Vincent I O Agyapong
Dados Biográficos
| ID | 6330910 |
|---|---|
| NOME | Vincent I O Agyapong |
| PRENOMES | Vincent I |
| SOBRENOME | O Agyapong |
| ASSINATURA | AGYAPONG V I O |
| AFILIAÇÕES | Dalhousie University |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-2743-0372 |
| VERIFICADO | Sim |
| TOTAL DE OBRAS | 53 |
| TOTAL DE CITAÇÕES | 1 |
| TOTAL COMO AUTOR | 53 |
| TOTAL COMO EDITOR | 0 |
| PRIMEIRO ANO DE PUBLICAÇÃO | 2015 |
| ANO MAIS RECENTE DE PUBLICAÇÃO | 2026 |
| ÍNDICE H | 1 |
Psychometric validation and optimal cut-point determination of the Hausa WHO-5 well-being index for depression screening among internally displaced persons
Depression remains underrecognized among internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Nigeria, where access to mental health and psychosocial support is limited. This study assessed the reliability, validity, and cutoff performance of the Hausa WHO-5 Well-Being Index for identifying probable moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms among IDPs in Abuja, Nigeria. A total of 264 IDPs completed the Hausa WHO-5 and PHQ-9. Internal consistency was evaluated us…
Expanding patient access to psychiatry and mental health supports
This study reveals a substantial increase in access to psychiatric care through RASP and the program's effectiveness is underscored by high overall satisfaction. These findings emphasize the program's success in delivering quality mental health care while also identifying opportunities for further improvement to ensure continued patient satisfaction and service excellence
Prevalence and correlates of depression, anxiety, and burnout among physicians and postgraduate medical trainees
Background: The mental well-being of physicians is increasingly recognized as vital, both for their personal health and the quality of care they provide to patients. Physicians face a variety of mental health challenges, including depression, anxiety, and burnout, which have become prevalent issues globally. These mental health concerns are like those found in the general population but are particularly significant in the demanding healthcare set…
The prevalence and risk factors of sleep disturbances among mental health patients following hospital discharge
Background Sleep disturbances significantly impact psychological wellbeing, particularly during the critical transition when patients are discharged from psychiatric units. Despite extensive research on sleep and mental health, limited attention has been given to this transitional period. Aim This study examined the prevalence and risk factors of sleep disturbances among patients preparing for discharge from psychiatric units in Alberta, Canada. …
Psychological health and wellness and the impact of 6 weeks and 3 months supportive text messaging program (Wellness4MDs) among physicians and medical learners in Canada
Background Physicians and medical learners face high rates of burnout, anxiety, and depression due to the demanding nature of their work. Many are reluctant to seek support because of stigma, time constraints, and limited access to care. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)-based supportive SMS messaging offers a promising, scalable alternative. Objective This study evaluates the impact of Wellness4MDs, a CBT-based supportive messaging program, on …
Resilience, personal recovery, and quality of life for psychiatric in-patients prior to hospital discharge
Results suggest that women, younger adults, Indigenous peoples, and individuals with depression struggle more with adapting to post-discharge life. Policymakers should implement programs that focus on supporting resilience in these vulnerable groups
Predictors of poor quality of life for patients discharged from acute psychiatric care in Alberta
This study's results highlight the complex interplay of demographic, socioeconomic, and mental health factors that influence various health-related problems. These findings underscore the importance of targeted, holistic health interventions that address physical and mental health needs
Burnout among elementary and high school teachers in three Canadian provinces
Background: Burnout is a longstanding issue among educators and has been associated with psychological and physical health problems such as depression, and insomnia. Objective: To assess the prevalence and predictors of the three dimensions of burnout (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and lack of professional accomplishment) among elementary and high school teachers. Methods: This is a quantitative cross-sectional study with data collected…
Evaluating the 3-month post-intervention impact of a supportive text message program on mental health outcomes during the 2023 wildfires in Alberta and Nova Scotia, Canada
Background Individuals exposed to wildfires are at risk of developing adverse mental health conditions in the months following the event. Receiving supportive text interventions during and after a wildfire event can have a significant impact on reducing mental health conditions over time. Objectives The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a supportive text message intervention service in reducing the severity and prevalence of psychologica…
Exploring the prevalence and predictors of low resilience and likely PTSD in residents of two provinces in Canada during the 2023 wildfires
