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The present study aims to investigate prospective teachers’ (PTs’) and secondary students’ (SSs’) ideas related to environmental issues. A case study design was adopted in this study. SSs (n = 100) who received instruction on environmental issues and PTs (n = 150) who attended courses concerning environmental education were participated in this study. An open-ended questionnaire was designed and used as a data collection tool. Written answers of the participants were analysed in ideographic terms. The results of the study showed that the PTs held a range of alternative ideas similar to SSs. They both linked environmental problems which were irrelevant with cause–effect chain. Yet, PTs provided a more scientific definitions regarding greenhouse effect, global warming and ozone layer depletion as compared to SSs.   Keywords: Global environmental issues, prospective teachers, secondary students, environmental education, greenhouse effect, global warming, ozone layer depletion.  

Smoking is the most common cause of preventable mortality and morbidity worldwide. In the fight against tobacco physicians take active role. The objective of this study is to determine the rate and patterns of tobacco use among students of Marmara University School of Medicine (MUSM). This is a cross sectional study carried out in MUSM. The study population were all students studying in the 5th and 6th grades. Data were collected through questionnaires. The questionnaire form included sociodemographics, tobacco usepatterns, quitting attitudes and experiences. Among 410 students, 328 participated. Among all 56.1% were 5th year and 43.9% were 6th year students. The median age was 24 and 55.8% were female. 22.6% of the participants were current smoker. 33.8% of males and 13.7% of females are smoking (p:0,001). Common reasons for starting to smoke were the influence of close friends (11.3%), curosity (8.2%), stress (4.6%). Of the participants, 8.5% had smoked waterpipe. 28.4% of the current smokers still smoke waterpipe, 46.2% had tried to quit more than once and 13.5% wished to quit but had never tried to quit. 40.2% of the participants whose close friend smokes and %44.4 whose partner smokes are current smokers (p:0.001). %70 of current smokers tried at least one time electronic cigarette (p:0.001). Approximately one fourt of the students are current smokers, higher in men. Those who smoked cigarettes had high affinity for waterpipe, electronic cigarettes. Electronic cigarette is fast rising trend daily. Starting smoking and quitting is influenced by close friends and partners. Key messages The primary goal should be to stop the smokers and prevent the start of the smokers. Information should be made on the harms of electronic cigarettes and the community should be informed.

University time is one of the most challenging periods of a person’s life. It’s also peak period of many mental illnesses. Mental disorders are the most important cause of disability in people aged 10-24 and contribute to 45% of the disease burden. The aim of this study is to determine the frequency of mental illness of university students in the research population and to assess the possible risk factors. This study is a cross-sectional study. 345 students systematically selected by population weighting method were included in the study. Dependent variable of the study is depression, generalized anxiety, bipolar disorder and presence of psychotic symptoms. Mental disorders were evaluated using the CIDI and the DSM-5 Oriented Diagnostic Interview Form. 30.1% of the students had depression, 25.2% had generalized anxiety disorder, 9% had bipolar disorder and 2.9% had psychotic symptoms. The mean age of the participants is 20.4 ± 1.6. According to the binary logistic regression analysis, mother with mental problems, sexual abuse, person with special needs in family, pessimistic personality were found as risk factors for depression. Female gender, stay in a dormitory, poor economic condition of the family, mother with mental problems, alcohol/substance use of parent, pessimistic personality, lack of confidence were risk factors for generalized anxiety disorder. Alcohol use was risk factor for bipolar disorder. Poor academic achievement, having the family excluded by society were risk factors for psychotic symptoms. Average income level was a protective factor for bipolar disorder. Approximately one out of every 3 students use alcohol, and one out of every 20 students found to be at risk by using drugs. The incidence of mental disorders in university students is high. Many factors play a role in the emergence of mental problems. Early recognition of mental disorders, effective control and intervention studies are highly valuable in universities. Key messages The social negative attitude developed against psychiatric diseases and patients has a direct effect on the prevention, early recognition and treatment of mental disorders. University students should be seen as a risky group for substance use, policies should be developed to prevent substance use at universities immediately.