Jennifer Jane Newson, Dhanya Parameshwaran, Callyn Anne Giese, Benjamin Maxwell, Susan Frances Tapert, Tara C. Thiagarajan
{"title":"Impact of a device-free summer camp on adolescent mental health and wellbeing","authors":"Jennifer Jane Newson, Dhanya Parameshwaran, Callyn Anne Giese, Benjamin Maxwell, Susan Frances Tapert, Tara C. Thiagarajan","doi":"10.1016/j.mhp.2026.200554","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mhp.2026.200554","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>This study assessed changes in mental health and wellbeing or ‘mind health’ of 192 teens attending a device-free residential summer camp for 2–3.5 weeks.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Campers completed a comprehensive mind health assessment at the start and end of the camp period and answered questions at the end of camp on their camp experience. A subset also completed a socio-emotional task.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Composite mind health scores (the Mind Health Quotient or MHQ) improved by 10.1 points on average from the start to end of camp (p < 0.0006); those arriving with mental health struggles had a larger median improvement of 27 points. The most substantial gains occurred in the composite dimension of Adaptability & Resilience (11.9-points, p < 0.00,001), followed by Social Self (10.2-points, p < 0.01) and Cognition (9.6-points, p < 0.005). Among individual items, significant (p < 0.001) improvements were observed in focus, emotional resilience, and adaptability to change, alongside reduced restlessness & hyperactivity, fear & worry, and frequency of feeling unwell. Socio-emotional assessment found significant reductions in nervousness and embarrassment during a peer presentation task, coupled with a significantly improved ability to perceive others' emotional states (p < 0.015). The most prominent experiential change was social. Campers reported greater ease in making friends (40%) and a stronger sense of belonging (44%) at camp than at school (p < 0.0005). Improved social belonging, exercise, sleep, and diet at camp were all associated with improved MHQ scores.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>These findings highlight the potential preventative and therapeutic impact of device-free and socially immersive environments for adolescent mental health, particularly for those experiencing psychological distress. Clinical Trial NCT07761143.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55864,"journal":{"name":"Mental Health and Prevention","volume":"43 ","pages":"Article 200554"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148958720","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Christiane E. Kehoe, Grace Kirby, Trevor G. Mazzucchelli, Daryl J. Higgins, Sophie S. Havighurst, Frances L. Doyle, Susan L. Rowe, Shawna M. Campbell, John W. Toumbourou, Katherine M. Ryan, Marie B.H. Yap, Matthew Sanders, Carolina Gonzalez, HeeRa Ko, Elizabeth M. Westrupp
{"title":"Why has youth mental health worsened and what can be done: The role of parenting interventions","authors":"Christiane E. Kehoe, Grace Kirby, Trevor G. Mazzucchelli, Daryl J. Higgins, Sophie S. Havighurst, Frances L. Doyle, Susan L. Rowe, Shawna M. Campbell, John W. Toumbourou, Katherine M. Ryan, Marie B.H. Yap, Matthew Sanders, Carolina Gonzalez, HeeRa Ko, Elizabeth M. Westrupp","doi":"10.1016/j.mhp.2026.200553","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mhp.2026.200553","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The mental health of young people has deteriorated markedly in recent decades, with rising rates of anxiety, depression, school difficulties, self-harm, and suicidality. Strong evidence shows that parent and family interventions can modify key determinants of youth mental health. However, these interventions remain underutilised in policy and service systems.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>We conducted a narrative review, integrating expert commentary from members of the Parenting & Family Research Alliance (PAFRA). Our goal was to identify modifiable parent and family determinants contributing to rising youth mental health problems and to examine evidence-based interventions and policy strategies that could address these with potential for population-level impact.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Key modifiable risk and protective factors for youth mental health include social, environmental, and developmental factors. Contemporary challenges (e.g., climate change, technological risks) add considerable stress to young people, with implications for parenting. Bidirectional interactions between youth and parent factors shape mental health outcomes, with contemporary parenting challenges heightening risk. Interventions that educate parents about key risk and protective factors and strengthen emotional communication, stress regulation, and supportive parent-adolescent relationships can enhance resilience and buffer families during rapid social, environmental and economic change.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Many of the identified drivers of youth mental health decline can be targeted through parenting interventions that provide psycho-education and build parents’ ability to support their young person’s mental health. Scaling evidence-based parent and family interventions, alongside supportive policy and community infrastructures, represents a substantial opportunity to improve youth mental health at a population level.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55864,"journal":{"name":"Mental Health and Prevention","volume":"43 ","pages":"Article 200553"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148958719","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tumilara Aderibigbe, Clarisa Medina-Poeliniz, Ryoko Kausler, Blessing Okorie, Sara E. Simonsen, Gwen Latendresse
