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Relationship between financial well-being, life satisfaction, and cognitive function among low-income community-dwelling older adults: the moderating role of sex

Foong HF, Haron SA, Koris R, Hamid TA, Ibrahim R

Psychogeriatrics, 2021 Jul;21(4):586-595.
PMID: 33969594 DOI: 10.1111/psyg.12709

BACKGROUND: Low financial well-being is a common predicament among older adults living in poverty. The existing literature suggests a correlation between financial well-being and mental health in old age. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the relationships among financial well-being, life satisfaction, and cognitive function among low-income older adults and to examine the moderating effect of sex on these relationships.
METHODS: This study involved 2004 nationally representative community-dwelling older Malaysians from the bottom 40% household income group. Financial well-being was assessed by the four-item financial satisfaction scale, while life satisfaction was measured by the Satisfaction with Life Scale. Cognitive function was measured by using the Malay version of the Mini-Mental State Examination. Hierarchical multiple regression was used as the prime method for statistical analysis.
RESULTS: Financial well-being was positively associated with life satisfaction and cognitive function. Sex moderated the relationship between financial well-being and life satisfaction but not between financial well-being and cognitive function.
CONCLUSIONS: Financial well-being and life satisfaction were strongly correlated among older women, although no gender difference was found for the relationship between financial well-being and cognitive function. It appears financial well-being strongly predicts mental health. As such, poverty eradication initiatives targeting low-income older adults should be implemented to sustain life satisfaction and cognitive function.

Matched MeSH terms: Mental Health
Fulltext Greying Malaysians: strategies for promoting and supporting healthy and productive ageing

Phua KL

Malaysian Journal of Community Health, 2007;13(1):16-21.
MyJurnal

Population ageing is inevitable in Malaysia as a result of declining fertility rates. Steps can be taken to face this challenge. These include ways to promote “healthy ageing” and “compression of morbidity” and ways to promote “productive ageing”, i.e., keeping the elderly economically and socially engaged. This article, based on a review of the literature, argues that it is illogical to force people into compulsory retirement at an arbitrary age when they can continue to contribute actively to society. Instead, ways can be devised to promote healthy ageing, prolonging independence and encouraging productive ageing through gradual economic and social disengagement of the individual depending on the individual’s physical health, mental health, contribution to society and personal inclination and preferences. Public policy in general and public health policy in particular can be designed or redesigned to help achieve this.

Matched MeSH terms: Mental Health
Fulltext Circle of Care Project: a tool for growth in Psychosocial Interventions in Malaysia

Malaysian Journal of Psychiatry, 2010;19(2):1-5.
MyJurnal

This short report aims to describe the Circle of Care (COC) Project in Malaysia. This is an example of smart partnership between the Malaysian Psychiatric Association (MPA) and Johnson and Johnson which began in 2003. By means of philanthropic funds from an industrial company, many people have benefited in many different aspects through the project. It consists of three main psychosocial activities: education and support programme for carers and families of people with mental illness; psychosocial rehabilitation for patients with mental illness; and mass education for the people in promoting mental health and prevention of mental health problems and illness. To date, the project has either fully or partially funded hundreds of activities along the line of these three objectives. While there has been growth of psychosocial interventions in the country contributed by the project, it is faced with a few challenges which are becoming the next focus of actions of MPA.

Matched MeSH terms: Mental Health
Fulltext Community psychiatric services in Malaysia: Where do we go from here?

Abdul Kadir AB

Malaysian Journal of Psychiatry, 2011;20(1):1-3.
MyJurnal
Matched MeSH terms: Mental Health Services
Fulltext Interactions Between Psychiatric Disorder And Physical Illness

Nor Zuraida, Z.

Malaysian Journal of Psychiatry, 2009;18(2):1-2.
MyJurnal

The vital importance of the mental health of a nation for the overall well being of the population and socioeconomic development is increasingly recognized. In Malaysia, psychiatric disorders were responsible for 8.6% of the total Disability Adjusted Life Years and were ranked fourth as the leading cause of burden of disease by disease categories. More and more evidence shows that physical illnesses are strongly associated with psychiatric disorders. Those with physical illnesses have much higher risk of developing psychiatric disorders compared to that without. The mechanisms of co-morbidity of psychiatric and physical illness are complex. It is a two-way interaction and there are five different possible ways to describe this.

