User:Sarimhsn/sandbox

Issue: August 2018
=== The biopsychosocial-spiritual health of active duty women ===

Introduction
This article in the journal of Mental Health, Religion, & Culture takes a look at the various roles women of the United States of America take up on the battlefield in times of military conflict and the effects of it on their biopsychosocial and spiritual health.

Women have been involved in active military roles for centuries, with them having to dress up as men to fight in the American Revolution and Civil War, taking up the roles of nurses during the second World War, and their most recent involvement being front-line combatants in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. As of today, women make up 16% of America's active duty military force.

The research explores and studies the effects and conditions that women face in specific, compared to their male counterparts and civilian women, unlike previous researches which were not focused on a particular gender but soldiers in general.

Biopsychosocial systems and spirituality
The research utilizes the works of G.L. Engel, who argued that in order to accurately treat patients, that the concepts of biological, social, and psychological health be related and connected to one order in the assessment or diagnosis, and von Bertalanffy's system theory which supports the work of Engel. This approach would consider the differences between and within each aspect to be equally important as one another at a micro and macro level of health and this would result in understanding the person as a whole.

Experiences of active duty women
Apart from the physical nature and dangers of the job that these women undertake, there are more psychological and biological effects at play. Women of the armed forces face more sexual harassment and abuse, as well as barriers in seeking proper health care. The rate of sexually transmitted infections was higher amongst women than men, mainly due to them not feeling comfortable in being observed by a male physician for reproductive health issues and thus failing to report their conditions.

The case of unintended pregnancies would also affect the mental and physical health of active-duty women. This was a cause for concern as there was a lack of education regarding the matter and use of contraceptives while on duty. Matters would be worse if these pregnancies occurred due to sexual assault. Those who found themselves with unplanned and unintended pregnancies were often stereotyped as often faced discrimination, seen as trying to avoid work, and suffered in their career e.g. demotion or financial penalty.

In terms of psychological health, women are three times more likely to commit suicide while on duty, and 79% more likely after their disengagement with the military, compared to civilian women. There are various factors that lead to this contribution, with a history of personal issues and abuse being one of them along with the trauma they experience while being deployed, as suggested by the findings that all the military women who committed suicide were enlisted at the time of their death.

Issue: April 2018
=== Religion and mental health among Nepal earthquake survivors in temporary tent villages ===

Introduction
Nepal suffered heavy losses, both in terms of human and infrastructure after two deadly earthquakes struck in April and May 2015, killing 8400 people. Like all natural disasters, it affected the physical and psychological health of the survivors, creating a mass case of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety amongst other mental health issues. For this research, children between the age of 10-18 were selected as at their age they are the most vulnerable and sensitive which affects their emotional development. There is also little understanding and a negative relationship between these children and their parents who expect them to act mature like adults in times of difficulty, creating an atmosphere that develops psychological distress in these children leading to behavioral problems and somatic symptoms as they grow up

Religion and Mental Health
The most important factor in overcoming an adversity such as a natural disaster is the characteristic of resilience. It is defined in three categories in relation between religion and mental health; meaning, value, and faith. Other studies reiterated the notion that religion and prayer is the most commonly sought after method of coping with difficult situations and crisis, specially amongst children below the age of 18, specially when there is a lack of availability of human and social resources as means of coming to terms and an outlet to express thoughts and feelings.

Findings
Of the 111 children that were studied during the course of the research, 29 claimed to have an increase in their daily prayers, 19 stated that they had decreased, while the remaining 63 children reported no change. Children who came from a strong religious and cultural background mainly identified that they had found religion to be less important and prayed less often, after the disaster. Those who had claimed to give less importance and time to religious activities were identified to be a part of the group which was more vulnerable and susceptible to adverse mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, and social immaturity along with behavioral problems.

Analysis
Previously conducted studies had normally indicated an increase in belief and importance of religion after a natural disaster, in this study children who were less devoted to religious activities were found to be more likely to fall in to depression, have anxiety and panic attacks, have behavioral issues, and face stunted mental growth and development. An explanation behind this occurrence is that those who did not identify themselves to be religious after the earthquake, were more likely to feel isolated and withdrawn as they were not a part of a group or community such as those who prayed together. In order to better understand the relationship between religion, culture, and mental health, there have to be more studies conducted such as this that take in to account the information regarding mental health before disasters, and the impact on people of having a lack of a social support system.

= Reference List =