Employee well-being in open-plan office spaces

Open plan offices, which involve employees working in the same area, have become more prevalent, in part driven by attempts to reduce overall business costs, improve productivity, and encourage a collaborative team environment with more effective communication

The mental health of online learners within the educational sector

The increasing demand for online study and skills development within the educational industry (both formal and non-formal education is driven by student preference and career requirements to upskill, retrain, and complete further study

The mental health impacts of smartphone and social media use

Information technology (IT) has revolutionised the ways society communicates and interacts, with a rapid escalation since the advent of the Internet. Social media apps in IT devices, most predominantly the smartphone, have become a gateway to social connectedness. Such devices have many benefits, with the potential to improve productivity through calendars, information sharing through emails and messag- ing, entertainment and relaxation through games or social media, and even bargain hunting through online shopping and discount finders (Elhai et al., 2017)

Growing young researchers: Benefits of summer scholarships

Summer scholarships provide an opportunity for undergraduate students to apply their learning in a practical way and develop their research skills in addition to their studies. However, undertaking the supervision of a student researcher can be a challenging task and it is important to consider a variety of factors to ensure that potential for development is optimised. This article outlines some key benefits for students in undertaking a summer scholarship and highlights the potential value of these programs. It also offers guidance on aspects of the scholarship planning and supervision that should be taken into consideration throughout the process. A summer scholarship can be an invaluable experience for a student and it is important to consider the benefits of these programs and approaches to ensure their success

A systematic review of the use of music interventions to improve outcomes for patients undergoing hip or knee surgery

Aim: To examine the effectiveness of music as an adjunct treatment for pain, anxiety, and/or postoperative delirium, for patients undergoing hip or knee surgery. Background: Patients undergoing hip or knee surgery are known to experience pain and anxiety before and after surgery and be prone to postoperative delirium. Design: Quantitative systematic review. Data Sources: CENTRAL, Embase, Ovid MEDLINE, CINAHL, and PsycINFO databases were systematically searched without time limits (to June 2018). Review Methods: A systematic search yielded 10 randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental designs. Studies were appraised using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. Data were extracted using the Effective Practice and Organization of Care data extraction tool. Results: Mixed results were found for the effect of music on anxiety, pain, and postoperative delirium in patients undergoing hip or knee surgery. Six of 10 included studies provided evidence that music can improve anxiety, pain, or postoperative delirium outcomes for patients undergoing hip or knee surgery. Music effectively reduced anxiety in one of three studies. Three of seven studies reported benefits of music for reducing postoperative pain. Positive effects of music on postoperative delirium were reported in all three studies that evaluated this outcome. Within group improvements were observed in many of the studies. Conclusion: Music has the potential to improve outcomes of anxiety, pain, and postoperative delirium, for patients undergoing hip or knee surgery. The low number of studies found indicates results should be treated with caution. Further studies are required to provide strong evidence generalizable to a broader population

Growing Young Researchers: Benefits of Summer Scholarships

Summer scholarships provide an opportunity for undergraduate students to apply their learning in a practical way and develop their research skills in addition to their studies. However, undertaking the supervision of a student researcher can be a challenging task and it is important to consider a variety of factors to ensure that potential for development is optimised. This article outlines some key benefits for students in undertaking a summer scholarship and highlights the potential value of these programs. It also offers guidance on aspects of the scholarship planning and supervision that should be taken into consideration throughout the process. A summer scholarship can be an invaluable experience for a student and it is important to consider the benefits of these programs and approaches to ensure their success

