Epidemiology of Violence, Substance Use, and Mental Health Problems

A special issue of Epidemiologia (ISSN 2673-3986).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2024 | Viewed by 8091

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Public Health Sciences, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA
Interests: epidemiology; violence; injury; trauma; social determinants
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Department of Public Health Sciences, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA
Interests: mental health; substance abuse

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Guest Editor
Department of Public Health Sciences, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA
Interests: health equity; social and environmental justice; people experiencing homelessness; dairy and agricultural workers; infectious disease; social action research; one health

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Research on mental health, substance use, and violence continues to expand. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been extensive discussion about mental-health issues impacting all aspects of health and wellbeing. Despite the deluge of studies, much remains to be investigated regarding the changing trends and epidemiology of violence, substance use, and mental-health problems before and after the acute phase of the pandemic. Such knowledge will consider the changing social, political, cultural, economic, and demographic determinants of population mental health before and during the era of COVID-19. These insights are sorely needed to ensure safer societies and guide public health and clinical interventions on mental health and substance-use problems. Such guidance has the potential to inspire policy initiatives and acceleration of action to halt the rising rates of violence, suicide, addiction, and psychiatric illnesses. 

With this Special Issue, I hope to encourage discussion of the knowledge gaps, epidemiology, and determinants of addiction, violence, and mental illnesses specially before, during, and after the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. High-quality reviews and population-based studies with large samples, big datasets, and technological drivers will be given special consideration. Studies describing community-based interventions to improve safety and mental health are of particular interest.

Prof. Dr. Jagdish Khubchandani
Dr. Carrie Shaver
Prof. Dr. Elizabeth England-Kennedy
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • drugs
  • stress
  • injury
  • suicide
  • homicide
  • violence
  • addiction
  • psychiatry
  • mental health

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 265 KiB  
Article
Mental Health System Responsiveness during COVID-19 in People with Pre-Existing Psychiatric Disorders: Experiences from Iran
by Maryam Zabihi Poursaadati, Samaneh Hosseinzadeh, Masoomeh Maarefvand, Jafar Bolhari and Jagdish Khubchandani
Epidemiologia 2023, 4(1), 74-84; https://doi.org/10.3390/epidemiologia4010008 - 20 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2091
Abstract
Mental health system responsiveness (MHSR) is one of the important indicators in measuring the performance of mental health systems. Recognizing this function can be effective in responding appropriately to the needs of People with Pre-Existing Psychiatric Disorders (PPEPD). This study aimed to investigate [...] Read more.
Mental health system responsiveness (MHSR) is one of the important indicators in measuring the performance of mental health systems. Recognizing this function can be effective in responding appropriately to the needs of People with Pre-Existing Psychiatric Disorders (PPEPD). This study aimed to investigate MHSR during the COVID-19 period in PPEPD in Iran. Using stratified random sampling, 142 PPEPD who were admitted to a Psychiatric Hospital in Iran one year before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic were recruited for this cross-sectional study. Participants completed a demographic and clinical characteristics questionnaire as well as a Mental Health System Responsiveness Questionnaire through telephone interviews. The results show that the indicators of prompt attention, autonomy, and access to care were reported as the worst-performing and the confidentiality indicator as the best-performing. The type of insurance affected the access to care and the quality of basic amenities. MHSR has been reported to be poor in Iran in general and this problem worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. Considering the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in Iran and the degree of disability of these disorders, structural and functional changes are needed for adequate MHSR. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epidemiology of Violence, Substance Use, and Mental Health Problems)

Review

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16 pages, 533 KiB  
Review
Cannabis Use and Its Impact on Mental Health in Youth in Australia and the United States: A Scoping Review
by Aayush Baral, Fahad Hanna, Ritesh Chimoriya and Kritika Rana
Epidemiologia 2024, 5(1), 106-121; https://doi.org/10.3390/epidemiologia5010007 - 29 Feb 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 4750
Abstract
Cannabis is a widely used substance among the youth population, with an estimated 2.8% currently smoking cannabis. Its popularity is growing due to the perception of its harmless nature and lack of dependence. However, this increase in use has been linked to mental [...] Read more.
Cannabis is a widely used substance among the youth population, with an estimated 2.8% currently smoking cannabis. Its popularity is growing due to the perception of its harmless nature and lack of dependence. However, this increase in use has been linked to mental health issues, especially since its partial decriminalisation in some part of the United States and Australia. The objective of this scoping review was to investigate the mental health impact of cannabis use among young people in Australia and the United States. A scoping review was conducted according to the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) protocol, and articles were searched from ProQuest Central and EBSCO Host (MEDLINE and CINAHL databases). A total of 24 articles were analysed, including systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and cohort, longitudinal, and cross-sectional studies. The findings indicate that cannabis use is associated with depression, psychosis, suicide, cannabis use disorder, dependence, decline in cognitive function, and the development of externalising behaviour, particularly attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. However, the relationship between cannabis use and anxiety is equivocal. Mental health issues were more prevalent with increased frequency, duration, intensity, and type of use. Female, minority, LGBTQI, African American, Aboriginal, and Torres Strait Islander youth and the age of onset of cannabis use were significant factors for the development of mental health problems. The increasing prevalence of cannabis use among high school and college students suggests the need for intervention by teachers, parents, and community health professionals to make them aware of its potential negative mental health outcomes. Moreover, policy-level interventions by the government are required to discourage young people from using cannabis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epidemiology of Violence, Substance Use, and Mental Health Problems)
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