Background: The recent wildfires in Canada serve as a stark example of the substantial and enduring harm they cause to the health of individuals and communities. Assessing the prevalence and correlates of Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and low resilience is valuable for policymakers in public health. Objectives: The study aimed to assess the prevalence and predictors of low resilience and likely PTSD among subscribers of Text4Hope, an e-me…
Depression, anxiety, and poor well-being at discharge from psychiatric hospitals
Mental health assessment at discharge is a critical step in the recovery and transition of care. There is still a need for further research to identify the underlying causes and robust predictors of mental health symptoms in patients about to be discharged and to provide appropriate interventions and supportive resources both before and following discharge. Future research utilizing these findings may help identify key opportunities to improve ou…
Text4PTSI
The results of this study suggest a significant reduction in the prevalence of likely MDD as well as the severity of anxiety symptoms from baseline to post-intervention for subscribers of the Text4PTSI program. Text4PTSI is a cost-effective, convenient, and easily scalable program that can augment other services for managing the mental health burdens of public safety personnel
Assessing Resilience and Its Correlates among Residents of Fort McMurray during the Covid-19 Pandemic
This study highlights the importance of examining resilience and its associated factors during a pandemic such as COVID-19. The results demonstrated that a history of anxiety disorder, depression and being younger were important predictors of low resilience. Responders who reported the desire to receive mental health counselling also reported expressing low resilience. These findings could be used to design and implement interventions aimed at im…
Burnout among Residents
Burnout is a serious occupational phenomenon that can degenerate into other conditions or disrupt one's professional performance. Significant correlates were associated with high rates of burnout. Leaders of medical schools and policymakers need to acknowledge, design, and implement various strategies capable of providing continuous effective mental health support to improve the psychological health of medical residents across Canada
Can ResilienceNHope, an evidence-based text and email messaging innovative suite of programs help to close the psychological treatment and mental health literacy gaps in college students
There is a high prevalence of stress, anxiety, depression, and substance use disorders in college students globally. Financial stressors, course workload, peer pressure, and other personal, family, and societal stressors contribute to the high incidence of mental disorders among college students. Despite the high prevalence of mental disorders in college students, barriers such as lack of mental health literacy, stigma of mental health, inadequat…
Naturalistic randomized controlled trial demonstrating effectiveness of Text4Hope in supporting male population mental health during the Covid-19 pandemic
Background Mental illness is not uncommon among males. It is estimated that males are more likely to die by suicide, become dependent on alcohol, report frequent drug use, and be dissatisfied with their life, compared to women. In this study, we assessed the potential to offer support to this population using Text4Hope, a texting mental health service. Methods The study was a naturalistic randomized controlled trial comparing two populations of T…
Prevalence and correlates of cannabis abuse among residents in the community of Fort McMurray, a city in Northern Alberta which had endured multiple natural disasters
Demographic factors significantly predicted likely cannabis abuse in the Fort McMurray population, and cannabis abuse significantly correlated with presence of moderate to high anxiety and depression symptoms. It is essential to mobilized resources to support vulnerable communities and manage cannabis abuse
Isolation, Economic Precarity, and Previous Mental Health Issues as Predictors of PTSD Status in Females Living in Fort McMurray During Covid-19
Overall, these results support our hypothesis that volatility in factors such as social support, economic stability, and mental health work together to increase the probability of women developing PTSD in response to a collective trauma such as COVID-19
Prevalence and Determinants of Generalized Anxiety Disorder Symptoms in Residents of Fort McMurray 12 Months Following the 2020 Flooding
This study showed that there was an increased magnitude of moderate to high anxiety symptoms among respondents following the natural disaster particularly the flood in 2020. The predictors of likely GAD include positive employment status, history of depression diagnosis, and the need to have mental health counseling. Policymakers may mitigate the rise of anxiety after flooding in vulnerable areas by addressing these and other factors
Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation Measures for Patients Discharged from Acute Psychiatric Care
