Toward a Culturally Responsive Model of Mental Health Literacy: Facilitating Help-Seeking Among East Asian Immigrants to North America.

Studies have consistently found that East Asian immigrants in North America are less likely to use mental health services even when they experience levels of distress comparable to Euro-Americans. Although cultural factors that may prevent East Asian immigrants from seeking mental health care have been identified, few studies have explored ways to foster appropriate help-seeking and use of mental health services. Recent work on mental health literacy provides a potential framework for strategies to increase appropriate help-seeking and use of services. This paper reviews the literature on help-seeking for mental health problems among East Asian immigrants living in Western countries to critically assess the relevance of the mental health literacy approach as a framework for interventions to improve appropriate use of services. Modifications needed to develop a culturally responsive framework for mental health literacy are identified.

Dietary assessment of human exposure to PBDEs in South Korea.

This study was conducted to measure the concentration of PBDEs in various food stuffs from Korea and to estimate levels of PBDE intake from food for the Korean population according to geographical location and age. 20 types of food samples were collected from four heavily populated cities (Seoul, Gwangju, Daejeon, Pusan) and one rural city (Gangneung) and were analyzed for 19 polybrominated diphenyl ether congeners (BDE 15, 17, 28, 33, 47, 49, 66, 71, 85, 99, 100, 119, 126, 138, 153, 154, 183, and 209). No significant differences in total PBDE levels in foods were found among four large cities (Gwangju; 10.91 ng g(-1) wet weight (ww), Seoul; 7.66 ng g(-1)ww, Daejeon; 6.91 ng g(-1)ww, Pusan; 6.87 ng g(-1)ww) and one rural city (Gangneung; 8.72 ng g(-1)ww). Daily dietary intake of PBDEs does not appear to be related to the extent of urbanization. Total dietary intake of PBDE for the average general population was 72.30 ng d(-1) (not detected (ND)=0) which was similar to other countries. In all food groups, the largest contribution to PBDE intake was from fish and shellfish (48.96 ng d(-1)). Total PBDE consumed per kilogram of body weight was estimated to range from 2.70 ng kg(-1)d(-1) for infants 1 through 2 years of age to 0.85 ng kg(-1)d for 65 years and older and was highest in young children and decreased with increasing age.

Early maternal anxiety predicts cognitive and behavioural outcomes of VLBW children at 24 months corrected age.

AIM: The present study examined the effects of maternal anxiety during infant hospitalization in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) on the child's cognitive and behavioural development at 24 months corrected age. Parental anxiety following the birth of a very low birthweight (VLBW, <1500 g) infant may impede their capacity to be sensitive to the infant's cues and adversely affect infant developmental outcomes. METHODS: A sample of 88 mothers and their VLBW infants were recruited in the NICU; 57 were followed at 24 months corrected age. During the infant's hospitalization, mothers completed a self-report measure of trait anxiety. When the infants were 24 months corrected age, mother-child interaction was videotaped during free play at home. These videotaped observations were coded using Emotional Availability Scales. Child cognitive and behavioural outcomes were evaluated using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development (II) and the Child Behavior Checklist for Ages 1.5-5. RESULTS: Maternal anxiety in the NICU was found to be a significant and independent predictor of child cognitive development and internalizing behaviour problems, controlling for maternal education and neonatal morbidity. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that early intervention programmes targeting anxious mothers of VLBW infants are indicated, to promote optimal developmental outcomes.