Symptoms of depression and stress among migrant workers in Al Qassim, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Migrant workers make up a third of the population of Saudi Arabia, approximately 13 million. Mental health disorders among this population are common, but very limited data exist currently. AIMS: To assess the prevalence of moderate to severe symptoms of depression and stress among a sample of migrant workers in Saudi Arabia. To identify whether migrant-specific factors, such as occupation, nationality, duration of migration, and work characteristics, are associated with depressive and stress symptoms. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 2,123 migrants was conducted in Al Qassim, Saudi Arabia. Depressive and stress symptoms were assessed with the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). The outcomes were categorized into two levels (i.e. mild or no symptoms versus moderate to severe symptoms). Univariate and multivariate binary logistic regressions were used to assess the relationship with potential covariates. RESULTS: The prevalence of moderate to severe depressive and stress symptoms was 7.3% and 3.6%, respectively. These did not vary by the duration of stay in the country or weekly work hours. However, there was substantial variance in the symptoms by participants' nationality and occupation. Participants from Bangladesh were 3.8 (95% CI [1.50, 9.62]) times more likely, and hospital cleaners were 6.5 (95% CI [2.12, 20.07]) times more likely to have depressive symptoms. Similarly, auto-repair workers were 6.3 times more likely to have symptoms of stress (95% CI [1.55, 25.90]). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of depressive and stress symptoms varied significantly depending on occupation and country of origin. It would behoove employers to screen for these mental health conditions and refer employees to the relevant healthcare services. Future studies could examine the feasibility of mental health screening programs among migrant employees.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the psychological status of undergraduate medical students in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional double-scale study.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a major health care catastrophe that affects people's physical and mental well-being worldwide. Medical students are at an increased risk of mental health hazards during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sulaiman Al Rajhi University (SRU), the site of our study, is located in Qassim province in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We conducted this study to assess the prevalence of depression, stress and anxiety symptoms among SRU medical students during the quarantine and while learning online shortly after the announcement of documented COVID-19 cases in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In this cross-sectional study, an online questionnaire was sent to all medical students of SRU; 278 students responded (71%). We collected participants' demographic, socioeconomic, and academic data. The Depression, Anxiety, and Stress scale and the Fear of COVID-19 Scale were used as the validated mental health assessment tools. Depression, anxiety and stress symptoms were found in 23%, 11%, and 6% of students, respectively. Females were more likely to have anxiety (P = .03) than males. Students who had close contact with COVID-19 cases, those whose lives were affected by COVID-19, and those with poor socioeconomic status had significantly higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression compared to their counterparts (P = .004, .01, .01, respectively). Students from high-viral-load areas, unmarried students, and those who did not live with their families were more stressed (P = .06, .01, .01, respectively). The Fear of COVID-19 Scale was positively correlated with all Depression, Anxiety, and Stress components (depression: r = 0.36, anxiety: r = 0.45, and stress: r = 0.39, P < .001 for all). Medical students, especially female students, are at an increased risk of developing depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms with increased COVID-19 fear during the pandemic. The study highlights the importance of mental health screening for female students, students of low socioeconomic status, and relatives of COVID-19 cases. Our findings could help institutions adjust mental health services in the future amid such pandemics.