{"title":"Corrigendum to “Exploring the relationship between breastfeeding grief and postpartum depressive symptoms: a convergent parallel mixed methods study” [Mental Health & Prevention, volume 43 (2026) 200557]","authors":"Tumilara Aderibigbe, Clarisa Medina-Poeliniz, Ryoko Kausler, Blessing Okorie, Sara E. Simonsen, Gwen Latendresse","doi":"10.1016/j.mhp.2026.200561","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mhp.2026.200561","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":55864,"journal":{"name":"Mental Health and Prevention","volume":"43 ","pages":"Article 200561"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149004382","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Debt repayment problems, financial strain, and self-harm and suicidal behaviour among Norwegian students in higher education: A national cross-sectional study","authors":"Børge Sivertsen, Arne Holte","doi":"10.1016/j.mhp.2026.200559","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mhp.2026.200559","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Financial strain is associated with poor mental health, but debt repayment problems remain underexamined as correlates of self-harm and suicidal thoughts and behaviours among students. We examined associations between debt repayment problems, difficulties meeting ongoing expenses, and past-year self-harm and suicidal thoughts and behaviours among Norwegian students in higher education.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We analysed cross-sectional data from 49,198 participants in the 2026 Students’ Health and Wellbeing Study. Financial indicators were assessed using four-level frequency measures. Outcomes were past-year thoughts of self-harm, non-suicidal self-harm, suicidal ideation without attempt, and suicide attempt. Prevalence ratios (PRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using modified Poisson regression with robust standard errors, adjusting for sociodemographic factors. Sensitivity analyses additionally adjusted for psychological distress and mutual financial indicators.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Both indicators showed graded associations with all outcomes. Compared with no difficulties, debt repayment problems most of the time were associated with suicide attempt (PR 8.57, 95% CI 5.10 to 14.40) and suicidal ideation without attempt (PR 3.48, 95% CI 3.01 to 4.03). Corresponding estimates for difficulties meeting ongoing expenses were 7.16 (95% CI 4.55 to 11.28) and 3.33 (95% CI 3.00 to 3.71). Associations were attenuated but generally persisted at the highest exposure levels after additional adjustment.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Debt repayment problems and difficulties meeting ongoing expenses were associated with higher prevalence of self-harm and suicidal thoughts and behaviours. Financial strain may be an important marker of elevated vulnerability in student welfare and prevention-oriented support.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55864,"journal":{"name":"Mental Health and Prevention","volume":"43 ","pages":"Article 200559"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148958721","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Corrigendum to “Theory and psychometric development of a survey to measure attitudes towards self-comforting behaviours: The self-comforting attitude scale (SCAS)” [Mental Health & Prevention Volume 38 (2025): 200425]","authors":"Kennedy Oberhiri Obohwemu","doi":"10.1016/j.mhp.2025.200454","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mhp.2025.200454","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":55864,"journal":{"name":"Mental Health and Prevention","volume":"43 ","pages":"Article 200454"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149004381","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Andem Effiong Etim Duke, Bala I. Harri, Omolayo Anjorin, Temitayo Sodunke, Raquel Crider, Asmau M.C. Dahiru, Tunde M. Ojo, Umar Baba Musami, Jidda Said, Vincent I.O. Agyapong, Mark Paramlall, Linda Liebenberg, Patrick McGrath, Rita Orji, Ejemai Eboreime
