Rates of mental health difficulties among girls and young women in the UK have risen sharply, and disproportionately so for those from marginalised groups. My Story and Me is a new digital public mental health intervention that uses storytelling to reduce stigma, increase awareness and support early help-seeking among girls and young women aged 14-18. The feasibility study aims to determine the acceptability of the intervention and future full trial, including assessing optimal settings and meaningful changes in the primary outcome measure (anxiety and depression).

This is an 18-month mixed-methods, uncontrolled feasibility study conducted in secondary schools, further education colleges and community organisations across the UK. We will recruit 120-180 participants. Quantitative data will be collected at baseline and 7-month follow-up. The primary outcomes are anxiety and depression, and secondary outcomes are social support, mentalising, stigma, quality of life, loneliness, empowerment, intervention acceptability, resource use and randomisation acceptability. Platform-level engagement data will assess adherence and fidelity. Qualitative interviews with young women and staff will explore acceptability, feasibility, mechanisms of change and views on trial procedures, including randomisation in a future full trial. Analysis will be descriptive and exploratory, including comparisons across settings and priority groups (LGBTQIA+, neurodivergent and those experiencing digital poverty). A framework and reflexive thematic analysis approach will be used for qualitative data. Prespecified progression criteria will inform decisions about advancing to a full cluster randomised trial.

The University College London Research Ethics Committee (0692) has approved the My Story and Me protocol. Interested participants will be required to complete an expression of interest and consent form to take part in the study, and young people under 16 years old will be required to obtain parent/carer informed consent. Results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications, lived experience summaries, a policy briefing and academic conference presentations.

ISRCTN12191423.

More than one billion people are affected by a mental disorder according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In this context, information coverage of mental health is one of the great challenges for the media in a scenario marked by misinformation and digital noise. This work, from a transversal descriptive methodological approach, has analysed the news related to mental health in the main digital media of 20 Latin American countries. The study identifies that depression, anxiety, stress, suicide, substances and addictions, and neurocognitive disorders are the disorders with the greatest presence in news coverage. Furthermore, the work detects a moderate relationship between the variable's 'disorder' and 'relationship with violence'. On the other hand, only 25% of the information analysed raised recovery processes as a significant topic in the writing. The work also highlights that messages with interviews with experts or citations to medical studies contribute to more positive approaches in mental health coverage.

This article analyzes the management of Federal expenditure on mental health between 2001 and 2022, reflecting on how this management denies and reaffirms the principles of Brazilian Psychiatric Reform. It involves research, based on publicly accessible data available on Ministry of Health databases, i.e. the I.T. Department of the SUS, the Integrated Public Health Budget System, and the Electronic System of the Citizen Information Service between 2001 (when Law No. 10,216 was enacted) and 2022 (the last year of the Bolsonaro government). Federal spending on mental health, in relation to total spending on health services, fell in the five years, from an average of 2% to 1.7%. Out-of-hospital expenditure on mental health reached 80%, and funding for Brazil's community-based psychosocial care centers (CAPS) increased but saw a reduction in spending on other areas. The management of federal spending reveals the progress, limitations, and setbacks in Brazilian Psychiatric Reform, especially in redirecting resources to institutionalizing healthcare actions, and making mental health expenditure "invisible" within the health budget, which makes the social control of policy application difficult.

Many adults are insufficiently active, posing a threat to public health. Research shows steep declines in physical activity during the emerging adulthood period. Psychological and socioenvironmental factors have been shown to be independently associated with engaging in physical activity. However, few studies have examined the cross-domain interactions between psychological and socioenvironmental factors on physical activity in real time. Real-time data collection methods can be leveraged alongside traditional nomothetic methods to gain a more comprehensive understanding of how physical activity is affected by dynamic changes to one's unique psychological and contextual state within a day.

This paper describes the protocol for a study aiming to examine independent and interactive associations between psychological and contextual factors and real-time physical activity in emerging adults. Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) and device-based monitoring of physical activity will be used.

The SCOPE (Studying COntextual and Psychological predictors of physical activity among Emerging adults) study will use an intensive longitudinal study design. A total of 124 emerging adults will be recruited, completing 2 waves of data collection consisting of an online survey followed by 7 days of EMAs 6 months apart. EMA surveys will be administered using the Pathverse smartphone app, and physical activity will be assessed using a Fitbit Versa 4 activity monitor.

The study was approved by the research ethics board at the University of Waterloo in November 2025. Recruitment and enrollment began in December 2025, and complete T1 data from 69 participants have been collected as of February 2026. It is expected that T1 data collection will be completed by April 2026, and T2 data collection will occur between June and October 2026. Data analysis on T1 data is expected to begin in May 2026. We anticipate results to be published in fall 2027.

Exploring real-time associations between psychological and socioenvironmental factors and physical activity will provide a more comprehensive understanding of the dynamic barriers and facilitators influencing individuals' engagement in physical activity in their everyday lives. The outcomes of this work will help advance existing theories on behavioral choice and effort minimization and inform the development of decision rules for adaptive interventions that are tailored to individuals' unique and current context.

