During the pivotal college years, mental health emerges as a paramount concern, with implications for academic success, personal growth and overall well-being.

To investigate the dynamics of mindfulness and self-compassion, exploring their roles in enhancing the mental well-being of 246 young Iranian adults in full-time university study during the academic year of 2022–2023.

Utilising standardised questionnaires and structural equation modelling, we examined the relationships between participants’ mindfulness, self-compassion and cognitive emotion regulation and their mental health.

Mindfulness, self-compassion and adaptive cognitive emotion regulation showed positive correlations with mental health. Adaptive cognitive emotion regulation emerged as a key mediator in the relationship between self-compassion and mental health (P < 0.05). However, maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation showed no significant relation.

Interventions aimed at enhancing mindfulness, self-compassion and adaptive cognitive emotion regulation hold promise in improving the mental health of young adults in full-time study.

Unhealthy eating patterns, physical inactivity and alcohol misuse are commonly reported by individuals with severe mental illness (SMI) and significantly contribute to premature mortality. People with SMI could benefit from psychoeducational interventions focused on lifestyle modification.

To evaluate the effectiveness of the LIFESTYLE programme to improve dietary habits and physical activity levels and reduce alcohol use in individuals with SMI versus controls receiving a less structured psychoeducational programme (Italian Ministry of University and Research, trial registration number: 2015C7374S).

This multicentre randomised controlled trial (RCT) was conducted across six Italian universities and included 401 participants diagnosed with SMI, randomly allocated to either the test group or a comparison group.

At 1-year follow-up, generalised estimating equations showed that the trial intervention boosted the likelihood of higher weekly metabolic equivalents of task (METs) expended on total activity (odds ratio 1.43, 95% CI 1.08–1.89; p < 0.01), on walking (odds ratio 1.50, 95% CI 1.18–1.90; p < 0.001) and on moderate activity (odds ratio 1.85, 95% CI 1.24–2.77; p < 0.01). Improvements in dietary habits included increased intake of fish (odds ratio 1.67, 95% CI 1.45–1.97; p < 0.05), fresh fruit (odds ratio 1.36, 95% CI 1.05–1.76; p < 0.05) and vegetables (odds ratio 1.91, 95% CI 1.56–1.96; p < 0.05), along with reduced junk food consumption (OR = 0.81, 95% CI 0.63–0.99; p < 0.05) and daily alcohol use (odds ratio 0.70, 95% CI 0.52–0.95; p < 0.05).

The LIFESTYLE intervention proved effective in promoting healthier lifestyles among individuals with SMI, with sustained benefits at 1 year. This structured programme could be a valuable addition to routine mental healthcare.

Although timely dementia diagnosis is a global healthcare priority, delays between symptom onset and formal recognition remain common, particularly in regions with limited awareness and high stigma. Such delays are associated with worse clinical outcomes, greater caregiver burden and increased healthcare costs. We report the first large-scale study of diagnostic delays in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the wider Middle East and North Africa, with findings relevant to other Gulf Cooperation Council countries, given the region’s unique demographic and cultural landscape.

To investigate the duration between dementia symptom onset and formal diagnosis, and to identify demographic and clinical factors associated with prolonged delays.

We retrospectively analysed 825 patients diagnosed with dementia over 10 years at a major governmental hospital in Abu Dhabi. The duration of undiagnosed symptoms (DUS) was calculated and multivariable regression was performed, adjusting for age, gender, nationality, dementia subtype and presenting symptoms.

The mean DUS was 34.7 months (s.d. = 28.8), with a median of 24 months (interquartile range 12–48 months). Older adults (≥65 years) experienced longer delays than younger patients. Symptom profile strongly influenced DUS: patients presenting with memory complaints (forgetfulness) had the longest delays, whereas those with behavioural or psychiatric symptoms, such as agitation, hallucinations or disinhibition, were diagnosed earlier. In multivariable regression, older age and memory-related presentations remained independent predictors of longer DUS while gender, nationality and dementia subtype were not significant.

