The article examines the experiences of family caregivers engaged in the provision of long-term care for their relatives with complex health needs within the Latvian context. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven caregivers who provide care in cases of dementia, depression, schizophrenia, opioid use, Down syndrome and mild cognitive impairment. A thematic analysis of interview transcripts revealed common themes, such as the initial experiences when encountering a family member\'s disorder and the subsequent reactions, as well as the quest for support and resources. Variations mainly centered around differences in formal aspects and childhood experiences of care. Caregivers reported risk factors such as guilt, lack of support from family and friends, financial difficulties, deficiency of professional care and ignoring the caregiver\'s own needs. Awareness of personal resources, values and limits, coping with personal stigma and improved overall quality of life were identified as protective factors. The findings underscore several preventive measures that social and mental health services could implement to mitigate the adverse effects of caregiving on caregivers\' lives.

BACKGROUND: Risk factors for eating disorders are multifaceted and complex, so it is crucial to elucidate the role of executive functions, including impulsivity and metacognition, and coping strategies in the severity of eating behaviors. The study aims were threefold: (1) to analyze gender differences in impulsivity, metacognition, coping strategies, emotion regulation, and eating disorders; (2) to examine the correlation between the study variables; and (3) to test the mediating role of coping and emotion-regulation strategies in the relationship between metacognition, impulsivity, and eating disorders.
METHODS: A total of 1076 participants (Mage = 21.78, SD = 5.10; 77.7% women) completed a set of questionnaires. Two mediation analyses were conducted to test the mediating role of coping strategies, including emotion regulation, in the relationship between executive functions (i.e., impulsivity and metacognition) and eating disorders.
RESULTS: Women displayed higher coping strategies, specifically emotional expression, wishful thinking, and social support, whereas men presented greater social withdrawal. Mediational analyses showed a significant association between impulsivity, metacognition, and eating disorders, whose relationship was partially mediated by coping strategies and mainly by emotion regulation.
CONCLUSIONS: Interventions based on coping strategies and emotion regulation could be a feasible and effective option to deal with eating disorders among the young population.

There is a knowledge gap regarding the link between disaster exposure and adolescent mental health problems in developing countries. This study examines the case of Sri Lanka to investigate (a) the immediate and long-term mental health impact of the 2004 tsunami disaster on adolescents and (b) the potential moderating effects of unique cultural and family practices that prevail in Sri Lanka. This study used a random sample of 160 adolescents (ages 12-19) and their mothers who were exposed to the tsunami disaster while living in a southern Sri Lankan village and provided prospective data immediately after the disaster (2005) and three years later (2008). A cross-culturally validated instrument assessed adolescent-mother dyads\' tsunami exposure, stressful loss, family cultural rituals and familism, and adolescent mental health. Structural equation modeling analysis showed that exposure and perceptions of tsunami-induced stressful experiences were associated with early and later mental health problems in adolescents. In addition, this study found that unique cultural practices and familism moderated the link between adolescent tsunami exposure, stressful experiences, and levels of PTSD and depressive symptoms. The findings of this study could be utilized to develop prevention and intervention programs that are contextually and culturally valid and empirically supported, which would be more effective for trauma-exposed adolescents in developing countries.

The escalating awareness of heat-related risks and the associated imperative to enhance preparedness strategies at various levels has spurred a growing emphasis on disseminating knowledge about heat vulnerability. These efforts aim to equip diverse stakeholders with practical heat planning and forecasting tools. The success of these communication initiatives hinges on understanding the nuanced perceptions of risk and the priority assigned to addressing heat as a health risk. This paper delves explicitly into the unhoused population\'s risk perceptions and coping strategies. Acknowledged as one of the most underserved and vulnerable groups to extreme heat, unhoused individuals face prolonged exposure, a heightened frequency of mental and physical health issues, and limited coping resources during extreme heat events. Despite widespread acknowledgment of their vulnerability, little attention has been directed towards researching health behavior within this demographic about excessive heat. We developed a survey instrument using the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to bridge this gap. We collected quantitative survey data from unhoused populations in Columbia, South Carolina, an area of the United States that experiences extreme heat events and has a sizeable unhoused population. Using a series of hierarchical multiple regression models, our findings indicate that TPB variables predict the intention to avoid the heat while considering additional coping strategies common among unhoused individuals. These findings offer valuable insights for public health researchers, practitioners, and community officials engaged in direct interactions with unhoused populations, informing how this underserved group manages excessive heat exposure.

