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Background: Being ready for discharge is vital to successful hospital-to-home transitions. For many patients, however, the transition from psychiatric hospital care to outpatient care can be challenging. An in-depth understanding of the mental health conditions of patients at discharge is crucial and instructive for recovery research., Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors of depression, anxiety, and poor well-being symptoms among patients who are about to be discharged from psychiatric units in Alberta, Canada. Our aim was to help determine the prevalence of anxiety, depression, and overall well-being among the general psychiatric inpatient population in Alberta before discharge and the potential factors which may influence this., Methods: This epidemiological study used a cross-sectional quantitative survey from March 8, 2022, to November 5, 2023, to assess depression, anxiety, and well-being. Participants were invited to complete an online questionnaire that contained demographics, clinical information, and responses to the PHQ-9, GAD-7, and WHO-5 questionnaires. SPSS version 25 was used to analyze the data. Descriptive, univariate, and multivariate regression analyses were employed., Result: The study found that the prevalence of likely depression, anxiety, and poor well-being among patients about to be discharged was 37.1%, 56.4%, and 48.3%, respectively. Based on a logistic regression model, there was a statistically significant association between anxiety, depression, and poor well-being diagnoses and multiple socio-demographic and clinical factors such as ethnicity, primary mental health diagnoses, education level, housing status, depression, anxiety, and well-being at baseline., Conclusion: Mental health assessment at discharge is a critical step in the recovery and transition of care. There is still a need for further research to identify the underlying causes and robust predictors of mental health symptoms in patients about to be discharged and to provide appropriate interventions and supportive resources both before and following discharge. Future research utilizing these findings may help identify key opportunities to improve outcomes for patients after discharge., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Mao, Shalaby, Owusu, Elgendy, Agyapong, Eboreime, Silverstone, Chue, Li, Vuong, Ohinmaa, Taylor, Greenshaw and Agyapong.)

Background: Cannabis is one of the widely used drugs for relaxation and may be abuse among users. Researchers have given attention to cannabis use among the general population while vulnerable populations who have experience multiple traumas may be at risk of cannabis abuse. Other factors may influence cannabis abuse among people exposed to traumas., Objective: The study aims to determine the prevalence and correlates of self-reported cannabis abuse among residents of Fort McMurray, a city in Northern Alberta, Canada., Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted using an online questionnaire. Sociodemographic data, trauma exposure, and clinical characteristics were collected to identify the possible risk factor of cannabis abuse. Data were analyzed with SPSS version 25 using a chi-square test and binary logistic regression analysis. Correlation analysis was also performed to ascertain likely cannabis abuse and the association with other mental health conditions., Results: Overall, participants who completed the survey were one hundred and eighty-sixed out of the two hundred and forty-nine residents who accessed the online survey, giving a response rate of 74.7%. The prevalence of self-reported cannabis abuse among participants was 14%. Most of the participants were females (159, 85.5%), more than 40 years of age (98, 52.7%), employed (175, 94.1%), owned their house (145, 78.0%), and 103 (60.6%) reported being exposed to at least a trauma (COVID-19, flooding, or wildfire). Regarding regression analysis results, participants living in a rented accommodation were nearly four times more likely to abuse cannabis (OR = 3.86; 95% CI: 1.34-11.14) than those owning their houses. Similarly, male participants were more than 6-folds more likely to abuse cannabis than the female gender (OR= 6.25; 95% CI: 1.89-20), and participants in a relationship were six times more likely to abuse cannabis than participants not in a relationship (OR = 6.33; 95% CI: 1.67-24.39). The study also found significant association of depressive symptoms ( X 2 = 4.561; p = 0.033) and anxiety symptoms ( X 2 = 4.700; p = 0.030) with likely cannabis abuse., Conclusion: Demographic factors significantly predicted likely cannabis abuse in the Fort McMurray population, and cannabis abuse significantly correlated with presence of moderate to high anxiety and depression symptoms. It is essential to mobilized resources to support vulnerable communities and manage cannabis abuse., Competing Interests: Author BA was employed by Global Psychological E-Health Foundation. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Obuobi-Donkor, Eboreime, Shalaby, Agyapong and Agyapong.)

