WPA guidance on mental health and mental health care in migrants

The WPA is committed to promote equity in the access to mental health services for persons of different age, gender, race/ethnicity, religion and socioeconomic status. As part of this commitment, the Association decided to devote one of the guidances to be developed within its Action Plan 2008-2011 (1,2) to mental health and mental health care in migrants. A Task Force was appointed for this purpose, which produced the present document. Mental health practitioners work in an increasingly multicultural world, shaped by the migrations of people of many different cultural, racial and ethnic backgrounds. People migrate for many reasons: political, socioeconomic and educational. The diversity of cultures, ethnicity, races and reasons for migration can make understanding experiences of illness challenging in migrants whose background differs significantly from the clinician. Culture has an important role in the presentation of distress and illness, and cultural differences impact upon the diagnosis and treatment of migrant populations in part due to linguistic, religious and social variation from the clinician providing care. Additionally, it appears that the incidence and prevalence of mental disorders varies among people of different cultural backgrounds, due to an interplay of biological, psychological and social factors. The provision of health care is necessarily influenced by the demands of people of many different cultures, and it is important that cultural differences be appreciated and understood to arrive at a correct diagnostic impression and treatment plan

Distribution of roots, arbuscular mycorrhizal colonisation and spores around fast-growing tree species in Senegal

Roots and soil were sampled from around four leguminous tree species in 10-year-old plots at Bandia, Senegal. Assessments of root concentrations (cm per 10 cm3 soil) and mycorrhizal colonisation (% of root length) were made and related to the abundance of spores in the soil and the above ground growth (stem diameter at 30 cm height) of the trees. Root concentrations in #Acacia nilotica and #Acacia tortilis plots were greater than those found in #Prosopis juliflora and #Acacia aneura plots at all three depths examined (0-10, 10-25, 25-50 cm). Root concentration decreased with soil depth in all plots and was greatest nearest the tree in the #Acacia nilotica and #Acacia tortilis plots. Mycorrhizal colonisation was highest on #Prosopis juliflora roots and lowest on #Acacia tortilis roots. Colonisation was not affected by distance from the tree and decreased with depth only in the #Acacia aneura plot. Numbers of spores recovered from soils were generally low (27 per 100 g dry wt. soil) and were concentrated in the upper 10 cm of soil. Spores were most numerous in the #Acacia aneura plot and least numerous in the #Prosopis juliflora plot and between spore numbers and mycorrhizal colonisation in the #Acacia aneura plot. Of the four tree species examined, root and mycorrhizal distributions of #Prosopis juliflora$and Acacia nilotica$ showed most promise for use in agroforestry systems. (Résumé d'auteur

Distribution of roots, arbuscular mycorrhizal colonisation and spores around fast-growing tree species in Senegal

Roots and soil were sampled from around four leguminous tree species in 10-year-old plots at Bandia, Senegal. Assessments of root concentrations (cm per 10 cm3 soil) and mycorrhizal colonisation (% of root length) were made and related to the abundance of spores in the soil and the above ground growth (stem diameter at 30 cm height) of the trees. Root concentrations in #Acacia nilotica and #Acacia tortilis plots were greater than those found in #Prosopis juliflora and #Acacia aneura plots at all three depths examined (0-10, 10-25, 25-50 cm). Root concentration decreased with soil depth in all plots and was greatest nearest the tree in the #Acacia nilotica and #Acacia tortilis plots. Mycorrhizal colonisation was highest on #Prosopis juliflora roots and lowest on #Acacia tortilis roots. Colonisation was not affected by distance from the tree and decreased with depth only in the #Acacia aneura plot. Numbers of spores recovered from soils were generally low (27 per 100 g dry wt. soil) and were concentrated in the upper 10 cm of soil. Spores were most numerous in the #Acacia aneura plot and least numerous in the #Prosopis juliflora plot and between spore numbers and mycorrhizal colonisation in the #Acacia aneura plot. Of the four tree species examined, root and mycorrhizal distributions of #Prosopis juliflora$and Acacia nilotica$ showed most promise for use in agroforestry systems. (Résumé d'auteur