Presenter of 2 Presentations
SYMPTOMS AND PREDICTORS OF DEPRESSION AMONG SYRIAN REFUGEES ONE-YEAR POST ARRIVAL IN CANADA
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Background and Aim: The civil war in Syria forced millions of people to seek refuge in other regions. In 2015, Canada launched the Syrian Refugee Resettlement Initiative and resettled over 40,000 refugees. This study examined data collected for the Syrian Refugee Integration and Long-term Health Outcomes in Canada study (SyRIA.lth). The primary aim was to evaluate the prevalence of depression-level symptoms at baseline and one-year post-resettlement and analyze its predictors. Methods: Through a variety of community-based strategies, 1924 Syrian refugees were recruited. Structured interviews were administered in Arabic in 2017 and 2018. Depression symptoms were measured using Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9). Analysis for associated factors was executed using multinomial logistic regression. Results: Mean age was 38.5 years (SD 13.8). Sample included 49% males and 51% females settled in Ontario (48%), Quebec (36%) and British Columbia (16%). Over 74% always needed an interpreter, and only 23% were in employment. Prevalence of depression-level symptoms (i.e. PHQ-9 >/= 10) was 15% at baseline and 18% in year-2 (p<0.001). Out of 1519 participants who did not have depression-level symptoms at baseline (i.e. PHQ-9 < 10) and their measurements for year-2 were available, 185 (12.2%) changed to depression-level symptoms at year-2. Significant predictors of depression-level symptoms at year-2 were baseline depression, sponsorship program (government, private, blended visa), province, poor language skills, lack of satisfaction with housing conditions and with health services, lower perceived control, lower perceived social support and longer stay in Canada. Conclusion: Increase in depression-level symptoms deserves attention through focusing on identified predictors particularly baseline depression scores, social support, perceived control and language ability.
A QUALITATIVE STUDY WITH POST-SECONDARY STUDENTS: COVID-19, STRESSORS AND COPING
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Background and Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to drastic public health measures across the globe. These shifts have also negatively impacted people, such as post-secondary students for whom recent surveys report high levels of mental stress. Yet, little is known about their specific sources of stress and coping. Addressing this gap, we conducted a qualitative study to elicit perspectives of post-secondary students on their experiences of stressors and coping during the pandemic. Methods: Five semi-structured focus groups were conducted with 36 undergraduate students enrolled at a Canadian university in Toronto. The discussions were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. All data was inductively analyzed for dominant and unique themes using the constant comparison technique. Findings: Participants discussions focused on disruptions in daily routines, e-learning, income constraints, and lose of social interactions as dominant sources of stress. Their notable coping strategies were physical activities (e.g. walks, yoga, training) and creative work (e.g. baking, painting) while a few adopted meditation. Some negative coping strategies also surfaced like increase intake of caffeine or alcohol, smoking, and screen time. With the 2nd wave of infection, a few expressed losing hope for better days. They identified access to system-level support for mental health counselling and income as an ongoing challenge. Conclusion: The participant post-secondary students experienced several stressors though adopted an overall active coping style. Nevertheless, their needs to access system-level supports were not likely met and ought to be addressed, especially when negative coping behaviors exist and hope for normality is on a decline.