Background: Peer support workers (PSW) and text messaging services (TxM) are supportive health services that are frequently examined in the field of mental health. Both interventions have positive outcomes, with TxM demonstrating clinical and economic effectiveness and PSW showing its utility within the recovery-oriented model. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of PSW and TxM in reducing psychological distress of recently discharged patien…
Interest in Rural Training Experiences in a Canadian Psychiatry Residency Program
The University of Alberta has highlighted a focus on improving equity and accountability; and with a large rural catchment region; the residency program is well positioned to make training adjustments to diversify training. Based on our findings we have incorporated rural rotations for incoming residents and have developed further rural academic content to support our responsiveness and accountability to the rural and northern communities we are …
A Qualitative Scoping Review of the Impacts of Economic Recessions on Mental Health
In a follow-up to our 2021 scoping review of the quantitative literature on the impacts of economic recessions on mental health, this scoping review summarizes qualitative research to develop a descriptive understanding of the key factors that transmute the socioeconomic stressors of a recession into poorer mental health. The previous study identified 22 qualitative studies from 2008 to 2020, which were updated with search results from six databa…
Self-Reported Alcohol Abuse and the Desire to Receive Mental Health Counselling Predict Suicidal Thoughts/Thoughts of Self-Harm among Female Residents of Fort McMurray
Suicidal ideation and thoughts of self-harm continue to be challenging public health problems. It is presently unknown what the prevalence and correlates of suicidal thoughts and self-harm are in female residents of Fort McMurray, a city that has endured wildfires, flooding, and the COVID-19 pandemic in the last five years. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and correlates of suicidal ideation and thoughts of self-harm among female resi…
Evaluating the Prevalence and Predictors of Moderate to Severe Depression in Fort McMurray, Canada during the Covid-19 Pandemic
In addition to the effect of the pandemic and other measures taken to curb the psychopathological impact of the pandemic, policymakers need to implement policies to manage individuals with preexisting mental health conditions and provide strong employer support
Evaluating Community Resilience and Associated Factors One Year after the Catastrophic Fort McMurray Flood
The study showed a low resilience rate among respondents following the 2020 flooding in Fort McMurray. Factors contributing to low resilience include age, history of depression or anxiety, and place of residence after the flood. After the flood, receiving support from the government was shown to be a protective factor. Further studies are needed to explore robust risk factors of low resilience and measures to promote normal to high resilience amo…
Task shifting—perception of stake holders about adequacy of training and supervision for community mental health workers in Ghana
There is growing interest in the effectiveness of task shifting as a strategy for addressing expanding health care challenges in settings with shortages of qualified health personnel. The aim of this study is to examine the perception of stakeholders about the adequacy of training, supervision and support offered to community mental health workers (CMHWs) in Ghana. To address this aim we designed and administered self-completed, semi-structured q…
Task shifting – Ghana's community mental health workers’ experiences and perceptions of their roles and scope of practice
BACKGROUND: Because of the absence of adequate numbers of psychiatrists, the bulk of mental health care at the community level in Ghana is provided by community mental health workers (CMHWs). OBJECTIVE: To examine the role and scope of practice of CMHWs in Ghana from their own perspectives and to make recommendations to improve the care they provide. DESIGN: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 164 CMHWs from all the 10 administrative regions…
Improving Ghana’s mental healthcare through task-shifting- psychiatrists and health policy directors perceptions about government’s commitment and the role of community mental health workers
BACKGROUND: The scarcity of mental health professionals places specialist psychiatric care out of the reach of most people in low and middle income countries. There is growing interest in the effectiveness of task shifting as a strategy for targeting expanding health care demands in settings with shortages of qualified health personnel. Given this background, the aim of our study was to examine the perceptions of psychiatrists and health policy d…
Task shifting—perception of stake holders about adequacy of training and supervision for community mental health workers in Ghana
There is growing interest in the effectiveness of task shifting as a strategy for addressing expanding health care challenges in settings with shortages of qualified health personnel. The aim of this study is to examine the perception of stakeholders about the adequacy of training, supervision and support offered to community mental health workers (CMHWs) in Ghana. To address this aim we designed and administered self-completed, semi-structured q…
