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Mental health literacy is defined as knowledge and beliefs of mental disorders and of appropriate treatments. The aim of this study was to assess mental health literacy in New Zealand adolescents (N =114, M = 16.72). Participants read two vignettes; the first presented an adolescent meeting DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for depression and the second presented an adolescent meeting DSM-5 diagnostic criteria schizophrenia. The majority of participants (73.7%) correctly recognised depression and 51.8% recognised schizophrenia. Almost half the participants recommended professional help for both depression and schizophrenia, whereas the majority also suggested a non-professional form of help, including talking to the patient, providing reassurance and seeking adult support. Even though these first data are promising, there is still potential for further improving the mental health literacy levels of adolescents. This will ensure early recognition of mental illnesses, leading to appropriate and timely help-seeking behaviours and greater quality of life. Keywords: Depression, schizophrenia, adolescents, mental health literacy, help-seeking, Introduction Mental health problems account for a large proportion of the disease burden in young people worldwide (World Health Organization [WHO], 2012). New Zealand has the highest rate of completed [...]

There is significant empirical evidence documenting the link between intimate partner violence (IPV) and incidence of depression symptoms. This study explores the impact of intimate partner violence, nonviolent spousal coercive control, and women's employment status on the incidence of depression symptoms in a sample of Mexican women. Results from regression models suggest different types of abusive relationships have differential impacts on incidence of depression. Specifically, a woman's employment status contributed to the risk of depression in the context of prevalent nonviolent spousal controlling behaviors. On the other hand, employment status did not contribute to the risk of developing depression symptoms when women were in relationships where physical violence was not coupled with controlling behaviors. Results of the study are discussed in the context of the Mexican culture, as well as implications for the treatment of IPV among Mexican women., Author(s): Elizabeth C. Terrazas-Carrillo[sup.1] , Paula T. McWhirter[sup.2] , Kayla M. Martel[sup.2] Author Affiliations: (1) Department of Psychology and Communication, Texas A&M International University, 5601 University Drive, 78045, Laredo, TXUSA [...]

Exploring the Impact of Diet on Depression and Anxiety among College Students. Kyle Silvas and Richard Mauldin, Lake Superior State University While numerous studies have examined the impact of diet [...]

Background Attempted suicide is the main risk factor for suicide and repeated suicide attempts. However, the evidence for follow-up treatments reducing suicidal behavior in these patients is limited. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of the Attempted Suicide Short Intervention Program (ASSIP) in reducing suicidal behavior. ASSIP is a novel brief therapy based on a patient-centered model of suicidal behavior, with an emphasis on early therapeutic alliance. Methods and Findings Patients who had recently attempted suicide were randomly allocated to treatment as usual (n = 60) or treatment as usual plus ASSIP (n = 60). ASSIP participants received three therapy sessions followed by regular contact through personalized letters over 24 months. Participants considered to be at high risk of suicide were included, 63% were diagnosed with an affective disorder, and 50% had a history of prior suicide attempts. Clinical exclusion criteria were habitual self-harm, serious cognitive impairment, and psychotic disorder. Study participants completed a set of psychosocial and clinical questionnaires every 6 months over a 24-month follow-up period. The study represents a real-world clinical setting at an outpatient clinic of a university hospital of psychiatry. The primary outcome measure was repeat suicide attempts during the 24-month follow-up period. Secondary outcome measures were suicidal ideation, depression, and health-care utilization. Furthermore, effects of prior suicide attempts, depression at baseline, diagnosis, and therapeutic alliance on outcome were investigated. During the 24-month follow-up period, five repeat suicide attempts were recorded in the ASSIP group and 41 attempts in the control group. The rates of participants reattempting suicide at least once were 8.3% (n = 5) and 26.7% (n = 16). ASSIP was associated with an approximately 80% reduced risk of participants making at least one repeat suicide attempt (Wald X.sup.2 .sub.1 = 13.1, 95% CI 12.4-13.7, p < 0.001). ASSIP participants spent 72% fewer days in the hospital during follow-up (ASSIP: 29 d; control group: 105 d; W = 94.5, p = 0.038). Higher scores of patient-rated therapeutic alliance in the ASSIP group were associated with a lower rate of repeat suicide attempts. Prior suicide attempts, depression, and a diagnosis of personality disorder at baseline did not significantly affect outcome. Participants with a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder (n = 20) had more previous suicide attempts and a higher number of reattempts. Key study limitations were missing data and dropout rates. Although both were generally low, they increased during follow-up. At 24 months, the group difference in dropout rate was significant: ASSIP, 7% (n = 4); control, 22% (n = 13). A further limitation is that we do not have detailed information of the co-active follow-up treatment apart from participant self-reports every 6 months on the setting and the duration of the co-active treatment. Conclusions ASSIP, a manual-based brief therapy for patients who have recently attempted suicide, administered in addition to the usual clinical treatment, was efficacious in reducing suicidal behavior in a real-world clinical setting. ASSIP fulfills the need for an easy-to-administer low-cost intervention. Large pragmatic trials will be needed to conclusively establish the efficacy of ASSIP and replicate our findings in other clinical settings. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02505373, Author(s): Anja Gysin-Maillart 1, Simon Schwab 2, Leila Soravia 2, Millie Megert 3, Konrad Michel 1,* Introduction The high toll of deaths by suicide is a major global public health [...]