To explore the reasons for worse cancer survival in people with experience of mental illness, including differences by cancer type and psychiatric diagnosis. New Zealand breast and colorectal cancer registrations (2006-2010) were linked to psychiatric hospitalization records for adults (18-64 years). Cancer-specific survival was compared for recent psychiatric service users and nonusers using Cox regression. The contributions of deprivation, comorbidity and stage at diagnosis were assessed for those with schizophrenia or bipolar affective disorder (Group A) and others using mental health services (Group B). Of 8762 and 4022 people with breast and colorectal cancer respectively, 440 (breast) and 190 (colorectal) had recent contact with psychiatric services. After adjusting for confounding, risk of death from breast cancer was increased for Group A [Hazard Ratio (HR) 2.55 (95% confidence interval 1.49-4.35)] and B [HR 1.62 (1.09-2.39)] and from colorectal cancer for Group A [HR 2.92 (1.75-4.87)]. Later stage at diagnosis contributed to survival differences for Group A, and comorbidity contributed for both groups. Fully adjusted HR estimates were breast: Group A 1.65 (0.96-2.84), B 1.41 (0.95-2.09); colorectal: Group A 1.89 (1.12-3.17), B 1.25 (0.89-1.75)]. The high burden of physical disease and delayed cancer diagnosis in those with psychotic disorders contributes to worse cancer survival in New Zealand psychiatric service users.

Globally, increasing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination coverage remains a major public health concern in the face of high rates of COVID-19 hesitancy among the general population. We must understand the impact of the determinants of COVID-19 vaccine uptake when designing national vaccination programmes. We aimed to synthesise nationwide evidence regarding COVID-19 infodemics and the demographic, psychological, and social predictors of COVID-19 vaccination uptake. We systematically searched seven databases between July 2021 and March 2022 to retrieve relevant articles published since COVID-19 was first reported on 31 December 2019 in Wuhan, China. Of the 12,502 peer-reviewed articles retrieved from the databases, 57 met the selection criteria and were included in this systematic review. We explored COVID-19 vaccine uptake determinants before and after the first COVID-19 vaccine roll-out by the Food and Drug Authority (FDA). Increased COVID-19 vaccine uptake rates were associated with decreased hesitancy. Concerns about COVID-19 vaccine safety, negative side effects, rapid development of the COVID-19 vaccine, and uncertainty about vaccine effectiveness were associated with reluctance to be vaccinated. After the US FDA approval of COVID-19 vaccines, phobia of medical procedures such as vaccine injection and inadequate information about vaccines were the main determinants of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Addressing effectiveness and safety concerns regarding COVID-19 vaccines, as well as providing adequate information about vaccines and the impacts of pandemics, should be considered before implementation of any vaccination programme. Reassuring people about the safety of medical vaccination and using alternative procedures such as needle-free vaccination may help further increase vaccination uptake.

Background The association of social capital with health and mortality is contentious, and empirical findings are inconsistent. This study tests the association of neighbourhood-level volunteerism with mortality. Methods Cohort study of 1996 New Zealand census respondents aged 25–74 years (4.75 million person years) using multilevel Poisson regression analyses. Neighbourhood (average population 2034) measures included indices of social capital (volunteering activities for all census respondents) and deprivation. Results Adjusting for just age and marital status, the mortality rate ratios for people living in the quintile of neighbourhoods with the lowest compared with highest volunteerism were 1.16 (95% confidence interval 1.08–1.24) and 1.09 (1.01–1.18), for males and females, respectively. Adjusting for potential individual-level and neighbourhood-level socioeconomic confounders reduced the rate ratios to 0.94 (0.88–1.01) and 0.92 (0.85–1.01), respectively. There was no significant association with any cause of death, including suicide [rate ratios 0.89 (0.64–1.22) and 0.57 (0.31–1.05), respectively]. Restricting the analyses to only those census respondents living at their census night address for five or more years, and therefore ‘exposed’ to that level of volunteerism for a longer period, did not substantially alter findings. Conclusions This study, one of the largest multilevel studies yet, found no statistically significant independent association of a structural measure of neighbourhood social capital with mortality—including suicide. Assuming social features of neighbourhoods are important determinants of health, future research should examine other features (e.g. social fragmentation) and other outcomes (e.g. behaviour).

Background: The prevalence of anxiety and mood disorders in adolescents is a growing public health concern worldwide. Given the high rates of drop-out and limited resources available in psychiatric settings, the importance of engaging adolescents in evidence-based treatments cannot be understated. The aim of the study was to determine the efficacy of motivational interviewing (MI), as a brief pre-treatment intervention, to enhance treatment engagement in a standard therapy setting (group cognitive behavioral therapy; gCBT) for adolescents with anxiety and mood disorders.Method: Ninety-six adolescents (13–18 years) with a principal diagnosis of an anxiety or mood disorder participated in a trial conducted at two publicly funded outpatient services. Participants were randomly assigned to individual MI for treatment engagement prior to gCBT (MI + gCBT), or to an individually administered active control (befriending) prior to gCBT (befriending + gCBT). Eight pairs of gCBT were run in parallel. Outcome measures were the mean number of gCBT sessions attended, treatment initiation, and ratings of readiness for treatment.Results: Participants randomized to MI as a pretreatment intervention attended significantly more group therapy sessions compared to those in the active control condition. The MI group also demonstrated greater treatment initiation, and ratings of treatment readiness were significantly higher for those randomized to MI.Conclusions: MI, used as a pre-treatment intervention, enhanced group treatment engagement in adolescents diagnosed with anxiety and mood disorders compared to the active control condition. MI is a promising intervention to facilitate engagement in adolescent mental health settings.