Mindfulness involves being aware of both your thoughts and emotions as well as your surroundings. Regular practice of mindful self-care can enhance the overall well-being. For university staff, these practices can help counteract negative effects on mental health.

Our study aims to evaluate the practice of mindful self-care and its impact on the psychological health of university staff.

We conducted a descriptive, analytical and cross-sectional survey among university staff. The survey was carried out during a one-day training session on mental health promotion using a self-administrated questionnaire. We collected socio-professional data. We assessed psychological health using the depression anxiety and stress scale (DASS 21) and self-care behaviours using Mindful Self-Care Scale (MSCS).

Our study included 65 participants, 67.7% of whom were female. The average age was 53±6.8 years, and the average job tenure was 21.3±8 years. We found that 36.9% of participants experienced mild to moderate stress, 35.4% had mild to moderate depression, 7.7% had severe to extremely severe depression, and 23.1% had severe to extremely severe anxiety.

The average mindful self-care score was 102.8±26.3. The means for specific aspects of mindful self-care were: mindful relaxation 12.6±4.5, physical care 19.9±5.6, self-compassion and purpose 20.7±7.6, supportive relationships 15.4±5.6, supportive structure 13.4±4.6, and mindful awareness 14.5±4.8.

We found a negative correlation between anxiety and depression and mindful self-care (p = 0.02, r = -0.2). In female participants, stress was also negatively correlated with mindful self-care (p = 0.02, r = -0.3).

According to our findings, mindful self-care may be a potential strategy for anxiety, depression and stress management available to university staff. Given the considerably poor psychological health in the study population, we recommend to increase awareness of mindful self-care in university staff.

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Felt presence (FP) is a phenomenon that might appear in individuals with mental and neurological disorders as well as those without any specific morbidity. Some studies have indicated that FP is closely related to psychotic symptomatology. Yet, the mechanisms underlying its occurrence remain largely unknown.

The present study aimed to investigate whether FP is associated with widely known risk factors of psychosis.

Data from three independent samples of non-clinical young adults were analyzed. Self-reports were administered to assess psychopathological symptoms (samples 1 – 3), neurodevelopmental risk factors for psychosis (sample 1), social defeat components (sample 2), childhood trauma, and loneliness (sample 3). A total of 4782 individuals were surveyed across all three samples.

Unadjusted analyses showed that the following factors are associated with higher odds of FP: obstetric complications, childhood trauma, non-right-handedness, a lower education level, unemployment, minority status, humiliation, perceived constraints, and loneliness. However, only minority status and a lower level of education were associated with higher odds of FP after adjustment for other psychopathological symptoms, age, and gender. Importantly, hallucination-like experiences across all recorded modalities and paranoia were associated with higher odds of FP in all samples. Depressive symptoms were weakly associated with FP in two samples.

Findings from the present study suggest that the majority of known risk factors for psychosis contribute to the emergence of FP through the effects on psychotic experiences. Low educational attainment and minority status might be the only risk factors independently contributing to the emergence of FP.

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Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) are a class of pharmacological agents that have gained significant attention and utility in managing metabolic disorders, particularly type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity, often in combination with behavioral therapy. These agents mimic the physiological actions of GLP-1, a hormone released from the gastrointestinal tract in response to food intake, thereby stimulating insulin secretion, suppressing glucagon release, slowing gastric emptying, and promoting satiety through both peripheral and central nervous system mechanisms. Beyond their metabolic benefits, GLP-1 RAs have shown potential antidepressant and anxiolytic effects, which may be mediated through neuroprotective mechanisms, reduction of neuroinflammation, and modulation of neurotransmitter systems.

This systematic review aims to synthesize existing evidence on the effects of GLP-1 RAs on mental health outcomes, including both potential therapeutic benefits across various psychiatric disorders and the risk of associated adverse mental health effects.

This systematic review was conducted across PubMed/MEDLINE and Web of Science. Inclusion criteria encompassed human and animal studies examining the impact of GLP-1 RAs on mental health. Data from 81 selected studies were extracted and analyzed, focusing on mental health outcomes and reported adverse effects.

GLP-1 RAs exhibit potential beneficial effects on depressive symptoms, cognitive function, and reduced risk of suicidal ideation in animal and human models through antioxidative, anti-inflammatory mechanisms, and modulation of neurotransmitter pathways. Additionally, GLP-1 RAs were effective in reducing alcohol and substance use and binge eating behaviors. Adverse psychiatric effects associated with GLP-1 RAs, including depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation, are noted in pharmacovigilance analyses, with variations among different GLP-1 RAs.