{"title":"Psychometric properties of the Hausa versions of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 among internally displaced adults","authors":"Andem Effiong Etim Duke, Bala I. Harri, Omolayo Anjorin, Temitayo Sodunke, Raquel Crider, Asmau M.C. Dahiru, Tunde M. Ojo, Umar Baba Musami, Jidda Said, Vincent I.O. Agyapong, Mark Paramlall, Linda Liebenberg, Patrick McGrath, Rita Orji, Ejemai Eboreime","doi":"10.1016/j.mhp.2026.200556","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mhp.2026.200556","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Brief depression and anxiety measures are widely used in humanitarian settings, but their psychometric performance may vary across populations. We evaluated the reliability, factor structure, and construct validity of the Hausa PHQ-9 and GAD-7 among internally displaced adults in Abuja, Nigeria.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Cross-sectional psychometric analysis of 228 adults enrolled in the RESETTLE-IDPs trial at Durumi and Wassa camps. Trained facilitators administered the Hausa PHQ-9 and GAD-7. Reliability was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha, McDonald omega, ordinal alpha, and item-level statistics. Weighted least squares mean- and variance-adjusted confirmatory factor analysis compared one-factor, correlated two-factor, bifactor, and residual-covariance models. Joint models compared general distress with correlated depression and anxiety factors. Spearman correlations assessed associations with related constructs; ordinary least squares regression with HC3 standard errors assessed adjusted associations with participant characteristics.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Reliability was acceptable for the PHQ-9 (α = .80; ω = .82) and GAD-7 (α = .78; ω = .80). The PHQ-9 was best characterized as unidimensional, whereas the GAD-7 showed closely related but distinguishable cognitive and somatic dimensions. Bifactor modeling provided no clear advantage for the PHQ-9 and did not converge for the GAD-7. In joint modeling, depression and anxiety were strongly correlated but remained distinct (r = .82). In adjusted analyses, PCL-5 scores were associated with both PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores, and age was also associated with GAD-7 scores.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The Hausa PHQ-9 and GAD-7 showed adequate psychometric performance for assessing depressive and anxiety symptom severity among internally displaced adults in this sample.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55864,"journal":{"name":"Mental Health and Prevention","volume":"43 ","pages":"Article 200556"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148934914","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Chuen-Ru Liu , Mei-Yun Tseng , Dipanshu Sharma , Wen-De Hsieh , Wei-Shu Liu , Chien-Huey Sophie Chang , Jwo-Huei Jou
{"title":"Building resilience and holistic well-being in visual impairment: A mixed-methods pilot study of a visually-adapted body-mind-spirit intervention","authors":"Chuen-Ru Liu , Mei-Yun Tseng , Dipanshu Sharma , Wen-De Hsieh , Wei-Shu Liu , Chien-Huey Sophie Chang , Jwo-Huei Jou","doi":"10.1016/j.mhp.2026.200517","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mhp.2026.200517","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This pilot study evaluated the feasibility and preliminary outcomes of a culturally informed, visually adapted body–mind–spirit (BMS) group therapy—integrating Eastern gratitude philosophies with Western psychotherapy—on psychological resilience and depression among adults with visual impairment (VI).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A quasi-experimental mixed-methods study recruited 30 adults with VI (mean age 61.1 ± 11.4 years, range 32–78; 53.3% female, with 30 participants completing the study). The experimental group received 10 weekly 130-minute BMS sessions, while the comparison group received routine care. Longitudinal effects on holistic well-being (Holistic Well-Being Scale) and depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory-II) were analyzed using generalized estimating equations, adjusting for baseline imbalances in sex, religious affiliation, VI severity, and comorbidity (Charlson Comorbidity Index).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The intervention demonstrated robust feasibility (91% attendance). Preliminary results indicate that therapeutic effects deepened over time: holistic well-being reached significance by Week 10 (26% increase, <em>p</em> = .02, <em>d</em> = 0.47). Depressive symptoms exhibited rapid and substantial reduction by Week 5 (62%, <em>p</em> < .001, <em>d</em> = -1.1) and Week 10 (72%, <em>p</em> < .001, <em>d</em> = -1.68). Qualitative findings indicated that a cognitive shift toward gratitude and altruism catalyzed psychological resilience, enhancing perceived vitality.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>BMS therapy is a feasible and scalable intervention for fostering psychological resilience and alleviating depression in individuals with VI. By transforming perceived suffering into empowerment, this model provides a vital psychological buffer, emphasizing that building resilience through psychological transformation is a cumulative and effective preventive care process.