Understanding correlates and potential causes of mental illness stigma in community-based settings in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is important for developing effective interventions to reduce stigma and demand-side barriers for treatment. This study analyzed data from structured questionnaires administered to 178 respondents in the Buyende district in Eastern Uganda to investigate sociodemographic and clinical factors correlated with mental illness stigma. Factor analysis of 33 items revealed a single dominant factor reflecting mental health stigma. Bivariate and multivariate analyses of sociodemographic and clinical correlates were used to identify factors associated with stigma in the entire sample and separately within the subgroups with evidence of mental illness. In the entire sample, female gender was the only independent correlate of stigma. Analysis of the mental illness subgroup also showed that women had high levels of mental illness stigma. These findings suggest that female gender appears to be a more important correlate of mental health stigma than clinical factors. Nevertheless, effective destigmatizing interventions are needed for the entire population, with additional approaches specifically tailored to women.

This study evaluated the association between Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and mental health indicators, providing evidence to inform maternal health policy. This study used the first nationally representative cross-sectional data on mental health symptoms from the 2024 Zambia Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS), including 13,951 women aged 15–49 years. Anxiety and depression were assessed using the GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scales, with a score of ≥10 indicating the presence of symptoms. Stepwise, survey-weighted multivariable logistic regression was employed to examine the associations of mental health indicators and various dimensions of IPV, reporting adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Physical IPV was significantly associated with higher odds of Depression aOR= 3.89; 95% CI: 2.16-6.95; p < 0.001), while Emotional IPV was also associated with higher odds of Depression aOR = 3.50; 95% CI: 2.09-5.86; p < 0.001). Similarly, Any IPV was associated with substantial higher odds with Depression aOR = 2.90; 95% CI: 1.80-4.67, p < 0.001) and Anxiety aOR = 2.05; 95% CI: 1.20-3.50, p = 0.008). These findings provide evidence-based, actionable insights for policymakers to integrate mental health and IPV prevention in high-burden provinces to meet the targets of SDG 3 and SDG 5.

This study examined trends in adolescent self-harm incidence rates and associated contextual factors among 77 low- and lower-middle-income countries. Annual sex-specific self-harm incidence rates for ages 10–19 years were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease 2021 database. Joinpoint regression assessed trends while country and year fixed-effects models examined their association with self-harm incidence rates. Median incidence rates declined from 35.9 to 35.3 per 100,000 among males and from 40.8 to 38.1 among females. Average annual percentage changes (AAPCs) among males were negative in 40 countries and positive in 37 (maximum 2.16%); among females, AAPCs were negative in 47 and positive in 30 (maximum 3.64%). Male self-harm incidence rates were positively associated with drug use exposure, adolescent fertility, new HIV infections, rule of law and unemployment, and negatively with control of corruption, alcohol use and urban population. Female incidence rates were positively associated with adolescent fertility rates, drug use, rule of law, mean years of schooling and labor force participation, and negatively with alcohol and tobacco use exposure, control of corruption, regulatory quality and sociodemographic index. These sex-specific differences in trends and contextual factors emphasize the need for integrated reproductive, mental and substance use targeted country-level prevention strategies.

Cervical cancer, primarily caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), is the most common cancer in women in sub-Saharan Africa and the most common cause of cancer fatalities among women on the continent. While both prevention and early detection are possible through HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening, health system capacity is inadequate for screening and there are pervasive negative attitudes and beliefs. A major, modifiable but understudied barrier is cancer stigma, which underlies suboptimal vaccination efforts as well as cancer screening. Adhering to the PRISMA, ScR guidelines, we conducted a scoping review exploring HPV and cervical cancer stigma in Africa. We included studies that described stigma in relation to HPV or cervical cancer in Africa or among people of African descent. Forty-three studies described HPV and cervical cancer stigma in a dozen countries in sub-Saharan Africa and none in North Africa. Internalized, enacted and anticipated forms of stigma occurred at the individual, family and community levels. The four main themes that emerged include (1) how lack of knowledge and false perception hinders screening and vaccine uptake; (2) stigma in the context of practical barriers to care; (3) acceptability of education and interventions to reduce stigma and (4) stigma as a contributor to psychological distress and treatment outcomes. Only two studies described interventions focused on eliminating stigma through promoting cervical cancer and HPV-related knowledge, targeting misinformation and incorporating patient navigation. Addressing stigma is essential, as it is a key barrier to HPV vaccination, cervical cancer screening and timely treatment. We call for future studies to develop culturally informed interventions to reduce stigma and improve cervical cancer outcomes across all regions in Africa.

