Background: Stigmatizing attitudes toward individuals with mental health conditions are common among healthcare professionals in primary healthcare (PHC) settings, posing a major barrier to early diagnosis, appropriate treatment, and recovery. Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effectiveness of interventions aimed at reducing mental health-related stigma among PHC professionals (general practitioners, nurses, community health workers, and allied providers). Eligibility was restricted to interventional studies targeting PHC staff; non-clinical populations and students without clinical practice were excluded. Comparators included usual training, waitlist control, or pre–post evaluation. A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines, and the protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251074412). Results: Twenty-five studies met the inclusion criteria, of which three contributed to the quantitative synthesis. Interventions included educational, contact-based, and multicomponent approaches. Risk of bias was assessed using tools appropriate to study design. Interventions generally improved knowledge and attitudes and, to a lesser extent, behavioral intentions. Meta-analysis of pre–post changes using the Opening Minds Scale for Health Care Providers (OMS-HC) demonstrated a significant reduction in stigma (MD = −0.27, 95% CI −0.40 to −0.14; p < 0.001; I² = 91%). A difference-in-differences analysis of studies with intervention and control groups confirmed this effect with moderate heterogeneity (MD = −0.18, 95% CI −0.25 to −0.11; p < 0.0001; I² = 50%). Conclusions: Contact-based and multicomponent interventions were associated with stronger and more sustained effects. The main limitations of the evidence were short follow-up periods, reliance on self-reported outcomes, methodological heterogeneity, and the possibility of publication bias. Our findings suggest that reducing stigma among PHC professionals can enhance patient engagement, timely diagnosis, and quality of care in routine clinical practice.

Background: In the Republic of Kazakhstan, informal caregivers remain the main source of patient support. Caregivers of individuals with dementia experience an increased caregiver burden and significantly higher levels of stress. We investigated the levels of caregiver burden, depression, anxiety, and stress among informal dementia caregivers and assessed the relationships between these indicators and the caregivers’ socio-demographic characteristics. Methods: With the cooperation of two regional mental health centers and three polyclinics in Kazakhstan, we conducted a cross-sectional study of 174 informal caregivers of dementia patients. The caregiver burden was assessed using the Zarit Burden Interview, and psychological distress was measured with the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21. The caregivers’ sociodemographic data were collected and analyzed. The adjusted odds ratios and 95%CIs were calculated using logistic and ordinal regressions. Results: Overall, 75.9% of the caregivers reported experiencing at least a mild burden, and the levels of depression, anxiety, and stress among the caregivers were higher than expected. Spousal caregivers had higher odds of abnormal depression (p = 0.022) and anxiety (p = 0.020); in severity models, spouses more often had a severe burden (p = 0.042) and anxiety (p = 0.006). Conclusions: Caregiver burden and psychological distress are highly prevalent among informal dementia caregivers in Kazakhstan, particularly among spouses. It is especially important to provide support for spouse caregivers. Culturally tailored psychoeducation, support groups, and respite services are urgently needed to mitigate the mental health risks faced by dementia caregivers in Kazakhstan.

The Republic of Kazakhstan has one of the world’s highest suicide rates. A detailed study of the risk factors for suicide in that country is therefore important. We investigated country-wide statistics related to labor, financial, and economic factors and whether any of these factors contribute to the risk of suicide in Kazakhstan. Using the 20 year period from 2000 to 2019, we examined the annual suicide rates overall (all citizens) and for males and females in Kazakhstan, annual unemployment rates, annual rates of increase in the country’s consumer price index, annual total exports, and annual total imports. We then calculated the correlations between the suicide rates and these four items. We also performed a multiple regression analysis of the relationship between the suicide rate and those four items. The results of these analyses indicated that the unemployment rate was the correlation coefficient most highly correlated with the suicide rate; unemployment was significantly related to suicide and should be targeted as a risk factor in suicide prevention interventions in Kazakhstan. With this in mind, organizations, government agencies, and professionals in relevant fields need to devise and implement suicide prevention measures.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic had profound impacts worldwide on individuals with mental and behavioral disorders, including disorders due to psychoactive substance use. We investigated how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the trends in these disorders in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Methods: We researched and compared ICD-10 data on mental and behavioral disorders due to substance use in Kazakhstan that were diagnosed in 2018–2019 (pre-pandemic) versus 2020–2021 (the pandemic period). Results: The data for the pandemic period were significantly different from those of the pre-pandemic in that (i) ‘other stimulant-related disorders (F15)’ and ‘other psychoactive substance-related disorders (F19)’ were increased in the younger age groups, (ii) the risk of ‘opioid-related disorders (F11)’ was decreased in the 30-year-old group in both males and females, and (iii) the risk of ‘alcohol-related disorders (F10)’ was increased in the 30-year-old group and decreased in the 20- and 50-year-old groups. In only the males, (iv) the risk of ‘other psychoactive substance-related disorders (F19)’ was increased in almost all of the age groups, and (v) the risk of ‘cannabis-related disorders (F12)’ was increased in the ≥50-year-olds. The pre-pandemic and pandemic periods thus involved changes due to COVID-19 in both males and females that were especially notable in males. Conclusions: These results indicate that further measures designed to prevent mental and behavioral disorders due to psychoactive substances are necessary at the primary, secondary, and tertiary levels, and personnel in medicine/nursing, the government, private organizations, and the public need to collaborate to devise such measures.

