Testing the role of online group-based supervision for local humanitarian workers following a crisis: A mixed-methods longitudinal study.

The 2023 Türkiye-Syria earthquakes caused widespread destruction, leaving millions without access to basic needs and services. Caring for Carers (C4C), an online group-based supervision program for Syrian mental health workers, started three months prior to the earthquakes. This study examined the role of this program in supporting the mental and occupational health of the participants following this crisis.

An Effectiveness Trial of an Exercise Physiologist Service to Improve Quality of Life in Adults with Severe Mental Illness: Protocol for the MOVEMENT Study.

Introduction: Exercise can improve the quality of life (QoL) of people with severe mental illness (SMI); however, many experience practical, psychosocial, and socioeconomic barriers to commencing and maintaining exercise. This protocol describes a study aiming to assess the effectiveness of an Accredited Exercise Physiologist (AEP) service for improving QoL in adults with SMI.

Methods And Analysis: This is a prospective non-randomised effectiveness trial to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of an AEP service within mental healthcare settings.

MovingTogether: a randomised controlled trial of a mental-health-informed, digital health promotion intervention for older adults.

Background: Physical activity and nutrition are modifiable risk factors associated with a range of mental health and psychosocial outcomes in older adults. This trial evaluated the efficacy of a multicomponent digital health promotion intervention in reducing levels of psychological distress among adults aged 60+ years.

Methods: The MovingTogether intervention is a Facebook- and eHealth-delivered intervention, facilitated by allied health professionals, and incorporates healthy lifestyle education, tailored exercise guidance (including balance training), and social support.

Longitudinal study of open goals in physical activity promotion: protocol for 'Open to Move'.

Open goals (eg, 'see how many steps you can reach today') have developed as a promising strategy for increasing physical activity and producing beneficial psychological outcomes such as autonomous motivation, enjoyment and confidence. However, it is not yet clear what the long-term outcomes of open goals are, what factors moderate their use or whether/how individuals transition away from open goals. Therefore, in this study ('Open to Move'), we aim to understand the mechanisms that explain why, when and for whom open goals are beneficial in promoting and maintaining physical activity.

Exploring barriers and facilitators to physical activity participation and food security among the Rohingya community living in Australia: a socio-ecological perspective.

Introduction: Many Rohingya people from Myanmar have sought refuge and resettled in Australia due to persecution and genocide. Like many people from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds who resettle in Australia, the Rohingya community face significant mental, physical and psychosocial challenges. Physical activity and nutrition are interrelated, modifiable risk factors associated with a range of health and psychosocial outcomes.

The efficacy, mechanisms and implementation of physical activity as an adjunctive treatment in mental disorders: a meta-review of outcomes, neurobiology and key determinants.

Research examining physical activity interventions for mental disorders has grown exponentially in the past decade. At this critical juncture, there is a need to synthesize the best evidence to guide researchers, clinicians and people with lived experience. This meta-review aimed to systematically identify and comprehensively evaluate the current evidence about: a) the efficacy of physical activity interventions on mental, cognitive and physical outcomes for individuals with mental disorders; b) the potential neurobiological, psychosocial and behavioral mechanisms underlying the observed effects; and c) the barriers and facilitators for individuals to successfully engage in these interventions.

A culturally sensitive act-belong-commit-based school intervention reduces the burden of anxiety and depression in adolescents: A pilot cluster-randomized trial from Uganda.

Introduction: Schools can be pivotal in addressing mental health challenges, especially in low-income settings like Uganda. However, randomized controlled trials tailored to cultural and contextual factors are scarce. This pilot cluster-randomized trial examines the impact of a culturally sensitive Act-Belong-Commit (ACT) intervention, combined with physical activity, sleep hygiene and stress management measures on anxiety and depression among Ugandan adolescents attending secondary school.

Targeting mental health and wellbeing in women who have experienced gender-based violence through moderate-vigorous physical activity: a systematic review.

Background: Gender-based violence (GBV) is associated with high rates of psychopathology (i.e., depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder) in victim-survivors.

Visa Status, Physical Activity and Mental Health Among Farsi/Dari Speaking Refugees, Immigrants and Asylum Seekers in Sydney, Australia.