This study investigates the relationship between trauma and caregiver depression in Haiti, a country burdened by ongoing political unrest, natural disasters, and economic hardship. A preponderance of evidence shows the substantial impact of caregiver mental health on child development and intergenerational vulnerability. This cross-sectional analysis examined data from the Grandi Byen randomized controlled trial, including 480 caregiver-infant dyads in Cap-Haitien. Depression risk was assessed using the Zanmi Lasante Depression Symptom Inventory (ZLDSI), and trauma exposure was measured with a survey adapted from the Life Events Checklist for DSM-5 (LEC-5). Negative binomial and ordinal logistic regression models assessed the relationship between caregiver trauma and depression, adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic, and environmental conditions. The analysis revealed that trauma exposure was significantly associated with higher odds of depression risk (OR = 1.09; 95% CI: 1.001, 1.193). Household composition was identified as a protective factor for depression (OR = 0.81; 95% CI: 0.664, 0.910). Trauma exposure was significantly associated with caregiver depression in Haiti, likely exacerbating the mental health challenges faced by caregivers in the context of political, economic and environmental stressors. Given the limited mental health data available in Haiti, this study provides essential insights into the trauma and challenges Haitians experience amidst ongoing crises.

Faith-sensitive depression therapies address a core aspect of cultural values but are not specifically promoted within global mental health policy. This study evaluated a culturally adapted Behavioural Activation intervention for Muslim patients (BA-M) compared with standard treatments across diverse settings. A patient-level meta-analysis combined data from two randomised controlled trials and one feasibility trial, comparing BA-M with cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and, in the UK, social interventions. The primary outcome was post-treatment depression severity (PHQ-9) and retention was analysed using Poisson regression alongside qualitative evaluation. A total of 266 participants were recruited (Turkey: 22; Pakistan: 103; UK: 141), with no baseline differences in depression severity between groups. BA-M produced significantly greater reductions in PHQ-9 scores, with an adjusted mean difference of −2.72 (95% CI: −3.93 to −1.51). Engagement was also higher in BA-M (IRR: 1.30; 95% CI: 1.18–1.44). Qualitative findings (n = 66) indicated strong support among patients, therapists and service managers, highlighting increased patient motivation and engagement in both Muslim majority and minority contexts. Participants emphasised the importance of religious identity in recovery from depression. The faith-adapted therapy BA-M demonstrates superior effectiveness to CBT and social interventions, supporting the integration of faith-sensitive approaches into global mental health practice.

Suicide is a significant global public health concern, and conventional clinical risk assessment is constrained by workforce availability, scalability, and clinician variability. The classic suicidality risk evaluation is largely dependent on clinical judgment, which, although helpful, can demonstrate a ceiling effect in its predictive validity. AI-driven chatbots, conversational systems that engage users in real-time natural language dialog, have emerged as candidate tools for augmenting suicide risk detection and prevention. This narrative review aimed to: evaluate the performance of AI-driven chatbots in detecting and assessing suicidal ideation relative to clinical benchmarks; examine the effectiveness of chatbot-based interventions for suicide prevention; and identify ethical, cultural, and implementation challenges limiting clinical translation. Six electronic databases were searched, with the initial search conducted in 2024 and updated in 2026 through targeted monitoring, with no upper cutoff date applied. A thematic narrative synthesis approach was applied across five domains. Eleven primary studies met eligibility criteria and were included in the synthesis. Chatbot-based risk assessment showed adequate response alignment with expert judgment at the extremes of suicide risk, but consistently failed to distinguish intermediate risk levels across multiple model families. Across 29 tested commercial chatbot agents, none met the criteria for an adequate suicidal crisis response. A clinically designed, framework-anchored chatbot achieved high efficacy across six outcome domains. Three percent of social chatbot users reported halted suicidal ideation, and a purpose-built clinical chatbot in emergency department settings significantly improved evidence-based care delivery. Systematic risk severity underestimation and the absence of cross-cultural evaluation were identified across all studies. AI-driven chatbots show potential as adjunctive tools across the suicide care continuum. Clinically designed, evidence-anchored chatbots demonstrate feasibility and meaningful benefit; commercially deployed chatbots without clinical validation demonstrate near-universal crisis response inadequacy. Mandatory clinical validation prior to public release, clinician oversight, and crisis system integration are prerequisites for responsible deployment.

India’s aging population faces escalating cognitive decline and neuropsychiatric challenges. This cross-sectional study examined relationships between geriatric depression, neuropsychiatric symptoms and cognitive performance among 1,013 community-dwelling elderly participants (≥60 years) in Gorakhpur using the ICMR-MUDRA Toolbox. Multistage random sampling was employed. Depression was assessed using GDS-30, and neuropsychiatric symptoms were assessed using NPI-Brief. It was observed that geriatric depression was present in 63.3% of participants, while neuropsychiatric symptoms affected 78.5%, predominantly agitation (15%) and irritability (12%). Cognitive performance declined significantly across depression severity in attention, executive function, memory, language and visuospatial domains (P < 0.001). Adjusted regression revealed that mild depression was negatively associated with executive function and memory, while severe depression showed stronger associations with language and visuospatial abilities. Neuropsychiatric symptoms independently impacted cognitive domains. These findings highlight the need for integrated mental health screening and early intervention strategies within routine geriatric care in India.

