Journal of Mental Health and Substance Abuse

The World Economic Forum has termed the COVID 19 lockdown across many nations of the world as the ‘world’s biggest psychological experiment’. It is estimated that the mental toll of quarantine and lockdown affected about a third of the world’s population. This year will certainly go down in history as one with an unprecedented challenge affecting all of mankind. The tremendous impact on mental and psychological health is still evolving and we may not have seen the peak as yet. The downstream effects continue to surface, keeping counsellors, psychiatrists, psychologists, befrienders, social workers, medical practitioners, and volunteers very busy. Practically everyone’s lifestyle changed and continue to change. The new norm will not bring forth ‘business as usual’ post COVID19. It is time to collaborate, share ideas and best practices, support each other and align with guidelines from international bodies such as The World Health Organization, The Communicable Diseases Center and The International Federation for Mental Health. The authors of this paper are some of the members of the executive committee of The Global Alliance for Mental Health Advocates (GAMHA). GAMHA is a special global mental health project initiated by Silver Ribbon (Singapore) and Lundbeck. The vision for the group is to make mental health a global priority. GAMHA serves as a platform to connect mental health advocates and stakeholders, from varied background across the world to discuss, network, share best practices, ideas and knowledge pertaining to mental health promotion and advocacy. The diverse perspectives and background of members makes the discussions extremely robust and vibrant. GAMHA has come up with some recommendations, which we hope can be applied or customized appropriately, across all cultures and all nations, whether they are in the eastern or western world.

Introduction: Much of the focus on drug trafficking is on the deed rather than the individual. This is likely to be carried out by personnel who are drug users themselves, while drug use is sometimes a mechanism for coping with symptoms of psychological trauma. However, with specific reference to drug dealers, their exposure to psychological trauma has not been examined in detail. Methods: A literature search on PubMed and PsycINFO was conducted using specified search terms, with a paucity of academic literature about drug dealers and psychological trauma demonstrated. The findings were supplemented by selected information from Google search results to provide a balanced perspective on the topic. Results: Even prior to dealing drugs, drug dealers tend to endorse having numerous encounters with psychological trauma, both direct and vicarious. In the course of being a drug dealer, they take on both the role of perpetrator and victim of psychological trauma across the span of time. Some of their risk of being subject to violence is known to persist even after they were no longer active in dealing drugs. Implications: More research is needed to deepen the current understanding about the role of trauma exposure in individuals who go on to become drug dealers, in terms of whether and how this impacts their decision to take on this role. Given the exposure of drug dealers to a substantial multitude of traumatic events, in both quantitative and qualitative terms, a trauma-informed approach would be definitely required by clinicians working with these individuals

Purpose: This article identified and explored factors that impact on the mental health of internal migrants in Nigeria. Design: A pilot qualitative phenomenological study with four participants from the Federal Capital Territory and Lagos states in Nigeria. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken using the application known as Zoom© from August to September 2019. Interviews were analysed using the six steps of thematic analyse described by Braun and Clarke (2006). Findings: Five themes emerged from this study; ‘purpose of migration’, ‘experience of migration’, ‘coping strategies’, ‘knowledge of mental health’, and ‘impact of internal migration on mental health’. In summary, the participants described the reasons or migrating as work, marriage, and wanting a better life. They described having accommodation issues, difficulties finding a job after migration and also experienced challenges of building new friendships. Participants also explained that religion and perseverance helped them cope after relocating. Practical implications: The pilot study concludes that the stress of internal migration combined with socio-economic challenges and lack of social support can result in a lack of ability to settle in a new culture (ethnic group) which may likely result in poor mental health. Originality: This article contributes to existing knowledge of mental health in Nigeria, a sensitive topic that is rarely discussed in the country, by studying an under-researched group (internal migrants)

Some recently published books have analyzed and critiqued the “Great Society” that was envisioned by Lyndon Johnson and promoted in legislation during the 1960s and early 1970s [9], [14]. This era was when the “Head Start” experiment started [7],[8], [12], attention to the education of children with disabilities was strongly advocated [15], [16], and better treatment of the mentally ill and reduction in institutional experiences was advocated [15]. It was an especially exciting and proactive period for child development specialists, educators, and psychologists because that time seemed to be full of promise for improving the lives of citizens by increasing life-enhancing services to children and families and vastly improving mental health practices.

