Distressing physical symptoms (e.g., back pain, nausea), many of which lack medical explanation, are a common cause for medical help seeking. However, racial/ethnic and educational differences may complicate identification and explanation of such symptoms, potentially contributing to clinician misdiagnosis and patient dissatisfaction. To better understand this issue, we examined racial/ethnic differences in general physical symptoms (GPS) and, more specifically, medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS) and whether differences varied by race/ethnicity and educational attainment. A sample of 4,864 Latino, Asian, and non-Latino White community respondents (54% female; average age of 41 years) self-reported their GPS. Two experts then rated whether endorsed symptoms were likely to have a medical basis. We assessed the associations of GPS and MUPS with race/ethnicity, age, gender, educational attainment, chronic physical conditions, and past-year psychiatric diagnoses. Asian respondents reported significantly fewer GPS than non-Latino Whites, and both Asian and Latino respondents endorsed significantly fewer MUPS than non-Latino Whites. When nativity and language were each included as covariates, racial/ethnic differences in GPS count were no longer observed; however, observed differences in MUPS count remained. Educational attainment did not demonstrate a significant relationship with either GPS or MUPS. Although comorbid mental health diagnoses were significantly related to both GPS and MUPS, age, gender, and comorbid physical conditions were the only significant predictors of GPS. Results from this study question existing stereotypical views of racial/ethnic differences in somatization and suggest that educational attainment does not significantly contribute to reported physical symptoms-with or without medical explanation. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

MyHealth European project (2017–2020) was committed to elaborate on models to engage vulnerable migrants and refugees (VMR) in their health through community involvement. Low healthcare access and poor quality of healthcare services for VMR is a common reality in many European countries. The purpose of the present study, as part of MyHealth project, was the development of an agenda for actions and consequent recommendations to tackle the issue. A qualitative research design was applied at four study sites in Barcelona, Spain; Berlin, Germany; Brno, Czech Republic and Athens, Greece. The Metaplan^® group discussions allowed the collection, organization and process of ideas and opinions elaborated in the collaborative groups. In total, 14 sessions took place: 4 with health and social professionals (n = 41) and 10 with VMR (n = 77). A participatory thematic analysis was performed at every session and overall for all sessions a thematic analysis synthesized the findings. The suggested actions were divided into two levels of recommendations: (i) local authorities at destination country-related, such as the investment in health professionals’ cultural competences, and (ii) VMR-related, such as adaptation of help-seeking behavior patterns. Special attention was proposed to women survivors of violence and homeless minors. The study concluded to an agenda for action in Europe. We advocate for a public health paradigm shift where, while holding a bottom-up approach, VMR as well as professionals working with them are actively and meaningfully engaged in the decision-making process of access-enhancing and health promotion strategies in a given socio-cultural context. Low healthcare access and poor quality of healthcare services for vulnerable migrants and refugees (VMR) is a common reality in many European countries. As part of MyHealth project (2017–2020), a qualitative methodology was used to engage VMR and professionals in the decision-making of proposed actions and corresponding recommendations to address the issue.

Background: The prevalence of mental health disorders in children, teens, and young adults is rising at an alarming rate. This study aims to explore time trends in the incidence of mental disorders among young people in Catalonia, Spain from 2008 to 2022, focusing on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and from the perspective of social inequities. Methods: A cohort study using primary care records from the SIDIAP database was conducted. It included 2,088,641 individuals aged 10 to 24 years. We examined the incidence of depressive, anxiety, eating, and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorders, stratified by sex, age, deprivation, and nationality. Results: All disorders reflected an increasing trend throughout the study period: depressive disorders (IRR: 2.44, 95% CI: 2.31–2.59), anxiety disorders (IRR: 2.33, 95% CI: 2.27–2.39), ADHD (IRR: 2.33, 95%CI: 2.17–2.50), and eating disorders (IRR: 3.29, 95% CI: 3.01–3.59). A significant increase in incidence was observed after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, anxiety disorders were most frequent, with an incidence rate (IR) of 2,537 per 100,000 persons-year (95% CI: 2,503–2,571). Depressive disorders followed with an IR of 471 (95% CI: 458–486), ADHD with an IR of 306 (95% CI: 295–317) and eating disorders with an IR of 249 (95% CI: 239–259). Significant associations were reported with sex, age, deprivation, and nationality. Conclusion: The incidence of all studied disorders has steadily increased, reaching unprecedented levels during the pandemic. Understanding these trends is essential for an appropriate healthcare response, while addressing the non-medical determinants, requires action across all sectors of society.

Migrant women encounter specific health risks and challenges at host countries, as well as unequal access to social and health services. This qualitative study explores the health needs and factors that hamper access to and utilization of healthcare services as reported by migrant women recently arrived (<5 years) in Spain and Greece. Based on four focus-group discussions and seven individual interviews, our findings highlight the effect that structural vulnerability combined with intercultural factors may have on the utilization, acceptability and the overall experience of healthcare.

Youth with mental health disorders are a growing concern in Kenya, yet services are inaccessible. “Doing What Matters in Times of Stress (DWM)” is a scalable self-help intervention that can be delivered by lay providers. However, its effectiveness in low-resource, non-humanitarian settings is unknown. We evaluated the effectiveness of barber-facilitated DWM intervention in reducing psychological distress, while improving functioning and resilience among literate urban youths in Western Kenya. This cluster randomised trial involved 15 barbers in intervention group and 15 in the waiting-list control. Barbers were from 30 barbershops in Bungoma and Kitale towns, aged 18–30 years and literate in English. Using mental health-themed music as an entry point, barbers recruited youth aged 18–29 years, fluent in English, and had mild or moderate psychological distress and functioning difficulties. Intervention participants received DWM guide and/or audios, supported by barbers through three individual sessions. Waiting-list control participants received the intervention after five weeks. Outcome measures included Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) and psychological outcome profiles (PSYCHLOPS). We analysed data using cumulative ordinal multilevel models. Between 31^st July 2023–27^th January 2024, 330 eligible youths were enrolled (n = 158, from 11 intervention arm barbers and n = 172 from 10 control barbers). Post-intervention, intervention group youth had 95%, 82% and 71% lower odds of higher depression (AOR = 0.05, 95% CI 0.02-0.10, p < 0.001), anxiety (AOR = 0.18, 95% CI 0.09–0.34, p < 0.001) and stress (AOR = 0.29, 95% CI 0.12–0.71, p = 0.007), respectively. They also had 86% lower odds of higher self-identified problem severity scores (AOR = 0.14, 95% CI = 0.08 -0.27, p < 0.001) and 4.3 times higher odds of higher resilience levels (AOR = 4.33, 95% CI 2.00–9.36, p < 0.001). DWM effectively reduced psychological distress and improved resilience among youths. Barbershops are promising community places for mental health promotion. Long-term, multi-site studies are required to assess outcome sustainability and scalability. Trial registration: Pan African Clinical Trials Registry PACTR202306502042812