Migration and mental health in Europe (the state of the mental health in Europe working group: appendix 1)

BACKGROUND: This paper is a part of the work of the group that carried out the report "The state of the mental health in Europe" (European Commission, DG Health and Consumer Protection, 2004) and deals with the mental health issues related to the migration in Europe. METHODS: The paper tries to describe the social, demographical and political context of the emigration in Europe and tries to indicate the needs and (mental) health problems of immigrants. A review of the literature concerning mental health risk in immigrant is also carried out. The work also faces the problem of the health policy toward immigrants and the access to health care services in Europe. RESULTS: Migration during the 1990s has been high and characterised by new migrations. Some countries in Europe, that have been traditionally exporters of migrants have shifted to become importers. Migration has been a key force in the demographic changes of the European population. The policy of closed borders do not stop migration, but rather seems to set up a new underclass of so-called "illegals" who are suppressed and highly exploited. In 2000 there were also 392.200 asylum applications. The reviewed literature among mental health risk in some immigrant groups in Europe concerns: 1) highest rate of schizophrenia; suicide; alcohol and drug abuse; access of psychiatric facilities; risk of anxiety and depression; mental health of EU immigrants once they returned to their country; early EU immigrants in today disadvantaged countries; refugees and mental health Due to the different condition of migration concerning variables as: motivation to migrations (e.g. settler, refugees, gastarbeiters); distance for the host culture; ability to develop mediating structures; legal residential status it is impossible to consider "migrants" as a homogeneous group concerning the risk for mental illness. In this sense, psychosocial studies should be undertaken to identify those factors which may under given conditions, imply an increased risk of psychiatric disorders and influence seeking for psychiatric care. COMMENTS AND REMARKS: Despite in the migrants some vulnerable groups were identified with respect to health problems, in many European countries there are migrants who fall outside the existing health and social services, something which is particularly true for asylum seekers and undocumented immigrants. In order to address these deficiencies, it is necessary to provide with an adequate financing and a continuity of the grants for research into the multicultural health demand. Finally, there is to highlight the importance of adopting an integrated approach to mental health care that moves away from psychiatric care only

Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Hispanics: The University of Puerto Rico IBD Registry

A registry of patients with inflammatory bowel diseases, ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), was created at the University of Puerto Rico in 1995. Subjects with a documented diagnosis of IBD by clinical, radiologic, endoscopic, and/or pathologic criteria were recruited from the IBD clinics, support groups, and community practices, and demographic and medical data was collected. All entries from 1995 to 2009 were analyzed for demographics, family history, disease extent, extraintestinal manifestations, surgery, and smoking history. Results were described using summary statistics. 635 Hispanics living in Puerto Rico, 299 with UC and 336 with CD, were included. Mean ages were 40.3 for UC and 30.9 for CD. Over half (56%) of UC and 41% of CD were females. Family history was present in 19.3% of UC and 17.5% of CD. Surgery for IBD had been performed in 31.9% of UC and 51.2% of the CD patients. Over one-fourth of the patients reported extraintestinal manifestations, most frequently arthropathies. Our findings contribute to the limited epidemiologic and clinical data on Hispanics with IBD

Knowledge, attitudes and practices of female genital mutilation/cutting among health care professionals in The Gambia : a multiethnic study

Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) is a harmful traditional practice with severe consequences for the health and well-being of girls and women. Health care professionals (HCPs) are therefore expected to be aware of how to identify and manage these consequences in order to ensure that those affected by the practice receive quality health care. Moreover, their integration and legitimacy within the communities allow them to play a key role in the prevention of the practice. Nevertheless, the perception of HCPs on FGM/C has been barely explored in African contexts. This study seeks to contribute to this field of knowledge by examining the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding FGM/C among HCPs working in rural settings in The Gambia. A cross-sectional descriptive study was designed through a quantitative methodology, following a multiethnic approach. A pre-tested questionnaire with open and closed-ended questions was created. Forty medical students from the Community-based Medical Programme were trained to administer the questionnaire, face to face, at village health facilities in rural areas of The Gambia. A final sample of 468 HCPs included all nurse cadres and midwives. A significant proportion of Gambian HCPs working in rural areas embraced the continuation of FGM/C (42.5%), intended to subject their own daughters to it (47.2%), and reported having already performed it during their medical practice (7.6%). However, their knowledge, attitudes, and practices were shaped by sex and ethnic identity. Women showed less approval for continuation of FGM/C and higher endorsement of the proposed strategies to prevent it than men. However, it was among ethnic groups that differences were more substantial. HCPs belonging to traditionally practicing groups were more favourable to the perpetuation and medicalisation of FGM/C, suggesting that ethnicity prevails over professional identity. These findings demonstrate an urgent need to build HCP's capacities for FGM/C-related complications, through strategies adapted to their specific characteristics in terms of sex and ethnicity. A culturally and gender sensitive training programme might contribute to social change, promoting the abandonment of FGM/C, avoiding medicalisation, and ensuring accurate management of its health consequence

