Resources used by young people to overcome mental distress in deprived settings in Latin America: a qualitative study.

Background: Adolescence and young adulthood are critical stages for developing mental health problems. However, the ability to cope with adversity can help them manage emotional distress and overcome mental health conditions. This qualitative study aims to describe the resources reported by urban Latin-American young people as useful to overcome mental distress.

Sports activities and mental distress in young people in deprived urban areas in South America: a cross-sectional analysis.

Objective: To explore the association between sport activities and depression/anxiety symptoms among young people in disadvantaged urban areas of South America.

Results: Out of a total of 2375 participants, 1131 (47.1%) had engaged in sports in the previous month.

Incorporating the voice of young people in mental health research: reflections from three lived experience advisory panels in Latin America.

Background: Involving people with lived experience in research has been increasingly recognised as a priority. This article details the development and implementation of three Lived Experience Advisory Panels (LEAP) and reports their evaluation of the experience. The LEAPs involved young people from Latin America with experiences of emotional distress, aimed at advising a youth mental health research programme.

Outcomes and experiences of an art workshop on young people's symptoms of depression and anxiety in Peru: a non-controlled trial.

Background: Art-based interventions are recognised for their mental health (MH) benefits. This study assessed the changes in symptoms of anxiety and depression in young adults and their experiences after participating in a three-session mixed arts workshop.

Method: This non-controlled trial study included a pre-intervention and two post-intervention measurements of depression (PHQ-8) and anxiety (GAD-7) symptoms and exit interviews with participants and facilitators.

Mental Distress Among Youths in Low-Income Urban Areas in South America.

Importance: Improving mental health of young people is a major societal challenge, particularly among the high numbers of young people living in deprived urban areas.

Objective: To identify factors associated with depression and anxiety among young people in deprived urban areas in South America.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This case-control study recruited adolescents (age 15-16 years) and young adults (age 20-24 years) from education and community settings in deprived areas in Bogotá, Colombia; Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Lima, Peru, between April 2021 and November 2022.

Psychometric properties of the patient health questionnaire-8 and general anxiety disorder-7 in adolescents and young adults from three Latin American cities: Internal structure, invariance, internal consistency and divergent validity.

Background: Depression and anxiety are the most common mental disorders in the world. Screening tools allow early diagnosis and intervention, preventing disease progression and reducing years lost to disability. Internationally, the most widely used screening instruments for depression and anxiety symptoms are the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8) and the Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7).

Role of strategies used by young people for dealing with emotional distress: a qualitative study in deprived urban neighborhoods in Latin America.

Background: Many young people achieve recovery from mental health problems by using strategies to manage emotional distress and enhance well-being. Given that little is known about the functions of these strategies, especially in Latin American countries, this study aims to describe the usefulness of the resources used by youth from deprived urban neighborhoods in Bogotá (Colombia), Buenos Aires (Argentina), and Lima (Perú) in managing emotional distress.

Methods: 112 in-depth interviews about strategies for dealing with emotional distress and their perceived function were conducted with young people from three Latin American cities.

Do coping mechanisms moderate the effect of stressful life events on depression and anxiety in young people? A case-control study from Latin America.

Background: Stressful life events (SLEs) are associated with increased risk of depression or anxiety. Coping mechanisms may moderate this relationship but little is known on this topic in young people or in Latin America.

Aim: To investigate whether coping strategies predict odds of depression and/or anxiety and moderate the relationship between SLEs and depression and/or anxiety in young people in Peru, Lima and Bogotá.

Association between stressful life events and depression, anxiety, and quality of life among urban adolescents and young adults in Latin America.

Background: Latin American youth have a high prevalence of mental health disorders and face major socioeconomic and public safety problems. This study assesses the association between stressful life events (SLEs) and depression, anxiety, and quality of life among adolescents and young adults from deprived neighbourhoods of Latin America.

Methods: The sample consisted of 2,402 participants, between adolescents (15-16 years) and young adults (20-24 years), from Bogotá (Colombia), Buenos Aires (Argentina), and Lima (Peru), assessed in 2021-2022 and recruited in education and community settings and social media.

Which personal and social resources help adolescents to recover from negative affect in daily life? An experience sampling study.

Reducing anxiety and depression in adolescents is a global health priority. Personal and social resources (e.g.

Interventions to increase help-seeking for mental health care in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review.

Mental health problems are a significant and growing cause of morbidity worldwide. Despite the availability of evidence-based interventions, most people experiencing mental health problems remain untreated. This treatment gap is particularly large in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) and is due to both supply-side and demand-side barriers.

One-year recovery rates for young people with depression and/or anxiety not receiving treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: To systematically review 1-year recovery rates for young people experiencing depression and/or anxiety who are not receiving any specific mental health treatment.

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Data Sources: MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Web of Science and Global Health were searched for articles published from 1980 through to August 2022.

Effectiveness of a Patient-Centered Assessment With a Solution-Focused Approach (DIALOG-A) in the Routine Care of Colombian Adolescents With Depression and Anxiety: Protocol for a Multicenter Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Colombia is a middle-income country in South America, which has historically had high rates of mental health problems, coupled with a scarcity of mental health care. There is growing concern for the mental health of the adolescent population within this region. There is a significant treatment gap for young people, especially those living in the most vulnerable areas.

Stakeholder perspectives on a patient-centred intervention (DIALOG+) for adolescents with common mental disorders in Colombia: A qualitative study.

Background: Patient and stakeholders' involvement in the development of mental health interventions is a central part of the research process as end-user's input can improve the design of patient-centered interventions. This is particularly important when developing interventions directed towards improving the mental health of children and adolescents. The rising prevalence of mental health disorders in this population requires special attention and the development of interventions that include them as active participants is crucial.

Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Healthcare Utilization in Post-conflict Primary Care Attendees in Northern Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka's healthcare systems attempts to provides access to universal healthcare services for all citizens and is designed to be free of out-of-pocket payments. Despite a 30-year civil conflict, natural disasters, and COVID-19, the healthcare system within the country remains robust and strong. However, due to a lack of formalized pathways and centralized record keeping, the pattern of service utilization is still relatively unknown, which raises concerns regarding effective allocation of scarce resources and efficiency of referral pathways.