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) collapsed in 1991 and separated into the 15 post-Soviet countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. The post-Soviet countries have faced many economic problems, including unemployment. The association between suicide and unemployment in post-Soviet countries has not been well studied. Here, we researched the annual suicide rate and the unemployment rate during the 28-year period from 1992 to 2019 in the 15 post-Soviet countries. We calculated the correlation coefficients between the suicide rate and the unemployment rate in each of the countries during this period, and we determined the association between the suicide rate and unemployment rate. Our major findings were that (1) the suicide rates among both males and females were significantly associated with the unemployment rate in nearly half of the 15 countries, and (2) for nearly 70% of the males in the entire set of 15 countries, there was an association between the suicide rate and the unemployment rate. Suicide-prevention researchers and organizations should be aware of our findings, and specific suicide-prevention measures based on these results are desirable.

Introduction: Suicide remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide and has a significant impact on public health. In Kazakhstan, as in other countries, suicide rates vary depending on age group, gender, and socio-economic factors. The analysis of data on mortality from self-harm in the age groups 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39 years and 40 years and older reveals the main trends and risk factors. Aim: To analyze suicide mortality in Kazakhstan in various age groups, to identify gender differences and time trends. Materials and methods: The study uses data from the Global Burden of Disease, GBD 2021, provided by the Institute for Health Indicators and Assessment (IHME). The data covers the period 2017-2021 and includes information on mortality by age group and gender. The analysis was carried out using a comparative statistical method, including an assessment of absolute mortality rates, the percentage of mortality and the dynamics of changes over the years. Results: The analysis showed that the highest mortality rate from suicide is observed in the age groups of 25-29 and 30-34 years, while in younger and older age categories the indicators are lower. Men show significantly higher mortality rates than women, which is consistent with global data. Time trends show fluctuations in mortality associated with socio-economic changes and crises. Conclusions: The highest suicide mortality rate was recorded among the age groups of 25-29 and 30-34 years. Men in Kazakhstan are significantly more likely to commit suicide than women. Time trends show fluctuations in the death rate, which requires further monitoring. Comprehensive measures are needed to reduce suicide rates, including the availability of psychological care and early intervention programs. The continuation of the study is necessary to analyze trends for 2022-2024. Введение: Суицид остается одной из ведущих причин смертности во всем мире и оказывает значительное влияние на общественное здоровье. В Казахстане, как и в других странах, уровень самоубийств варьируется в зависимости от возрастной группы, пола и социально-экономических факторов. Анализ данных о смертности от суицидов в возрастных группах 15–19, 20–24, 25–29, 30–34, 35–39 лет и 40 лет и старше позволяет выявить основные тенденции и факторы риска. Цель: Анализ смертности от суицидов в Казахстане в различных возрастных группах, определение половых различий и временных тенденций. Материалы и методы: В исследовании использованы данные Global Burden of Disease, GBD 2021, предоставленные Institute for Health Indicators and Assessment (IHME). Данные охватывают период 2017–2021 годов и включают информацию о смертности по возрастным группам и полу. Анализ проводился с использованием сравнительного статистического метода, включающего оценку абсолютных показателей смертности, процентного уровня летальности и динамики изменений по годам. Результаты: Анализ показал, что наибольший уровень смертности от суицидов наблюдается в возрастных группах 25–29 и 30–34 года, тогда как в более молодых и старших возрастных категориях показатели ниже. Мужчины демонстрируют значительно более высокие уровни смертности по сравнению с женщинами, что согласуется с мировыми данными. Временные тренды показывают колебания смертности, связанные с социально-экономическими изменениями и кризисами. Выводы: самый высокий уровень смертности от суицидов зафиксирован среди возрастных групп 25–29 и 30–34 года. Мужчины в Казахстане значительно чаще совершают суицид, чем женщины. Временные тренды показывают колебания уровня смертности, что требует дальнейшего мониторинга. Для снижения уровня суицидов необходимы комплексные меры, включая доступность психологической помощи и программы раннего вмешательства. Необходимо продолжение исследования для анализа тенденций за 2022–2024 годы. Кіріспе: Суицид – бүкіл әлемде өлімнің жетекші себептерінің бірі болып қала береді және қоғамдық денсаулыққа айтарлықтай әсерін тигізеді. Қазақстанда, басқа елдердегі сияқты, суицид деңгейі жас топтарына, жынысына және әлеуметтік-экономикалық факторларға байланысты өзгеріп отырады. 15–19, 20–24, 25–29, 30–34, 35–39 жас және 40 жастан...