Is the Danish rurality becoming a human capital magnet?

This article examines the phenomenon of counterurbanisation in Denmark, focusing on the migration of individuals from urban to rural areas. Despite long-standing challenges in rural areas, the study reveals a positive trend of people, especially the young and employed, moving from cities to rural municipalities. The research, based on panel data and multilinear regression, highlights the role of human capital characteristics, such as higher education and occupational skills, in driving this migration pattern. Contrary to common misconceptions, the study challenges stereotypes by showing that rural areas attract a diverse range of individuals, with a notable increase from 2009 to 2020 in higher-educated, skilled, and higher-income migrants. The research distinguishes migration patterns within rural municipalities, noting an urban/rural dichotomy between II-tier towns and III-tier villages. The results indicate a preference among middle-aged and higher-income individuals migrating towards towns, while younger individuals with lower income and vocational education are inclined towards villages, potentially serving as catalysts for rural transformation in Denmark

The influence of concern about COVID-19 on mental health in the Republic of Georgia: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Early evidence indicates increased mental health burden arising from COVID-19 and related control measures. The study aim was to examine concern about COVID-19 and its association with symptoms of mental disorders in the Republic of Georgia. A cross-sectional internet-based survey of adults in Georgia using non-probabilistic sampling was used. Questionnaire topics were: (i) demographic and socio-economic characteristics; (ii) level of burden caused by common causes of COVID-19 related concerns; (iii) strategies used in response to concerns about COVID-19; and (iv) symptoms of mental disorders of anxiety (GAD-7), depression (PHQ-9), PTSD (ITQ) and adjustment disorder (ADNM8). Descriptive and multivariate analyses were conducted. RESULTS: There were 2088 respondents. High levels of symptoms for mental disorders were observed for anxiety (23.9% women, 21.0% men), depression (30.3% women, 25.27% men), PTSD (11.8% women, and 12.5% men), and adjustment disorder (40.7% women, 31.0% men). Factors significantly associated with increased COVID-19 concern included bad/very bad household economic situation, larger household size, current NCD, symptoms of anxiety, adjustment disorder and PTSD. Response strategies significantly associated with reduced mental disorder symptoms included meditation and relaxation exercises, physical exercise, positive thinking, planning for the future, TV/radio, housework/DIY, and working. Drinking alcohol was associated with a greater probability of increased mental disorder symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: High levels of mental disorders were recorded, and they were strongly associated with increased concern about COVID-19. A number of response strategies were identified which may help protect against worse mental health and these could be supported by innovations in mental health care in Georgia

Patterns of somatic distress among internally displaced persons in Ukraine: analysis of a cross-sectional survey.

PURPOSE: There are often high rates of mental disorders in low- and middle-income countries during humanitarian crises, but the prevalence of somatic distress (SD) is underreported in the existing health service research. We aim to examine the patterns of SD among internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Ukraine, who were forcibly displaced due to the ongoing conflict in the country's eastern region. METHODS: The study design was a cross-sectional survey of 2203 adult IDPs throughout Ukraine. The survey collected data on sociodemographic characteristics, traumatic life events (Life Events Checklist), utilisation of mental health care services, and self-reported outcomes of SD (Patient Health Questionnaire 15), anxiety (Generalised Anxiety Disorder 7), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire 9), and post-traumatic stress (PTSD Checklist). Descriptive and multivariate regression analyses were used. RESULTS: Over half of respondents (n = 1142, 55%) were identified as being at risk of SD (PHQ-15 score ≥ 6), and the prevalence of moderate (n = 377, 18%) and high severity SD risk (n = 275, 13%) was substantial. There were significant associations (p < 0.05) between SD and age, female gender, economic status, self-reported depression and post-traumatic stress, and multiple trauma exposures. Being at risk of SD was also significantly associated with increased functional disability. Use of mental health care services was low across this population and only high SD risk seemed to be a reliable predictor of care-seeking behaviour. CONCLUSIONS: There is a significant risk of SD among IDPs in Ukraine. Our results illustrate the need for targeted health service research and regional programs to ensure that mental health needs are appropriately met

Assessing Pandemic-Related Risks and Resilience of Danish Workforce: A Methodological Approach

The restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic brought repercussions for the employees. Most of the workplaces had to temporarily lockdown as a preventive measure to the virus spread. Those individuals who were able to continue working remotely faced a lower risk of job loss compared to those persons who could not. The main question, however, revolves around assessing risks and identifying resilient workers during these restrictive phases of the pandemic. In this article, we propose a new Work-From-Home (WFH) index designed to assess individuals' likelihood of working from home. Utilizing quarterly Labour Force Survey data on the actual extent of remote work among Danish workers from 2008 to 2021, this new index can be employed in any dataset with access to the International Standard Classification of Occupation codes. A comparative analysis is conducted with the commonly applied indexes – the Home Office Index (HOI) and Lockdown Index (LDI) suggested by Faber et al. (2020) and Dingel and Neiman (2020). Our findings reveal that the WFH index offers greater variations by occupations, accounting for diverse outcomes of remote work across different economic sectors. Using Pooled OLS models, the study examines factors influencing resilience and lockdown risks, considering demographics, socioeconomic status, residential location, and industry-related aspects. The results highlight the WFH index's accuracy in measuring remote work possibilities, providing a better-fitted model than in the case of HOI. The findings indicate that notably, male workers in middle to top-level positions, particularly in publicly-owned workplaces, exhibit positive outcomes in remote working and lower lockdown risks. This article not only contributes to future research on labour force resilience but also provides supplementary material for easy application to study labour market changes even in cases with limited data in other countries

The Ukraine crisis: Mental health resources for clinicians and researchers

The mental health consequences of the war in Ukraine will be enormous. Mental health professionals who are providing care for people in Ukraine, or those resettled elsewhere, may require access to standardized and validated assessment tools. We have developed a repository of mental health measures that are available in Ukrainian, Russian and English and can be accessed at www.traumameasuresglobal.com/ukraine

The Ukraine crisis: Mental health resources for clinicians and researchers

The mental health consequences of the war in Ukraine will be enormous. Mental health professionals who are providing care for people in Ukraine, or those resettled elsewhere, may require access to standardized and validated assessment tools. We have developed a repository of mental health measures that are available in Ukrainian, Russian and English and can be accessed at www.traumameasuresglobal.com/ukraine

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, Complex Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, and Coping Styles among Internally Displaced Ukrainians

This study examined the relationship between coping styles and ICD-11 PTSD and Complex PTSD in a large sample of Ukrainian Internally Displaced Persons. Data were collected in 2016 using self-report measures from all Ukrainian oblasts not occupied by Russian forces. In total, 13.1% of people met diagnostic requirements for Complex PTSD, and 7.8% for PTSD. Higher levels of avoidant coping were evident in those meeting diagnostic requirements for PTSD and Complex PTSD compared to those not meeting requirements for either. Mental health interventions targeting avoidant coping might be particularly useful in reducing the burden of traumatic stress among war-affected Ukrainians

The Ukraine crisis: Mental health resources for clinicians and researchers

The mental health consequences of the war in Ukraine will be enormous. Mental health professionals who are providing care for people in Ukraine, or those resettled elsewhere, may require access to standardized and validated assessment tools. We have developed a repository of mental health measures that are available in Ukrainian, Russian, and English and can be accessed at http://www.traumameasuresglobal.com/ukraine