Antropología y enfermería

Este volumen está organizado en bloques temáticos. El primero versa sobre salud reproductiva e infantil y contiene un texto inédito de Dina Garcés, homenajeada en este libro, que revisaba cuando le sorprendió la muerte. Le siguen un segundo bloque sobre alimentación, un tercero sobre salud mental y drogas y un cuarto sobre problemas relativos al envejecimiento. Una quinta parte incluye textos que relacionan la ética, las ciencias sociales y de la salud y la religión. Cierra el volumen un apartado de miscelánea

Risk of suicide in households threatened with eviction: the role of banks and social support

Background: One of the greatest effects of the financial crisis in Spain has been the enormous increase in the number of evictions. Several studies have shown the association of evictions with different aspects of the physical and mental health. Furthermore, evictions have been associated with an increased risk of suicide. Our objective was to evaluate the risk of suicide among victims of eviction and investigate whether it is associated with specific characteristics of households and interviewees, the eviction process and social support, and health needs. Results: Almost half of the sample (46.7%) were at low (11.8%), moderate (16.9%), or high suicide risk (17.9%). Household and interviewee features had a limited association with suicide risk. On the contrary, the risk of suicide is greater with a longer exposure to the eviction process. In addition, threatening phone calls from banks increased significantly the risk of suicide, especially among men. Suicide risk was also associated with low social support, especially among women. Interviewees at risk of suicide received more help from nongovernmental organizations than those who were not at risk. In interviewees at risk, the main unmet needs were emotional and psychological help, especially in men. A high percentage of those at risk of suicide declare having large unmeet health needs. Finally, there was a tendency among the evicted at risk of suicide to visit emergency room and primary care more often than those not at risk, especially among women. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first study showing that when banks adopt a threatening attitude, suicide risk increases among the evicted. As hypothesized, when the evicted felt socially supported, suicide risk decreased. Emotional help was the main mediator of suicide risk and the main unmet need, especially among me

Consumo de tabaco y alcohol en una muestra en proceso de desahucio

Introduction: In Spain, the current economic crisis has led to an unfortunate phenomenon little known until now: the eviction process. The aim was to eval­uate unhealthy habits such as consumption of tobacco and alcohol in a group of Granada as at risk of losing their residence. Methods: Participated 205 adult un­dergoing an eviction process from their homes (122 women and 83 men) who were given the items of health-related habits of the Andalusian Health Survey 2011. All participants were linked to the Platform Af­fected by Mortgage, Stop Desahucios of Granada. Results: Consumption of tobacco: observe higher percentage of daily smokers among men (54.22 %), people who live as a couple and workers. People who have entered the judicial process smoke more ciga­rettes per day (t = 1944, p = .055) and perceived an increase in the consumption of tobacco from the pro­cess of eviction. (c2 = 8.494, p = .037). Consumption of alcohol: find higher percentage in men (c2= 10.005, p = .019) and in people who do not live with a partner (c2= 8,553, p = .036); men perceive a greater increase in alcohol consumption due to the eviction process (c2 = 20,375, p = .000). Conclu­sions: The eviction process negatively affects health-related habits and should therefore be prioritized in Public Health policies as a population at riskResumenIntroducción: En España, la actual crisis económica nos ha llevado a un lamentable fenómeno poco conocido hasta ahora: el proceso del desahucio. Nuestro objetivo ha sido evaluar hábitos poco saludables como el consumo del tabaco y alcohol en un grupo de granadinos/as en riesgo de perder su vivienda habitual. Método: Han participado 205 personas adultas (122 mujeres y 83 hombres) a los que se les administró los ítems de hábitos relacionados con la salud de la Entrevista Andaluza de Salud 2011. Todos los participantes estaban vinculados a la Plataforma de Afectados por la Hipoteca Stop Desahucios de Granada. Resultados: Consumo de tabaco: observamos mayor porcentaje de fumadores a diario en hombres (54.22 %), personas que no viven en pareja y trabajadores. Las personas que han entrado en el proceso judicial fuman más cigarrillos al día (t = -1.944, p = .055) y perciben un aumento en el consumo de tabaco debido al proceso de desahucio (c2 = 8.494, p = .037). Consumo de alcohol: encontramos mayor porcentaje en hombres c2 = 10.005, p = .019) y en personas que no viven en pareja c2 = 8.553, p = .036); los hombres perciben un mayor aumento en el consumo de alcohol debido al proceso de desahucio (c2 = 20.375, p = .000). Conclusiones: El proceso de desahucio afecta negativamente a los hábitos relacionados con la salud por lo que debería priorizarse en las políticas de Salud Pública como una población de riesgo. AbstractIntroduction: In Spain, the current economic crisis has led to an unfortunate phenomenon little known until now: the eviction process. The aim was to eval­uate unhealthy habits such as consumption of tobacco and alcohol in a group of Granada as at risk of losing their residence. Methods: Participated 205 adult un­dergoing an eviction process from their homes (122 women and 83 men) who were given the items of health-related habits of the Andalusian Health Survey 2011. All participants were linked to the Platform Af­fected by Mortgage, Stop Desahucios of Granada. Results: Consumption of tobacco: observe higher percentage of daily smokers among men (54.22 %), people who live as a couple and workers. People who have entered the judicial process smoke more ciga­rettes per day (t = 1944, p = .055) and perceived an increase in the consumption of tobacco from the pro­cess of eviction. (c2 = 8.494, p = .037). Consumption of alcohol: find higher percentage in men (c2= 10.005, p = .019) and in people who do not live with a partner (c2= 8,553, p = .036); men perceive a greater increase in alcohol consumption due to the eviction process (c2 = 20,375, p = .000). Conclu­sions: The eviction process negatively affects health-related habits and should therefore be prioritized in Public Health policies as a population at ris