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55864,"journal":{"name":"Mental Health and Prevention","volume":"42 ","pages":"Article 200517"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148183695","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Associations between tobacco use, passive smoking and polydrug use with adolescent mental health in Thailand","authors":"Huyen-Trang Luu-Thi , Nazaf Quaiser , Vernard Indranata Pontjoharyo , Karl Peltzer","doi":"10.1016/j.mhp.2026.200479","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mhp.2026.200479","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study aimed to examine associations between current tobacco use, passive smoking, and polydrug use (alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis) with mental health problems among Thai adolescents aged 11–18 years. A total 14,322 students from three national cross-sectional surveys (2008, 2015, and 2021) of the Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS) in Thailand were included in the analysis. The results reported that polydrug use, tobacco use and passive smoking were significantly associated with mental health outcomes. Compared to adolescents not engaged in any drug use, adolescents with polydrug use (current tobacco use, current alcohol use, and current cannabis use) were more likely lonely (AOR = 2.58, 95% CI [1.58 to 4.22]), had anxiety (AOR = 3.67, 95% CI [2.20 to 6.14]), suicidal ideation (AOR = 3.91, 95% CI [2.29 to 6.68]), made a suicide plan (AOR = 4.12, 95% CI [2.38 to 7.12]), had a suicide attempt (AOR = 6.56, 95% CI [4.15 to 10.38]), and had no close friends (AOR = 1.82, 95% CI [1.05 to 3.15]). The study suggested that in order to lessen the negative impacts on mental health, it is crucial to give adolescents targeted preventative treatments for tobacco use, passive smoking, and polydrug use. Additionally, this study highlights how important it is for teenagers with substance use in Thailand to have access to professional assistance and national suicide hotlines, among other effective mental health preventive methods.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55864,"journal":{"name":"Mental Health and Prevention","volume":"41 ","pages":"Article 200479"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146078095","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lakshmi Neelakantan , Pattie P Gonsalves , Elizabeth M Westrupp
{"title":"Co-design in preventive mental health research: Advancing evidence, equity, and engagement","authors":"Lakshmi Neelakantan , Pattie P Gonsalves , Elizabeth M Westrupp","doi":"10.1016/j.mhp.2026.200474","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mhp.2026.200474","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":55864,"journal":{"name":"Mental Health and Prevention","volume":"41 ","pages":"Article 200474"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145927038","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The role of the minimum wage in the effect of unemployment on suicide: Evidence from selected countries around the world","authors":"Francois Xavier Ngah Obama","doi":"10.1016/j.mhp.2026.200495","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mhp.2026.200495","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Suicide is usually an attempt to end unbearable suffering, including financial insecurity. However, policymakers are reluctant to raise wages due to concerns about labor costs and unemployment. Liberal theories challenged this neoclassical view, arguing that raising wages may not lead to higher unemployment, a well-known factor in suicide.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study examines the role of the minimum wage in the relationship between unemployment and suicide across 76 countries, spanning from 2000 to 2019.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We use fixed effects with Driscoll-Kraay robust standard errors, the method of moments-quantile regression, and two-stage least squares (2SLS).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The results show that there is a positive and significant association between unemployment and suicide. Additionally, the analysis revealed a U-shaped relationship between minimum wage and unemployment. Furthermore, up to a certain threshold, minimum wages seem to lower suicide rates. Importantly, we find that minimum wages appear to mitigate the influence of unemployment on suicide. However, this result was only significant for three quartiles of the conditional distribution of suicide. A gender-specific analysis revealed that this finding was robust only for male suicide. Meanwhile, regional analyses revealed robustness only in Europe & Central Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>These results suggest that labor market policies that raise the minimum wage may also help mitigate the negative association between unemployment and suicide. However, minimum wage adjustments should be implemented within an appropriate socioeconomic context and calibrated to achieve the intended positive outcomes while mitigating potential adverse effects, especially regarding unemployment and inflation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55864,"journal":{"name":"Mental Health and Prevention","volume":"41 ","pages":"Article 200495"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147419786","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}