Our systematic review highlights the potential role of GLP-1 RAs in psychiatric care, underscoring their potential therapeutic benefits across a spectrum of mental health conditions. Animal studies consistently demonstrate positive outcomes, revealing antidepressant effects, modulation of addictive behaviors, and improvements in eating disorders through various neurobiological mechanisms. Human studies present a more nuanced landscape with conflicting evidence regarding the impact of GLP-1 RAs on depressive symptoms and other psychiatric outcomes, suggesting a need for further rigorous investigation. Despite these promising findings, significant limitations, such as study heterogeneity, funding biases, and the predominance of animal model data, temper definitive conclusions. Longitudinal and rigorous studies are warranted to elucidate the long-term effects and safety profile of GLP-1 RAs in psychiatric contexts.

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The COVID-19 pandemic set up a global health crisis, with an impact on the daily lives of the population. The effectiveness and importance of Single-Session Interventions (SSI), have increasingly been demonstrated, which also found expression during the Pandemic and remote care and has shown a significant impact in reducing symptoms, reducing relapses and hospitalizations, increasing positive attitudes, improving treatment adherence, and reducing the length of hospital stay for various mental disorders. It is considered an easy-to-access and economical tool.

The Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA) and the Brazilian Ministry of Health developed the TELEPSI. This Project aims to: provide telecare using different types of psychotherapeutic approaches to health professionals, teachers, and essential service workers during the Pandemic in Brazil.

This study aims to investigate the predictors of perceived improvement after the Single Session Intervention with Enhanced Psychoeducation (SSI-EP) with support videos in frontline professionals during the Covid 19 Pandemic.

he COVID-19 pandemic set up a global health crisis, with an impact on the daily lives of the population. This study analyzed data from a large trial including frontline workers from April 2020 to December 2021. We included all participants randomized to SSI-EP.

The final sample consisted of 709 subjects, 82.8% were health professionals, 87.8% health professionals. One month after the intervention, 558 (78.7%) have improved emotional symptoms. Factors associated with better outcomes were the number of videos watched by the participants and use of medications without a medical prescription. Excessive consumption of carbohydrates and fats was negatively associated with improvement.

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This new TELEPSI proposal that combines online SSI based on Psychoeducation with the sending of support videos proved to be effective, as we saw in the main article in which a significant proportion of participants improved. The participant’s perception of improvement, corroborates the data found on the improvement of symptom scales and some factors associated with this outcome, such as videos. This was an interesting finding and the importance of studying and exploring and studying more and more digital interventions, which can offer access to many people and have low implementation costs. We believe that in this way we will be able to better indicate such new psychotherapeutic strategies in a more personalized and adapted way. Enhanced psychoeducation is an effective and low-cost approach to improving symptoms. More research is needed to compare its effectiveness with other intervention strategies. Furthermore, its application must be explored beyond the context of the pandemic and social isolation.

None Declared

The COVID-19 pandemic had a major impact on the world’s emotional health, and knowledge is limited about the efficacy of traditional interventions in this context. The TelePSI Project, initiated by the Hospital de Clınicas de Porto Alegre in collaboration with the Brazilian Ministry of Health, aimed to provide online

mental health care to essential services professionals during the pandemic. Single session of enhanced psychoeducation (EP) is an innovative strategy proposed by TelePSI, suggesting lifestyle changes based on individual risk and protective factors or physical, emotional, psychological, and well-being.

Single-session interventions are an effective strategy for reducing emotional distress. Enhanced psychoeducation, which includes empathic listening, risk stratification, symptom monitoring, and habit modification is particularly suitable for single-session interventions. We investigated predictors of response to an online enhanced psychoeducation intervention among essential service professionals during the pandemic in Brazil.

The TelePSI Project, financed by the Brazilian Ministry of Health, was a nationwide initiative that served more than 3,300 individuals in various psychotherapeutic modalities. Data were collected from April 2020 to December 2021. We included all participants with high levels of emotional distress who received single-session interventions

Final sample 460 individuals (89.1% women, 81.1% health professionals). After 1 month, 300 participants were reassessed. Overuse of social media, use of social networks to contact family and friends, playing video games, smoking, drinking alcohol, and spending time with pets were associated with less improvement in symptoms, whereas playing an instrument and previous psychological treatment were associated with greater symptom improvement. This highlights the impact of lifestyle factors on the efficacy of single-session interventions.

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Online EP with support videos, as proposed by TelePSI, appears to be an effective intervention strategy for healthcare professionals with symptoms of anxiety, depression, and irritability. Although a significant proporion of the participants improved, some variables were associated with less improvement, such as spending time with pets, tobacco use, alcohol use, and playing video games. In this study, we set out to analyze variables associated with participant improvement because, by evaluating these factors, we can better understand this new model of psychoeducation, which represents a promising alternative for individuals during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the intervention should be explored beyond the context of the pandemic and social isolation. Further research on TelePSI is forthcoming, including a comparison of intervention arms

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Anticipation forms the basis of all human activity, enabling people to plan and carry out their activities, as well as to communicate and interact with others. Well-developed anticipatory abilities allow adolescents to successfully adapt to society, establishing effective communication with adults and peers.