Genome-wide association analysis of dementia and its clinical endophenotypes reveal novel loci associated with Alzheimer's disease and three causality networks : The GR@ACE project

Introduction: Large variability among Alzheimer's disease (AD) cases might impact genetic discoveries and complicate dissection of underlying biological pathways. Methods: Genome Research at Fundacio ACE (GR@ACE) is a genome-wide study of dementia and its clinical endophenotypes, defined based on AD's clinical certainty and vascular burden. We assessed the impact of known AD loci across endophenotypes to generate loci categories. We incorporated gene coexpression data and conducted pathway analysis per category. Finally, to evaluate the effect of heterogeneity in genetic studies, GR@ACE series were meta-analyzed with additional genome-wide association study data sets. Results: We classified known AD loci into three categories, which might reflect the disease clinical heterogeneity. Vascular processes were only detected as a causal mechanism in probable AD. The meta-analysis strategy revealed the ANKRD31-rs4704171 and NDUFAF6-rs10098778 and confirmed SCIMP-rs7225151 and CD33-rs3865444. Discussion: The regulation of vasculature is a prominent causal component of probable AD. GR@ACE meta-analysis revealed novel AD genetic signals, strongly driven by the presence of clinical heterogeneity in the AD series

National identity predicts public health support during a global pandemic

Changing collective behaviour and supporting non-pharmaceutical interventions is an important component in mitigating virus transmission during a pandemic. In a large international collaboration (Study 1, N = 49,968 across 67 countries), we investigated self-reported factors associated with public health behaviours (e.g., spatial distancing and stricter hygiene) and endorsed public policy interventions (e.g., closing bars and restaurants) during the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic (April-May 2020). Respondents who reported identifying more strongly with their nation consistently reported greater engagement in public health behaviours and support for public health policies. Results were similar for representative and non-representative national samples. Study 2 (N = 42 countries) conceptually replicated the central finding using aggregate indices of national identity (obtained using the World Values Survey) and a measure of actual behaviour change during the pandemic (obtained from Google mobility reports). Higher levels of national identification prior to the pandemic predicted lower mobility during the early stage of the pandemic (r = −0.40). We discuss the potential implications of links between national identity, leadership, and public health for managing COVID-19 and future pandemics.publishedVersio

National identity predicts public health support during a global pandemic (vol 13, 517, 2022) : National identity predicts public health support during a global pandemic (Nature Communications, (2022), 13, 1, (517), 10.1038/s41467-021-27668-9)

Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2022.In this article the author name ‘Agustin Ibanez’ was incorrectly written as ‘Augustin Ibanez’. The original article has been corrected.Peer reviewe

National identity predicts public health support during a global pandemic.

Changing collective behaviour and supporting non-pharmaceutical interventions is an important component in mitigating virus transmission during a pandemic. In a large international collaboration (Study 1, N = 49,968 across 67 countries), we investigated self-reported factors associated with public health behaviours (e.g., spatial distancing and stricter hygiene) and endorsed public policy interventions (e.g., closing bars and restaurants) during the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic (April-May 2020). Respondents who reported identifying more strongly with their nation consistently reported greater engagement in public health behaviours and support for public health policies. Results were similar for representative and non-representative national samples. Study 2 (N = 42 countries) conceptually replicated the central finding using aggregate indices of national identity (obtained using the World Values Survey) and a measure of actual behaviour change during the pandemic (obtained from Google mobility reports). Higher levels of national identification prior to the pandemic predicted lower mobility during the early stage of the pandemic (r = -0.40). We discuss the potential implications of links between national identity, leadership, and public health for managing COVID-19 and future pandemics