Suicidal Ideation and Mental Health of Bhutanese Refugees in the United States

Refugee agencies noticed a high number of suicides among Bhutanese refugees resettled in the United States between 2009 and 2012. We aimed to estimate prevalence of mental health conditions and identify factors associated with suicidal ideation among Bhutanese refugees. We conducted a stratified random cross-sectional survey and collected information on demographics, mental health conditions, suicidal ideation, and post-migration difficulties. Bivariate logistic regressions were performed to identify factors associated with suicidal ideation. Prevalence of mental health conditions were: depression (21 %), symptoms of anxiety (19 %), post-traumatic stress disorder (4.5 %), and suicidal ideation (3 %), significant risk factors for suicidal ideation included: not being a provider of the family; perceiving low social support; and having symptoms of anxiety and depression. These findings suggest that Bhutanese refugees in the United States may have a higher burden of mental illness relative to the US population and may benefit from mental health screening and treatment. Refugee communities and service providers may benefit from additional suicide awareness training to identify those at highest risk.     

Association Between School Engagement and Disclosure of Suicidal Ideation to Adults Among Latino Adolescents

We examined associations between Latino adolescents' school engagement and their likelihood of disclosing suicidal ideation (SI) to adults and of asking for help for SI. A first set of analyses was conducted on a total sample of 14 high schools, and a second set of analyses was conducted on 8 "Latino-representative" high schools. The criterion for Latino representation was that ≥10?% of the school's total student population was Latino. Across all 14 high schools, 17?% (110/663) of Latino students reported SI in the past year, compared to 13?% (359/2,740) of non-Hispanic White students and 11?% (78/719) of African American students. Of Latino students with SI, 24?% (26/110) told an adult and 35?% (38/110) sought help. In the 8 Latino-representative schools, higher levels of reported school engagement were associated with a greater likelihood of seeking help (OR?=?6.17) and disclosure of SI to an adult (OR?=?7.64) for Latino males. For Latinas, however, school engagement was not associated with either disclosure of SI to an adult or seeking help. Additional research is needed to clarify the processes, including social connectedness, that contribute to the disclosure of and help-seeking for SI among Latino adolescents.     

Suicidal Ideation Among Drug-Dependent Treatment-Seeking Inner-City Pregnant Women

The current retrospective study compared the psychiatric and lifestyle characteristics of two groups of treatment-seeking pregnant, opiate and/or cocaine dependent women admitted to the Center for Addiction and Pregnancy (CAP). Women reporting past and/or current suicidal ideation (SI) (46%; n = 35) were compared to women who did not report thoughts of suicidal ideation (NSI) (54%; n = 41). SI women were more likely to be homeless (p = .020), to report histories of emotional (p = .022), physical (p < 001), sexual abuse (p = .002) and psychiatric treatment (p < .001), and less likely to be married (p = .024) than NSI women. Psychiatrically, SI women were more likely to have co-morbid current and lifetime disorders than NSI women. These findings highlight the need to identify women with histories of suicidal ideation, recognize the potential relapse risk imposed by emotional distress, and confront these issues in treatment.     

中学生自杀意念及其影响因素研究

目的 了解中学生自杀意念的发生率,探讨其影响因素,为制定干预措施提供科学依据。方法 采用随机整群抽样方法,抽取某市4所中学的1294名中学生,利用美国疾病控制中心（CDC）青少年危险行为监测问卷的部分条目和心理健康诊断测验（MHT）等进行匿名问卷调查。结果 中学生自杀意念的报告率为18.39%,女性自杀意念的报告率显著高于男性,有自杀意念的中学生心理健康水平低;多元逐步回归分析的结果显示患有慢性病、母亲的职业是“文卫科技”人员（参照组为工人）、冲动倾向、过去1月饮酒的天数、学习焦虑倾向、过去7d玩电子游戏（包括网络游戏）的时间、对人焦虑倾向是中学生产生自杀意念的危险因素。结论 中学生自杀意念发生率较高,应根据其影响因素给予相应的干预。     

大学生自杀意念的相关因素研究

目的探讨影响大学生自杀意念的因素,为采取早期干预提供依据.方法采用自拟大学生自杀意念影响因素量表,调查武汉市某高校在校大学生479人.结果大学生自杀意念发生率为13.8%;有过自杀/自伤行为、抑郁、焦虑及神经质等心理问题对大学生自杀意念的产生有显著影响.结论对有过自杀/自伤行为的大学生应给予更多的关注.加强对大学生情绪方面的辅导,防止抑郁情绪的产生;积极开展心理咨询、心理讲座等,促进大学生人格的健康发展,是预防自杀的关键.     

Food Insecurity and Health Care Utilization Among Older Adults in the United States

This study examined the relationships between food insecurity and utilization of four health services among older Americans: office visits, inpatient hospital nights, emergency department visits, and home health care. Nationally representative data from the 2011 and 2012 National Health Interview Survey were used (N = 13,589). Nearly 83.0% of the sample had two or more office visits, 17.0% reported at least one hospital night, 23.0% had at least one emergency room visit, and 8.1% used home health care during the past 12 months. Adjusting for confounders, food-insecure older adults had higher odds of using more office visits, inpatient hospital nights, and emergency department visits than food-secure older adults, but similar odds of home health care utilization. The findings of this study suggest that programs and policies aimed at reducing food insecurity among older adults may have a potential to reduce utilization of health care services.     

