scholarly journals Long-Term Drought Harms Mental Health in Rural Communities

Eos ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimberly Cartier
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Rural And Remote ◽  
Remote Communities ◽  
Prolonged Drought

In rural and remote communities in Australia, psychological distress worsened during the first few years of a prolonged drought. Other signs of poor mental health persisted beyond that time.

scholarly journals Rural Resilience Through COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 419-420
Author(s):  
Shannon Freeman ◽  
Raven Weaver ◽  
Shannon Freeman
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Mentoring Program ◽  
Rural And Remote ◽  
Remote Communities ◽  
International Perspectives ◽  
Strength Based ◽  
Rural And Remote Areas ◽  
The Face ◽  
Short And Long Term

Abstract The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have been felt globally affecting everyone, but have disproportionately harmed some of the most vulnerable and marginalized including individuals residing in rural and remote areas. The geographic isolation initially thought to protect rural and remote communities from the pandemic soon became a disadvantage, requiring individuals to navigate long-standing systemic barriers (e.g., lack of transportation issues, limited access to healthcare resources, and fragmented accessibility to vaccines), alongside the new challenges posed by COVID-19 restrictions to mitigate the spread of disease. The purpose of this symposium is to showcase examples of rural resiliency in the face of significant struggle. Taking a strength-based approach, the papers discuss efforts to identify healthy coping and positive aspects of physical distancing (Paper 1; Weaver), explore social support and psychological mindset (Paper 2; Fuller), inform successful strategies to pivot programming to remote coalition engagement for obesity prevention (Paper 3; Buys), implement a peer mentoring program to spur development of new strategies to build community resilience (Paper 4; Oh), and review elements of rurality that empower or exclude older people and the implications for a post-COVID world (Paper 5; Curreri). As we continue to uncover and learn about the short and long-term implications of living through the pandemic, these papers describe ways in which rural communities demonstrate resilience in the face of adversity. Our presenters will showcase a range of US and international perspectives and offer policy and program recommendations for building resilience in the longer term.

Young construction workers: substance use, mental health, and workplace psychosocial factors

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 155-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ken Pidd ◽  
Vinita Duraisingam ◽  
Ann Roche ◽  
Allan Trifonoff
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Substance Use ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Psychosocial Factors ◽  
Job Stress ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Wellbeing ◽  
Content Type

Purpose Young Australian workers are at elevated risk of mental health and alcohol and other drug related problems. The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between alcohol and drug (AOD) use, psychological wellbeing, and the workplace psychosocial environment among young apprentices in the construction industry. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional survey of a cohort of 169 construction industry apprentices in their first year of training was undertaken. The survey included measures of psychological distress (K10), quantity/frequency measures of alcohol and illicit drug use, and workplace psychosocial factors. Findings Construction industry apprentices are at elevated risk of AOD related harm and poor mental health. Levels of psychological distress and substance use were substantially higher than age/gender equivalent Australian population norms. Job stress, workplace bullying, and general social support accounted for 38.2 per cent of the variance in psychological distress. General social support moderated the effects of job stress and bullying on psychological distress. Substance use was not associated with psychological distress. However, workplace social support accounted for 2.1 per cent of the variance in AUDIT-C scores, and 2.0 per cent of the variance in cannabis use. Workplace bullying explained 2.4 per cent of the variance in meth/amphetamine use. Practical implications Construction trades apprentices are a high-risk group for harmful substance use and poor mental health. Study results indicate that psychosocial wellbeing interventions are warranted as a harm reduction strategy. Originality/value This is the first study of its kind to describe a cohort of Australian construction trade apprentices in terms of their substance use and psychological wellbeing. The study shows workplace psychosocial factors may predict young workers psychological wellbeing.

scholarly journals Cyberbullying victimisation and internalising and externalising problems among adolescents: the moderating role of parent–child relationship and child's sex

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Sampasa-Kanyinga ◽  
K. Lalande ◽  
I. Colman
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Substance Use ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Parent Child Relationship ◽  
Child Relationship ◽  
Externalising Problems ◽  
Bullying Victimisation ◽  
Parent Child

