Men and women experience different kinds of mental health problems. While women exceed men in internalizing disorders such as depression and anxiety, men exhibit more externalizing disorders such as substance abuse and antisocial behavior, which are problematic for others. These differences also vary by race and social class: for example, African Americans possess better mental health and, thus, a smaller gender gap in psychiatric problems. What explains these differences? We concentrate on conceptions of gender and gender practices. Research on gender and mental health suggests that conceptions of masculinity and femininity affect major risk factors for internalizing and externalizing problems, including the stressors men and women are exposed to, the coping strategies they use, the social relationships they engage in, and the personal resources and vulnerabilities they develop. This chapter investigates explanations in these areas for gender differences both in general and by race and class.

Gender and mental health.

The chapter addresses the stigma associated with mental illnesses. It begins by summarizing the development of thinking about labeling and stigma over the past half century within the field of the sociology of mental health. This background leads to our consideration of recent advances in the conceptualization of stigma as we ask: What is stigma? How do different stigmatizing circumstances (mental illness, obesity, facial disfigurement) resemble and differ from one another? We also ask: Why do people stigmatize? In keeping with the Handbook’s emphasis on social class and socioeconomic status (SES), we introduce the concept of “stigma power” and apply this new concept to the questions of “What do people gain by stigmatizing others?” and “How is stigma power exercised?” Finally, we consider the steps people take to avoid, mitigate, or overcome stigma, drawing in particular on Thoits’ (Soc Psychol Q 74:6–28, 2011) theoretical statements about this issue. The conceptual growth that has taken place over time opens enormous possibilities for advancing the sociological understanding of mental illness stigma and by doing so helps to illuminate ways in which the effects of stigma might be mitigated.

Labeling and Stigma

Key Points Question Is SARS-CoV-2 messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccination associated with risk of myocarditis? Findings In a cohort study of 23.1 million residents across 4 Nordic countries, risk of myocarditis after the first and second doses of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines was highest in young males aged 16 to 24 years after the second dose. For young males receiving 2 doses of the same vaccine, data were compatible with between 4 and 7 excess events in 28 days per 100 000 vaccinees after second-dose BNT162b2, and between 9 and 28 per 100 000 vaccinees after second-dose mRNA-1273. Meaning The risk of myocarditis in this large cohort study was highest in young males after the second SARS-CoV-2 vaccine dose, and this risk should be balanced against the benefits of protecting against severe COVID-19 disease.

SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination and Myocarditis in a Nordic Cohort Study of 23 Million Residents

Research on well-being across the life course usually maps the average levels of depression and anxiety. The predominant type of distress shifts from active (anxiety and anger) to passive (depression) as person's age. This chapter describes the emotional trajectories of adulthood and the five views of age which includes maturity, decline, life-cycle stage, generation, and survival helps researchers understand why emotions change as people age. It also discusses the conditions and beliefs that change across adulthood, shaping the trajectories of emotions. A number of factors come together to produce the low and declining sense of control observed among old Americans. They represent many aspects of age, including physical decline; the life cycle of employment, earnings, and marriage; and the generational trends in education and women's employment. Emotional well-being in old age rests on economic, interpersonal, and physical well-being built throughout adult life.

Mental Illness and the Criminal Justice System

Abstract Cases of myocarditis and pericarditis have been reported following the receipt of Covid-19 mRNA vaccines. As vaccination campaigns are still to be extended, we aimed to provide a comprehensive assessment of the association, by vaccine and across sex and age groups. Using nationwide hospital discharge and vaccine data, we analysed all 1612 cases of myocarditis and 1613 cases of pericarditis that occurred in France in the period from May 12, 2021 to October 31, 2021. We perform matched case-control studies and find increased risks of myocarditis and pericarditis during the first week following vaccination, and particularly after the second dose, with adjusted odds ratios of myocarditis of 8.1 (95% confidence interval [CI], 6.7 to 9.9) for the BNT162b2 and 30 (95% CI, 21 to 43) for the mRNA-1273 vaccine. The largest associations are observed for myocarditis following mRNA-1273 vaccination in persons aged 18 to 24 years. Estimates of excess cases attributable to vaccination also reveal a substantial burden of both myocarditis and pericarditis across other age groups and in both males and females. 

/pdf/age-and-sex-specific-risks-of-myocarditis-and-pericarditis-1s161xou.pdf

Age and sex-specific risks of myocarditis and pericarditis following Covid-19 messenger RNA vaccines

Myocarditis after BNT162b2 Vaccination in Israeli Adolescents

methods: We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study in two primary care clinics in southern Israel, with 11,630 persons listed in the two clinics during the entire study period. The primary outcome measures were total annual number of visits per person to the clinic and for specific diagnoses, and the number of drug prescriptions issued, emergency room (ER) visits, hospitalization days, cardiac catheterizations and coronary bypass surgeries. results: In both clinics there was an increase over time in the mean annual number of visits per person. During the years of severe attacks there was an increase in visits with a chief complaint of depression and anxiety and an increase in the number of anxiolytic prescriptions in the study clinic compared with the control. During the same period there was a decrease in the number of ER visits in the study clinic compared with the control. conclusions: The population under continuous life-threatening events showed more depression and anxiety problems. under severe bombardment, the residents prefer not to leave home, unless necessary. IMAJ 2013; 15: 414–418 family medicine, primary care, health services utilization, war, terror, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

/pdf/health-services-utilization-under-qassam-rocket-attacks-3jh5lhnczh.pdf

Health services utilization under Qassam rocket attacks.

Following the report of an excess in paediatric cases of severe acute hepatitis of unknown aetiology by the United Kingdom (UK) on 5 April 2022, 427 cases were reported from 20 countries in the World Health Organization European Region to the European Surveillance System TESSy from 1 January 2022 to 16 June 2022. Here, we analysed demographic, epidemiological, clinical and microbiological data available in TESSy. Of the reported cases, 77.3% were 5 years or younger and 53.5% had a positive test for adenovirus, 10.4% had a positive RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 and 10.3% were coinfected with both pathogens. Cases with adenovirus infections were significantly more likely to be admitted to intensive care or high-dependency units (OR = 2.11; 95% CI: 1.18–3.74) and transplanted (OR = 3.36; 95% CI: 1.19–9.55) than cases with a negative test result for adenovirus, but this was no longer observed when looking at this association separately between the UK and other countries. Aetiological studies are needed to ascertain if adenovirus plays a role in this possible emergence of hepatitis cases in children and, if confirmed, the mechanisms that could be involved.

https://www.eurosurveillance.org/deliver/fulltext/eurosurveillance/27/31/eurosurv-27-31-3.pdf?containerItemId=content/eurosurveillance&itemId=/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2022.27.31.2200483&mimeType=pdf

Lital Goldberg

Papers

Myocarditis after BNT162b2 Vaccination in Israeli Adolescents

Health services utilization under Qassam rocket attacks.

Hepatitis of unknown aetiology in children – epidemiological overview of cases reported in Europe, 1 January to 16 June 2022

Myocarditis After BNT162b2 COVID-19 Third Booster Vaccine in Israel