Undergraduate students, including those preparing for health professions, report high rates of psychological distress and underuse of traditional counseling services. Credit-bearing wellness courses that combine psychoeducation with experiential learning may offer a scalable, curriculum-based approach to supporting student well-being.

This qualitative study explored how undergraduate students described personal growth, coping, and lifestyle changes following participation in experiential wellness courses.

An anonymous postcourse online survey captured open-ended responses from students enrolled across 6 wellness course sections. The courses emphasized stress physiology, evidence-based coping strategies, and weekly experiential assignments. Narrative responses from 110 participants were analyzed inductively using the reflexive thematic analysis developed by Braun and Clarke within a constructivist-interpretivist paradigm.

A total of six themes were identified: (1) healthy habits and practical lifestyle change; (2) stress management skills and mental health techniques; (3) self-reflection, awareness, and personal growth; (4) relevance and immediate applicability; (5) peer connection and discussion-based learning; and (6) course structure and opportunities for improvement. Students described adopting new coping strategies, developing greater self-awareness, and perceiving course content as relevant and applicable to their daily lives.

Students described experiential wellness courses as supportive of coping, self-awareness, and behavior change. These findings provide insight into how students engage with and interpret course-based wellness education. Curriculum-integrated approaches may represent a complementary strategy to support student well-being. Future research should examine these approaches across diverse populations and over time.

Integrating mental health care into well-attended health services, such as maternal-child health (MCH), offers a promising approach to increasing access to mental health care. To inform integration, we assessed the current approach to screening and treatment of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMAD) in MCH facilities in Western Kenya. We conducted a cross-sectional survey among the facility managers ("in-charges") at 20 MCH facilities in Western Kenya. Trained data collectors administered questionnaires to assess facility infrastructure and human resources, perinatal mental health screening, psychological interventions, psychiatric medication availability, and level of perinatal mental health integration into standard MCH services. Across 20 MCH facilities, the majority were located in rural areas (16,80%), 2 peri-urban (10%), and 2 urban (10%). Facilities had a median of 37.5 medical staff (IQR: 31.0, 45.5); the most common cadre was nurses (median: 9.0, IQR: 6.0, 12.5). Under half of the facilities (8, 40%) screened for PMAD using a validated tool and documented results; most (19, 95%) reported diagnosing PMAD (not necessarily through a systematic approach), yet only half (10, 53%) documented the diagnosis. The most common psychotherapy reported across the sites was supportive counseling (15, 75%). Some facilities offered evidence-based psychotherapies (e.g., cognitive behavioral therapy, problem-solving therapy, etc.), but did not report on training, supervision or guidance from the evidence-based intervention manual. Across all facilities, the availability of mental health medications was limited. Only (12, 60%) had any antidepressant available, (16, 80%) had antiepileptics, (9, 45%) had antipsychotics, and (2, 10%) had mood stabilizers available. Mental health services in MCH clinics in Western Kenya are currently not offered in a structured and systematic manner to effectively alleviate PMAD. Available infrastructure and human resources offer an opportunity to integrate an evidence-based treatment model to improve perinatal mental health in the MCH clinics in Western Kenya.

Bereavement is associated with an increased risk of mental illness. The COVID-19 pandemic caused excess mortality, and may have exacerbated the mental health impact of bereavement due to social restrictions and reduced healthcare access. Using Swedish national register data, this study aimed to compare the risk of mental illness following bereavement before (2018-2019) and during (2020-2021) the pandemic, exploring how the pandemic might have modified the psychological impact of bereavement and identifying high-risk groups.We conducted a nationwide matched cohort study including (1) 3,840,845 individuals (349,168 bereaved) before the pandemic, and (2) 5,132,988 individuals (466,636 bereaved) during the pandemic. Mental illness was defined as the first occurrence of any psychiatric diagnosis or suicidal behavior during each period. Multivariable Cox regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We found that bereaved individuals had a significantly higher risk of mental illness compared to non-bereaved individuals in both periods (before pandemic: HR 1.42, 95%CI 1.34-1.49; during pandemic: HR 1.34, 95%CI 1.28-1.39). Bereaved individuals younger than 30 years had markedly higher risks of psychiatric disorders in the pre-pandemic period compared to the pandemic period. Higher risks of incident psychiatric disorders were observed for loss of a child or spouse, compared to loss of a sibling or parent, as well as for loss due to accident or suicide as compared to other causes. Furthermore, bereavement due to COVID-19 was associated with an increased risk of mental illness during the pandemic period (HR 1.38, 95% CI 1.21-1.59). In conclusion, bereavement was consistently associated with an increased risk of mental illness, before and during COVID-19 pandemic, although young individuals (<30 years) seemed more affected before the pandemic. However, further research in settings with a different pandemic burden and/or mitigation strategies is needed to assess the generalizability of our findings beyond Sweden.