A qualitative systematic review of experiences and perceptions of youth suicide

Background Suicide remains a global issue with over 800,000 people dying from suicide every year. Youth suicide is especially serious due to the years of life lost when a young person takes their own life. Social interactions, perceived support, genetic predisposition and mental illnesses are factors associated with suicide ideation. Objectives To review and synthesize qualitative studies that explored the experiences and perceptions of suicide in people 25 years old and younger. Design Qualitative systematic review. Data sources PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus and CINAHL were searched alongside hand-searching reference lists up to October 2018. Methods Methodological quality was assessed using the qualitative Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklist. The 27 studies included in the review centered around youth suicide and included interviews with young people and members of the wider community. Thematic synthesis focused on factors leading to suicide attempts, elements important to recovery, beliefs within the community, and treatment/prevention strategies. Results Thematic analysis of the articles revealed four categories: i) triggers and risks leading to suicidality; ii) factors involved in recovery; iii) need for institutional treatment/prevention strategies; and iv) beliefs about suicide at a community level. The first category was further subdivided into: i) behaviours; ii) feelings/emotions; iii) family influences; iv) peer influences; and v) other. The second category was split into: i) interpersonal; ii) cultural; and iii) individual influences, while the third category was divided into i) education; and ii) treatment. Conclusion Youth suicide is a complex issue with many causes and risks factors which interact with one another. For successful treatment and prevention, procedural reform is needed, along with a shift in societal attitudes toward emotional expression and suicide

Mental health considerations for international students

Collectively, universities and other tertiary education providers globally, attract significant numbers of international students each year. However, the extent and significance of the benefits derived by the host society from this international mobility is often misunderstood, or at best, underestimated. International students commonly provide multiple benefits to the financial and cultural health of the host institution and country but the economic benefit (for the host) is typically the primary consideration. A potential challenge or circuit-breaker for host institutions is the failure to acknowledge the particular differences between the needs of international students and their domestic counterparts. For some international students, the adjustment to studying offshore and experiencing an array of academic and personal development possibilities not otherwise available to them in their home country, may be overwhelming and contribute to unforeseen and unfortunate consequences for their mental health. All students in new settings, irrespective of background, require strong guidance, advice and support. However, the challenges of acculturation and adjustment to the stressors of academic study and everyday life in another country is accentuated for many international students rendering them a vulnerable student population. Irrespective of the number of international students in an educational setting, and given the steady growth in the number of students seeking educational opportunities overseas, there is an urgent need to ensure that adequate resources are provided for the support of all international students across all aspects of academic life. The importance of maximising the benefits and minimising the risks associated with international study for overseas students cannot be overstated. A quality experience for all, underpinned by an evidence-based and resourced safety net of support with specific training for mental health professionals, should be considered a global industry standard

Psychometric properties of the Nepali language version of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21)

Aim: To assess the psychometric properties of the Nepali language version of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21). Design: Descriptive, cross-sectional survey. Methods: The DASS-21 was administered (May–July 2019) among 794 randomly selected older adults aged ≥60 years. Factor structure was evaluated using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Cronbach's alpha was calculated, and correlation analyses with quality of life evaluated convergent validity. Results: Exploratory factor analysis indicated that the 21 items loaded on three factors, with factor loadings ranging from 0.50–0.88. Confirmatory factor analysis suggested a four-factor model including the three subscales and an additional common 'general distress’ factor, which demonstrated a better overall fit. Good reliability was found for each subscale, with Cronbach's alphas 0.79 for Anxiety, 0.91 for Stress, and 0.93 for Depression. The Nepali language version of the DASS-21 satisfied convergent validity with all subscales depicting significant negative correlations with quality of life demonstrating adequate psychometric properties

Internal and international migration and the mental health of “left-behind” older parents

Despite evidence of the impact of adult children's migration on left-behind older parents, the comparison of left-behind older parents’ mental health and psychological well-being between internal and international migration is limited. This article examines how the relationship between adult children's migration and parent's mental health differs according to the migrant's destination — only internal migration, only international migration, or hybrid migration (at least one child who migrated internally and at least one child who migrated internationally). Drawing on a 2019 cross-sectional population-based survey of 697 left-behind older adults (≥ 60 years) in Nepal, we assessed the mental health of older parents, using the 21-item Depression Anxiety Stress Scales and a range of socio-demographic, health, lifestyle, and child-related characteristics. Multilevel mixed-method linear regression was performed to examine the effect of adult children's migration on left-behind older parents’ depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms. Results showed that parents whose children had all migrated internationally were at higher risk of mental health problems, particularly anxiety and stress, compared to parents whose children had all migrated internally. Older parents from the hybrid group (having both internal and international migrant adult children) had higher levels of anxiety, compared to parents whose children had all migrated internally, with no significant difference in depression and stress symptoms. Further, mothers of internationally migrated children were at higher risk of mental health symptoms than fathers. Interventions aiming to improve left-behind older parents’ mental health and psychological well-being should specifically target parents whose children have migrated internationally