Abstract Aims Previous research has found links between cyberbullying victimisation and internalising and externalising problems among adolescents. However, little is known about the factors that might moderate these relationships. Thus, the present study examined the relationships between cyberbullying victimisation and psychological distress, suicidality, self-rated poor mental health and substance use among adolescents, and tested whether parent–child relationship and child's sex would moderate these relationships. Methods Self-report data on experiences of cyberbullying victimisation, self-rated poor mental health, psychological distress, suicidality and substance use were derived from the 2013 Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey, a province-wide school-based survey of students in grades 7 through 12 aged 11–20 years (N = 5478). Logistic regression models adjusted for age, sex, ethnicity, subjective socioeconomic status and involvement in physical fighting, bullying victimisation and perpetration at school. Results Cyberbullying victimisation was associated with self-rated poor mental health (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 2.15; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.64–2.81), psychological distress (OR 2.41; 95% CI 1.90–3.06), suicidal ideation (OR 2.38; 95% CI 1.83–3.08) and attempts (OR 2.07; 95% CI 1.27–3.38), smoking tobacco cigarette (OR 1.96; 95% CI 1.45–2.65), cannabis use (OR 1.82; 95% CI 1.32–2.51), and binge drinking (OR 1.44; 95% CI 1.03–2.02). The association between cyberbullying victimisation and psychological distress was modified by parent–child relationship and child's sex (three-way interaction term p < 0.05). The association between cyberbullying victimisation and psychological distress was much stronger among boys who have a negative relationship with their parents. Conclusions Findings suggest that cyberbullying victimisation is strongly associated with psychological distress in most adolescents with the exception of males who get along well with their parents. Further research using a longitudinal design is necessary to disentangle the interrelationship among child's sex, parent–child relationship, cyberbullying victimisation and mental health outcomes among adolescents in order to improve ongoing mental health prevention efforts.

The frontier of digital opportunity: Smart city implementation in small, rural and remote communities in Canada

Urban Studies ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 004209801986366
Author(s):  
Zachary Spicer ◽  
Nicole Goodman ◽  
Nathan Olmstead
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Smart City ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Smart Cities ◽  
City Development ◽  
Rural And Remote ◽  
Remote Communities ◽  
Digital Divides ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Private And Public

Studies of ‘smart cities’ in Canada primarily focus on large cities but not small, rural and remote communities. As a result, we have a limited understanding of the incentive structures for smaller, remote and rural communities to pursue smart city development. This knowledge deficit is concerning, since the introduction of technology can hold a number of unique benefits for these communities, including easier connections to the rest of Canada and large urban centres, reputation building, improved service delivery and enhanced opportunities for residents. Drawing upon localised forms of knowledge creation, policy development theories, adoption and local competition literature and primary interviews with private and public officials, we examine the challenges and opportunities of ‘smart city’ implementation through case studies of small and rural municipalities in Annapolis Valley in Nova Scotia and a remote community, Iqaluit, Nunavut. We find that collaboration is essential for rural and remote pursuit of smart city development and is necessary to counteract the limitations of capacity, scale and digital divides. Challenges aside, however, the primary rationale for adoption of smart city technology remains the same regardless of size: enhanced quality of life for residents and sustained community health.

The long-term impact of preoperative psychological distress on functional outcomes, quality of life, and patient satisfaction after total knee arthroplasty

2020 ◽  
Vol 102-B (7) ◽  
pp. 845-851 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graham S. Goh ◽  
Ming Han Lincoln Liow ◽  
You Wei Adriel Tay ◽  
Jerry Yongqiang Chen ◽  
Sheng Xu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Functional Outcomes ◽  
Knee Score ◽  
Sf 36 ◽  
Total Knee

Aims While patients with psychological distress have poorer short-term outcomes after total knee arthroplasty (TKA), their longer-term function is unknown. We aimed to 1) assess the influence of preoperative mental health status on long-term functional outcomes, quality of life, and patient satisfaction; and 2) analyze the change in mental health after TKA, in a cohort of patients with no history of mental health disorder, with a minimum of ten years’ follow-up. Methods Prospectively collected data of 122 patients undergoing primary unilateral TKA in 2006 were reviewed. Patients were assessed pre- and postoperatively at two and ten years using the Knee Society Knee Score (KSKS) and Function Score (KSFS); Oxford Knee Score (OKS); and the Mental (MCS) and Physical Component Summary (PCS) which were derived from the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey questionnaire (SF-36). Patients were stratified into those with psychological distress (MCS < 50, n = 51) and those without (MCS ≥ 50, n = 71). Multiple regression was used to control for age, sex, BMI, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), and baseline scores. The rate of expectation fulfilment and satisfaction was compared between patients with low and high MCS. Results There was no difference in the mean KSKS, KSFS, OKS, and SF-36 PCS at two years or ten years after TKA. Equal proportions of patients in each group attained the minimal clinically important difference for each score. Psychologically distressed patients had a comparable rate of satisfaction (91.8% (47/51) vs 97.1% (69/71); p = 0.193) and fulfilment of expectations (89.8% vs 97.1%; p = 0.094). The proportion of distressed patients declined from 41.8% preoperatively to 29.8% at final follow-up (p = 0.021), and their mean SF-36 MCS improved by 10.4 points (p < 0.001). Conclusion Patients with poor mental health undergoing TKA may experience long-term improvements in function and quality of life that are comparable to those experienced by their non-distressed counterparts. These patients also achieved a similar rate of satisfaction and expectation fulfilment. Undergoing TKA was associated with improvements in mental health in distressed patients, although this effect may be due to residual confounding. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2020;102-B(7):845–851.

scholarly journals Growing health partnerships in rural and remote communities: what drives the joint efforts of primary schools and universities in maintaining service learning partnerships?

