In January 2025, the Trump Administration announced a 90-day freeze on all US government (USG) foreign aid, which subsequently became a permanent shutdown of the US Agency for International Development in July 2025. The sudden withdrawal of USG financing disrupted health and humanitarian systems worldwide, with disproportionate impacts on women, girls and other marginalised populations. This study documents impacts of the funding freeze during its early months (February-March 2025) on global health programmes.

This rapid mixed-methods assessment combined a global online survey with qualitative case studies in Nepal, Kenya and Colombia. The survey was distributed via email through networks and relevant listservs. Semistructured key informant interviews (KIIs) (n=53) were conducted with non-governmental organisation leaders, clinicians, community health workers, government officials and humanitarian actors, all purposively selected based on their direct or indirect involvement in USG-funded health programmes. Interview transcripts were thematically analysed and triangulated with quantitative findings.

Survey respondents reported initial impacts of the USG funding cuts across health sectors and functions, including humanitarian and emergency response/preparedness, gender-based violence and mental health and psychosocial support. Five key themes arose from the KIIs with stakeholders in three case study countries: disruptions to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services, HIV service interruptions and treatment access, the collapse of referral networks and service ecosystems, a mental health crisis among clients and health workers and the rising vulnerability of marginalised populations. Both survey and interview data highlighted growing inequities and anticipated reversals in longstanding health gains.

The 2025 US foreign aid freeze generated immediate and widespread disruptions across health and humanitarian systems, revealing systems-level vulnerabilities. These early findings point to the need for more diversified and reliable financing, stronger domestic preparedness and policy approaches that centre SRHR and marginalised populations.

Newly arrived immigrants to the USA who have time-sensitive medical or mental health needs face a fragmented and often insufficient system of support. This qualitative study explored the perspectives of individuals and organisations who support immigrants across their immigration journey and sought ideas to better identify and connect people in need with care.

From June to August 2024, semistructured consultative sessions were conducted with individuals working with recently arrived immigrant families across both sides of the US Southern border, as they transition to and arrive at their US destination. Reflexive thematic analysis was used by researchers with relevant lived experience to interpret the data and develop the analytic themes.

A total of 58 individuals representing 35 organisations from 14 US states and Mexico participated in the study. Participants came from a wide range of sectors including academic institutions, border respite centres, community-based organisations on both sides of the US-Mexico border, local government and Customs and Border Protection officials, health navigators, nurse midwives and physicians. Qualitative analysis of interviews revealed key themes including gaps in identification and access to care for medically at-risk immigrants at the border and throughout the USA, extensive violence and trauma that many experience and subsequent need for acute and long-term mental health support, unique social, linguistic and structural barriers faced by this population and finally the need for innovative solutions and health-centric policies to address these complex issues.

Although the immigration landscape is constantly changing, certain fundamental medical and health-related social needs remain constant. Innovative solutions are required to improve the health and well-being of immigrants. This can only be achieved by elevating the expertise of the people and organisations who engage directly with immigrants on their journey.

Stigma and a lack of knowledge are significant barriers to seeking mental health support, particularly among adolescents. In Iran, there is a scarcity of interventional studies addressing these issues, and the findings from existing research are often inconsistent. This study translated and culturally adapted the Canadian Guidance about Mental Health and the High School Curriculum for implementation in Iranian schools to address this gap. This study aims to determine the effect of this educational intervention on the mental health literacy of Iranian students.

This research employed a quasi-experimental design involving a sample of two hundred middle school children aged 14.28 ± 0.7 years, ranging from 13 to 16 years old. The educational intervention for the experimental group consisted of six sessions, each lasting 45 to 60 minutes. Data were collected using the Knowledge and Attitudes to Mental Health Scales (KAMHS). The data were analyzed using inter-group and intra-group repeated measures ANOVA, with a significance cutoff of P<0.05.

There were no significant differences in demographic characteristics between the intervention and control groups. However, the intervention group demonstrated significant improvements in mental health behaviors, a reduction in stigma, and an increase in help-seeking, while the control group showed no such changes (P<0.05).

The designed intervention was effective in increasing knowledge and attitudes.

Understanding how Americans think about public health and the role of government institutions is crucial for informing effective health communication in a polarized political climate.

We deployed an open-ended national survey of 1004 adults in October 2025 to assess public perceptions of these topics.

Respondents associated the term "public health" with health for everyone (44%) and health of everyone (23%), alongside healthcare (20%) and other themes. The most common perceived government benefit was facilitating access to healthcare (39%)-particularly by addressing cost (16%). Among perceived government harms, more Republicans than Democrats cited overregulation (16% vs 8%, P < 0.01), limiting personal freedoms (16% vs 6%, P < 0.001), and inefficiency (10% vs 4%, P < 0.01); more Democrats than Republicans mentioned dismissing science (7% vs 2%, P < 0.01) and defunding (7% vs 2%, P = 0.02). Weighted analyses yielded minimal substantive differences from unweighted findings.

