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Health communication is an interdisciplinary concept and set of practices that aims to explain the strategic importance of communication in addressing the health issues that we both directly experience and are indirectly affected by in the field of health, and to encourage applications towards this end. In the face of rising healthcare costs, the health field was integrated into the market system in the 1970s, with the aim of balancing its income and expenditure on the one hand, and making a profit from it on the other. In relation to this goal, the health services approach replaced the medical approach. This new approach aim to expand the field of health as a market by associating almost every aspect of life with health and including them in the scope of health. Health communication in the contemporary sense emerged at such a time, in an economic and political context driven by global dynamics. While health communication is beneficial in addressing health-related issues, its role as a means of legitimizing new health approaches driven by global macro dynamics creates a paradoxical situation. These dynamics, which are the primary determinants of increasing health problems, especially health inequalities, inherently limit the solutions that can be developed through health communication. This is a rather complex situation. Although it is aimed to develop strategic solutions to the problems in the field of health through health communication by neglecting this situation, it is still difficult to achieve this due to both the inherent uncertainties of the diseasehealth phenomenon and the problem-creating nature of the communication phenomenon itself. In addition, the concept of 'crisis pandemic' developed in this article highlights the interconnectedness of the problems in the field of health with other global problems, and therefore argues that these problems cannot be solved by developing solutions to the health system problems alone. The study examines the historical development of health communication and discusses the challenges that this discipline faces in providing solutions to the problems in the field of health and presenting successful practical examples in today's world. In this context, the concept and phenomenon of health communication, which is expected to solve some problems in the field of health and to improve the field, is questioned using the method of problematisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: It is widely recognized that the COVID-19 pandemic and associated social isolation have significant short- and long-term effects on mental health worldwide. Previous studies have yielded mixed results regarding the short-term impact on mental health during the first wave of the pandemic. This study aims to investigate the influence of the second wave of the pandemic on suicide rates among children and adolescents. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study recorded cases of self-harm among children and adolescents aged 6 to 18 years, who were admitted to our center's pediatric emergency department between November 1, 2020, and January 31, 2021. These cases were compared with those admitted during the same months one year prior, considering similar age groups and diagnoses. Results: A total of 53 cases were included in our study, with 21 cases occurring before the pandemic and 32 cases during the second wave. While the total number of admissions decreased during the second wave of the pandemic, there was an increase in suicide attempts. Suicide attempts were more prevalent among females, often linked to family or peer-related issues and impulsivity. Conclusions: The findings of our study highlight the evident long-term adverse effects on mental health during the second wave of the pandemic. To effectively address these consequences in the future, it is crucial to comprehend the devastating long-term impact of the pandemic on mental health.

Objective: It is widely recognized that the COVID-19 pandemic and associated social isolation had significant short- and long-term effects on mental health worldwide. Previous studies have yielded mixed results regarding the short-term impact on mental health during the first wave of the pandemic. This study aims to investigate the influence of the second wave of the pandemic on suicide rates among children and adolescents. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study recorded cases of self-harm among children and adolescents aged 6 to 18 years, who were admitted to Ankara Bilkent City Hospital's pediatric emergency department between November 1, 2020, and January 31, 2021. These cases were compared with those admitted during the same months one year ago, considering similar age groups and diagnoses. Results: A total of 53 cases were included in our study, with 21 cases before the pandemic and 32 cases during the second wave. While the total number of admissions decreased during the second wave of the pandemic, there was an increase in suicide attempts. Suicide attempts were more prevalent among females, often linked to family or peer-related issues and impulsivity. Conclusions: The findings of our study highlight the evident adverse effects on mental health during the second wave of the pandemic. To effectively address these consequences in the future, it is crucial to comprehend the devastating long-term impact of the pandemic on mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]