The mass expulsion and exile of Bhutanese de facto refugees to displaced camps in Nepal represents one of the world's most neglected humanitarian crises. We aimed to summarize the impact of the long-term displacement on refugee mental illness using systematic review techniques, a methodology seldom used in the humanitarian field. In order to examine the impact among the population and the association between tortured refugees over non-tortured refugees, we searched 11 electronic databases from inception to 12 May 2006. We additionally contacted researchers at the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and at the Centre for Victims of Torture, Kathmandu, and searched the websites of Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Relief-Web, and the US State Department. We included any studies that use a pre-defined protocol to determine mental illness within this population. Six studies met our inclusion criteria. All were conducted amongst the Bhutanese populations residing in Nepalese refugee camps, and include a sub-sample of 2,331 torture survivors residing in the camps, identified in 1995. All studies report a dramatically high incidence of mental illness including depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. Both tortured and non-tortured participants reported elevated rates of mental illness. Our review indicates that the prevalence of serious mental health disorders within this population is elevated. The reported incidence of torture is a possible contributor to the illnesses. The use of systematic review techniques strengthens the inference that systematic human rights violations were levied upon this population and that they continue to suffer as a result. The international community must resolve this protracted crisis.

Background: The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic has transformed medical education and is likely to have long-lasting effects on student learning, mental well-being, and eating behaviour. This study aimed to examine the learning behaviors of medical students at the American University of Integrative Sciences (AUIS), Barbados, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional web-based online survey was administered to medical students at AUIS from July until November 2021. The data collecting instrument recorded students’ demographic and learning behaviour information (Meo et al. 2020), and eating disorders (SCOFF questionnaire). Results: The overall response rate was 55% (n=120). In relation to learning behaviour, students agreed with the following statements: ‘deterioration in work performance and studying’ (48.4%), ‘remember subject’s contents appropriately’ (40.4%), ‘concentration on the studies’ (40.3%), ‘difficulty in performing two tasks simultaneously’ (38.7%), ‘difficulty in performing mental calculations’ (33.9%), ‘difficulty in recalling recent information’ (32.3%), and ‘difficulty in recalling old information’ (38.7%). Among the 8 dimensions of learning behaviors, deterioration in work performance or studying, and difficulties in recalling recent information were found to be significantly associated with the gender of the students. For SCOFF questionnaire, approximately 24.2% screened positive for eating disorders. Screening with the SCOFF test demonstrated that female, older (>25 years), overweight + obese, Clinical Sciences + PreMed, and non-USA-based students were at more risk of eating disorders. Conclusions: The results indicate that during the COVID-19 pandemic AUIS students have developed learning difficulties, and are likely to have eating disorders. University policymakers should take appropriate measures to support a healthy learning environment and improve students' mental well-being and eating behaviours.

Background: The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic has transformed medical education and is likely to have long-lasting effects on student learning, mental well-being, and eating behaviour. This study aimed to examine the learning behaviours of medical students at the American University of Integrative Sciences (AUIS), Barbados, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional web-based on-line survey was administered to medical students at AUIS from July to November 2021. The data collecting instrument recorded students’ demographic and learning behaviour information and eating disorders (SCOFF questionnaire). Results: The overall response rate was 55% (n = 120). In relation to learning behaviour, students agreed with the following statements: ‘deterioration in work performance and studying’ (48.4%), ‘remember subject’s contents appropriately’ (40.4%), ‘concentration on the studies’ (40.3%), ‘difficulty in performing two tasks simultaneously’ (38.7%), ‘difficulty in performing mental calculations’ (33.9%), ‘difficulty in recalling recent information’ (32.3%), and ‘difficulty in recalling old information’ (38.7%). Among the eight dimensions of learning behaviours, deterioration in work performance or studying and difficulties in recalling recent information were found to be significantly associated with the gender of the students. For the SCOFF questionnaire, approximately 24.2% screened positive for eating disorders. Screening with the SCOFF test demonstrated that females, older (>25 years), overweight + obese, Clinical Sciences + PreMed, and non-USA-based students were at more risk of eating disorders. Conclusions: The results indicate that during the COVID-19 pandemic, AUIS students have developed learning difficulties and are likely to have eating disorders. University policymakers should take appropriate measures to support a healthy learning environment and improve students’ mental well-being and eating behaviours.

El presente artículo tiene como objetivo profundizar en cómo los estigmas sociales asociados al hecho de ser joven con consumo problemático de sustancias y antecedentes de infracción de ley, tiene implicancias directas en el proceso de construcción del autoconcepto y elección ocupacional. Para abordar dicha temática, se desarrolló una revisión sistemática de literatura, donde se exploró el autoconcepto como limitante de la elección ocupacional en esta población. Para el desarrollo de la investigación fueron incluidos treinta y cinco artículos, en los cuales existía relación entre las palabras claves propuestas. Aun cuando no fue posible encontrar bibliografía que respondiera directamente a la pregunta de investigación, a través de la articulación de los resultados recogidos fue posible afirmar el supuesto planteado.