scholarly journals Stigma and Endometriosis: A Brief Overview and Recommendations to Improve Psychosocial Well-Being and Diagnostic Delay

Author(s):  
Omar T. Sims ◽  
Jhumka Gupta ◽  
Stacey A. Missmer ◽  
Irene O. Aninye

Endometriosis is a chronic gynecological disease that affects approximately 1 in 10 women of reproductive age. Symptoms of severe pelvic pain, infertility, fatigue, and abnormal menstruation can cause significant negative effects on an individual’s physical and mental health, including interactions with their family, friends, and health care providers. Stigma associated with endometriosis has been under-studied and is rarely discussed in current literature. Herein, this paper aims to provide a brief overview of published literature to explore and establish the plausibility of stigma as a driver of suboptimal psychosocial well-being and diagnostic delay among individuals living with endometriosis. We present the clinical characteristics and physical and mental health consequences associated with endometriosis, highlight several theoretical constructs of stigma, and review the limited studies documenting women’s lived experiences of endometriosis-related stigma. To mitigate harmful effects of this phenomenon, we recommend increasing efforts to assess the prevalence of and to characterize endometriosis-related stigma, implementing awareness campaigns, and developing interventions that combat the multidimensional negative effects of stigma on timely care, treatment, and quality of life for individuals living with endometriosis.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esme Fuller-Thomson

Objective 1) To examine the relationship between migraine status and complete mental health (CMH) among a nationally representative sample of Canadians; 2) To identify significant correlates of CMH among those with migraine. Methods Secondary analysis of the nationally representative Canadian Community Health Survey – Mental Health (CCHS-MH) (N=21,108). Bivariate analyses and a series of logistic regression models were performed to identify the association between migraine status and CMH. Significant correlates of CMH were identified in the sample of those with migraine (N=2,186). Results Individuals without a history of migraine had 72% higher odds of being in CMH (OR=1.72; 95% CI=1.57, 1.89) when compared with those with a history of migraine. After accounting for physical health and mental health problems, the relationship between migraine status and CMH was reduced to non-significance, with both groups having an approximately equal likelihood of achieving CMH (OR=1.03; 05% CI=(0.92, 1.15). Among those with migraine, factors that were strongly associated with CMH were a lack of a history of depression, having a confidant, and having an income of $80,000 or more. Conclusion Clinicians and health care providers should also address co-occurring physical and mental health issues to support the overall well-being of migraineurs.


2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 158-159
Author(s):  
Boo Woi Hon

The unprecedented scale of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has indeed brought about tremendous ramifications on the state of mental health for children. One notable aspect deserving emphasis however, is the psychological impact in children as a result of the purported surge of domestic violence (DV) in many of the countries that imposed stay-at-home requirement. The imposition of movement restriction policy led to isolation and overcrowding, made worse by loss of income in some instances, causing high levels of stress and anxiety, thereby increasing the risk of DV and child abuse particularly those already living within violent or dysfunctional families. Children exposed to DV have higher risk of developmental delay and behavioural problems, more likely to suffer from post-traumatic symptoms, depression and anxiety, reduced cognitive functioning and social competence. Additionally, these children tend to have poorer academic performance and are more likely to engage in violent or abusive relationship later in life. Health care providers need to be vigilant and actively screen and identify children or families that are affected by DV to protect their physical and mental health well-being.


2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 910-919 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carrie Lee ◽  
John L. Oliffe ◽  
Mary T. Kelly ◽  
Olivier Ferlatte

Gay men are a subgroup vulnerable to depression and suicidality. The prevalence of depression among gay men is three times higher than the general adult population. Because depression is a known risk factor for suicide, gay men are also at high risk for suicidality. Despite the high prevalence of depression and suicidality, health researchers and health care providers have tended to focus on sexual health issues, most often human immunodeficiency virus in gay men. Related to this, gay men’s health has often been defined by sexual practices, and poorly understood are the intersections of gay men’s physical and mental health with social determinants of health including ethnicity, locale, education level, and socioeconomic status. In the current article summated is literature addressing risk factors for depression and suicidality among gay men including family acceptance of their sexual identities, social cohesion and belonging, internalized stigma, and victimization. Barriers to gay men’s help seeking are also discussed in detailing how health care providers might advance the well-being of this underserved subgroup by effectively addressing depression and suicidality.


Author(s):  
Jainish Patel ◽  
Prittesh Patel

The widely held belief that emotional and psychological processes affect our physical health, mental health and general well-being are central to a holistic view of the individual, and as such, it is a useful foundational concept in integrative medicine. The purpose of this paper is to review substantial amounts of the latest research and recent findings on this issue to enable us to throw some light on how inhibitory factors to emotional expression and experience can endanger our health, both physically and psychologically including our general wellbeing. In addition, the connection between repression of emotion and certain mental disorders like depression and scientifically proven healthy ways to manage issues bordering on emotion was outlined. The information contained in this paper is just as important to health care providers and also to the patients they deal with


Author(s):  
Mercy Ngosa Mumba ◽  
Alexandria Nancarrow ◽  
Jessica L. Jaiswal ◽  
Erika Hocchaus ◽  
Madelyn H. Campbell ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND: Each year about one in five adults experiences mental illness. Although the independent physical and mental health consequences of alcohol misuse and cigarette smoking are well documented, little is known on how substance use moderates the relationship between physical and mental well-being. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine whether substance use moderates the relationship between physical activity and mental health in adults. METHODS: This was a secondary analysis of data provided by the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). RESULTS: Participants ( N = 450,016) were adults who completed the BRFSS in 2017. Those who did not drink alcohol had fewer mental health problems when they indicated greater amounts of time spent doing physical activities each week. Last, smokers’ number of mental health problems decreased as they engaged in more physical activity, whereas nonsmokers’ number of mental health problems increased as they engaged in more physical activity. CONCLUSIONS: The relationship between physical activity and mental health outcomes is well established and cannot be overemphasized. Nonetheless, substance abuse can moderate this relationship and should be routinely screened for by health care providers regardless of treatment setting.