BACKGROUND: Parents of children with a neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD) experience more stress than parents of typically developing children. In a cocreation process with experts and parents, a low-threshold application that uses exercises based on the principles of positive psychology and mindfulness was developed. This application, called \"Adappt,\" aims at enhancing the ability to adapt of the parents and caregivers of children with NDDs and at supporting their mental health. This protocol describes the evaluation study of the effectiveness of Adappt, its core working mechanisms and user experiences.
METHODS: A pragmatic international multicenter randomized controlled trial will compare the effectiveness of Adappt with a (delayed) waitlist control condition. At least 212 parents or primary caregivers of children younger than 18 years diagnosed with or suspected of a NDD will be randomly assigned to the intervention or waitlist control condition. Participants are excluded if they have severe anxiety or depression levels or are in treatment for mental health issues. Measures will be collected online at baseline, post-intervention (1 month after baseline), and 4 and 7 months after baseline. The primary outcome is the improvement in generic sense of ability to adapt as measured with the Generic Sense of Ability to Adapt Scale (GSAAS; (Front Psychol 14:985408, 2023)) at 4-month follow-up. Secondary outcomes are mental well-being, (parental) distress, and client satisfaction with \"Adappt.\"
CONCLUSIONS: Results of this study will contribute to knowledge on the effectiveness of a low-threshold application for parents of children with a NDD in multiple countries. If the application is found to be effective in improving mental health, recommendations will be made for implementation in health care.
BACKGROUND: This study is registered on clinicaltrials.gov (NCT06248762) on February 8, 2024, and the Open Science Framework ( https://osf.io/5znqv ).

BACKGROUND: Emergency medical service providers are frequently exposed to a variety of stressors as a result of their work environment. These stressors can have detrimental effects on both the physical and mental well-being of individuals. This study was conducted with the aim of exploring stress management strategies in emergency medical service providers.
METHODS: This study was conducted in 2023 using a qualitative approach and content analysis method. A purposive sampling method was used to include 16 emergency medical system providers from Hamadan city. Semi-structured interviews, with a duration of 45-60 min, were conducted for data collection. The Data were analyzed using Graneheim and Lundman\'s conventional content analysis approach.
RESULTS: The analysis of the interview data revealed three themes: readiness for the worst conditions, assistance based on supportive partnerships, and striving for balance. The six categories within these three themes were mental preparation, risk management, collaborations in emergency response, supportive communication, adaptive behaviors, and maladaptive responses.
CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study shed light on the various stress management strategies employed by emergency medical service providers. Understanding and implementing effective stress management strategies can not only enhance the well-being of emergency medical service providers but also improve the quality of patient care. Further research and action are essential to promote the resilience and mental health of these professionals, ensuring their overall well-being and job satisfaction.

Penile cancer is a rare cancer, where patients not only need to deal with the anxiety around a cancer diagnosis, but also manage the consequences of treatment on their self-esteem, body image, and intimate relationships. Many find it embarrassing and difficult to talk to family and friends. Due to this, changes in urination and other physical effects of treatment, many will withdraw from social activities too. Patients need psychosocial support and more needs to be done to address this unmet need. Holistic and multidisciplinary approaches in clinic, with access to counseling, may help patients adjust to their new situation.