Findings reveal both cross-partisan common ground in term associations and divergent concerns regarding government action. Public health messaging should leverage shared priorities and acknowledge partisan concerns about government roles.

Nature exposure has been associated with improvements in physiological, emotional, and cognitive functioning. However, workplace research has primarily focused on visual access to nature, despite nature being inherently a multisensory experience. Drawing on Attention Restoration Theory (ART), Stress Reduction Theory (SRT), and emerging work on olfactory environments ("smellscapes"), this study examines how visual and olfactory nature stimuli independently and jointly influence cognitive and behavioral outcomes in workplace settings.

A between-subjects experiment (N = 256) employed a 2 × 2 design (visual: present vs. absent × olfactory: present vs. absent). Participants completed tasks assessing attention, memory recall, abstract reasoning, risk aversion, and dishonest behavior. Outcomes were analyzed using two-way factorial ANOVA to evaluate the independent and combined effects of exposures, with supplementary one-way ANOVA conducted across the four conditions. Blink rate was also recorded via continuous eye-tracking as a physiological indicator of cognitive load, alongside facial expression data to contextualize affective responses.

Effects varied by sensory condition and outcome. Visual exposure was associated with improvements in attention and abstract reasoning, whereas olfactory exposure was associated with memory performance and dishonest responding. Significant interactions were observed for several outcomes, including attention, memory, risk-taking, and dishonest responding. Blink rates were generally lower under nature exposure conditions than in the control condition. Physiological measures indicated reduced blink rates under nature exposure conditions relative to control environments, suggesting differences in visual attention and task engagement across experimental conditions.

These findings suggest that multisensory nature exposure differentially influences cognitive and behavioral processes in workplace environments rather than producing uniform benefits. By demonstrating that low-cost, passive interventions such as visual and olfactory cues can shape attention, decision-making, and mental overload, this study advances environmental psychology and supports the integration of multisensory design strategies to enhance workplace functioning and overall productivity.

PurposeThis study examined whether the frequency and duration of participation in community cafes-nonprofit, pay-what-you-can restaurants-are associated with food security, dietary improvement, and psychosocial well-being among adult patrons.DesignCross-sectional, multi-site observational study using an instrumental-variables regression framework to reduce selection bias.SettingEleven community cafes operating under the pay-what-you-can model across the U.S.SampleThe analytic sample included 137 adult patrons who had eaten at a cafe within the past month (65% female, 65.7% White).MeasuresPrimary exposures were the frequency of cafe meals and the duration since first visit. Outcomes included food security (USDA six-item module), self-reported dietary improvement, social connectedness, and loneliness. Covariates included gender, race, and cafe site fixed effects.AnalysisTwo-stage instrumental-variable regression models used geographic distance as an instrument for cafe participation. Logistic regression estimated odds of food security, and linear models examined continuous outcomes (P < 0.05). Estimates are interpreted as local effects for patrons whose participation is influenced by access.ResultsLonger duration since first cafe visit was associated with higher odds of being food secure (OR = 2.93, 95% CI = 1.21-7.09). No significant associations were observed for dietary or psychosocial outcomes.ConclusionSustained engagement in cafes is associated with a greater likelihood of being food secure, indicating the importance of long-term participation in dignity-based health promotion strategies.

PurposeThis study examined: (1) availability of mental health-promoting interventions (MHPIs) in Quebec elementary schools in relation to area-level socioeconomic advantage, prioritization of student mental health, parent and community engagement, school climate; and (2) the extent to which existing MHPIs incorporated evidence-informed implementation practices.DesignCross-sectional.SettingPublic elementary schools across Quebec, Canada (n = 171).SubjectsSchool principals and vice-principals (n = 171 for Objective 1; n = 43 for Objective 2).MeasuresStructured telephone interviews using standardized French or English closed-ended questionnaires.AnalysisDescriptive statistics and unadjusted association analyses.ResultsOnly 42% of schools offered an MHPI in the past year, with socioeconomically disadvantaged schools less likely and schools prioritizing mental health, engaging parents and community partners, and fostering supportive school environments more likely to do so. Most MHPIs incorporated multiple competencies and active learning approaches, were institutionalized, and were adapted to local contexts. Few MHPIs involved co-design with teachers, parents, or students, and only half incorporated staff training or formal evaluation.ConclusionMHPI availability in Quebec elementary schools was socially patterned. While many existing MHPIs demonstrated substantial alignment with evidence-informed implementation practices, important gaps remained in stakeholder engagement, capacity building, and evaluation. Strengthening funding, staff training, and implementation support may improve the reach, quality, and equitable delivery of school-based mental health promotion.