Matched MeSH terms: Mental Health
Fulltext Anxiety Disorders among Incarcerated Drug Users

Gill, J.S., Koh, O.H., Pillai, S.K.

Malaysian Journal of Psychiatry, 2010;19(1):1-7.
MyJurnal

The problem of illicit drug use has been a long standing problem in Malaysia. It is well recognized that drug mis-use is associated with many social, economic and health problems, including mental health problems. Anxiety disorders have consistently been cited as the commonest type of psychiatric disorder in drug users. In Malaysia, many drug users are incarcerated in rehabilitation centres and prison. They form a different type of population as compared to the drug user in the general population, due to the effects of incarceration. With this in mind, a study was carried out in a rehabilitation centre, looking at anxiety disorders. Utilizing the SCID, we found current and lifetime diagnoses for anxiety disorders at 63.4% and 67.6% respectively. Suggestions are made in regards to our findings.

Matched MeSH terms: Mental Health
Fulltext A comparison between the UK and a Malaysian setting of antipsychotic prescribing on forensic wards using prescribing observatory for mental health-UK standards

Johnson, D., Badi’ah, Y.

Malaysian Journal of Psychiatry, 2012;21(2):0-0.
MyJurnal

Introduction Clinical guidelines recommend the use of a single antipsychotic drug at standard doses. In clinical practise high-dose and combined antipsychotics are common. Methods A clinical audit of antipsychotic prescribing for patients in a forensic ward in a Malaysian hospital was undertaken using Prescribing Observatory for Mental Health-UK (POMH) standards and compared to POMH data. Results The level of high dose prescribing between Malaysian and the UK was comparable. There were low levels of the use of ‘as required’ (PRN) medication in Malaysia compared to the UK. The use of combined prescribing was more common in Malaysia. Discussion Levels of high dose antipsychotic prescribing are unsatisfactory across both jurisdictions. Specific quality improvements in Malaysia need to centre on the use of combination antipsychotics.

Matched MeSH terms: Mental Health
Fulltext Quality of life of people with mental illness who lives in the community in Sarawak

Saloma P, Zabidah, P., Rekaya, V.B., Jane, B.

Malaysian Journal of Psychiatry, 2012;21(2):0-0.
MyJurnal

This study explores the quality of life, social integration and the effects of perceived stigma of people with mental illness living in the community. Adopting a complimentary mixed method, this study was represented by 165 people with mental illness in Kuching, Sibu and Miri. Findings indicated that the quality of life scale was poor, 49.67% and 78.43% often experienced stigma. Anticipated stigma 43.79%; 16.99% all the time and 4.58% never experienced stigma. Findings also noted that people with mental illness living in the community are still largely depending on and needed continuous support from their family members/carers for financial aid and their living arrangement for a “better” quality of life. Where treatment is concerned, follow up care at home by health care providers continue to play a significant role. In order to “erase” the perceived or stigma experienced, establishing therapeutic relationship, communication and creating awareness on “stigma discrimination paradigm” poses a phenomenal challenge in the current misrepresentations of mental health messages.

Matched MeSH terms: Mental Health
Fulltext Modified assertive community treatment (ACT) in the management of comorbid mental and physical illnesses: a case report

Lai, M.H., Marhani, M.

Malaysian Journal of Psychiatry, 2013;22(1):1-4.
MyJurnal

The holistic approach of assertive community treatment (ACT) may provide better care and lead to better outcomes in populations with difficult-to-treat comorbid mental and physical illnesses. This paper describes the complex issues in managing a person with multiple chronic medical illnesses who also
had comorbid treatment-resistant depression and poor social support. The patient achieved improvement after the implementation of the therapeutic ingredients of ACT.

Matched MeSH terms: Community Mental Health Services
Fulltext Prevalence of psychological stress among undergraduate students attending a health programme in a Malaysian university

Phang, C.K., Sherina, M.S., Zubaidah, J.O., Noor Jan, K.O.N., Firdaus, M., Siti Irma, F. I., et al.