Mental health (MH) disorders are highly prevalent among university students, with multi-level impacts. Although campus-based mental health services (CBMHS) are available, awareness and utilisation rates remain low. This study examined the awareness and utilisation of CBMHS among Zimbabwean tertiary students, including the barriers, facilitators, and preferences that influence their access to services. This descriptive cross-sectional study recruited 1070 students from five tertiary institutions in Harare, Zimbabwe. Participants completed questionnaires evaluating awareness, utilisation, preferences, and barriers to accessing CBMHS. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression. The mean age of the participants was 21.7 (SD = 2.7) years. 76.5% of students were aware of CBMHS. Awareness of MH services was associated with familial history of MH conditions [AOR = 1.35 (95% CI: 1.05; 1.83), p = .05] and personal experience of a MH condition [AOR = 0.71 (95% CI: 0.52; 0.97), p = .030]. Only 16.5% of students had utilised CBMHS. High utility of CBMHS was associated with drug and substance use [AOR = 2.388 (95% CI: 1.227; 4.644), p = 0.01], availability of a psychologist [AOR = 1.69 (95% CI: 1.10; 2.59), p = .017] and availability of campus-wide MH workshops [AOR = 1.62 (95% CI: 1.00; 2.60), p = .049]. Key barriers to MH service utilisation included lack of resident/institutional MH service providers [AOR = 2.02 (95% CI: 1.16; 3.51), p = .013], past MH experiences [AOR = 1.53 (95% CI: 1.16; 2.02), p = .002], and friend's history of MH condition [AOR = 1.44 (95% CI: 1.11; 1.86), p = .006]. Students preferred self-help services, individual therapy, and psychologists for MH support. Universities should promote MH awareness through effective awareness campaigns and workshops, provide tailored services that align with the students' preferences, and ultimately create a supportive environment that fosters students' overall MH service utilisation and well-being.

Maternal mortality and morbidity in the United States remain substantially higher than in other high-income countries. Evidence suggests that exposure to chronic stress and social and environmental adversity contributes to maternal health risk through interconnected biological, psychological, and structural pathways. While these associations are documented, the molecular mechanisms linking adversity to maternal health outcomes remain poorly defined. This protocol describes a five-year, prospective, explanatory sequential mixed-methods cohort study (N = 200) designed to map how multilevel stress exposures influence biological and clinical outcomes among urban postpartum women. The study integrates geocoded neighborhood-level data, longitudinal electronic health records, and comprehensive interviewer-administered surveys assessing trauma, social support, and mental health. To identify the biological pathways of adversity, we employ multi-omics profiling of peripheral blood mononuclear cells-including DNA methylation, chromatin accessibility, and histone modification-alongside inflammatory and steroid hormone assays. Statistical frameworks, including Exposome-Wide Association Studies and spatial mediation modeling, will evaluate the interplay between socio-ecological stressors and molecular signatures during the postpartum period. Findings will advance understanding of the biological embedding of adversity and inform multilevel interventions to improve maternal health outcomes.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) causes persistent physical and psychological impairments and is associated with reduced quality of life. Telemedicine may improve rehabilitation access and follow-up care, but its effectiveness across multiple outcome domains in SCI remains uncertain.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of telemedicine interventions on psychological health, quality of life, sleep, functional independence, and participation, and pain intensity in individuals with SCI.

We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Ovid MEDLINE, and Cochrane CENTRAL until 17 February 2026. We included English-language randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of telemedicine interventions in individuals with SCI. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias using the Risk of Bias 2 (RoB 2; Cochrane) tool. Random-effects meta-analyses used the Hartung-Knapp-Sidik-Jonkman method with restricted maximum likelihood estimation of between-study variance. Effects were summarized as standardized mean differences (SMD) or mean differences (MD) with 95% CIs. For main meta-analyses, 95% prediction intervals were reported when at least 5 studies were available, but not for analyses with fewer than 5 studies or for subgroup meta-analyses. Certainty of evidence was assessed using GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation).

We included 33 studies (35 reports). Telemedicine improved the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) social domain (MD 3.27, 95% CI 0.64 to 5.89; P=.03) and sleep quality at 3 months (MD -2.24, 95% CI -3.82 to -0.67; P=.04). Depressive symptoms also improved in the >3-≤6 months follow-up subgroup (SMD -0.31, 95% CI -0.57 to -0.04; P=.03). Overall effects for depressive symptoms were not significant (SMD -0.11, 95% CI -0.26 to 0.05; prediction interval -0.37 to 0.15; P=.16; I²=36.3%), while findings for anxiety, other WHOQOL-BREF domains, sleep quality at 1 month, functional outcomes, and pain intensity generally favored telemedicine but did not reach statistical significance. Approximately half of the studies were rated as low risk overall on RoB 2, with most remaining studies rated as having some concerns and a smaller subset rated as high risk. GRADE certainty was high for the >3-≤6-month depressive-symptoms subgroup, moderate for the WHOQOL-BREF social domain, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Spinal Cord Independence Measure (SCIM), and low for depressive symptoms overall, anxiety, and pain intensity.

Telemedicine may improve selected outcomes in SCI, with the most consistent evidence for social aspects of quality of life, sleep after sustained intervention exposure, and a more favorable effect on depressive symptoms in midterm follow-up subgroup analyses. These results suggest telemedicine as a practical adjunct for extending SCI rehabilitation access and continuity. Further trials should focus on optimizing intervention components, intensity, and patient targeting.