Factors Predicting Mental Health Literacy in Older Adults: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

PURPOSE: To determine mental health literacy (MHL) levels of older adults and the predictive factors of MHL. METHOD: This cross-sectional study was conducted between October and December 2022, with 410 older adults aged ≥65 years. A Personal Information Form and the Mental Health Literacy Scale were used for data collection. Independent samples t test, analysis of variance, and multiple linear regression were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Significant predictors of MHL in older adults were being aged 65 to 69 years, being female, being a university graduate, having an income more than expenses, receiving information from a health professional, interest in mental health, having friends or family members with mental illness, and good perception of health. CONCLUSION: Older adults were found to have low levels of MHL. Mental health professionals should focus on community-based education and interventions to increase the MHL levels of older adults. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, xx(xx), xx-xx.].

Determination of abuse and depression in the elderly.

This study was conducted to assess abuse and depression in elderly individuals. The universe of this descriptive and cross-sectional study consisted of individuals over the age of 65 years who were attending in a university at Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus hospital between October 2017 and March 2018. The sample consisted of a total of 310 elderly individuals. In the study, the Geriatric Depression Scale and the Hwalek-Sengstock Elder Abuse Screening Test were used as data collection tools. It was determined that abuse and depression scores were high in elderly individuals who were single, who had an primary school education orbelow, who had an income less than their expenditure, who had no social security. There was a positive, significant and moderate relationship found between the depression and abuse scores of the elderly individuals. It is recommended that mental health professionals should consider the association of depression and abuse for the risk groups determined in our study.

It is not diabetic foot: it is my foot.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the experiences of patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). METHOD: This qualitative study, using patient interviews, focused on how inpatients receiving treatment for diabetes experience the disease. Patients were selected using a purposive sampling method. RESULTS: A total of 15 patients participated in the study. Following analysis of patient interviews, four main themes were determined: 'developing diabetic foot', 'living with diabetic foot', 'coping with diabetic foot' and 'expectations'. CONCLUSION: Most of the patients were afraid of losing their feet and had difficulties in coping with the situation. Patients expected health professionals to understand the difficulties they were experiencing. To better understand the needs and experiences of patients, healthcare professionals should work with these patient groups as part of in-service training programmes. Such programmes should also include therapeutic communication techniques and models for professional patient-client communication.

Nursing students' attitudes toward death and stigma toward individuals who attempt suicide.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to assess the stigmatizing attitudes of nursing students toward individuals who had made suicide attempts as well as these students' attitudes toward death. DESIGN AND METHODS: The universe of this descriptive and cross-sectional study consisted of 650 students studying in the fall semester of the 2017-18 academic year. No sample selection was made and a total of 560 students who agreed to participate in the study were reached. The Stigma of Suicide Scale (SOSS) and the Death Attitude Profile-Revised (DAP-R) were used as data collection tools. FINDINGS: We found that the students had a moderately positive attitude toward death and, in terms of the DAP-R, they exhibited more Neutral Acceptance and Approach Acceptance. It was determined that the stigma against suicide decreased when positive attitudes toward death increased. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: To reduce stigmatizing attitudes toward suicide, it is important to ensure that students learn about both death and suicide earlier during their education, to design forms of training that aim to eliminate negative beliefs and attitudes toward suicide attempts and to ensure that this training is sustainable.

Internalized homophobia and depression levels in LGBT individuals.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to evaluate internalized homophobia and depression levels in LGBT individuals. DESIGN AND METHODS: This descriptive study, conducted between June and October 2018, included 110 LGBT individuals. FINDINGS: The mean Beck Depression Inventory total score of LGBT individuals was 3.14 ± 4.84. The mean total score of the Internalized Homophobia Scale was 15.5 ± 8.09. It was determined that there was a positive but weak relationship between the mean scores of internalized homophobia of the LGBT individuals and the mean score of depression, and internalized homophobia made a statistically significant contribution to depression. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: It is considered that the presence of internalized homophobia should be taken into consideration in the prevention of depression in LGBT individuals or in investigating of existing depressive factors in LGBT individuals.

The effect of an online psychoeducational stress management program on international students' ability to cope and adapt.

PURPOSE: To assess the effect of an online psychoeducational program on international students' abilities to cope with and adapt to stress. DESIGN AND METHOD: The study had an experimental design with a pre- and posttest and a control group. The sample consisted of 60 participants randomly assigned to the control and experimental groups. FINDING: The psychoeducational stress management program was effective in decreasing the stress levels and improving the capacity to cope with the participants in the experimental group. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The study provides information to psychiatric nurses and student support services about how to assist international nursing students in coping with stress.