The global depression burden has remained a challenge throughout the pre- and post-pandemic era. The pandemic effect has led to the spiraling of mental disorders among young people who will be the next generation of leaders. This study aims to identify university students’ sociodemographic, psychosocial and academic backgrounds and performance associated with depression symptoms for the development of primary and secondary preventive strategies for mental health. A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire distributed to 19 institutions in Malaysia offering a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree program. The self-rated Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-42) was used to assess depression symptoms. Pearson’s chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test were used to assess the investigated variables with depression symptoms. Independent T-test and one-way ANOVA were used to compare means of depression score across variables. Binary logistic regression was employed to examine the relationship between the investigated variables and depression symptoms. A total of 610 pharmacy students participated, of which 47% (n = 289/610) were having depression symptoms. Students who smoke nicotine and those who have separated parents, family history of mental illness, and poor academic performance were associated with depression symptoms (p < 0.05). Differences in geographical areas, race and religion also showed significant associations with depression symptoms. Parental marital status, poor academic performance, history of mental illness and comorbidities were statistically predicting depression symptoms (p < 0.05). Primary preventive strategies allowing students to harness healthy coping skills for stress, nicotine-free campaigns and a holistic curriculum are warranted. Secondary measures on mindfulness and compassion skills activities to benefit students who experienced early life crises are highly recommended. Enforcing these targeted strategies in collaboration with health and social sectors should be the primary agenda of universities to ensure their uptake.

Introduction: Post traumatic distress, acute stress disorder and even post traumatic stress disorder may occur following traumatic events such as a motor vehicle accident (MVA). Instead of presenting to mental health service, many turn to psychosocial and spiritual strategies to cope with symptoms. The objective of this study is to explore the psychosocial and spiritual coping strategies utilised by MVA victims to deal with the distressing post traumatic symptoms. Methods: An exploratory qualitative study using individual in-depth interview was conducted from May to September 2015. Purposive sampling was done to optimise wide exploration. Only Muslim participants were included. The interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic approach. Results: All participants interviewed employed psychological, social and spiritual coping strategies to help manage their post traumatic stress symptoms. Positive thinking and rationalisation are examples of psychological coping mechanisms used. Many have supportive families. Common spiritual coping strategies practised include the use of different Quranic verses and prayers. Conclusion: Psychosocial and spiritual coping strategies are popular, highly tolerable and useful for post traumatic distress. Psycho-socio-spiritual therapy may be an effective treatment for post traumatic stress in Muslim Malaysian patients. Further research is needed in this area.

Daily restricted environmental enrichment (REE) refers to limited, structured periods of enrichment aimed at improving both physical and cognitive well-being in animals and humans. This review explores the significance of REE, focusing on studies that investigate 2 and 3 h daily enrichment protocols. Through an analysis of 21 key studies, this paper highlights how even brief periods of REE can lead to substantial improvements in brain plasticity, cognitive function, and stress resilience. The review tracks the evolution of environmental enrichment from early research on enriched environments in animals to modern applications in human rehabilitation, particularly for stroke recovery and mental health treatment. While the traditional approach to environmental enrichment often involves continuous exposure, recent research suggests that restricted daily enrichment can yield comparable benefits, offering a practical, scalable solution for clinical settings. This review underscores the importance of adapting REE for individual needs and developing flexible, home-based programs for broader application.

Background: College students are considered a high-risk group for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Existing non-pharmacological interventions, although effective and accessible, still have notable limitations. Regular aerobic exercise, as a potential mental health promotion strategy, requires empirical validation in real campus environments to determine its specific effects on reducing anxiety, depression, and PTSD symptoms, as well as its role in enhancing psychological resilience. Method: This study employed a single-group pre-test/post-test design and was conducted in August 2025 at a comprehensive university in Sichuan, China. Using convenience sampling, 47 participants with elevated PTSD symptoms were recruited for the “School-Based Regular Aerobic Exercise” intervention trial (operationalized as a 21-Day Exercise Check-In Activity). All participants engaged in 30 min of aerobic exercise daily for 3 weeks. Before and after the intervention, participants completed the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). Result: All 47 participants completed the 21-day intervention. Significant pre- to post-intervention improvements were observed in PTSD symptoms, anxiety, depression, and psychological resilience. Clinical significance analysis showed that 57.45% of participants fell below the PTSD clinical cutoff after the intervention, and 87.23% demonstrated reliable change. Exploratory change-score analyses indicated that improvements in resilience were significantly associated with reductions in anxiety and PTSD symptoms, but not depression. Conclusion: In a real-world campus setting, this 21-day school-based regular aerobic exercise intervention appears feasible and is associated with improvements in PTSD-related symptoms and psychological resilience. However, because the study lacked randomization and a control group, causal inferences regarding effectiveness and underlying mechanisms cannot be made. Randomized controlled trials with longer follow-up periods and objective activity measures are warranted.