Background: Asylum-seekers in Australia are subjected to restrictive access, such as to education, work, and family reunion, which can affect mental and physical health. We examined the relationship between these restrictive measures and mental health symptoms and physical activity in a sample of Iranian and Afghan asylum seekers, refugees, and immigrants in Sydney.

Methods: 276 Iranian and Afghan asylum seekers, refugees, and immigrants were recruited using a probability proportional to size representative, time by location sampling frame across randomly selected Iranian and Afghan grocery shops in Sydney.

The association and impact of psychological and social factors on physical activity levels amongst women in the Australian WATCH longitudinal study.

Introduction: Regular physical activity is important for physical and mental health. Despite the benefits, over 30% of the global population do not meet the World Health Organisation (WHO) physical activity guidelines, with the risk greater for women, especially during reproductive years, compared to men. However, women of this age face many barriers to participation and there are significant gaps in our understanding of the impact of psychological and social adversity on participation levels.

Effect of Concurrent Exercise Training on Stress, Depression and Anxiety in Inactive Academics: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

This randomized controlled trial investigated the effect of concurrent training (CT) on the mental health of inactive academics and examined associations between changes in stress (effort-reward imbalance and general stress), depressive symptoms and systemic inflammation. Fifty-nine inactive academics were randomly assigned to a CT ( = 29) or control (non-exercise) group ( = 30). CT performed supervised group training at an onsite facility 3 times per week for 14-weeks.

Exercise as a transdiagnostic intervention for improving mental health: An umbrella review.

Exercise is beneficial for mental health in general, but no review has systematically assessed its potential transdiagnostic nature, i.e. whether it is beneficial across specific disorders.

Development of Australian mental health guidelines for community sport.

Objective: The need for clear and actionable guidelines for the promotion and protection of mental health in organised community sport has previously been identified. This study aimed to provide guidelines to promote and protect mental health in organised community sport in Australia.

Methods: Guideline development was informed by (1) systematic reviews of the evidence pertaining to existing mental health guidelines in sport and mental health interventions in community sport; (2) an expert Delphi consensus study and (3) key stakeholder input via focus groups.

A sport-for-protection program reduces anxiety and depression in youth affected by displacement: A randomized controlled trial of the Game Connect program in Uganda.

Introduction: Youth affected by displacement are at risk for anxiety and depression. Supervised sport programs are a potentially effective strategy, however trials from displacement contexts are lacking.

Methods: Displaced youth and youth from host communities in five humanitarian settings across Uganda aged 15 to 24 years, and with at least mild anxiety and/or depression, were randomized to a 16-week sport-for-protection program or a wait-list control condition.

Developing a co-designed, culturally responsive physical activity program for Pasifika communities in Western Sydney, Australia.

Pasifika communities in Western Sydney experience significant health disparities, particularly related to chronic diseases such as cardiovascular conditions and diabetes. Physical activity is known to improve both physical and mental health, yet access to culturally responsive physical activity programs for Pasifika communities is limited. This study leveraged expertise from an Advisory Committee to adopt community-based participatory research (CBPR) through Talanoa to co-design a physical activity program specifically tailored for Pasifika people in Western Sydney.

Correction: Physical activity and sedentary behavior levels among individuals with mental illness: A cross-sectional study from 23 countries.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Collaborative Outcomes Study on Health and Functioning During Infection Times (COH-FIT): Global and Risk-Group Stratified Course of Well-Being and Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Adolescents.

Objective: To identify the COVID-19 pandemic impact on well-being/mental health, coping strategies, and risk factors in adolescents worldwide.

Method: This study was based on an anonymous online multi-national/multi-language survey in the general population (representative/weighted non-representative samples, 14-17 years of age), measuring change in well-being (World Health Organization-Five Well-Being Index [WHO-5]/range = 0-100) and psychopathology (validated composite P-score/range = 0-100), WHO-5 <50 and <29, pre- vs during COVID-19 pandemic (April 26, 2020-June 26, 2022). Coping strategies and 9 a priori- defined individual/cumulative risk factors were measured.