Developing European guidelines for training care professionals in mental health promotion

Multi-, Inter-, and Transdisciplinarity within the Public Health Workforce: A Scoping Review to Assess Definitions and Applications of Concepts

In light of the current public health challenges, calls for more inter- and transdisciplinarity in the public health workforce are increasing, particularly to respond to complex and intersecting health challenges, such as those presented by the climate crisis, emerging infectious diseases, or military conflict. Although widely used, it is unclear how the concepts of multi-, inter-, and transdisciplinarity are applied with respect to the public health workforce. We conducted a scoping review and qualitative content analysis to provide an overview of how the concepts of multi-, inter-, and transdisciplinarity are defined and applied in the academic literature about the public health workforce. Of the 1957 records identified, 324 articles were included in the review. Of those, 193, 176, and 53 mentioned the concepts of multi-, inter-, and transdisciplinarity, respectively. Overall, 44 articles provided a definition. Whilst definitions of multidisciplinarity were scarce, definitions of inter- and transdisciplinarity were more common and richer, highlighting the aim of the collaboration and the blurring and dissolution of disciplinary boundaries. A better understanding of the application of multi-, inter-, and transdisciplinarity is an important step to implementing these concepts in practice, including in institutional structures, academic curricula, and approaches in tackling public health challenges.

A framework for critical care triage during a major surge in critical illness

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many jurisdictions experienced surges in demand for critical care that strained or overwhelmed their healthcare system's ability to respond. A major surge necessitates a deviation from usual practices, including difficult decisions about how to allocate critical care resources. We present a framework to guide these decisions in the hope of saving the most lives as ethically as possible, while concurrently respecting, protecting, and fulfilling legal and human rights obligations. It was developed in Ontario in 2020-2021 through an iterative consultation process with diverse participants, but was adopted in other jurisdictions with some modifications. The framework features three levels of triage depending on the degree of the surge, and a system for prioritizing patients based on their short-term mortality risk following the onset of critical illness. It also includes processes aimed at promoting consistency and fairness across a region where many hospitals are expected to apply the same framework. No triage framework should ever be considered "final," and there is a need for further research to examine ethical issues related to critical care triage and to increase the extent and quality of evidence to inform critical care triage.

Mental health of university students during the pandemic. Threats to their mental health and proposals for university student support in Poland

Purpose

The article is an application report. It focuses on the mental health difficulties currently experienced by university students in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic, which may have a significant impact on the study process. The work also presents examples of support implemented at higher education institutions during the pandemic, aimed at maintaining and strengthening students' mental health.

Views

Mental health is closely related to physical/somatic health, among other things, in terms of health behaviour and immuno-logical processes. Thus, any physical, life-threatening and therefore life-altering illness has a potentially negative impact on an individual's overall mental health. A pandemic such as COVID-19 in 2020 is a potential additional risk factor for mental health that is not yet well understood. Pandemic-related changes such as remote learning, reduced interpersonal contact, the uncertainty surrounding this pandemic of unknown magnitude, as well as its dynamic and often surprising course may have an impact on the functioning of young people and their daily activities, including studying.

Conclusions

It is essential to monitor mental health in different population groups, including students-young adults, specifically in relation to the threat of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infection, prevention activities and the treatment of COVID-19 patients. It is important to introduce parallel activities to support students' mental health, in line with the sanitary regime, e.g. by using new technologies.

Effectiveness of the Elos 2.0 prevention programme for the reduction of problem behaviours and promotion of social skills in schoolchildren: study protocol for a cluster-randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Early interventions benefit the mental health, academic performance and productivity of children and adolescents throughout their life. The present study protocol will evaluate the effectiveness of the Elos 2.0 Programme, which is a version adapted for Brazil by the Ministry of Health, in reducing problem behaviours (e.g., disruptiveness, aggressivity and shyness) and promoting social skills in the school context in children 6 to 10 years of age. The Elos Programme is based on the Good Behaviour Game, which is widely used and prevents and/or reduces students' disruptive behaviours by establishing cooperation contingencies.

METHOD

A cluster-randomized controlled trial will be performed in 30 schools in three cities (15 controls and 15 in the experimental group), with a total of 3800 children participating in the test (1900 in the control group and 1900 in the intervention group). Data will be collected by having teachers in the control and experimental classes complete the Teacher Observation of Classroom Adaptation (TOCA) questionnaire, which is an instrument used to observe children's behaviour in the classroom. We will collect data before and after the intervention period in the same year. Due to the hierarchical structure of the data, multilevel analysis will be performed to detect simultaneous differences in prevalence over time and across groups to control for sociodemographic variables.