To study the specifics of anticipatory competence in adolescents with intellectual disabilities.

The study involved 40 adolescents (aged 12-15) attending educational institutions for children with disabilities and intellectual impairments (6A00.0, ICD-11). The research employed the following methods: the “Achenbach’s Questionnaire,” V.D. Mendelevich’s “Test of Anticipatory Competence,” V.P. Ulyanova’s “Anticipation of the Outcome of a Situation with Norm Violations,” and the authors’ method “Study of Anticipatory Competence of Adolescents” by A.I. Akhmetzyanova and T.V. Artemyeva.

The study results show that adolescents with intellectual disabilities are capable of predicting future situations. However, these children exhibit insufficient development in the key components of anticipatory competence: personal-situational, spatial, and temporal anticipation. Adolescents in this group experience difficulties in anticipating conflict situations in interpersonal relationships and in predicting others’ responses to their own behavior. The methods’ results indicate that adolescents with intellectual disabilities often exhibit spatial anticipatory incompetence: common traits in this group include general motor awkwardness and difficulties in spatial orientation (M=41.65; N=52); sometimes they cannot predict the timing of a stressful situation in advance and struggle with time orientation (M=39.45; N=42). While most adolescents with intellectual disabilities recognize and understand societal norms and rules, they face significant difficulties in accepting them (M=11.05; MAX=32).

The data obtained in this study allow for the development of programs aimed at adapting adolescents to society, taking into account their ability to predict future situations and their anticipatory competence in various spheres: family relationships, virtual reality, and academic and extracurricular activities.

This paper has been supported by the Kazan Federal University Strategic Academic Leadership Program (PRIORITY-2030).

None Declared

Studying medicine is a demanding and time-consuming course of study, which can be a major stress factor and affect quality of life (QOL). Medical students are at high risk of developing mood disorders. This could lead to a need for psychiatric care (PC) that is not necessarily equivalent to the demand.

Determine the prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress in medical students, assess their QOL and subjective need for PC.

This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted over a 5-month period in a Tunisian medical school. Sampling was stratified random. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected using a questionnaire. Depression, anxiety and stress were assessed using the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale: DASS-21. QOL was assessed using the generic 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). Subjective assessment of difficulties and need for help was carried out using the “KIT ELADEB: Lausanne Self-Assessment Scales for Difficulties and Needs”.

The study included 308 students with a median age of 21. Some (18.8%) were smokers, 15.9% drank alcohol, and 5.2% used psychoactive substances (PAS). A Family psychiatric history (PH) was present in 15.4% of cases, and 14.3% of students had personal PH. Median DASS scores were: depression 18 (interquartile range (IQR) = 16-27), anxiety 20 (IQR = 18), and stress 16 (IQR = 42). The rates of extremely severe and severe depression were 27.6% and 12.3% respectively, while 50.6% had extremely severe and 12% severe anxiety. Some 29.2% of students had severe to extremely severe stress. Mean SF-36 scores were 61.19 ± 16.83, referring to the Léan cut-off value (66.7), 58.1% had impaired QOL, 15.9% of participants had consulted a psychiatrist, 78.9% had felt the need to do so, and 59% had foregone such help. Factors associated with severe depression included advanced age (p=0.007), graduate education (p<10-3), PAS use (p<10-3), and PH (p<10-3). Anxiety was predicted by female gender (FG) (p=0.04), SPA use (p=0.03), and PH (p<10-3). Stress was associated with age (p=0.039), course of study (p=0.008), lack of leisure activities (p=0.003), smoking (p=0.004), alcoholism (p=0.009), use of PAS (p=0.003), and PH (p=0.000). Students who consulted a psychiatrist were more likely to have depression (p<10-3), stress (p<10-3), and impaired QOL (p<10-3). Participants who expressed a subjective need to consult a psychiatrist were significantly associated with FG (p<10-3), depression (p<10-3), anxiety (p<10-3), stress (p<10-3), and alterations in the mental health (p=0.008), vitality (p=0.006), social functioning (p=0), and general QOL (p=0.002) dimensions of the SF-36.

The obvious deterioration in the mental health and QOL of medical students, and the mismatch between the need for and demand for PC, should initiate a debate on recommendations to improve the well-being of our future doctors.

None Declared

Mental health of higher education students is a relevant topic, especially for students in the health field. The development of relaxation techniques in this population is increasingly recognized as crucial to promote psychological well-being and reduce distress.

1. 1) Study the associations between mental health and lifestyle in Portuguese college students in the health field; 2) Evaluate the effectiveness of a Yoga-based relaxation techniques on mental health and physiologic variables.