Pertanika Journal of Science & Technology, 2015;23(1):29-35.
MyJurnal

Psychological stress among undergraduate students is associated with poor academic results, physical ill-health and psychiatric disorders. The objectives of the study were to determine the prevalence of psychological stress and its associated factors among undergraduate students attending a health programme in a local university. This is a cross-sectional study among undergraduate students attending a health programme in a local university. The 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) was used to determine the presence of psychological stress at a cut-off point of 4 and above. Analysis was conducted to determine any association between gender, ethnicity, year of study in the university, recent health-seeking contact with a doctor, and psychological stress among the participants. The prevalence of psychological stress among undergraduate students attending a health program in a Malaysian University was 49.3%. There was no significant association with any of the socio-demographic factors studied (p>0.05). The prevalence of psychological stress in this study was significantly high, and irrespective of gender, ethnicity, year of study in the university, and recent health-seeking contact with a doctor. Hence, the findings of this study show that it may be a useful strategy to integrate such health programs regularly in activities of colleges and universities, with the aim of promoting mental health and wellness among the students.

Matched MeSH terms: Mental Health
Fulltext Suicide in adolescents: clinical risk factors and management strategies

Osman Che Bakar, Anisah Omar

Medical Health Reviews, 2010;2010(1):51-63.
MyJurnal

Adolescence suicide represents a significant public health issue and needs serious medical attention. The prevention of suicide must especially focus on improving the assessment of risk of suicide. Mental health professionals must adequately understand the necessity of identifying adolescents’ clinical risk profile as a unique set of variables which need to be comprehensively addressed in their clinical assessment and case management. These would ensure the successful of management and prevention strategies.

Matched MeSH terms: Mental Health
Fulltext The family burden and depression among caregivers of patients with schizophrenia

Osman Che Bakar, Alipah Baharom, Ainsah Omar

Medical Health Reviews, 2010;2010(1):77-90.
MyJurnal

The burden of caring patients with Schizophrenia was extensive and mental health professionals need to be more aware of the burden of mental illness on family members. There are four main sources of burden, namely restriction on the carer’s social and leisure activities, the strain placed on finances and employment, the emotional impact and the difficulty in dealing with dysfunctional and bizarre behaviors. Effective family intervention programs need to be done including to treat the depressive disorders among the carers.

Matched MeSH terms: Mental Health
Fulltext Psychiatry and World No Tobacco Day

Amer Siddiq Amer Nordin

ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry, 2013;14(2):190-192.
MyJurnal

Objective: Smoking is a prevalent problem globally but more so among most ASEAN countries. Worldwide, six million lives are lost annually and this number is expected to grow. In light of this, the World Health Organization recognises the 31st of May to be World No Tobacco Day. For 2013, the theme is "Ban Tobacco Advertising, Promotion and Sponsorship". This article aims to increase awareness among mental health workers, in particular psychiatrists, on the dangers of smoking, the tactics of the tobacco industry, and simple measures to address these problems within their daily activities.

Method: A brief review of recent relevant literature in the field and actual experience from the field were highlighted in this opinion section.

Results and Conclusion: Mental health workers are at an advantage as they have training in both psychological treatments such as brief intervention, cognitive behavioural therapy or counselling skills and for some others, pharmacological treatments. It is timely that health workers in the region take up this challenging but meaningful opportunity to help those with mental illness to stop their dependence for tobacco.

Matched MeSH terms: Mental Health
Views of young people in Malaysia on mental health, help-seeking and unusual psychological experiences

Berry C, Michelson D, Othman E, Tan JC, Gee B, Hodgekins J, et al.

Early intervention in psychiatry, 2020 02;14(1):115-123.
PMID: 31111672 DOI: 10.1111/eip.12832

AIM: Mental health problems are prevalent among young people in Malaysia yet access to specialist mental health care is extremely limited. More context-specific research is needed to understand the factors affecting help-seeking in youth, when mental health problems typically have first onset. We aimed to explore the attitudes of vulnerable young Malaysians regarding mental health problems including unusual psychological experiences, help-seeking and mental health treatment.
METHODS: In the present study, nine young people (aged 16-23 years) from low-income backgrounds participated in a semi-structured interview about their perspectives on mental health problems, unusual psychological experiences and help-seeking.
RESULTS: Four themes were developed using thematic analysis. "Is it that they [have] family problems?" reflected participants' explanatory models of mental health problems. "Maybe in Malaysia" was concerned with perceptions of Malaysian culture as both encouraging of open sharing of problems and experiences, but also potentially stigmatizing. "You have to ask for help" emphasized the importance of mental health help-seeking despite potential stigma. "It depends on the person" addressed the challenges of engaging with psychological therapy.
CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that young people in Malaysia may hold compassionate, non-stigmatizing views towards people experiencing mental health problems and a desire to increase their knowledge and understandings. Yet societal stigma is a perceived reputational risk that may affect mental health problem disclosure and help-seeking. We suggest that efforts to improve mental health literacy would be valued by young Malaysians and could support reduced stigma and earlier help-seeking.

