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The Advanced C.A.R.E. Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training Questionnaire for medical lecturers and specialists: A psychometric evaluation in a Malaysian sample

Ali IM, Chan LF, Daud TIM, Othman AR, Ng YP, Pheh KS, et al.

Glob Ment Health (Camb), 2023;10:e37.
PMID: 37854427 DOI: 10.1017/gmh.2023.32

Given the high prevalence rate of suicidal ideation amongst medical students, medical lecturers and specialists as gatekeepers should be well-trained in suicide prevention. There is a need for validated measures to assess gatekeeper training gains for suicide prevention. The psychometric properties of the Advanced C.A.R.E. Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training Questionnaire (AdCARE-Q) were evaluated for a sample of medical lecturers and specialists in Malaysia. A total of 120 participants completed 24 items in the AdCARE-Q. Analysis of variance of perceived knowledge scores was performed. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted. Reliability was calculated. The AdCARE-Q was reduced to 15 items that fit into two factors, "self-efficacy" and "declarative knowledge." Overall internal consistency was good with Cronbach's alpha = 0.84. The intraclass correlation coefficient between groups from the psychiatry department and non-psychiatry departments was good at 0.80. The oldest age group and participants from the Psychiatry department scored significantly higher than other groups in perceived knowledge of suicide prevention. This study found that the AdCARE-Q has adequate psychometric properties to assess suicide prevention gatekeeper training gains amongst medical lecturers and specialists. Confirmatory factor analysis is recommended for future studies.
Factors associated with depression, anxiety, and satisfaction with life among Malaysian parental caregivers of adolescent psychiatric patients: A cross-sectional study

Cham CQ, Ibrahim N, Kalaman CR, Ho MC, Visvalingam U, Ahmad Shahabuddin F, et al.

Glob Ment Health (Camb), 2024;11:e12.
PMID: 38390253 DOI: 10.1017/gmh.2024.5

Depression and anxiety are prevalent mental health issues worldwide, especially among parental caregivers. By expanding the family stress model, this cross-sectional study investigated the relevant factors associated with depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and satisfaction with life among Malaysian parental caregivers of adolescent psychiatric patients. Data were collected through questionnaires (N = 207) across five major public hospitals through convenience sampling. Participants answered questionnaires measuring financial strain, caregiver burden, relationship quality, belief in mental illness, perceived COVID-19 stress, satisfaction with health services, depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms and life satisfaction. Findings revealed that relationship quality among spouses, COVID-19 stress and caregiver burden were significantly correlated with anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms and satisfaction with life. The multiple regression model also suggested that depressive symptoms (β = .613, p < .001), anxiety symptoms (β= .657, p < .001) and relationship quality among spouses (β = .264, p < .001) were the most influential predictors of anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms and satisfaction with life respectively. By addressing the mental health needs of parental caregivers, this study can contribute to improving the overall quality of care and support provided to adolescent patients and their caregivers in Malaysia and beyond.
Stakeholder perspectives of mental healthcare services in Bangladesh, its challenges and opportunities: a qualitative study

Koly KN, Saba J, Rao M, Rasheed S, Reidpath DD, Armstrong S, et al.

Glob Ment Health (Camb), 2024;11:e37.
PMID: 38572252 DOI: 10.1017/gmh.2024.30

This study explores Bangladesh's mental health services from an individual- and system-level perspective and provides insights and recommendations for strengthening it's mental health system. We conducted 13 in-depth interviews and 2 focus group discussions. Thirty-one participants were recruited using a combination of purposive and snowball sampling methods. All interviews and group discussions were audio-recorded and transcribed, and key findings were translated from Bengali to English. Data were coded manually and analysed using a thematic and narrative analysis approach. Stakeholders perceived scarcity of service availability at the peripheral level, shortage of professionals, weak referral systems, lack of policy implementation and regulatory mechanisms were significant challenges to the mental health system in Bangladesh. At the population level, low levels of mental health literacy, high societal stigma, and treatment costs were barriers to accessing mental healthcare. Key recommendations included increasing the number of mental health workers and capacity building, strengthening regulatory mechanisms to enhance the quality of care within the health systems, and raising awareness about mental health. Introducing measures that relate to tackling stigma, mental health literacy as well as building the capacity of the health workforce and governance systems will help ensure universal mental health coverage.
Poor sleep quality and its associated factors among working adults during COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia

Aye LM, Lee WH

Glob Ment Health (Camb), 2024;11:e28.
PMID: 38572261 DOI: 10.1017/gmh.2024.23

BACKGROUND: In Malaysia, a nationwide movement control order (MCO), implemented to curb the COVID-19 spread, impacted on the lives of the working population which could impair sleep quality.
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to find the sleep quality status and its association with the socioeconomic, employment and lifestyle factors of working adults during the MCO period.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 500 eligible working adults. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire consisting of the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index.
RESULTS: The proportion of poor sleep quality is found to be 59.4%. Analysis shows that the use of electronic devices before sleep (OR = 2.33, 95% CI = 1.02-5.35, p-value = 0.046), increased amount of workload (OR = 0.45, p-value = 0.005), decreased in amount of workload (OR = 0.48, p-value = 0.003) and distracted while working (OR = 0.57, p-value = 0.014) are the factors significantly associated with and are predictors of poor sleep quality.
CONCLUSION: During crisis, there is a need for public health interventions for the working population to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Employers are recommended to support employees' well-being and to provide a healthy workplace during challenging times. Policy recommendations are also made to implement flexible working arrangements, workload management, workplace mental health support and legal protections on reasonable working hours, rest breaks and time off during crises.