Study 1 had a cross-sectional design, with 107 participants, 76,6% females, average age of 21,33 years (SD=4,88).Study 2 employed a pretest-posttest design, with 3 timepoints: T0, T1, T2, with T2 being a follow-up after 3 months. Participants: 11 students, 81,8% females, average age of 26,82 years (SD=11,59).

Measures: 1) Mental Health Inventory (MHI-38); 2) Lifestyle questionnaire. In study 2, the intervention consisted of six face-to-face sessions, lasting 60 minutes each, with practical training of Yoga-based relaxation techniques and evaluation of heart and respiratory rate, and blood pressure before and after each session.

Study 1 – 32,7% presented Distress, and we found significative correlations between sleep quality perception, global health perception and Mental Health (p<.001); male students who practice physical activity have more Positive Affect. Study 2 – In all sessions, the physiologic variables decrease in T1, and Distress and Anxiety decrease significantly in T1 (p=0,037; p=0,031, respectively). After the follow-up, the improvement in mental health remains significative (p<0,001).

The results suggest a relevant percentage of students with distress, and that the intervention program with Yoga-based relaxation techniques contribute to decrease heart, respiratory and the blood pressure rate. After the intervention and the follow-up, there is a decrease in distress in Portuguese college students. Suggestions for future studies would be to replicate the intervention with a control group and a larger sample.

None Declared

Emotional awareness and emotion regulation are essential skills for psychological well-being, especially in college students, who frequently experience stressful situations and emotional challenges. Therefore, interventions aimed at developing skills such as stress management and frustration tolerance can be important to enhance emotional awareness and regulation, contributing to the promotion of mental health in this population.

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a mental health promotion program, focusing on the development of emotional awareness and regulation in college students.

This study employed a pretest-posttest design, and nonparametric tests were used. Measures:

1. 1) Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21); 2) Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) and an interview with six open questions to evaluated the individual perception of the impact of the intervention. Participants: nine Portuguese female college students, with an average age of 19,77 years (SD=1.48). The intervention consisted of six face-to-face sessions, lasting 60 minutes each, with theoretical and practical aspects for skill training of stress management, emotional regulation, and frustration tolerance.

The results suggested a decrease in levels of anxiety (p=.07), depression (p=.03), and stress (p=.07) after the intervention. There was also a decrease in emotional regulation difficulties for the participants (p=.01), notably in difficulties regarding strategies (p=.02), impulses (p=.03), and non-acceptance (p=.05). For the subscales of awareness, goals, and clarity, although the results showed a decrease, there was no statistical significance. It stands out from the analysis of the students’ answers to the open questions, that they developed their emotional regulation skills and they also highlighted the importance of the close supervision and support throughout the process, as well as the practical nature of the sessions.

The results suggest that the intervention program can contribute to enhance emotion regulation and promoting mental health of college students. Suggestions for future studies would be to replicate the intervention with a larger sample and with group control.

None Declared

Medical students face a demanding academic journey, where stress can significantly impact their well-being and performance. Both personal and environmental factors contribute to this burden, yet research on academic stress in Italian medical schools remains limited.

We investigated the impact of various factors on perceived academic stress among third-year medical students during the pre-clinical phase of their studies.

A cross-sectional, anonymous, self-reported online survey was distributed to third-year medical students at Humanitas University (Milan, Italy) over a 10-day period in April 2024. The survey included various questions on sociodemographic factors, lifestyle behaviors (e.g., sports activity, diet, smoking, alcohol binge drinking), satisfaction with sleep and sexual activities, smartphone and video game use, significant life events, and objective academic performance. Additionally, several validated questionnaires were included to assess academic stress, personality traits, psychological dispositions (e.g., proneness to boredom, procrastination, impulsivity, perfectionism, intolerance of uncertainty, worry), coping strategies, resilience, attentional control, feelings of loneliness, and perceived social support. Data were analyzed using hierarchical multiple linear regression, with a significance level at 0.05.

Seventy-six students (70.4%) out of 108 who provided their informed consent completed the survey; 58 (76.3%) were female and 18 (23.7%) were male, with 53 (69.7%) being Italian and 23 (30.3%) from other countries. Higher academic stress was significantly associated with the female gender, a higher burden of negative life events, and greater propensity for impulsivity and worry. In contrast, passing more exams and experiencing positive life events were associated with lower academic stress. No other statistically significant associations were found. The independent variables collectively explained about 60% of the variation in academic stress (adjusted R², p<0.001).

Our preliminary findings provide insights into the factors influencing the multifaceted nature of academic stress. These results may help educators, administrators, and policymakers create a more supportive learning environment and offer psychological support to reduce academic stress in vulnerable students. Enhancing the psychological well-being of medical students could help prevent potential mental health conditions in this population. Further studies with larger samples and a prospective design are warranted.

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Recent studies have shown the mental health is broad concept. Nature connectedness seems to be one of important factors affecting it.

to clarify the concept of mental health in term of nature connectedness.