Background: The flood in Fort McMurray (FMM) which occurred between April 26 and May 2, 2020, is known to have displaced an estimated population of 1,500 people, and destroyed or damaged about 1,230 buildings. In all, it is estimated to have caused about $228 million in losses., Objective: This study aims to identify the prevalence and determinants of likely Generalized Anxiety disorder (GAD) in among respondents 12-months after the 2020 flooding., Methods: Data for the study were collected through a cross-sectional survey sent through REDCap and hosted online from the 24th of April to the 2nd of June 2021. The self-administered questionnaire was emailed to respondents using community, government, school, and occupational platforms. Demographic, flooding-related variables, and clinical data were collected. A validated instrument, the GAD-7 was used to collect information on likely GAD. Consent was implied by completing the survey forms, and the University of Alberta Health Research Ethics Committee approved the study., Results: Of the 249 residents surveyed, 74.7% (186) respondents completed the online survey, 81.6% (80) were above 40 years, 71% (132) were in a relationship, 85.5% (159) were females, and 94.1% (175) were employed. The prevalence of likely GAD was 42.5% in our study. Predictors of likely GAD among respondents included positive employment status (OR = 30.70; 95% C.I. 2.183-423.093), prior diagnosis of depression (OR = 3.30; 95% C.I. 1.157-9.43), and the perceived need to have mental health counseling (OR = 6.28; 95% C.I. 2.553-15.45)., Conclusion: This study showed that there was an increased magnitude of moderate to high anxiety symptoms among respondents following the natural disaster particularly the flood in 2020. The predictors of likely GAD include positive employment status, history of depression diagnosis, and the need to have mental health counseling. Policymakers may mitigate the rise of anxiety after flooding in vulnerable areas by addressing these and other factors., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Owusu, Shalaby, Eboreime, Nkire, Lawal, Agyapong, Pazderka, Obuobi-Donkor, Adu, Mao, Oluwasina and Agyapong.)

Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic represents an instance of collective trauma across the globe; as such, it is unique to our lifetimes. COVID-19 has made clear systemic disparities in terms of access to healthcare and economic precarity. Our objective was to examine the mental health repercussions of COVID-19 on adult females living in Fort McMurray, Canada in light of their unique circumstances and challenges., Method: To investigate this issue, we analyzed responses gathered from an anonymous cross-section of online survey questionnaire responses gathered from females living in the Fort McMurray area ( n = 159) during the COVID-19 pandemic (April 24-June 2, 2021). This included relevant demographic, mental health history, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as well as COVID-19 data. Chi-squared analysis was used to determine outcome relevance, and binary logistic regression was employed to generate a model of susceptibility to PTSD., Results: 159 females completed the survey. The prevalence of putative PTSD in our sample was 40.8%. A regression analysis revealed 4 variables with significant, unique contributions to PTSD. These were: a diagnosis of depression ; a diagnosis of anxiety ; job loss due to COVID-19 ; and lack of support from family and friends . Specifically, women with a previous diagnosis of either depression or anxiety were ~4-5 times more likely to present with PTSD symptomatology in the wake of COVID-19 (OR = 3.846; 95% CI: 1.13-13.13 for depression; OR = 5.190; 95% CI: 1.42-19.00 for anxiety). Women who reported having lost their jobs as a result of the pandemic were ~5 times more likely to show evidence of probable PTSD (OR = 5.182; 95% CI: 1.08-24.85). Receiving inadequate support from family and friends made the individual approximately four times as likely to develop probable PTSD (OR = 4.258; 95% CI: 1.24-14.65), while controlling for the other variables in the regression model., Conclusions: Overall, these results support our hypothesis that volatility in factors such as social support, economic stability, and mental health work together to increase the probability of women developing PTSD in response to a collective trauma such as COVID-19., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Pazderka, Shalaby, Eboreime, Mao, Obuobi-Donkor, Agyapong, Oluwasina, Adu, Owusu, Sapara and Agyapong.)