sociodemographic risk factors

Depression is a leading cause of illness and disability among adolescents worldwide, yet evidence on its burden among school-going adolescents in rural Kenyan counties remains limited. This study determined the prevalence and socio-demographic factors of depression among secondary school students in Bungoma County, Kenya, to provide baseline evidence for mental health planning. The study was guided by Hopelessness Theory of Depression and Ecological Systems Theory. An analytical mixed methods cross-sectional study design was adopted. The target population consisted of secondary school students, with a sample size of 400 respondents determined using Taro Yamane formula. The respondents were selected through multistage stratified and systematic sampling from three sub-counties of Bungoma County (Mt. Elgon, Kimilili and Bungoma South). Quantitative data were collected using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and a structured questionnaire, and analyzed using descriptive statistics and ordinal logistic regression in SPSS version 28. Qualitative data were obtained through ten Focus group discussions with students and twelve in-depth interviews with class teachers, and analyzed thematically. The overall prevalence of depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 score ≥ 5) was 55.5% (n = 222), 41.5% (n = 166) had mild depression, 9.5% (n = 38) moderate depression, 3.5% (n = 14) moderately severe depression and 1.0% (n = 4) severe depression, while 44.5% (n = 178) were not depressed. Female students were found to be almost twice as likely to experience higher levels of depression compared to the males (AOR= 1.71, P= 0.04). On the other hand, students in mixed day and boarding schools were 78% less likely to experience higher level of depression, (AOR = 0.22, P<0.001), compared to those in girls’ boarding and day schools. Further, students who live with extended family were more than twice as likely as those with both parents to experience higher depression levels (AOR = 2.10, P= 0.04). The qualitative data pointed to gender and family structure as possible associations of depression. Depression is highly prevalent among secondary school students in Bungoma County, with one in seven students experiencing moderate to severe depression. Routine school-based mental health screening using validated tools such as the PHQ-9 is recommended to enable early identification, counselling and referral of affected students.

Background Older people have higher rates of death by suicide, and both self-harm and suicidal ideation are major risk factors for suicide. There is limited data relating to this group internationally. Aims The objective of this study was to identify the clinical and sociodemographic variables associated with psychiatric admissions for older people who present with self-harm and suicidal ideation to emergency departments in Ireland. Method This is a cohort study of older people in Ireland, utilising data collected by the National Clinical Programme for Self-Harm and Suicide-Related Ideation (NCPSHI). It is a national data-set including anonymised data from all participating emergency departments in Ireland, comprising 72 810 presentations over 5 years (2018–2020). We examined the characteristics of people aged over 60 presenting with self-harm and suicidal ideation ( n = 4866). The variables associated with suicidal ideation and behaviours were explored using multivariable analysis. Results Nationally, 7% of the patients presenting were aged over 60 years. One-quarter (26.8%) of older people presenting with self-harm required psychiatric admission (16.3% all-ages). On multivariable analysis, the relationship between self-harm and psychiatric admission was not statistically significant (reference group was those with suicidal ideation), after controlling for gender, year of presentation, substance use and need for medical admission odds ratio 0.977 (CI0.936–1.020). Conclusions Our results outline the characteristics of older people presenting to Irish emergency departments with self-harm and suicidal ideation, which are associated with psychiatric admission. Further research is needed to understand the factors driving these presentations and to tailor our services to meet the needs of older people.

زمینه و هدف: سالمندان نرخ بالاتری از مرگ ناشی از خودکشی دارند و هر دو عامل آسیب‌ به خود و افکار خودکشی از مهم‌ترین عوامل خطر برای خودکشی محسوب می‌شوند. داده‌های محدودی در سطح بین‌المللی درباره این گروه وجود دارد. هدف: هدف این مطالعه شناسایی متغیرهای بالینی و جمعیت‌شناختی مرتبط با بستری روان‌پزشکی در سالمندانی بود که با آسیب‌ به خود و افکار خودکشی به بخش‌های اورژانس در ایرلند مراجعه می‌کنند. روش: این پژوهش یک مطالعه کوهورت از سالمندان در ایرلند است که با استفاده از داده‌های جمع‌آوری‌شده توسط برنامه بالینی ملی برای آسیب‌ به خود و افکار مرتبط با خودکشی (NCPSHI) انجام شده است. این مجموعه داده ملی شامل داده‌های ناشناس از همه بخش‌های اورژانس مشارکت‌کننده در ایرلند است و ۷۲٬۸۱۰ مراجعه در طول ۵ سال (۲۰۱۸ تا ۲۰۲۰) را در بر می‌گیرد. ویژگی‌های افراد بالای ۶۰ سال که با آسیب‌ به خود و افکار خودکشی مراجعه کرده‌اند (n = 4866) بررسی شد. متغیرهای مرتبط با افکار و رفتارهای خودکشی با استفاده از تحلیل چندمتغیره بررسی شدند. یافته‌ها: در سطح ملی، ۷٪ از بیماران مراجعه‌کننده بالای ۶۰ سال بودند. یک‌چهارم (۲۶٫۸٪) از سالمندانی که با آسیب‌ به خود مراجعه کرده بودند نیاز به بستری روان‌پزشکی داشتند (۱۶٫۳٪ در همه سنین). در تحلیل چندمتغیره، رابطه بین آسیب‌ به خود و بستری روان‌پزشکی از نظر آماری معنادار نبود (گروه مرجع افرادی با افکار خودکشی بودند)، پس از کنترل جنسیت، سال مراجعه، مصرف مواد و نیاز به بستری پزشکی، نسبت شانس ۰٫۹۷۷ (CI0.936–1.020) به دست آمد. نتیجه‌گیری: نتایج ما ویژگی‌های سالمندانی را که با آسیب‌ به خود و افکار خودکشی به بخش‌های اورژانس ایرلند مراجعه می‌کنند و با بستری روان‌پزشکی مرتبط هستند، تبیین می‌کند. پژوهش‌های بیشتری برای درک عوامل مؤثر بر این مراجعات و تطبیق خدمات با نیازهای سالمندان مورد نیاز است.