Teens are increasingly using vapes and e-cigarettes to vaporize nicotine and marijuana resulting in acute problems such as lung failure and long-term health implications that are still largely undiscovered. Vaping became more prevalent than traditional smoking among teens in 2014 and has continued to grow in popularity. A variety of policy tools exist but utilizing them effectively has been a slow process. Identifying the most effective policy levers requires an understanding of the attraction of vaping from the perspective of teens. Specifically, the difference between teen interest in vaping and traditional cigarettes must be understood since education, policy, and advertisements used to discourage teen smoking may not be effective in curbing teen vaping. To maximize success, policy needs to address both external factors that attract teens (such as flavor, design of the vapes, and price point) as well factors that are internal to the vaping experience (such as peer validation, perceived risks and the lack of psychological barriers). A broad policy approach that includes a focus on aspects specific to vaping that are not salient to other risky behaviors, including traditional cigarettes, has the best chance of curbing teen vaping.

A review of recent literature on substance use and misuse in adolescents revealed a prevalence range of 4-88% in different countries that may relate to cultural differences and/or sampling different age groups as well as various types of substance use. Several negative effects have been noted including later substance use in adulthood, more serious substance use and several negative social and psychological problems including homelessness, posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and suicide. Risk factors have been researched including attitudes about substance use, craving, and early initiation of substance use. Parental factors have included parental substance use and lack of parental monitoring adolescent use. Peer variables include peer misuse, racial discrimination, being a sexual minority, cyberbullying, and cyber victimization. Risk behaviors include excessive screen time and gambling. The only mechanism studies have cited reduced connectivity of different parts of the brain based on fMRI scans. The very few interventions (that probably relate to the significant decline in adolescents seeking intervention) have included youth electronic media messages, skill development, and supportive communities. Limitations of this literature include sampling and measurement variability and a paucity of longitudinal studies and intervention research.

The structure of the nervous psyche reflects the energy processes of the brain. This article proposes the clinical axis "schizoidia – hyperthymia", which is based on the continuum of energy efficiency of the basal structures of the brain. The schizoid structure of the nervous psyche is formed at a low energy level, and the hyperthymia structure of the nervous psyche at a high energy level of functioning of the basal structures of the brain. The constitutional features of the body structure, temperament, and nuclear character traits are determined by the innate level of neuro-energy processes in these structures.

Background: Alcohol has now become a common word in the Indian society. With the impact of Globalization, urbanization, industrialization, media influence and changing life styles, alcohol has entered into the lives of Indians in a big and unrestricted manner. Aim: This study was undertaken to identify the pattern of alcohol consumption and to assess the comorbidity and the level of dependence among the adult population. Methodology: A Quantitative Descriptive research design was used. 30 Alcohol Deaddiction patients were selected by using Purposive sampling technique who fulfilled the inclusion criteria and who were available during the period of data collection at selected Alcohol De-addiction centres, Puducherry. Data was collected by using structured interview schedule. Results: Majority 14 (46.7%) of the Adults are from Urban background, Majority 17 (56.7%) of the Adults belong to Urban background 21 (70%) of the subjects were consumed alcohol at the age between 18 to 25, 17 (56.7%) of the subjects were consumed alcohol more than 500 ml, 11 (36.7%) of the subjects have complaints of vomiting 14 (46.7%) of the subjects had Diabetes and Hypertension. With regard to AUDIT scores 17 (56.7%) of the subjects were under Alcohol dependence with the mean score of (18.7%). Conclusion: De-addiction programmers, stress relief in the form of medication, yoga should be made available to urban areas as a direction and recreational therapy to control the prevalence of Alcohol consumption among adults.

Given the recent pandemic, millions of people around the world have been advised to not leave the house unless absolutely necessary. As a result, people have been ordered to stay home from work and schools have transitioned from traditional classrooms to online learning platforms in an effort to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus. Politicians and celebrities alike have stressed the need to stay home as means to keep individuals and others safe and emphasized the possible benefits of more family time, increased sleep, and binge watching your favorite television shows as incentives for staying home. However, for some, being forced to stay home and spending more time with the family could present its own challenges and risks such as exacerbating already existing mental health challenges, and creating new mental health challenges. In particular, victims of intimate partner violence as well as any children living in these homes could be placed at increased risk because of increased contact with their abuser and limited options for escape.

The discrepancy between expected human behavior and that actually observed leads to the possibility that data gathered in experimental settings may be totally misleading as to how people actually conduct themselves in real life. The life style may be properly labeled “Beyond reason”.