Correlates of Suicidal Ideation and Attempt Among Female Sex Workers in China

The purpose of this study was to explore the factors associated with suicidal ideation and attempt among female sex workers (FSWs) in China. A cross-sectional survey was administered among 454 FSWs in a rural county of Guangxi, China. About 14% of FSWs had thought of suicide and 8% had attempted suicide in the past 6 months. Multiple logistic regression analyses indicated that those FSWs who were dissatisfied with life, abused alcohol, were deceived or forced into commercial sex, and had stable sexual partners were more likely to report suicidal ideation. Female sex workers who had multiple stable partners, experienced sexual coercion, and worried about an inability to make enough money were more likely to report a suicide attempt. These FSWs who entered commercial sex because of financial needs or who were influenced by the peers were less likely to report a suicide attempt. Our data suggested that the rates of suicidal ideation and attempts were high among FSWs in China, and there were multiple factors associated with their suicidality. Future health education and promotion efforts among FSWs need to take into consideration substance abuse, interpartner conflict, and psychological stress.     

Chronic Physical Illness Burden and Suicidal Ideation Among Dominicans in New York City

Little is known about the association between chronic illness and suicidal ideation (SI) among Dominicans living in the United States. This study used data from a community survey of 2753 Dominican adults in New York City. SI included thoughts of self-harm or being better off dead in the past month. Chronic physical illness burden was categorized as having 0, 1, or 2+ diagnosed conditions. Adjusted logistic regressions evaluated the association between number of conditions and SI, overall and stratified by sex and age. Adjusted models yielded a strong association between chronic illness burden and SI among men [odds ratio (OR) 5.57, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 2.19–14.18] but not women (OR 0.80, 95 % CI 0.50–1.29; interaction p = 0.011). The association of interest did not differ significantly between younger and older adults. Screening for SI in health care practice, particularly among Dominican men with multiple chronic health conditions, may be warranted.     

Duration of United States Residence and Self-Reported Health Among African-Born Immigrant Adults

Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health - Although researchers have found an inverse relationship between length of U.S. residence and health, research on this issue among African-born immigrants...     

广州市中小学生自杀意念及影响因素研究

目的了解广州市中小学生自杀意念的发生情况及影响因素,为预防中小学生自杀提供依据。方法采用统一调查表,应用分层整群抽样的方法调查广州市8所中学和8所小学学生7 527名,通过多因素Logistic回归模型筛选自杀意念的危险因素。结果广州市中小学生自杀意念发生率为14.5%。多因素分析显示,自杀意念的影响因素为性别、学生类型、健康状况、因病缺勤、吸烟、饮酒、被恐吓或伤害、轻微自伤行为和伤心绝望。结论自杀意念在中小学生中较为常见。应加强综合干预措施,防止自杀行为的发生。     

江苏省中学生自杀意念发生情况及其影响因素

目的了解中学生自杀意念的发生情况及其影响因素,为中学生心理健康教育提供依据。方法采用多阶段分层整群抽样方法,随机抽取江苏省初中学生2 625名和高中学生2 495名进行问卷调查。结果中学生自杀意念报告率为15.35%,自杀意念的产生与年龄、性别、地区有关。多元回归分析显示,可能的危险因素为父亲文化程度高、与父亲交流时间少、家庭成员关系不融洽、自觉学习上有压力、认为父母在学习上施加压力、饮酒、使用过成瘾性药物等。结论江苏省中学生自杀意念报告率较高,应引起社会与家庭的高度重视,积极采取相应措施加以干预。     

Daily Physical Activity Predicts Frailty Development Among Community-Dwelling Older Japanese Adults

ObjectivesThis study examined the association between frailty development and physical activity including the number of steps, the time of light-intensity physical activity (LPA) with <3.0 metabolic equivalents (METs), and the time of moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) with ≥3.0 METs in community-dwelling older Japanese adults.Design, setting, and participantsStudy subjects were 401 older adults at the baseline examination (April 2000–May 2002) who participated at least once in the follow-up examination of the longitudinal study of aging. Their 1787 cumulative data points (mean number of repeat visits, 3.5) were used for analysis.MeasuresThe number of steps, time of LPA, and time of MVPA were recorded at baseline using a uniaxial accelerometer. Frailty was defined according to 5 frailty criteria: shrinking, exhaustion, low physical activity, low grip strength, and slow gait speed.ResultsThe fully adjusted odds ratio for frailty among subjects walking <5000 steps was 1.85 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.10-3.11]. The fully adjusted odds ratio for frailty among subjects with MVPA for <7.5 minutes was 1.80 (95% CI, 1.05-3.09). No significant association was observed between frailty and LPA.Conclusions and ImplicationsThe risk for developing frailty was substantially lower in older people walking ≥5000 steps/d or exercising for at least 7.5 minutes/d at an intensity >3.0 METs. These data could be applicable to the community interventions that aim to prevent frailty.