As a former practitioner who worked with adolescents in acute psychological distress, I read with great interest the study recently published by Bitar et al. (2026). The authors argue that “traditional approaches to understanding youth suicide risk have often focused on individual risk behaviors (…) in isolation,” whereas adolescents’ habits “often form interconnected patterns, known as health lifestyles, which reflect both their personal choices and the social environments they navigate” (p. 1). This framing, combined with the authors’ strong emphasis on prevention and intervention, naturally raises expectations regarding both theoretical innovation and practical relevance.

Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) living with HIV are at increased risk of developing suicidality. Yet little is known about the effects of HIV-related stigma, mental health challenges and social support on suicidality among AGYW living with HIV. We analysed cross-sectional data from 711 AGYW living with HIV who participated in two large prospective South African cohort studies, Mzantsi Wakho (2017–2018) and HEY BABY (2018–2019). Standardised and validated questionnaires were used to measure HIV-related stigma, mental health symptomology (mediator), social support (moderator) and suicidality (outcome). A moderated mediation analysis was used to investigate (1) the direct effects of HIV-related stigma on suicidality, (2) the indirect effects as mediated through mental health symptomology and (3) the moderating effects of social support on mental health issues and suicidality, adjusted for potential confounders. Higher HIV-related stigma (β = 0.45 [0.13, 0.78], p < 0.001) was directly associated with higher suicidality. Mental health symptomology was associated with increased risk of suicidality (β = 1.05 [0.66, 1.44], p < 0.001) and partially mediated the effect of HIV-related stigma on suicidality. Social support buffered the indirect effects of HIV-related stigma on suicidality (β = 0.86, bias-corrected 95% CI [0.01, 2.41]). HIV-related stigma is associated with higher suicidality. Programmes that simultaneously address stigma and strengthen social support services may improve mental health and reduce suicidality among AGYW living with HIV.

Psychiatric readmissions remain a significant challenge for mental health systems and may reflect gaps in continuity of care and support. This study examined predictors of psychiatric readmission within 12 months of discharge from an acute inpatient admission, with particular attention to patient satisfaction with care. Data from 1,070 psychiatric service users were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression. Variables included sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, prior inpatient admission, and satisfaction with care received during the indexed admission. Prior inpatient admission within the previous 12 months was the strongest predictor of readmission (OR = 2.00, 95% CI [1.45–2.76], p < .001). Older age (>40 years) and higher educational attainment were associated with lower readmission risk, whereas younger age and lower educational attainment were associated with increased risk. Employment and housing status were also significant predictors. In contrast, patient satisfaction with inpatient care was not associated with readmission, nor were gender, ethnicity, relationship status, resilience, well-being, depression, anxiety, or study cluster. These findings suggest that psychiatric readmission is driven primarily by recent hospitalization history and sociodemographic factors rather than patient satisfaction, highlighting the importance of targeted discharge planning and psychosocial support to reduce future hospitalizations.

This study aimed to identify latent profiles of mental health among Chinese senior high school students using latent profile analysis (LPA), and to examine the associations through which problematic smartphone use (PSU) is linked to mental health, focusing on the mediating role of emotional growth mindset (EGM) and the moderating role of left-behind experience (LBE). Using a dual-factor model of mental health as the conceptual basis for identifying mental health profiles, a cross-sectional survey was conducted of 34,831 students in Grades 10–12 in Tianmen, China. Validated scales were used to assess PSU, EGM, subjective well-being and depressive symptoms. LPA identified four distinct mental health profiles: very low depression–high well-being, low depression–moderate well-being, moderate depression–moderate well-being and high depression–low well-being. PSU was directly associated with poorer mental health and showed an indirect association through EGM. LBE moderated the first stage of the mediation pathway, that is, the PSU–EGM association, with a stronger effect observed among students with LBE.

The association between armed conflict and intimate partner violence (IPV) is well established. However, the mechanisms or drivers of this relationship are less well understood. This review provides a systematic synthesis of published literature on the factors driving the association between violence in the public and private spheres. Five databases (Web of Science, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO and PubMed) were systematically searched to identify all studies examining potential drivers. Inclusion criteria specified that studies should be based on adult samples, should measure or analyse the impact of conflict exposure, and should provide some insight into the drivers of the association between armed conflict and IPV, rather than only documenting the association. A total of 49 studies (25 qualitative and 24 quantitative) met the inclusion criteria. Identified drivers included individual, relational and structural factors. Among the most empirically supported drivers were conflict-related trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), stress associated with the economic effects of conflict and changes to gender roles and norms in the post-conflict setting. The intersection of these factors, particularly gender roles and economic factors, also emerged as a significant dynamic across multiple studies. The findings highlight the importance of integrating gender considerations, including IPV prevention and response, into humanitarian programming. There is a need for further research and theory-building to better integrate the factors operating at both individual and societal levels, and to better incorporate consideration of the influence of historical factors such as legacies of imperialism and colonial violence.