2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 453-464 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vinitha Jithoo

Emerging adults are an important group not only because their opinions and knowledge will determine future attitudes but also because of the emergence of mental health problems during young adulthood. In order to provide relevant support, academics, health care providers as well as policy makers need to be more cognisant of how emerging adults make meaning of their psycho-social developmental context. The objective of the study was to explore how a cohort of 150 university students made meaning of emotional well-being and mental illness, the causes of mental health problems, the negative connotations associated with mental ill health, help-seeking behaviours, and how culture was used as a lens through which mental well-being was understood. The main findings indicate that students struggle to fully understand these concepts mainly because it is shrouded in mystery and complexity and not engaged with freely because of stigma and stereotypical attitudes, and while culture provides a lens to understand the causes and interventions, emerging adults often adopt a level of scepticism and are beginning to vacillate between tradition and modernity. Emerging adults face many barriers to accessing health care services including limited knowledge and stigma related to services, lack of confidentiality, fear of mistreatment, location of facilities, and the high cost of services. Universities and government should actively engage with research evidence to inform policies and programmes to improve the health and well-being of emerging adults.


Author(s):  
Ira Aini Dania ◽  
Nanda Novziransyah

The current coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic has changed the order of social life; the efforts made to tackle this pandemic have sometimes raised various obstacles related to norms, ethics and culture. An increased risk of COVID-19-associated mental disorders is found in many communities, causing excessive emotional reactions such as feelings of pressure, leading to unhealthy behavior. This situation confirms that health care providers have a key role in dealing with emotional disturbances that occur as a form of pandemic response. Public health emergencies can affect the health, safety and well-being of every individual as well as the social stigma in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic. Various mental health studies related to disasters have determined that emotional distress is widespread and can also be found in populations related to COVID-19. There are various kinds of risk factors that have an impact on health workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, including social isolation, lack of support, and concerns about safety of family members. We included published, observational and experimental studies that reported the mental health effects on health workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Efforts made by policy holders, especially in the health sector, have greatly contributed to the response to the pandemic, but not all of them can run smoothly, several steps and policies in the health sector must involve many stakeholders in order to realize the expected efforts. The main purpose of this review paper was to not only focus on health workers, but include the communities in overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arup Kumar Das ◽  
Ambey Kumar Srivastava ◽  
Saswata Ghosh ◽  
Ruchi Bhargava ◽  
Rajan Kumar Gupt ◽  
...  

Background This paper examines the role of individual, facility and system level preparedness in reducing the physiological and psychological vulnerability among primary-level health care providers (HCPs) of COVID19 pandemic in Rajasthan, India. Method and Material Online and telephonic interviews are conducted among 274 HCPs working in 24 PHCs (17 rural and 7 urban), across 13 districts of Rajasthan. Five dimensions of vulnerability covering awareness, exposure to infection (daily contact; contact with high risk individuals), physical and mental health conditions, while three aspects of preparedness at individual (personal care) and facility (provider safety; management and supervision) level are measured by employing factor analysis. Generalized ordered logit regression model is used to measure the effect of preparedness on COVID19 related vulnerability. Result: Among the 274 HCPs, majority of the staff are from rural PHCs (76 %), less than 35 years (87%), female (57%) and married (57 %). Almost half have high level exposure to COVID19, with mean contact rate is 90. Overall, 26% have comprehensive knowledge on COVID19, and 32% have any mental health issues. Although more than 70% of HCPs have reported more than one individual level preparedness, mental health measures adopted by the HCPs are comparably low. The facility level preparedness for enhancing safety are high such as social distance (79%) and maintaining record of each visitor (75%). However, management related measures adopted by the PHCs are perceived to be lower than the safety measures. The regression analyses suggest that safety related preparedness is significantly associated with reduction of vulnerability by 50%. The management-level preparedness has statistically no significant effect in explaining the variations in level of vulnerability. Conclusion: The facility-level safety measures, which lowers chances of acquiring infection has a positive effect on reducing vulnerability of COVID19. However, the HCPs do not have adequate preparedness at individual, facility management (PHC) and system level to reduce COVID19 vulnerability. Findings suggest that there is a need for a non-conventional approach of monitoring and supervision, in the absence of such measures there is a chance of moral injury that will make the HCPs at the primary level vulnerable to both physiologically and psychologically.


2021 ◽  
pp. 073346482110403
Author(s):  
Joyce M. Cheng ◽  
George P. Batten ◽  
Nengliang (Aaron) Yao

Objective: The number of homebound older adults is increasing in the United States. We aimed to examine their social and lived experiences and to understand their perspectives on their situation, feelings, and coping mechanisms. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with 18 older homebound individuals in Central Virginia. Results: Homebound older adults experienced both physical and mental health challenges that restricted their ability to participate in activities of daily living, recreation, and social interactions. Participants often felt dependent, helpless, lonely, and socially isolated. Those who communicated regularly with friends, family, and health care providers reported positive benefits from these interactions. Discussion: Participants faced challenges to their physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Our findings might help clinicians, policymakers, and community organizations understand how to better support homebound older adults. We should provide educational opportunities, respect their autonomy, and implement initiatives to address their isolation and loneliness.


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