The MEDLINE database (through PubMed) was searched for articles in this field published in 2010–2024. Mental health-related descriptors (i.e., “mental health” or “mental disorders”) and the “nature/ social connectedness” terms were used in particular searches.

The selected publications were categorized and then analysed. Strong nature connectedness is associated with higher mental well-being. Full results will be presented.

Nature connectedness can play a crucial role in understanding some aspects of mental health as well as mental health prevention.

None Declared

The concept of health is beyond the absence of disease; it encompasses the physical, mental, and social well-being of an individual, as well as their quality of life. Consequently, research into this multifaceted concept has become a crucial aspect of healthcare. With progress in medicine it has become increasingly evident that the primary objective of medical interventions is not merely to prolong life, but also to enhance its quality. A number of quality of life measures have been developed; however, the majority of these focus exclusively on physical health, and fail to fully encompass the dimensions that are crucial for the quality of life of individuals with mental health issues. The Mental Health Quality of Life (MHQoL) questionnaire, developed by Van Krugten et al., encompasses the seven most fundamental dimensions of mental health-related quality of life.

Our aim was to develop and test a Hungarian adaptation of the Mental Health Quality of Life (MHQoL) questionnaire and to compare the results in healthy subjects with those from individuals diagnosed with psychiatric disorders.

Our ongoing research so far involved 189 participants, including 157 psychiatrically healthy subjects and 32 patients diagnosed with a mental disorder who completed the MHQoL as part of a larger test battery. Data were analysed using confirmatory factor analysis, reliability analysis and an independent samples t-test.

Confirmatory factor analysis showed that all items exhibited a satisfactory fit with the model. The factor weights for each item ranged from 0.45 to 0.79. MHQoL exhibited exemplary internal reliability, with Cronbach alpha index value of 0.81 and individual item-specific reliability coefficients ranging from 0.7 to 0.81. Independent samples t-tests showed significant differences between healthy and patient groups for items pertaining to future vision, mood, relationships and physical health, as well as when MHQoL mean total score and the mean scores of psychological well-being.

Our preliminary results support that MHQoL is a suitable and reliable tool for assessing quality of life in relation to mental health, offering valuable insights into the domains in which psychiatric illnesses have the most significant impact on patients’ quality of life. The objective of our future research is to further validate the MHQoL questionnaire, including patients with different psychiatric diagnosis in order to contribute to the concept of healthcare that focuses not only on the elimination of symptoms but also on the improvement of quality of life, personalized to the needs of patients suffering from different psychiatric syndromes.

None Declared

Clinical practice involves many stress factors for nursing students. Stress in clinical practice causes positive or negative outcomes for students. Students show physical, emotional and behavioural reactions to stress. Therefore, progressive muscle relaxation and breathing exercises with music can be a method that students can easily learn and apply, reducing stress and negative bio-psycho-social responses.

This study aimed to examine the effects of progressive muscle relaxation and breathing exercises accompanied by music on the stress levels of undergraduate nursing students and their bio-psycho-social responses to stress.

This randomized controlled study was conducted at a university in Turkey with ethics committee approval. A total of 154 undergraduate nursing students were randomized, 77 in the intervention group and 77 in the control group. 44 of the students were sophomores, 52 were third-year students, and 58 were fourth-year students. Progressive muscle relaxation and breathing exercises were applied to the intervention group for six weeks with music. No intervention was applied to the control group during the research period. Research data were collected using the Personal Information Form, the Perceived Stress Scale for Nursing Students, and the Biopsychosocial Response Scale for Nursing Students. The scales were applied to the intervention and control groups before the exercises, at the end of the six-week exercises, and two weeks after the exercises ended. Data were collected between October 2022 and January 2023. Shapiro-Wilk test was used in the analysis of normality of data; Independent Samples t-test, Dependent Samples t-test, and Analysis of Variance were used in the analysis of variables.

In the pre-test measurements of the groups, it was found that there was no significant difference in terms of the students’ stress levels in clinical practice and bio-psycho-social response scores (p>0.05). In the post-test and follow-up measurements, it was seen that the stress and bio-psycho-social response scores were significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group (p<0.05). There was also a significant group*time interaction between the groups in terms of stress and bio-psycho-social response scores (p <0.05).

The findings showed that the intervention helped students reduce their stress levels and negative bio-psycho-social responses to stress, and the effects were found to be sustained in the short term. These positive results are promising in the use of progressive muscle relaxation and breathing exercises with music as an effective and easy method to reduce the stress level and negative physical, emotional and behavioral responses to stress in the clinical practice of undergraduate nursing students.

None Declared

Climate change is the biggest threat of the 21st century and poses a significant risk to mental well-being by aggravating social injustice, by which children and adolescents are particularly affected. To avert the scenarios predicted by scientists, it is not only necessary for politicians to act quickly and thoroughly but also to rethink our self-understanding as those responsible for planetary health and to face this crisis with a fundamental rearrangement of priorities.