Dementia diagnosis in the UAE is delayed by nearly 3 years, driven mainly by age and presenting symptoms. Reducing these delays through public awareness campaigns, clinician training and pilot primary care screening programmes could improve patient outcomes and reduce the growing health economic burden in the region.

Previous studies have indicated that depression is common among young adults. However, these studies have mainly focused on risk factors rather than protective factors, especially in the context of Vietnam.

To explore protective factors such as self-compassion and the mediating role of gratitude, crucial for informing targeted interventions aimed at reducing depression in this population.

A cross-sectional study was conducted in September 2023 using convenience sampling of individuals aged 18–25 years (n = 356, mean age 21.23 years) living in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, recruited via online surveys distributed through social networks. The required sample size was determined using Monte Carlo power analysis to ensure adequate statistical power for mediation analysis. Data were analysed to examine the mediating role of gratitude (Gratitude Questionnaire – Six Item Form, GQ-6) in the relationship between self-compassion (Self-Compassion Scale – Short Form, VSCS-SF) and depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9, PHQ-9).

Self-compassion showed a significant negative association with depression (β = −0.50, t = −11.42, p < 0.001), accounting for 27% of the variance in depression scores. Gratitude significantly mediated this relationship, with an indirect effect of a × b = −0.07 (s.e. = 0.02, 95% CI −0.11 to −0.04]). Specifically, self-compassion positively predicted gratitude (β = 0.34, t = 6.80, p < 0.001), and gratitude, in turn, negatively predicted depression (β = −0.20, t = −4.42, p < 0.001). The direct effect of self-compassion on depression remained significant after controlling for gratitude (β = −0.43, t = −9.52, p < 0.001), indicating a complementary partial mediation. Bootstrap analysis with 5000 resamples further confirmed the robustness of the indirect effect.

The pivotal roles of self-compassion and gratitude in mitigating depression among young adults were explored, informing tailored intervention strategies for mental health practitioners.

In the North-West Region of Cameroon (NWR) there is limited research available to shape mental health programmes and policy, and this gap has been compounded by the ongoing sociopolitical crisis. Developing a comprehensive research agenda is crucial to guiding mental health research and informing evidence-based interventions.

This paper presents a proposed research agenda for priority mental health, mental disorders and related issues in the NWR. It aims to enhance awareness about the need for research on mental health issues, including evidence about what is needed and effective.

The study used a modified Delphi process with a multidisciplinary team of researchers and mental health practitioners. The study included a literature review, consultation with participants and reaching agreement on the most pressing research needs and approaches.

Priority mental health research areas include (a) broad studies (e.g. situational analysis, prevalence studies); (b) mental health interventions; and (c) understanding mental health issues in depth, especially research involving persons with lived experience of mental health conditions and their families. Intervention studies are needed to better develop and evaluate treatments for trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder, and interventions that are grounded in local realities. Research exploring mental distress and poverty, and gendered analysis of mental health conditions, were also identified as key research priorities. Locally appropriate methods for conducting mental health research, reviewing of mental health-related research conducted at universities and supporting students in research were recognised as relevant to achieving these goals.

This work provides priorities to guide future mental health research in the NWR. This agenda has the potential to enhance understanding of local mental health challenges and to accelerate the development of contextually relevant, evidence-based solutions. Sustained commitment and multi-stakeholder partnerships will be crucial for translating this agenda into impactful research and practice.

Iraq is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change, and it is faced with extreme heat, drought and environmental degradation.

To examine the prevalence of climate anxiety and its association with depression and generalised anxiety disorder in the Iraqi population.

A cross-sectional survey recruited 1019 adult participants (47.8% males, 52.2% females). Most participants were aged 18–41 years (n = 854, 83.8%); 16.2% (n = 165) were aged 42–72 years. Regionally, 75.6% (n = 770) were from the Kurdistan Region and 24.4% (n = 249) from provinces in central and southern Iraq. The study used the Climate Change Anxiety Scale (CCAS), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7). Statistical analyses, included descriptive analysis, analysis of variance (ANOVA), t-tests, Pearson’s correlations and regression models, examined variations in climate anxiety by demographics and associations with depression and anxiety.