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 503-517
Author(s):  
Sue Kirby ◽  
Fabian P. Held ◽  
Debra Jones ◽  
David Lyle
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Service Learning ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Speech Pathology ◽  
Rural And Remote ◽  
Remote Communities ◽  
Learning Partnerships ◽  
Poor Access ◽  
Local Host ◽  
The University

AimThis study explored the partnership between universities and local primary schools to deliver a classroom-based paediatric communication impairment service provided by undergraduate speech pathology students. It aimed to understand how partnerships work to facilitate programme replication.BackgroundThe partners included universities sending students on rural clinical placement, local host academic units and primary schools who worked together to provide paediatric speech and language services in primary schools in three sites in Australia. Rural and remote communities experience poorer health outcomes because of chronic workforce shortages, social disadvantage and high Aboriginality, poor access to services and underfunding.MethodsThe study was in twofold: qualitative analysis of data from interviews/focus group with the partners in the university and education sectors, and quantitative social network analysis of data from an electronic survey of the partners.FindingsFactors supporting partnerships were long-term, work and social relationships, commitment to community, trust and an appetite for risk-taking. We postulate that these characteristics are more likely to exist in rural communities.

Psychosocial Framework for Understanding Psychological Distress Among Survivors of the November 26, 2008 Mumbai Terror Attack: Beyond Traumatic Experiences and Emergency Medical Care

2014 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 330-338 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacquleen Joseph ◽  
Surinder Jaswal
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Social Science ◽  
Medical Care ◽  
Lived Experiences ◽  
Traumatic Experiences ◽  
Emergency Medical Care ◽  
Terror Attack ◽  
Key Factors

AbstractThe field of “Public Health in Disasters and Complex Emergencies” is replete with either epidemiological studies or studies in the area of hospital preparedness and emergency care. The field is dominated by hospital-based or emergency phase-related literature, with very little attention on long-term health and mental health consequences. The social science, or the public mental health perspective, too, is largely missing. It is in this context that the case report of the November 26, 2008 Mumbai terror attack survivors is presented to bring forth the multi-dimensional and dynamic long-term impacts, and their consequences for psychological well-being, two years after the incident. Based on literature, the report formulates a theoretical framework through which the lived experiences of the survivors is analyzed and understood from a social science perspective.This report is an outcome of the ongoing work with the survivors over a period of two years. A mixed methodology was used. It quantitatively captures the experience of 231 families following the attack, and also uses a self-reporting questionnaire (SRQ), SRQ20, to understand the psychological distress. In-depth qualitative case studies constructed from the process records and in-depth interviews focus on lived experiences of the survivors and explain the patterns emerging from the quantitative analysis.This report outlines the basic profile of the survivors, the immediate consequences of the attack, the support received, psychological consequences, and the key factors contributing to psychological distress. Through analysis of the key factors and the processes emerging from the lived experiences that explain the progression of vulnerability to psychological distress, this report puts forth a psychosocial framework for understanding psychological distress among survivors of the November 26, 2008 Mumbai terror attack.JosephJ,JaswalS.Psychosocial framework for understanding psychological distress among survivors of the November 26, 2008 Mumbai terror attack: beyond traumatic experiences and emergency medical care.Prehosp Disaster Med.2014;29(3):1-8.

scholarly journals Rural Proofing Policies for Health: Barriers to Policy Transfer for Australia

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 338
Author(s):  
I Nyoman Sutarsa ◽  
Lachlan Campbell ◽  
Malcolm Moore
Keyword(s):  
Health Policy ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Rural Health ◽  
Policy Transfer ◽  
Health Policies ◽  
State Governments ◽  
Rural And Remote ◽  
Remote Communities ◽  
Binary Model ◽  
Urban Rural

A ‘rural proofing’ framework, which offers assessment of the potential impacts of policies on rural and remote communities, has been advocated for by state governments and interest groups throughout Australia. It is argued that rural proofing can be used to redress health inequities between urban and rural and remote communities. While implementation of rural proofing in some countries shows promising results, there are many social and spatial contexts that should be considered prior to its adoption in Australia. Rural proofing is not the best option for rural health policy in Australia. It has been imported from communities where the urban/rural divide is minimal. It is based on a rigid urban/rural binary model that targets disparity rather than accommodating the diversity of rural communities. Rural proofing concentrates on tick-the-box activities, where rural communities are not sufficiently consulted. There is no unified federal ministry in Australia with responsibility for rural and remote affairs. Considering potential shortcomings of rural proofing for health policies, it is imperative for Australia to have a specific rural health policy at both federal and state levels.

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