Highlighting and summarizing current knowledge on climate change and its effects on mental health were aimed.

To emphasize the global challenges related to mental health, facts and figures of climate change and the actual status quo of climate-related mental health were gathered through an online review of existing resources.

According to the Glasgow Climate Pact of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the world is currently heading for a global warming of 2.7°C, accepting the destruction of habitats and ecosystems. The warnings regarding climate change from the scientific community are becoming increasingly clear. The Lancet Countdown, a review by scientists from 43 leading institutes around the world, shows visible impacts of climate change on human health. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report confirms a global increase in climate change-associated morbidity and mortality in 2023, as well as the impact on mental health. The climate crisis threatens mental health ubiquitously. In this context, new terms as “eco-anxiety”, “eco-paralysis”, and “solastalgia” are already being used. Eco-anxiety describes the fear of directly experiencing climate change. While this fear results in a change towards environmentally friendly behavior in some people, others fall into eco-paralysis. Knowledge about climate change can lead to paralysing fear and denial. Trauma from experiencing extreme weather events or forced relocation also trigger psychological distress in young people. In addition to eco-anxiety, the term solastalgia is increasingly used to describe the existential pain caused by experiencing irreversible climate-related changes in the environment. Surveys show that anxiety about the future has increased among young adults in recent years. The interconnections between climate change and mental health also include stress reactions and emotional suffering, strained social relationships, helplessness, grief, and increased risk of suicidal behavior.

Considering many health care professionals do not yet carry out any corresponding preventive measures regarding climate change and its effects on mental health, the self-image of physicians must be rethought and sharpened as communicators and ambassadors. To address this global topic, it is urgent to strengthen research, training, policies, advocacy, and data collection.

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A growing body of research has demonstrated the positive effects of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) delivered in the workplace on employees’ well-being and psychological flexibility. Delivering ACT in the workplace aims to enhance employee performance and reduce stress levels by promoting psychological flexibility, a skill to consciously live in the present, observing thoughts and emotions, and engaging in value-driven actions.

The short-term effects of a 5-week ACT-based psychological flexibility training program were tested.

Participants were 21 corporate employees (62 % women, Mage = 43.9 years, SD = 9.5) recruited from a large company in the financial sector. The six core processes of psychological flexibility were examined before the first training session and after the fifth training session of the 5-week training. Psychological flexibility, value-driven living, thought suppression, five facets of mindfulness and cognitive fusion were assessed.

Results showed a statistically significant difference in one core process of psychological flexibility, namely Contact with the present moment. Acting with awareness, Describing and Nonjudge showed significant difference before and after the training. Presumably, changes in Cognitive defusion and Non-reactivity are also evident, however results did not show significant difference.

The present research has provided further empirical evidence for the effectiveness of ACT-based psychological flexibility training with regard to three aspects of Contact with the present moment, which is a core process of psychological flexibility (Acting with awareness, Describing, and Nonjudge). The findings provide a basis for future research to investigate longer-term effects, including monitoring how participants in the research program practice the learnt techniques in their everyday lives.

Á. Magyary Grant / Research support from: ÁM was supported by the ÚNKP-23-2 New National Excellence Program of the Ministry for Culture and Innovation from the source of the National Research, Development and Innovation Fund., Z. Demetrovics: None Declared, Á. Zsila: None Declared, N. Mészáros: None Declared

Burnout is characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment. Medical students are particularly susceptible to academic burnout compared to students in other disciplines, due to the demanding nature of their training, which offers limited time and resources.

Our study aimed to assess academic burnout in a sample of students from the Faculty of Medicine of Sfax, Tunisia, as well as the link between these two entities.

This was a cross-sectional and descriptive study, conducted using GOOGLE FORMS in February and March 2024, with a sample of students from the Faculty of Medicine in Sfax, Tunisia.

Data collection was carried out based on a questionnaire including an information sheet and the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Student Survey (MBI-SS) assessing academic burnout according to a three-dimensional structure : Emotional Exhaustion (EE) due to the study requirements; Cynicism (CY), which refers to a detached attitude towards one’s studies and Academic Effectiveness (AE) linked to a sense of achievement as a student.

Our study included 154 students. They were predominantly females (64.9%). Their median age was 22 years (IQR = [20 – 23 years]).

According to the MBI-SS, the prevalence of academic burnout was 98.1%.

The distribution of scores showed that academic burnout was mild in 15.9% of cases, moderate in 43.7% of cases and severe in 40.4% of cases.

The median scores on the EE, CY and AE dimensions were 17 (IQR = [13 – 20]) ; 11.5 (IQR= [7 – 16]) and19 (IQR = [15 – 23]), respectively.