Impact of oil recession on community mental health service utilization in an oil sands mining region in Canada
OBJECTIVES: This retrospective clinical audit compared changes in community mental health service utilization before and during an economic recession in an oil sands region in Canada which was characterized by a doubling of unemployment rates and poor economic outlook. METHODS: Sociodemographic descriptors, psychiatric antecedents, clinical characteristics and follow-up care were compared before and during the recession for newly assessed patient…
Prevalence Rates and Predictors of Generalized Anxiety Disorder Symptoms in Residents of Fort McMurray Six Months After a Wildfire
The Fort McMurray wildfire was the costliest disaster in Canadian history, with far-reaching impacts. The purpose of this paper is to examine the prevalence and risk factors of elevated generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) symptomatology in residents of Fort McMurray 6 months after the wildfire. Data were collected via random selection procedures from 486 participants. Generalized anxiety disorder symptoms were measured via the GAD-7. The 1-month p…
Prevalence Rates and Correlates of Probable Major Depressive Disorder in Residents of Fort McMurray 6 Months After a Wildfire
Significant PTSD and Other Mental Health Effects Present 18 Months After the Fort Mcmurray Wildfire
Background: The May 2016 wildfire in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada forced evacuation of the population of 88,000 individuals and destroyed 10% of the homes. Youth are particularly impacted by disaster. Methods: Eighteen months after the wildfire, Fort McMurray Public and Catholic Schools surveyed 3,252 of the 4,407 students in Grades 7-12 to determine possible long-term psychological impacts. The survey included validated measurement scales for …
Mental Health Effects in Primary Care Patients 18 Months After a Major Wildfire in Fort McMurray
Objectives: To assess prevalence of likely posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder (MDD), and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in patients attending the only out-of-hours primary care clinic in Fort McMurray some 18 months following a major fire. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional survey was used to collect data through self-administered paper-based questionnaires to determine likely PTSD, MDD, and GAD using the PTS…
Prevalence Rates and Correlates of Likely Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Residents of Fort McMurray 6 Months After a Wildfire
Peer Support in Mental Health
BACKGROUND: A growing gap has emerged between people with mental illness and health care professionals, which in recent years has been successfully closed through the adoption of peer support services (PSSs). Peer support in mental health has been variously defined in the literature and is simply known as the help and support that people with lived experience of mental illness or a learning disability can give to one another. Although PSSs date b…
Factors influencing medical students and psychiatry residents in Ghana to consider psychiatry as a career option – a qualitative study
Health policy planners and medical training institutions could consider implementing proposed solutions to identify barriers as part of efforts to improve the psychiatrist to patient ratio in Ghana
Long-Term Mental Health Effects of a Devastating Wildfire Are Amplified by Socio-Demographic and Clinical Antecedents in Elementary and High School Staff
Knowledge of key factors for MDD, GAD and PTSD may be helpful for policy makers when formulating population level social and clinical programs, to mitigate the mental health effects of future natural disasters
Covid-19 Pandemic and Mental Health
Background : This cross-sectional online survey investigates the prevalence of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms at an early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada. Methods : OCD symptoms, moderate/high stress, likely generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and likely major depressive disorder (MDD) were assessed with the Brief Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (BOCS), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) sca…
Covid-19 Pandemic
The finding that the prevalence rates and the mean scores for stress, anxiety, and depression on standardized scales to decrease from younger to older subscribers is an interesting observation with potential implications for planning to meet mental health service needs during COVID-19
The Role of Social Determinants in Mental Health and Resilience After Disasters
In this general literature review, we will explore the impacts and contribution of social determinants to mental health and resiliency following both natural and man-made disasters. Natural disasters, such as wildfires, earthquakes, tsunamis, and hurricanes, as well as man-made disasters, such as civil wars, have been known to inflict significant damage to the mental health of the victims. In this paper, we mainly explore some most studied vulner…
Nurturing Spiritual Resilience to Promote Post-disaster Community Recovery