BACKGROUND: Nonmotor symptoms (NMSs) are frequently experienced by people with Parkinson\'s disease (PD) and are often perceived as their most bothersome symptoms. However, these remain poorly understood with suboptimal clinical management. These unmet needs are an important determinant of health-related quality of life (QoL) in PD.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to gain insights into the experience of living with the NMS of PD in real-time using participatory action methodology.
METHODS: Using the photovoice method, 14 people with PD took photographs to document their experiences of living with the NMS of PD. They composed corresponding written narratives to capture the impact of NMS on their daily activities and QoL. In total, 152 photographs and corresponding narratives were analysed using thematic analysis with an inductive approach.
RESULTS: Four interrelated themes were identified. Emotional well-being and sense of self encompassed a process of adjustment to living with PD. Engaging in valued activities, adopting a positive mindset and utilising coping strategies were thought to enhance confidence and self-esteem. Social support and societal awareness highlighted the importance of supportive relationships and socialising to aid participation and avoid isolation. Barriers to social engagement included the unpredictability of NMS and nonvisible NMS being neglected or misunderstood.
CONCLUSIONS: Findings demonstrated the far-reaching impact of nonmotor aspects of PD on emotional, occupational and social dimensions. These needs could be addressed through person-centred and comprehensive approaches to care.
UNASSIGNED: This study utilised a participatory research approach allowing participants to choose the subjects that mattered to them and how to present their results. Additionally, a group workshop was held with people with PD, their family members and healthcare professionals to guide theme development.

How do people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (PALS) deal with their diagnosis and engage in end-of-life decision-making? What informational or supportive needs do they have for counselling about life-sustaining treatment and end-of-life care? Which correlating conditions and influences relate to these needs and how do they connect to the wish to die or wish to live? We conducted a qualitative interview study with 13 people with ALS in Germany from March 2019 to April 2021. Data collection and analysis followed a grounded theory-based approach and revealed close relationships between coping, informational needs and the preparedness for decision-making. We identified the coping strategies \'avoid thinking about end-of-life\' and its counterpart, \'planning ahead to be well-prepared,\' and differentiated the latter into the patterns \'withdrawing from life and taking precautions against life-prolongation\' and \'searching for a new meaning in life and preparing for life-sustaining treatment\'. The approaches are based on individual perceptions, attitudes and motives and can be positively/negatively reinforced by healthcare professionals (HCP), family and other interpersonal networks, but also by disease progression and in reaction to health care services. Type and degree of needs concerning information and counselling differed according to coping strategies. These strategies may vary over time, resulting in different support needs. Our findings signify that deep insight is needed into PALS\' coping processes to understand their decision-making about life-sustaining treatment. Healthcare professionals should be sensitive to illness experiences beyond medical aspects and foster coping as a biographical process to better support people with ALS.

UNASSIGNED: This systematic review is aimed at (1) evaluating the association between media portrayals of suicides and subsequent copycat suicides or attempts among the general public in Asia, (2) understanding the factors associated with copycat suicides and (3) determining the positive impacts of the media reporting of suicides (e.g. increased help-seeking, coping).
UNASSIGNED: A systematic review and narrative synthesis of English and Chinese articles from 8 electronic databases (i.e. PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, Ariti, China National Knowledge Infrastructure and OpenGrey) from January 2000 to May 2023 was conducted. Observational studies were included, and the data were analysed through narrative synthesis. The protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42021281535).
UNASSIGNED: Among the 32 studies included (n=29 for evidence synthesis) in the review, there is good-quality evidence to show that copycat suicides and suicide attempts increase after media reports of a suicide, regardless of country, celebrity status, study design, type of media, mode of suicide or follow-up period. Females, younger age groups and those sharing similar characteristics as the deceased in publicised suicides (age, gender) were more susceptible to negative impact. Reporting of the mode of death of the deceased increased suicides by the same method among the public.
UNASSIGNED: Media portrayals of suicide appear to have a negative impact on copycat suicides at the population level in Asia. Thus, in addition to tighter media control, healthcare systems, professional medical bodies and community outreach services should work collaboratively to promote early help-seeking in those with psychological distress.