The distribution of medical students according to the level of academic burnout is illustrated in Figure 1.

Our results showed that medical students experience high levels of educational burnout. To mitigate this high prevalence, it essentiel to raise awareness about its symptoms and to implement educational programs focused on mindfulness and well-being. Higher education institutions play a vital role in supporting students’ professional development and resilience by fostering a healthy learning environment and providing psychological and pedagogical support.

None Declared

The term “climate change distress” has been proposed to capture the broad range of negative emotional reactions associated with Climate Change/CC. Although it can be an adaptive reaction that motivates climate action to mitigate a real threat, for a growing number of people climate distress impairs subjective well-being and daily functioning, causing significant suffering to such an extent it often necessitates psychological support.

Hepp et al. (2023) developed the Climate Change Distress and Impairment Scale/CC-DIS, comprising 23 items to distinguish CCDistress (spanning eco-anxiety, -anger, -sadness) and CCImpairment that may indicate a need for intervention.

To analyse the psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the CC-DIS.

Participants were 590 adults, recruited through social media (64.6% women; Mean age=34.40±16.18; range: 18-75) completed an online survey including: preliminary Portuguese versions of CC-DIS; Pro-Environmental Behavior Scale/PEBS (Pereira et al. 2024); and Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales-21/DASS-21 (Pais-Ribeiro et al., 2004). Total sample was randomly divided into two sub-samples: one (n=290) for exploratory factor analysis/EFA and the other (n=300) for confirmatory factor analysis/CFA

RESULTS and DISCUSSION: EFA and parallel analysis resulted in two factors (explained variance= 58.60%). CFA of this two-factor model resulted in “acceptable” fit indices (χ2/df=2.772; CFI=.892; TLI=.872; GFI=.846; RMSEA=.0796; p<.001), with standardized factor loadings ranging from .490 to .844. Cronbach’s alpha coefficients were .90 for CCDistress and 0.85 for CCImpairment.

CCImpairment, but not CCDistress, correlated significantly and moderately (r=.25) with DASS-21, suggesting that these last two may be relatively independent phenomena.

With PEBS, the correlation coefficients were both significant (p<.001): .43 for CC-Distress, .22 for CC-Impairment. Both CCDistress and CCImpairment were significant predictors of collective (R2=17.5%; b) and political (R2=17.2%; b) pro-environmental actions, but only CCDistress predicted personal actions (R2=22.9%, p<.001; ), which suggests the more maladaptive nature of CCImpairment.

Such as reported by Hepp et al. (2023), CCDistress mean scores were moderate to high (3.71±0.63); CCImpairment were low to moderate (2.13±0.72) and only the former significantly differ by gender (higher in women). This suggests that individual factors, other than gender (e.g., personality traits), may be more relevant to understand psychopathological reactions to CC.

The Portuguese CCDIS presented good validity (construct, convergent and discriminant) and reliability. It can be used to better understand and improve CC adaptation in our country, which, like Spain, is located in Southern Europe, the area of the globe projected to to be at the highest risk for CC negative impacts.

None Declared

Contemporary global crises, including Climate Change/CC, has increased the interest in Future Anxiety/FA. As an emotional response to the anticipation of threats in the distant rather than proximal future, FA is broader than worry, which generally focuses on particular issues and fluctuates depending on specific circumstances.

To analyze the psychometric properties of the Portuguese versions of Dark Future Scale (DFS; Zaleski et al. 2019), composed of 5 items to evaluate FA; and Climate Change Worry Scale (CCWS; Stewart 2021), a 10-items measure of proximal worry about CC; to explore whether they evaluate distinct or overlapping constructs.

590 adults (64.6% women; mean age=34.40±16.18) answered DFS, CCWS (preliminary), Climate Change Distress and Impairment Scale/CC-DIS and Pro-Environmental Behaviours Scale/PEBS. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA; with a subsample of n=290) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA; n=300) were performed. DFS and CCWS structures tested with CFA were based on previous EFA results, including a model combining items from both scales.

DFS: CFA evidenced the good fit of the unidimensional model, χ2/df=3.314, CFI=.995, TLI=.990, GFI=.989, RMSEA=.060, p<.001; alfa=.91.

the unidimensional model (similar to the one found in the original version) (χ2/df=2.076; CFI=.982; TLI=.970; GFI=.965; RMSEA=.0590; p<.001; a=.90) and the two-factors model, with F1 composed of 6 items related to CC concerns and F2 of 4 items related to perceived interference (χ2/df=2.561; CFI=.973; TLI=.956; GFI=.956; RMSEA=.0611; p<.001; aF1=.75, aF2= .89) presented good fit.

the 2-factor model, with each scale being one factor (χ2/df=2.312; CFI=.962; TLI=.951; GFI=.928; RMSEA=.065; p<.001) and the 3-factor model, where CCWS divides into 2 factors (χ2/df=2.248; CFI=.964; TLI=.954; GFI=.926; RMSEA=.063; p<.001) resulted in good fit. FA correlated with CCWSTotal/F1/ F2 (r>.25). Correlations with CCDIS were r=.36 for FA and r<.55 for CCWSTotal/F1/F2; only CCWS total and dimensional scores correlated with PEB (r>.45) (all p<.001). When predicting CCDIS, FA adds 4% (R change, p<.001) to the variance explained by CCWS dimensions (R2=49.7%). Only CCWSConcerns (b=.345) but not CCWSInterference predicted PEB.