The 2016 Alberta wildfire, the largest insured natural disaster in Canada, led to a mass evacuation of residents of Fort McMurray, a small city in northern Alberta. The wildfire resulted in significant damages to housing and community infrastructure. The entire community was displaced for several weeks. Post-disaster, community members experienced individual and collective trauma, and other negative mental health impacts in response to the signif…
Social-Ecological Factors Associated With Higher Levels of Resilience in Children and Youth After Disaster
Children and youth are among the most vulnerable to the devastating effects of disaster due to the physical, cognitive, and social factors related to their developmental life stage. Yet children and youth also have the capacity to be resilient and act as powerful catalysts for change in their own lives and wider communities following disaster. Specific factors that contribute to resilience in children and youth, however, remain relatively unexplo…
Mental Health Symptoms Unexpectedly Increased in Students Aged 11–19 Years During the 3.5 Years After the 2016 Fort McMurray Wildfire
In Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada, the wildfire of May 2016 forced the population of 88,000 to rapidly evacuate in a traumatic and chaotic manner. Ten percentage of the homes in the city were destroyed, and many more structures were damaged. Since youth are particularly vulnerable to negative effects of natural disasters, we examined possible long-term psychological impacts. To assess this, we partnered with Fort McMurray Public and Catholic Scho…
Covid-19 Pandemic
Introduction: With the sudden onset and global dispersal of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, many nations including Canada attempted to reduce spread of the resultant COVID-19 syndrome with self-isolation and quarantine, while seeking a cure or vaccine for this disease. Understanding impacts of self-isolation and self-quarantine on stress, anxiety, and depression will help us to mitigate these issues through appropriate development of mental health services…
Text4Support Mobile-Based Programming for Individuals Accessing Addictions and Mental Health Services—Retroactive Program Analysis at Baseline, 12 Weeks, and 6 Months
Objective: Where traditional approaches fall short, widely accessible and accepted, yet under leveraged, digital technologies such as text messaging present novel opportunities to solve a range of health care solutions. The following provides a preliminary analysis of the Text4Support program, a text-messaging intervention using the principles of cognitive behavioral therapy, which seeks to support the health and well-being of individuals seeking…
Collective Trauma and Mental Health in Adolescents
In the wake of the massive Canadian wildfire of May 2016 in the area of Fort McMurray Alberta, we observed increased rates of mental health problems, particularly post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), in school-aged adolescents (ages 11-19). Surprisingly, we did not see these rates decline over the 3.5-year follow-up period. Additionally, our research suggested that the impact of this mass incident resulted in other unanticipated effects, includ…
Model of Post-traumatic Growth in Newly Traumatized vs. Retraumatized Adolescents
Background: In our analysis of adolescents affected by the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire, we observed many negative mental health effects in individuals with a prior history of psychological trauma. Elevated rates of depression and markers of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were observed, consistent with the hypothesis that prior trauma may reduce sensitivity thresholds for later psychopathology (stress sensitization). Surprisingly, levels of…
Mental Health Impacts of Wildfire, Flooding and Covid-19 on Fort McMurray School Board Staff and Other Employees
The study has established that likely PTSD symptoms were significantly higher in other employees compared to those of school board employees. Greater exposure to the traumatic events and a greater perceived lack of support from other employers might have contributed to the significantly higher prevalence of PTSD in other employees
Prevalence and Correlates of Likely Major Depressive Disorder among the Adult Population in Ghana during the Covid-19 Pandemic
This study has identified the prevalence and correlates of depression symptoms in Ghana during the COVID-19 pandemic. There is the urgent need for mental health policy makers and the government of Ghana to have policies in place to alleviate the potential threat to the mental health of the population
Mental Health Outreach via Supportive Text Messages during the Covid-19 Pandemic
Background: In March 2020, Alberta Health Services launched Text4Hope, a free mental health text-message service. The service aimed to alleviate pandemic-associated stress, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), major depressive disorder (MDD), and suicidal propensity. The effectiveness of Text4Hope was evaluated by comparing psychiatric parameters between two subscriber groups. Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study with two arms: Text4Hope s…
Medicine (49 obras) · Psychiatry (46 obras) · Psychology (42 obras) · Mental health (36 obras) · Clinical Psychology (30 obras) · Anxiety (26 obras) · Clinical Psychology (26 obras) · Environmental health (24 obras) · Depression (economics (20 obras) · Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research (18 obras)