Understanding suicide and its prevention in the Indian context: Mental Health Perspective

In India, suicide research has largely concentrated on the prevalence, method, psychological, and demographic risk factors. Suicide processes, paradigms, prevention strategies, and other features of suicide that are common in the West may not be applicable in India. It is vital to study potential underlying processes, various suicide prevention methods, and suicide prevention in general, as well as what more work has to be done in the Indian context. Suicide, on the other hand, is a cross-sectoral public health issue that demands collaboration across all key sectors, and its prevention should engage all stakeholders in India

Stark contrast in prevalence and correlates of mental disorder in the Arabic and Indian populations.

The Indian and Saudi Arabian (a prototypical Arab nation) national mental health surveys were compared. In comparison to Saudi Arabia, India had a 2.5-fold lower lifetime prevalence of mental illnesses, a 3.8-fold lower current prevalence, and a 7-fold lower prevalence of serious mental disorders. All mental disorders, except drug use disorder, were less common in India. Being over 40 years old and having a better education level had a greater rate of mental illness in India; conversely, being a woman increases the risk of mental illness in Saudi Arabia, particularly anxiety and eating disorders. Besides substance abuse disorders, the treatment gap for mental illnesses is larger in Saudi Arabia. Overall, the comparison suggests a contrasting difference in the prevalence of psychiatric disorders, and their demographic correlation varies between the Indian and Saudi Arabian populations. There is a need to understand as to why such discrepancies exist

Relationships of academic expectation stress & self-efficacy, efficacy for self-regulated learning with academic performance during Covid pandemic

Background: Academic expectation stress & self-efficacy and efficacy for self-regulated learning may affect academic performance. The Covid pandemic has affected the physical and psychological well-being of all, including students. However, there is a paucity of studies examining these variables in college students in Saudi Arabia. Objectives: This study was conducted to explore the levels and relationships of academic expectation stress & self-efficacy, self-regulated learning, and its relationships with academic performance in college students of ---- University during the Covid pandemic. Material and Methods: A total of 302 students were recruited in this cross-sectional study. They were assessed with sociodemographic and academic proforma designed for this study, the Academic expectation stress inventory (ASE), the Academic self-efficacy scale (AES), and the efficacy of the self-regulated learning scale (SRL). Results: Results revealed that the mean score of AES, SRL, and ASE was 29.18, 35.38, and 41.11, respectively. On linear regression analysis exam score was statistically significant positively predicted by the score on SRL, and the Score of AES was statistically significantly predicted by the score of SRL (+ve) and the score of ASE (-ve). Conclusions: It may be concluded that efficacy for self-regulated learning may mediate academic performance and academic self-efficacy during the Covid pandemic. Enhancing self-regulated learning may improve academic performance during the pandemic

Impact of Baseline Characteristics on Stroke Outcomes in Pakistan: A Longitudinal Study Using the Modified Rankin Scale

Introduction. Stroke is a leading cause of disability and mortality globally, with a significant impact on healthcare systems. Various factors, including age, gender, comorbidities, and the type of stroke, influence the burden of stroke and its outcomes. The study was conducted with an objective to determine the impact of baseline characteristics on the long-term functional outcome of stroke patients. Methods. This prospective observational study was conducted between April 6, 2022 - December 31, 2023, at a tertiary hospital. The study included patients with radiologically confirmed stroke, selected through convenience sampling. Stroke patients of any gender and all age groups, with any comorbidity, were included. The Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) assessed disability on admission and three months post-stroke. Results. Of the 213 patients, 122 (57.3%) were males and the majority, 199 (93.4%) individuals, had acute ischemic stroke. The median age of the participants was 60 years (range: 13-97 years; IQR=18 years). The mRS score on admission was poor (5.0; IQR=1.0) for patients ≥ 60 years. In 74 (34.74%) participants, the left middle cerebral artery was a frequently involved site. Age of ≥ 60 years (mRS=4.0; IQR=4.0; p=0.001) and the presence of ≥ 3 comorbidities (mRS=5.0; IQR=1.0; p=0.001) were significantly associated with poor outcomes three months post-stroke. Ordinal logistic regression revealed that a mRS score of 4 (OR=14.20; 95% CI=1.70-145.25; p=0.02) and a mRS score of 5 (OR=78.84; 95% CI=9.35-820.25; p < 0.001) on admission were associated with poor outcomes. In addition, the presence of ≥ 3 comorbidities (OR=4.59; 95% CI=14.65; p < 0.01) and increasing age (OR=1.04; 95% CI=1.01-1.07; p=0.02) were predictors of poor outcomes three months post-stroke. Conclusions. The study underscores the importance of early intervention and effective management of comorbidities to improve functional outcomes in stroke patients. It highlights the need for targeted stroke care and rehabilitation strategies