Search

The Peel Region of Toronto, Canada is home to over a third of the province's South Asian population. Youth are at a vulnerable time period in terms of their mental health. South Asian youth populations may face additional challenges to their mental health such as acculturative stress, intergenerational conflict, and racism and discrimination. This qualitative study set out to understand the mental health concerns and service access barriers experienced by South Asian youth populations in the Peel Region of Toronto, Canada from the perspective of mental health service providers. In-depth semi-structured interviews were carried out with mental health service providers (n = 22) who work with South Asian youth living in Peel Region. Thematic analysis was used to elucidate themes related to mental health stressors and service access barriers experienced by youth. According to mental health service providers, South Asian youth navigate a number of unique stressors related to the domains of culture, religion, and family dynamics, experiences of discrimination, the impact of migration, beliefs around mental illness and help-seeking, help-seeking trajectories and therapy recommendations, and lastly, sex differences. Mental health service providers outlined steps needed to effectively address the unique mental health challenges, best practice guidelines, and recommendations for working with South Asian youth, families, and communities to provide a practical and nuanced overview on how a multi-level strategy for mental health care can effectively meet the needs of South Asian youth populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The NIH-developed Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) is successful in achieving clinically significant weight loss in individuals with overweight/obesity when delivered one-on-one. The group-based DPP is less effective, with average weight losses of only 3.5%. The objective of this study was to increase weight loss outcomes of the group-based DPP by integrating habit formation tools (i.e., if-then plans). This two-arm randomized controlled trial tested the efficacy of the habit formation-enhanced group-based DPP compared with the standard group-based DPP on changes in body weight (primary outcome). This study presents the 3- and 12-month results of this 24-month trial.Methods: A total of 208 participants were randomly assigned to the standard or enhanced DPP, and 172 participated. Participants were men and women with overweight/obesity who self-reported less than 200 min/wk of exercise.Results: Both groups achieved high weight losses at 3 (5.76%) and 12 (9.98%) months, with no differences between groups (χ2  < 1). Both groups improved in blood pressure and physical activity.Conclusions: If-then plans did not result in higher weight loss. Both program versions resulted in higher weight loss than the group-based DPP. This may suggest that cognitive behavioral therapy skills of the coaches (clinical psychology doctoral students) was a key factor in treatment outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the impact of age at time of immigration on mental health in Canada. The Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) 2011 was analyzed to determine prevalence rates for mood disorders for those who immigrated during early childhood, middle childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was carried out on pooled CCHS 2007-2011 data to calculate risk of mood disorders. Those who immigrated during early childhood (before the age of six) had a significantly higher prevalence rate of mood disorders (6.83 %, 95 % CI 6.77-6.89) compared to those who immigrated later in life (4.83-4.88 %, 95 % CI 4.56-4.93). Immigrating during early childhood was also associated with elevated risk of mood disorders (OR 1.40, 95 % CI 1.04-1.88) compared to those who immigrated as adults after adjusting for key factors. Mental health services need to consider the factors associated with early childhood migration and the implications for early intervention programming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]