Overall, 71.4% of participants reported severe climate anxiety, with a higher prevalence in the Kurdistan Region (73.2%) compared with central and southern Iraq (65.9%). Five provinces were found to have significantly higher levels of climate anxiety: Ninawa, Basrah, Najaf, Duhok and Erbil. Age was a significant predictor, and older participants (42–72 years) reported higher levels than younger participants (P = 0.008). A positive correlation was observed between climate anxiety and both depression (r = 0.382, P < 0.001) and generalised anxiety (r = 0.361, P < 0.001). Simple linear regression revealed that climate anxiety was significantly associated with both depression (β = 0.25, P < 0.001) and generalised anxiety (β = 0.214, P < 0.01), accounting for the 14.6 and 13% variance, respectively.

Climate anxiety is prevalent in Iraq and significantly associated with mental health problems. The findings endorse the need for integration of mental health into Iraq’s national climate adaptation and public health policies.

Mental health disorders, including depression and anxiety, pose significant public health challenges globally, and in Saudi Arabia. Despite this, psychiatry suffers from a critical shortage of specialists. This study investigates factors influencing medical students’ career decisions in regard to psychiatry, aiming to enhance understanding of, and address workforce deficiencies in, mental healthcare.

This study aims to investigate the factors influencing medical students’ decision to choose psychiatry as a future career.

This cross-sectional study conducted an online survey among Saudi Arabian medical students from 28 December 2023 to 28 April 2024, employing validated questions refined through pilot testing. Participant selection included male and female students across preclinical and clinical stages, excluding non-medical students and those outside Saudi Arabia.

This study explores the perceptions and interest of 430 medical students in Saudi Arabia regarding psychiatry as a career. The majority were female (69.3%), with most in their preclinical years (60.2%). Key findings include limited personal connections to psychiatry (9.5% with a family psychiatrist), and primarily influenced by medical school (55.3%) and social media (42.1%). While 65.1% perceive psychiatry as mentally demanding, uncertainties exist about career prospects and stigma persists (39.1%). Gender differences were observed, with more females (34.6%) than males (22.7%) interested in psychiatry (P = 0.014). Early inspiration in medical education significantly increased interest (P = 0.001).

Early exposure, personal connections and gender-specific factors significantly influence medical students’ interest in psychiatry as a career. Integrating psychiatry education early in medical curricula and addressing stigma are critical for fostering positive perceptions and attracting diverse students to the field.

To address the treatment gap for common mental disorders in low- and middle-income countries facing humanitarian challenges, it is crucial to build the capacity of primary healthcare workers (PHCWs) and integrate mental healthcare into primary care settings.

To investigate the effectiveness of a Mental Health Gap Action Programme Humanitarian Intervention Guide (mhGAP-HIG) adapted for use in Pakistan to build the capacity of PHCWs in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Six mhGAP-HIG training workshops were conducted, each lasting for 5 days, across six districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. A total of 105 PHCWs (74 primary care physicians and 31 clinical psychologists) were trained through these workshops. We used multiple triangulations for data collection and analyses. Paired-sample t-tests were applied to compare scores on knowledge questionnaires pre- and post-training and after 8 months. We also conducted thematic analysis to examine participants’ feedback regarding the training, and performed content analysis on the participants’ reflections on the adapted guide.

Our findings demonstrated significant improvements in PHCWs’ knowledge related to the mental health conditions in the mhGAP-HIG. Their scores improved by 12.08%, increasing from 73.86% pre-training to 85.94% post-training. Noticeable improvements in knowledge were recorded for the modules ‘Harmful use of alcohol and drugs’ (22.56%), ‘General principles of care’ and ‘Other significant mental health complaints’ (15.15%), ‘Acute stress’ (13.80%) and ‘Suicide’ and ‘Epilepsy’ (13.13%). The thematic analysis of the feedback of the PHCWs and trainers recommended the use of the guide to strengthen pre-service training and broaden the scope of the initiative to train PHCWs across the province.