DFS and CCWS Portuguese versions have adequate validity and reliability. Their moderate correlation and the validity of the measurement models tested suggest that they evaluate distinct constructs. FA seems more maladaptive than CCW: although it increments CC-DIS prediction, it does not correlate with PEBS. The same applies to CCWSInterference, which emphasizes that the CCWS two-factor structure may be useful to delimit CCW’s normal/pathological nature. We intend to use these scales in an ongoing research project on psychological factors associated with CC mitigation and adaptation.

None Declared

As reported by studies and against the general conception, psychiatrists are not immune to the mental health challenges. More specifically, -more than any other medical specialty- they are at high-risk for burnout, depression, even suicide. It is a striking fact that according to research, in a medical centre which was exclusively designated for healthcare professionals, 89% of psychiatrists struggled with mental health issues; while 8% faced substance abuse problems and only 2% complained for corporal matters. Furthermore, when suffering from depression or any other mental health disorder, psychiatrists fear that their personal data will leak among colleagues, that they will be unable to professionally evolve or that they will be shamingly judged, avoiding to seek medical help.

To explore the risk factors of poor mental health among psychiatrists and to highlight interventions to reduce the mental-health related stigma in this particular category.

A review of 39 articles -from 2010 to 2024- on PubMed and Google Scholar regarding mental health problems among psychiatrists.

Numerous risk factors of psychiatrists’ poor mental health have been identified, such as:

Female gender,

Younger age,

Race minority,

Prior mental health problems,

Residency or early career stage,

Working in non academic, multidisciplinary, inpatient, community, and government settings,

>50 h of work per week and/or more than 20 h of direct clinical face time per week,

Insufficient support from relatives, workplace, and colleagues,

Lack of supervision,

Lack of control over schedule,

Experiencing loneliness,

Experiencing work unsatisfaction,

Experiencing traumatic events such as patient’s suicide or receiving threats.

Action against mental health-related stigma among psychiatrists needs to be taken, such as destigmatizing campaigns designated to remind that psychiatrists -as normal human beings- can suffer from mental health problems in the same way a cardiologist could have a cardiac attack. Apart from destigmatizing mental health issues among psychiatrists, legislation in every country needs to be changed in order to protect psychiatrists from work overload, while security of mental health professionals must be maintained in every clinical setting preventing the reception of threats or even physical abuse. Additionally, female psychiatrists should be institutionally empowered through mentorship programs, sponsorship support, responsive caregiving programs, and innovational directions to manage implicit and explicit prejudices, sexual harassment, and remuneration discrepancies.

None Declared

Several mental disorders are more common within the LGBTQ+ population, including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and substance use disorders. Despite this, LGBTQ+ individuals face more barriers when accessing mental health services than the general population.

The primary aim of this study was to assess the perceptions of Cardiff University medical students on the barriers faced by LGBTQ+ individuals when accessing mental health help. The study also aimed to assess recommendations Cardiff University medical students have for improvement of services and to make them more accessible to LGBTQ+ individuals.

A qualitative approach was used. An online questionnaire was created and distributed among Cardiff University medical students. It included 10 open-ended questions about their knowledge of LGBTQ+ mental health, the barriers to accessing it, and recommendations to decrease these barriers. Thematic analysis was performed on the answers.

The questionnaire had 12 participants. The thematic analysis produced 22 subthemes, which were grouped into the following five themes: i) perceptions of LGBTQ+ mental health, ii) factors affecting LGBTQ+ mental health, iii) general barriers to accessing mental health help, iv) LGBTQ+-specific barriers to accessing mental health help, and v) recommendations to improve access to mental health services. A scoping review was conducted on this subject to further analyse the current research. The scoping review produced nine studies, and the main themes that emerged were mental health stigma, LGBTQ+ discrimination, lack of LGBTQ+-affirmative services, the pathologisation of LGBTQ+ status, and financial barriers.

It was evident that more formal training on LGBTQ+ mental health at an undergraduate level for health professionals is needed, and that a lack of this is causing barriers to adequate provision of mental health services to this population. Furthermore, existing mental health services need to be more LGBTQ+-affirmative. Further research with a higher response rate could provide more generalisable results.

None Declared