Mental health problems are endemic across the globe, and suicide, a strong corollary of poor mental health, is a leading cause of death. Classic psychedelic use may occasion lasting improvements in mental health, but the effects of classic psychedelic use on suicidality are unknown. We evaluated the relationships of classic psychedelic use with psychological distress and suicidality among over 190,000 USA adult respondents pooled from the last five available years of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2008-2012) while controlling for a range of covariates. Lifetime classic psychedelic use was associated with a significantly reduced odds of past month psychological distress (weighted odds ratio (OR)=0.81 (0.72-0.91)), past year suicidal thinking (weighted OR=0.86 (0.78-0.94)), past year suicidal planning (weighted OR=0.71 (0.54-0.94)), and past year suicide attempt (weighted OR=0.64 (0.46-0.89)), whereas lifetime illicit use of other drugs was largely associated with an increased likelihood of these outcomes. These findings indicate that classic psychedelics may hold promise in the prevention of suicide, supporting the view that classic psychedelics' most highly restricted legal status should be reconsidered to facilitate scientific study, and suggesting that more extensive clinical research with classic psychedelics is warranted.
This study tested a cognitive-behavioral intervention for reducing alcohol consumption among economically disadvantaged pregnant women. The intervention included a 10-minute educational session and a nine-step self-help manual. Women attending public health maternity clinics completed a screening questionnaire, a pretest questionnaire, were randomly assigned to receive the self-help intervention or usual clinic care, and completed a posttest questionnaire. A higher alcohol quit rate was observed among the intervention participants (88%) than controls (69%). The effect was strongest for "light" drinkers, African-Americans, and non-Protestants. This approach may be useful in clinics where staff time is limited.
Traditionally, African Americans have registered lower rates of suicide than other ethnic groups. In the last 20 years this pattern has changed, particularly among young African Americans. To date, the research conducted regarding this phenomenon has been limited for a variety of reasons and previous research has been inconclusive in determining risk factors of African American suicide. The purpose of this paper is to identify risk and protective factors specific to African American suicide. To determine the factors, the 1993 National Mortality Follow‐back Survey was analyzed. The risk factors identified include being under age 35, southern and northeastern residence, cocaine use, firearm presence in home, and threatening others with violence. Some of the protective factors associated with African American suicide include rural residence and educational attainment. These results provide valuable information about completed African American suicides in relation to Whites. Several of these factors are unique to African Americans.
Purpose -The purpose of this study is to test the effectiveness of an educational board game for increasing knowledge, positive attitudes-beliefs, and self-efficacy for dengue prevention in a sample of Philippine school children and adolescents. Effective board games are more advantageous than lectures because they are adaptable, inexpensive and foster learning independently of teachers or lecturers. Also tested were relationships between perceived fun by students playing the game and outcomes. Design/methodology/approach -A school-based pre-test/post-test experimentally controlled design was employed in a Filipino primary and secondary school population. Findings -The lecture was more effective in increasing knowledge. But neither was more effective than the other in increasing positive attitudes-beliefs and self-efficacy. Both modes produced specifically significant increases in knowledge and self-efficacy; only the lecture produced significant increases in attitudes-beliefs. Also, there was a significant relationship between fun and self-efficacy in the game group at the reduced regression model level but not in the presence of all study variables. Research limitations/implications -No long term outcomes or behavioral change outcomes were measured. However, an educational game may increase knowledge and self-efficacy about the dengue fever without the assistance of a teacher or other pre-game instructional aids. In addition, the board game technique is flexible and easily adapted to other community or school health issues. Originality/value -This was the first experimentally controlled study on the use of a game with the topic of dengue. The study on the use of a game was the first to demonstrate a significant increase in self-efficacy as a result of the play of a board game. Original instruments measured self-efficacy related to dengue control and also the variable of fun.
Since the 1960s, there has been a massive effort to reduce suicide mortality in the United States through prevention centers which invite suicidal persons to phone for supportive services.
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