RESUMEN
With a steady rise in mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Kashmir, the need to address mental health in this region becomes important. This paper reports on traditional and current community mental health coping mechanisms among residents in Kashmir. Six focus group discussions (FGD) were facilitated with key informants. Data were analyzed via a thematic analytic approach. Community coping mechanisms reported include social spaces and shared chore spaces, cultural practices, shrines and religious places, faithealers. These findings demonstrate community strengths that can leverage to build additional coping strategies and resilience among people.
RESUMEN
In recent years mental health has emerged as a major health threat in low income countries like India. In response, mental health care has been integrated into primary health care, in turn creating a rising demand for trained and skillful mental health professionals. This study was conducted in district Budgam (J&K), India with the aim of providing training to community health workers (CHWs) and measuring the change using pre- and post-training evaluations. The pre and post tests were undertaken, assessing changes in mental health literacy at three different points of time: pre-training, post-training, and three month follow-up. Mental health literacy was assessed using the interviewer-administered Mental Health Literacy Survey. The training intervention was a five-day course based on a facilitator's manual developed specifically for community health workers in India. A total of 25 community health workers from rural areas of Budgam District (mostly Integrated Child Development Service supervisors), Health Educators and Anganwadi Workers, were engaged for the study. Findings demonstrate that the training course improved participants' ability to recognize any mental health disorders. There was a clear distinction between the level of awareness pre- and post- training. The results were statistically significant on various domains Ability to recognize disorders (Pre-post P= 0.001), Knowledge of the professional help available (Pre-post p= 0.000), Attitudes that promote the recognition or appropriate help-seeking behavior (Pre-post p= 0.000) (p<0.05). Further follow up after three months was done. The mixed findings from this study, suggesting the training course has potential to improve some aspects of mental health literacy among the CHWs, including their understanding of various mental health problems.
RESUMEN
AIM: This study was undertaken to study the effect of three most commonly used dentifrices for denture cleaning and to find out any positive association between number of strokes by toothbrush and surface roughness of acrylic resin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: About 40 acrylic rectangular blocks with high finish were polished until surface roughness was calculated as 0 pirn. The materials tested were distilled water as a control group, Patanjali Dant Kanti, Colgate Total Cream, and Cleansodent as dentifrices. Stroking was done with dentifrices, and surface roughness readings were recorded at 1,000, 9,000, and 18,000 strokes. RESULTS: Patanjali Dant Kanti was found to have maximum abrasive potential followed by Colgate Total Cream, followed by Cleansodent and least by distilled water. CONCLUSION: Surface roughness was found to be directly proportional to the type, size, and fineness of the abrasive component used; the professional denture cleanser (Cleansodent) has less abrasive potential than the regular toothpastes. Among those tested, the highest abrasive potential was found in Patanjali Dant Kanti and lowest by Cleansodent (denture cleanser). CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The patient as well as dentist should choose the dentifrice with utmost care noting the size and type of abrasives used. Washing the dentures normally with water without toothbrush daily and cleaning of dentures once in 10 to 15 days with a soft toothbrush and professional denture cleanser should be the line of maintenance of dentures.