Matched MeSH terms: Mental Health
Mental health literacy of maternal and paternal postnatal (postpartum) depression in British adults

Swami V, Barron D, Smith L, Furnham A

J Ment Health, 2019 May 09.
PMID: 31070064 DOI: 10.1080/09638237.2019.1608932

BACKGROUND: Postnatal depression affects between 6 and 13% of new parents, but only a small proportion of individuals who meet diagnostic criteria receive optimal treatment. One reason for this is poor mental health literacy of postnatal depression.
AIMS: Studies have examined mental health literacy of maternal postnatal depression, but there are no similar studies of paternal postnatal depression, which we sought to rectify.
METHODS: A sample of 406 British adults was presented with vignettes describing cases of either maternal or paternal postnatal depression. Based on the vignettes, participants were asked to report if they thought anything was wrong with the targets and, if so, to describe what they thought was wrong. Participants also rated the targets on a range of attitudinal dimensions.
RESULTS: Participants were more likely to indicate that something was wrong when the target was female (97.0%) compared to male (75.9%). Of those who believed something was wrong, 90.1% of participants correctly described the female target as experiencing postnatal depression, but only 46.3% did so for the male target. Participants also held more positive attitudes toward the female target than the male target.
CONCLUSIONS: There is a gender binary in symptom recognition of postnatal depression, which highlights the need for greater awareness of paternal postnatal depression.

Matched MeSH terms: Mental Health
Fulltext The efficacy of art therapy on mental health outcomes among breast cancer patients: the current state of evidence based on randomised controlled trials

Azmawati M.N., Boekhtiar B., Zawiah M., Siti Aisah M., Chiew W.L., Dalila R.

International Medical Journal Malaysia, 2018;17(2):71-82.
MyJurnal

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. Psychosocial distress, in the forms of depression and anxiety, regularly accompanies breast cancer diagnosis and throughout its treatment. Hence, it is important to objectively assess the therapy options that may help this distress. One of the most flexible psychotherapy modalities is the art therapy as it may be incorporated in many settings. The purpose of this systematic review is to determine the efficacy of art therapy (via creative paintings) on the mental health outcomes of female breast cancer patients. Material and Methods: Related articles were identified from Medline (OvidSP), ScienceDirect, Pubmed, EbscoHost-Academic Search Premier and Wiley Online Library. Screenings were performed based on the criteria that the study must be a randomised control trial (RCT) that investigated the effect of art therapy in breast cancer. Data were extracted using standardised forms, followed by evaluation of quality of reporting using CONSORT Guidelines. Results: Six RCTs were identified. Based on the heuristic synthesis of data extraction results, none of the studies can be considered as studies with acceptable quality, although four of them showed promising results. Conclusion: There is inconclusive evidence of the efficacy of art therapy (via creative paintings) for the improvement of mental health outcomes among female breast cancer patients.

Matched MeSH terms: Mental Health
Psychological distress of first year medical students who underwent two different admission processes during a stressful period

Muhamad Saiful Bahri Yusoff, Ahmad Fuad Abdul Rahim, Abdul Aziz Baba, Shaiful Bahari Ismail, Hatta Sidi, Ab Rahman Esa

Sains Malaysiana, 2013;42:423-428.

The study of medicine is often regarded by students as a stressful environment particularly during examination period. Studies found a high percentage of medical students experience significant psychological distress during the examination period. This study compared percentage and level of psychological distress between two batches of first year medical students who underwent different selection admission processes during a stressful examination period. A comparative
cross-sectional study was done on two batches of first year medical students; one group selected based on academic merit (2008/2009 batch) and the other selected based on academic merit, psychometric tests and interview (2009/2010 batch). The psychological distress was measured by the 12-item general health questionnaire (GHQ-12). The data were collected right after the final examinations. A total of 99 (46.05%) medical students of the 2008/2009 batch and 196 (100%) medical students of the 2009/2010 batch participated. The percentage of medical students who had psychological distress of the 2008/2009 and the 2009/2010 batches were 58.59% and 42.3%, respectively. The mean GHQ-12 score and percentage of psychological distress were significantly different between the two batches (p< 0.01). The older batch had 2.01 times higher risk for developing psychological distress compared with the newer batch (p< 0.01). The newer batch
of medical students had better psychological health status and was less likely to develop psychological distress during the stressful period compared with older batch.