This study underscores the feasibility of implementing an adapted mhGAP-HIG for training primary care physicians and clinical psychologists within the existing healthcare resources of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The preliminary findings endorse the scalability across other districts in the province.

Psychiatric disorders are a major risk factor for suicidal behaviors. However, increasing attention is being given to anxiety disorders, which have also been associated with suicidal risk.

This study aims to examine the prevalence of social anxiety disorder (SAD) among university students, explore its association with suicidal risk and assess the role of depression as a potential confounding factor in this relationship.

We conducted a cross-sectional, multicentre study involving students from Abdelmalek Essaâdi University. Data were collected face-to-face using a structured questionnaire designed on the REDCap platform. The Moroccan Arabic version of the MINI (Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview) was used to assess SAD, depression and suicidal risk. All students present and consenting were included. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression to evaluate the independent association between SAD and suicidal risk.

Among the 1168 students surveyed, 59.1% were women, and the average age was 20.63 years. The prevalence of social anxiety was 9.9% (95% CI: 8.3–11.8). Social anxiety disorder is an independent risk factor for suicide, even after adjustment for other well-known variables such as depression, with an adjusted odds ratio of 1.84 (95% CI: 1.12–3.04).

SAD is a major risk factor for suicidal behaviors. These results highlight the importance of early identification and appropriate management of SAD among students in order to prevent suicidal risks.

The formative years of childhood and adolescence shape the course of future mental health. The COVID-19 pandemic has been associated with increased mental health problems in young people. This study aimed to examine changes in referrals and clinical activity in a child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) in Qatar following the pandemic.

To explore changes in referral trends and clinical activity in CAMHS, including referral numbers, reasons, sources, demographics, urgency and multidisciplinary team (MDT) allocation, comparing pre-pandemic (2019) with post-pandemic periods (2021, 2022).

A retrospective analysis of referral data from CAMHS was conducted. Data were collected from the administrative paper data archived in the relevant department for the years 2019, 2021 and 2022. Referral data included: source, reason, urgency, patient demographics and outcome. Chi-square analysis was employed to compare referral trends and patient characteristics across the 3 years. Binary logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with urgent referrals.

A significant increase in referrals was observed post-pandemic, with notable changes in referral reasons (increased mood and anxiety disorders), sources (increased referrals from public and private hospitals) and urgency (higher proportion of urgent referrals). MDT allocation shifted towards psychiatrists, with a decrease in joint assessments.

The COVID-19 pandemic had a substantial impact on CAMHS referrals and clinical activity in Qatar. The observed changes highlight the urgent need for additional resources and services. Adapting service delivery models and strengthening collaboration between healthcare sectors are crucial to addressing the evolving mental health needs of children and adolescents effectively.

Motivational interviewing is a patient-centred communication approach designed to facilitate behavioural change by enhancing intrinsic motivation. Despite its widespread global utility, research on the training and applications of motivational interviewing among resident physicians in Oman remains untapped.

To examine the awareness, training experiences and clinical implementation of motivational interviewing among psychiatry and family medicine residents enrolled with the Oman Medical Specialty Board (OMSB).

A qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with 22 resident physicians from psychiatry and family medicine programmes. Data were analysed using thematic analysis to identify key themes regarding motivational interviewing training and its application in clinical settings.

Three primary themes emerged: (a) residents’ understanding and application of motivational interviewing principles, (b) barriers to the integration of motivational interviewing into clinical practice, such as time constraints and insufficient training, and (c) the need for culturally adapted approaches to motivational interviewing tailored to Omani patients. Although participants appreciated the utility of motivational interviewing to improve patient engagement, they reported inconsistent training and limited opportunities to practise the technique in clinical settings.

The study highlights significant gaps in motivational interviewing training and practice within Oman’s residency programmes. It underscores the necessity for comprehensive, structured motivational interviewing curricula that are sensitive to the local context. Enhancing practical training opportunities may improve the integration of motivational interviewing into patient care, particularly in managing chronic diseases and addiction.