire) with the program was high at the postintervention (T2) and follow-up (T3) evaluations (T2: mean 28.66, SD 3.02; T3: mean 27.91, SD 3.02). Most participants reported that they could learn from other participants' experiences (T2: 29/32, 91%; T3: 27/32, 84%) and felt encouraged to take better care of themselves (T2: 22/32, 69%; T3: 24/32, 75%). None of the participants reported that they had no benefits from the program. The PHQ-9 scores showed mild to moderate depressive symptoms (mean 9.59, SD 6.34), whereas the answers of 9% (3/32) of the participants to the PHQ-9 item 9 indicated suicidality at baseline (T0). Finally, the 4 domains of quality of life (physical: P=.01; psychological: P=.004; social: P=.02; and environmental: P<.001) showed a slight and statistically significant improvement at the postintervention evaluation (T0: mean 57.03, SD 15.39 to 59.64, SD 17.21; T2: mean 64.32, SD 11.97 to 68.75, SD 8.87). CONCLUSIONS: Online support groups for the mental health promotion of graduate students are feasible and can be especially useful for universities with students allocated to different cities. They are also satisfactory and may positively influence participants' quality of life. Therefore, they can be considered a helpful mental health promotion strategy in the educational context. Further studies could evaluate these (or similar) programs under nonpandemic circumstances.

How are Brazilian university students coping with the COVID-19 pandemic? Results of an online survey on psychosocial well-being, perceived burdens, and attitudes toward social distancing and vaccination.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant disruption to education systems worldwide, increasing pre-existing concerns regarding university students' mental health. Brazil was among the countries most affected by COVID-19 cases and deaths and was considered a pandemic epicenter. This study aimed to investigate Brazilian university students' mental health status and perceived burdens during the COVID-19 pandemic. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From November 2021 to March 2022, a cross-sectional and anonymous online survey was conducted among students of a Brazilian federal university. Mental health status (depressive symptoms, alcohol and drug consumption) and social and emotional aspects in the pandemic context (social support, perceived stress, loneliness, resilience, and self-efficacy) were assessed with standardized measures. Students' attitudes toward the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccination and perceived burdens of the pandemic were also investigated. RESULTS: A total of N = 2,437 students completed the online survey. The PHQ-9 mean sum score was 12.85 (SD = 7.40), while n = 1,488 (61.10%) participants reported a sum score of 10 or more, indicating clinically relevant depressive symptoms. Further, n = 808 (33.1%) of the total sample reported suicidal thoughts. Levels of depressive symptoms, perceived stress, and loneliness were higher among undergraduate/bachelor students than doctoral students. Almost all participants (97.3%) reported being fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Multiple regression analyses showed that being single, having an income decreased during the pandemic, having a previous mental illness, having a chronic somatic condition, not finding positive aspects in the pandemic, lower self-efficacy, lower social support, lower resilience, and higher experienced loneliness were significantly associated with higher levels of depression. CONCLUSIONS: The study showed high levels of depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation among Federal University of Parana students. Therefore, health care providers and universities need to recognize and address mental health issues; psychosocial policies must be enhanced to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on students' mental health and wellbeing.

Eating attitudes and depressive symptoms in a LGBTIQ sample in Turkey.

Background: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersexual and queer (LGBTIQ) individuals are often stigmatized due to their minority status. Sexual-minority stress is often discussed as a risk factor for the increased mental health problems reported in this population. Objective: The current study (1) investigated eating attitudes and depressive symptoms in a sexual minority sample from Turkey who identify themselves as LGBTIQ and (2) explored the role of sexual minority stressors beyond the potential predictors of eating attitudes and depressive symptoms in this population. Methods: Recruitment was supported and streamlined by several Turkish NGOs and LGBTIQ community networks. Sociodemographic measures, eating attitudes, depressive symptoms, sexual minority stressors (e.g., heterosexist experiences, internalized homophobia), and the potential predictors of eating attitudes and depressive symptoms were assessed with an anonymous online survey between February 2022 and June 2022. The sample consisted of 440 participants. The mean age was 31.92 (SD = 11.82). The majority of the participants reported their current gender identity as male (64.3%; n = 440) and their sexual orientation as attracted to men (62.8%; n = 439). For 79.7% of the participants, the assigned sex at birth was man (n = 439). Results: Two separate three-stage multiple hierarchical regression analyses were conducted, controlling for sociodemographic characteristics and the risk and protective factors of eating attitudes and depressive symptoms. Disturbed eating attitudes were predicted by assigned female sex at birth, higher scores for depression, social isolation, and the total number of heterosexist experiences, and lower distress related to heterosexist experiences. Depressive symptoms were predicted by assigned female sex at birth, lesbian sexual orientation, disturbance in eating attitudes, increases in generalized anxiety, and distress related to daily heterosexist experiences. Conclusion: The current study demonstrated the significant role of sexual minority stressors in the prediction of disturbed eating attitudes and depressive symptomatology beyond the general psychosocial vulnerability factors. These findings emphasize the need for developing strategies to reduce prejudicial attitudes at the societal level and to enhance the skills of LGBTIQ individuals in coping with sexual minority stressors in Turkey.