Matched MeSH terms: Mental Health
Fulltext Development and Testing of a Community-Based Intervention to Address Intimate Partner Violence among Rohingya and Syrian Refugees: A Social Norms-Based Mental Health-Integrated Approach

James LE, Welton-Mitchell C, Michael S, Santoadi F, Shakirah S, Hussin H, et al.

Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2021 11 07;18(21).
PMID: 34770188 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182111674

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is the leading form of gender-based violence globally and increases during times of conflict and displacement. To reduce IPV and encourage help-seeking, a two-phase community-based intervention was co-designed with Rohingya in Malaysia and Syrians in Lebanon. Three day workshops, utilizing a social norms-based mental health-integrated approach, were implemented for women and men in each country (n = 148). Pre- to post-measures indicated reductions in beliefs about acceptability of violence and rigid gender norms, and improvements in mental health, functioning, coping, and self-efficacy for women and men following workshop participation. Workshop participation was also associated with increased help-seeking intent, for both mental health and IPV (victims and perpetrators). Workshops included community design of poster campaigns to address IPV, which were then tested in each setting using a randomized controlled trial in Malaysia (n = 240) and a matched cluster comparison in Lebanon (n = 260). Women in both settings found IPV less acceptable in the poster condition. Help-seeking preferences were also influenced by the poster for women and men in both countries. This participatory intervention research can provide a roadmap for use in other settings, emphasizing the value of community-generated solutions to IPV among displaced populations.

Matched MeSH terms: Mental Health
Mental health literacy: A systematic review of knowledge and beliefs about mental disorders in Malaysia

Munawar K, Mukhtar F, Choudhry FR, Ng ALO

Asia Pac Psychiatry, 2022 Mar;14(1):e12475.
PMID: 33963816 DOI: 10.1111/appy.12475

BACKGROUND: Mental health problems in Malaysia are on a rise. This study aimed at performing a systematic review of mental health literacy (MHL) in Malaysia.
METHODS: Medline, Embase, ERIC/Proquest, ScienceDirect, Pubmed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Scopus, EBM Reviews - Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Ovid Emcare and reference lists of included studies were searched in February 2020. Studies that evaluated at least one of the main components of MHL, including (1) knowledge related to mental health issues, and (2) stigma, were included irrespective of study design. As secondary findings, the review also synthesized results related to facilitators and barriers to seeking mental health services. Depending on the research design, the quality of each study was assessed through checklists.
RESULTS: Forty six studies published between 1995 to 2019 were included. Most studies used cross-sectional designs to investigate MHL. Findings indicate that most Malaysians have stigmatizing attitudes towards mental health problems. Participants in the included studies endorsed multifactorial explanations of mental health issues with a dominance of supernatural and religious aetiologies. Likewise, the commonest barrier was considering sources other than professional sources of mental-health services. Presence of adequate knowledge and considering providers as competent facilitated help-seeking. Additionally, there was considerable heterogeneity in studies and a lack of standardized measures assessing MHL.
CONCLUSIONS: There is an increase in studies on MHL in Malaysia. A few of these studies, based on experimental design, have shown positive effects. Researchers, practitioners, and policymakers should develop standardized measures and interventional studies based on all the components of MHL.

Matched MeSH terms: Mental Health
Fulltext Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) as treatments for psychiatric disorders: a guide for mental health professionals

Izaida I

Jurnal Psikologi Malaysia, 2018;32:55-69.

Given the increased popularity and use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) in the treatment of psychiatric disorders, it is crucial for mental health professionals to be informed about this treatment approach. Accordingly, this paper critically reviews the pro and con arguments for the use of CAM treatment modalities in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Given that there are potential dangers in adopting the CAM approach without appropriate supervision, it begs the question of what roles and responsibilities mental health professionals have in the matter. Thus, this article proceeds to address the roles and the recommended strategies for mental health professionals when working with patients or clients who use CAM for their treatment of psychopathological issues. Finally, it goes further to discuss the practice of integrating both conventional treatment and CAM to treat mental disorders and issues associated with such disorders. Importantly, this article highlights the need for knowledgeable, confident, and trained mental health professionals to provide patient counselling about the complementary and alternative approach.

Matched MeSH terms: Mental Health

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