DISCUSSION

The current study will examine the effectiveness of the Elos 2.0 Programme in reducing problem behaviours (e.g., disruptiveness, aggressivity and shyness) and promoting social skills in the school context. The findings of this school-based prevention programme for children will influence the development and implementation of similar programmes for schools and educational policymakers by identifying mechanisms that are central to achieving positive outcomes for participants.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Registry of Clinical Trials of the Ministry of Health RBR-86c6jp . Registered February 2, 2019.

Intersectoral partnerships and competencies for mental health promotion: a Delphi-based qualitative study in Finland

The importance of intersectoral collaboration and partnership working in mental health promotion, together with the requisite competencies for effective collaboration, is widely acknowledged. This Delphi-based qualitative study examined how intersectoral collaboration and partnership work are constructed and adopted in mental health promotion practice. Descriptive data from a Delphi panel of mental health promotion practitioners working in the health sector (n = 32) were used as a data source. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. Applying the theory of collaborative advantage, eight themes of collaboration advantage and the related competencies were identified: management structure, leadership, communication and language, common aims, working processes, resources, trust, and commitment and determination. The themes capture the competencies required to influence and work with others to improve the mental health and wellbeing of individuals and communities. The identified theme areas can be used to inform education and training and capacity building for professional practice in mental health promotion. Future research is needed to explore other possible collaborative advantage themes in mental health promotion practice and the competencies required to facilitate effective partnerships across sectors. Further investigations are also needed on the identified theme areas in order to develop and guide capacity building and training in mental health promotion.

Knowledge, attitude and self-efficacy program intended to improve public health professionals' ability to identify and manage perinatal depressive symptoms: a quasi-experimental study

BACKGROUND

During the perinatal period women lack screening and treatments for perinatal depressive symptoms, while public health professionals (PHPs) in primary care centres (PCCs) need training for identification and management of such symptoms. This quasi-experimental study was aimed at evaluating knowledge, attitudes and self-efficacy among PHPs after participating in a Knowledge, Attitude, and Self-efficacy (KAS) program for identification and management of perinatal depressive symptoms.

METHOD

The KAS-program, carried through in Sakonnakhon in north-eastern Thailand, comprised one day of theory and a four-week period of field practice. Thirty-three PHPs from PCCs participated in the program. Twenty-three of them participated in focus group discussions (FGDs). Chi-square for trend, paired-sample T-tests and content analysis were used.

RESULTS

Knowledge, attitude and self-efficacy scores increased after the PHPs had fully participated in the KAS-program. Four categories emerged from the FGDs: increased understanding and knowledge, being aware and having a positive attitude, having confidence and ability to work, and need of regular training and feedback.

CONCLUSION

The KAS-program may contribute to giving PHPs in PCCs the knowledge, positive attitude and self-efficacy they need to identify and manage perinatal depressive symptoms. Implementation of the KAS-program to other healthcare professionals such as nurses/midwives is great of interest.

Mental health promotion competencies in the health sector in Finland: a qualitative study of the views of professionals

Aims: In this study, we aimed to investigate what competencies are needed for mental health promotion in health sector practice in Finland. Methods: A qualitative study was carried out to seek the views of mental health professionals regarding mental health promotion-related competencies. The data were collected via two focus groups and a questionnaire survey of professionals working in the health sector in Finland. The focus groups consisted of a total of 13 professionals. Further, 20 questionnaires were received from the questionnaire survey. The data were analysed using the qualitative data analysis software ATLAS.ti Scientific Software Development GmbH, Berlin. A content analysis was carried out. Results: In total, 23 competencies were identified and clustered under the categories of theoretical knowledge, practical skills, and personal attitudes and values. In order to promote mental health, it is necessary to have a knowledge of the principles and concepts of mental health promotion, including methods and tools for effective practices. Furthermore, a variety of skills-based competencies such as communication and collaboration skills were described. Personal attitudes and values included a holistic approach and respect for human rights, among others. Conclusions: The study provides new information on what competencies are needed to plan, implement and evaluate mental health promotion in health sector practice, with the aim of contributing to a more effective workforce. The competencies provide aid in planning training programmes and qualifications, as well as job descriptions and roles in health sector workplaces related to mental health promotion.