Populations affected by humanitarian crises, including conflict, disasters and displacement, are frequently exposed to elevated psychological distress, while access to mental health services remains scarce. Problem Management Plus (PM+), a low-intensity psychological intervention developed by the World Health Organization, has shown clinical efficacy. However, evidence on its implementation in humanitarian contexts remains limited. This systematic review aimed to synthesize available evidence on the implementation outcomes of PM+ and its delivery formats (individual, group and digital) in such settings. The review included individual PM+, group PM+ and Step-by-Step.

Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, we systematically searched four databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and CENTRAL) for studies published up to June 2025. Eligible studies included populations in humanitarian settings receiving PM+ in any format and reported at least one implementation outcome based on Proctor's framework (acceptability, adoption, appropriateness, feasibility, fidelity, cost, penetration and sustainability). Data extraction and quality appraisal were conducted independently by two reviewers. The protocol for this systematic review was prospectively registered in PROSPERO (Registration No. CRD42024551943).

Of 2093 records screened, 23 studies met inclusion criteria, representing 5377 participants across diverse humanitarian contexts. Feasibility (70% of studies) and acceptability (65%) were the most frequently assessed outcomes, with consistently positive findings, including adequate recruitment, retention and cultural adaptability of PM+. Evidence was strongest for participant and provider acceptability and feasibility of delivery, whereas system-level outcomes such as sustainability, adoption, penetration and cost were rarely reported. Delivery by trained non-specialist providers was common and supported by supervision structures. Fidelity assessments (43%) demonstrated high adherence to intervention manuals. In contrast, sustainability (9%) and cost evaluations (17%) were infrequently reported. Barriers to implementation included stigma, population mobility and resource constraints, while facilitators included contextual adaptation, community engagement and ongoing supervision.

PM+ demonstrates strong feasibility and acceptability when delivered by trained non-specialist providers in humanitarian contexts. However, gaps remain in evidence on long-term sustainability, cost-effectiveness and policy integration. The limited availability of system-level implementation data constrains conclusions regarding large-scale integration of PM+ in humanitarian settings. Future research should employ standardized implementation science metrics and focus on strategies to enhance scalability and embed PM+ within existing health systems.

Over the past years, the Italian Twin Registry (ITR) has joined networks and consortiums for genetic-epidemiological research, and several opportunities have arisen for national and international collaborations involving data and tool sharing, as well as cohorts' harmonization. These networking efforts have led ITR to face complex ethico-legal challenges within the framework provided by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) since 2018 but have also represented the occasion to address critical aspects in ITR organization and activities, looking for long-term solutions. This article describes some examples of: ITR international collaborations implying data and tools sharing; ITR national collaborations aimed to replicate general-population findings; ITR integration with national and regional administrative records; ethico-legal criticalities experienced by ITR in multicohort collaborations, and initiatives to overcome the GDPR bottleneck. Regarding collected data, ITR currently contains information on 30,362 twins of different ages and geographical areas, of whom 7797 are being asked to reconfirm their enrollment, having turned 18 or over. In the coming period, these figures may increase rapidly, thanks to the ongoing access to the National Register of the Resident Population, for which ITR is working to solve privacy-related legal issues. This will enable a systematic enrolment of large and representative twin cohorts, making ITR a valuable tool for genetic-epidemiological research and for the monitoring of relevant health outcomes in the Italian population.

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted healthcare delivery and coincided with increased psychological distress worldwide. In the UK, restrictions on healthcare access, rapid adoption of remote consultations and pressures on mental health services may have influenced prescribing of psychotropic medications. However, evidence comparing prescribing trends across the four UK nations during the pandemic remains limited.

To examine trends in community prescribing of psychotropic medicines across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

We conducted a repeated cross-sectional study of national Prescription Cost Analysis data-sets covering March 2019 to March 2023. Monthly utilisation of antidepressants, anxiolytics/hypnotics, antipsychotics and antidementia medicines was measured, using two indicators: number of items dispensed per 1000 inhabitants and defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day. Interrupted time-series regression was applied to assess changes in prescribing levels and trends associated with the first (March 2020) and second (November 2020) UK national lockdowns.

Psychotropic prescribing increased across most medicine classes during the study period. Antidepressant utilisation increased by 24.6% across the UK, representing the largest rise among psychotropic medicines. Antipsychotic prescribing increased by 2.7%; anxiolytic/hypnotic prescribing showed modest overall change (2.7%), but this varied between nations, increasing in Scotland (7.3%) and Northern Ireland (7.4%), and declining in Wales (-9.5%). Antidementia medicines increased modestly overall (9.3%), with variation between countries. Interrupted time-series analyses indicated that most changes occurred gradually rather than abrupt shifts following lockdowns.

Psychotropic prescribing increased during the COVID-19 period, but largely reflected continuation of pre-existing trends rather than immediate effects of lockdown restrictions.