Social distancing during pandemics: Suicide risk and prevention in the face of psychosocial impacts of COVID-19 / Distanciamento social em pandemias: o risco e a prevenção do suicídio frente aos impactos psicossociais da COVID-19 / Distanciamiento social en pandemias: el riesgo y la prevención del suicidio frente a los impactos psicosociales de COVID-19

Social distancing strategies have been used to mitigate pathogen transmission rates during pandemics. Such mitigation measures can lead to psychosocial and economic impacts that negatively affect the mental health of populations and, consequently, increase suicide risk, especially in people who were already vulnerable. Based on a reflection on mental health and pandemics, this study aimed to present the negative implications of the COVID-19 pandemic for mental health and articulate them to suicide risk in the general population. We emphasized the importance of adopting proactive mental health care measures combined with sanitary measures. We concluded that large-scale governmental actions are necessary to improve and expand the Brazilian Psychosocial Care System, in addition to cross-sector measures aimed at improving protective factors and mitigating risk factors, especially regarding socioeconomic and relational vulnerability.

Estratégias de distanciamento social têm sido utilizadas para mitigar a taxa de transmissão dos patógenos durante pandemias. Essas medidas podem gerar impactos psicossociais e econômicos que afetam negativamente a saúde mental das populações e, consequentemente, aumentar o risco de suicídio, especialmente em pessoas que já apresentavam vulnerabilidade. A partir de uma reflexão sobre saúde mental e pandemias, este trabalho objetivou apresentar as implicações negativas da pandemia de COVID-19 para a saúde mental e articulá-las ao risco de suicídio na população geral. Explicitamos a necessidade de se adotar medidas proativas no cuidado em saúde mental articuladas com estratégias sanitárias. Concluímos que ações governamentais massivas para o fortalecimento e a ampliação da Rede de Atenção Psicossocial são necessárias no Brasil, além de medidas intersetoriais que visem o fortalecimento dos fatores de proteção e a atenuação dos fatores de risco, especialmente no que se refere à vulnerabilidade socioeconômica e relacional.

En pandemias, se han utilizado estrategias de distanciamiento social para mitigar la tasa de transmisión. Estas medidas pueden generar impactos psicosociales y económicos que afectan negativamente la salud mental de las poblaciones y, en consecuencia, aumentan el riesgo de suicidio, especialmente en personas que ya tenían vulnerabilidad. Apoyado en una reflexión sobre salud mental y pandemias, este estudio tiene como objetivo presentar las implicaciones negativas de la pandemia de COVID-19 para la salud mental y articularlas con el riesgo de suicidio. Son explicitadas la necesidad de adoptar medidas proactivas en la atención de salud mental que se articulen con estrategias sanitarias. Se concluye que en Brasil es necesaria una acción gubernamental masiva con respecto al fortalecimiento y expansión de la Red de Atención Psicosocial, además de las medidas intersectoriales destinadas a fortalecer factores de protección y mitigar factores de riesgo, especialmente con respecto a la vulnerabilidad socioeconómica y relacional.

Revisão Bibliométrica das Produções Acadêmicas Sobre Suicídio Entre 2002 e 2011 / Bibliometric Review of Academic Production About Suicide Between 2002 and 2011

O suicídio é um grave problema de Saúde Pública que exige dos órgãos de saúde a construção de políticas de prevenção e intervenção. O presente trabalho buscou construir um panorama sobre a literatura na área que aponte tendências e lacunas que possam revelar necessidades e carências na abordagem do tema. Analisaram-se 762 trabalhos, em português e espanhol, produzidos entre 2002 e 2011. A área da saúde apresenta o maior volume de estudos, com destaque para a Psicologia e para os estudos que relacionam o suicídio e as psicopatologias. Há um alto índice de estudos teóricos, evidenciando uma necessidade de incremento das publicações que contribuam para a construção de políticas públicas de prevenção e gerenciamento do fenômeno em populações específicas.(AU)

Suicide is a serious Public Health problem which requires from health agencies policies for prevention and intervention. This study aimed to construct an overview of the literature in this area which point trends and blanks that may reveal needs and gaps in addressing the issue. We analyzed 762 papers, produced between 2002 and 2011. The highest volume of works are located in health studies, with highlight to Psychology and to the studies that correlate suicide and psychopathologies. There is a great number of theoretical studies that evidence the need for increasing publications with approaches that contribute to public policies for suicide prevention and management in specific populations.(AU)

Revisão bibliométrica das produções acadêmicas sobre suicídio entre 2002 e 2011 / Bibliometric review of academic production about suicide between 2002 and 2011

O suicídio é um grave problema de Saúde Pública que exige dos órgãos de saúde a construção de políticas de prevenção e intervenção. O presente trabalho buscou construir um panorama sobre a literatura na área que aponte tendências e lacunas que possam revelar necessidades e carências na abordagem do tema. Analisaram-se 762 trabalhos, em português e espanhol, produzidos entre 2002 e 2011. A área da saúde apresenta o maior volume de estudos, com destaque para a Psicologia e para os estudos que relacionam o suicídio e as psicopatologias. Há um alto índice de estudos teóricos, evidenciando uma necessidade de incremento das publicações que contribuam para a construção de políticas públicas de prevenção e gerenciamento do fenômeno em populações específicas.

Suicide is a serious Public Health problem which requires from health agencies policies for prevention and intervention. This study aimed to construct an overview of the literature in this area which point trends and blanks that may reveal needs and gaps in addressing the issue. We analyzed 762 papers, produced between 2002 and 2011. The highest volume of works are located in health studies, with highlight to Psychology and to the studies that correlate suicide and psychopathologies. There is a great number of theoretical studies that evidence the need for increasing publications with approaches that contribute to public policies for suicide prevention and management in specific populations.