Background. An essential strategy to increase coverage of psychosocial treatments globally is task shifting to non-medical counsellors, but evidence on its effectiveness is still scarce. This study evaluates the effectiveness of lay psychosocial counselling among persons with psychological distress in a primary health care setting in rural Nepal. Methods. A parallel randomized controlled trial in Dang, rural Nepal (NCT03544450). Persons aged 16 and older attending primary care and with a General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) score of 6 or more were randomized (1:1) to receive either non-medical psychosocial counselling (PSY) or enhanced usual care (EUC). PSY was provided by lay persons with a 6-month training and consisted of 5-weekly counselling sessions of 35–60 min with a culturally adapted solution-focused approach. EUC was provided by trained primary health workers. Participants were followed up at 1 (T1) and 6 months (T2). The primary outcome, response to treatment, was the reduction of minimum 50% in the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) score. Results. A total of 141 participants, predominantly socially disadvantaged women, were randomized to receive PSY and 146 to EUC. In the PSY, 123 participants and 134 in the EUC were analysed. In PSY, 101 participants (81.4%) had a response compared with 57 participants (42.5%) in EUC [percentage difference 39.4% (95% CI 28.4–50.4)]. The difference in BDI scores at T2 between PSY and EUC was −7.43 (95% CI −9.71 to −5.14). Conclusions. Non-medical (lay) psychosocial counselling appears effective in reducing depressive symptoms, and its inclusion in mental health care should be considered in low-resource settings.

Depression is one of the most important psychosocial problems in later life

The authors of Markkula, et al (2019), would like to acknowledge the help and support given throughout the process by Dr Bhogendra Sharma, President of Centre for Victims of Torture.

Children in the age group of 5 to 14 years constitute 30% of the total population. Children undergo a dynamic period of physical, mental, emotional, and social changes. These changes influence the child's overall development, specifically the academic and social outcomes. The aim was to evaluate the effect of educational guidelines on newly mothers' knowledge, practices regarding behavioral problems of children. Subjects and method: Design: A quasi-experimental research design was utilized to achieve the aim of this study. Setting: the study was conducted in the pediatric outpatient clinic at Mansoura University Hospital. Subjects: A purposive sample of 50 newly mothers were included. Three tools were used: Tool (I) an interview questionnaire, Tool (II) mothers ' knowledge regarding behavioral problems of children (pre/post), and Tool (III) mothers ' practice regarding behavioral problems of children (pre/post). Results: The study result showed that newly mothers' levels of knowledge regarding behavioral problems of children and practice have dramatically improved after the implementation of the educational guidelines with statistically significant differences between pre-post educational guidelines implementation. There were statistically significant relations between newly mothers' level of knowledge regarding behavioral problems of children and practice. Conclusion: The present study concluded that educational guidelines implementation had a positive effect on improving newly mothers' knowledge and practices regarding behavioral problems of children. Recommendations: The study recommended educational guidelines regarding behavioral problems of children should be conducted, discussed, integrated into the educational programs, and taught to the newly mothers using the booklet and illustrated pamphlets for each one to improve their knowledge and practices.

Background: End of Life care is a critical topic for pediatric patients with terminal conditions, aiming at improving their life in spite of prognosis. It is the most traumatic aspect of pediatric nursing due to unpleasant sensations and experiences that obstruct nurses' abilities to apply satisfactory care regarding End of Life. Aim: to identify the association between self-rated anxiety and attitude responses of pediatric nurses surveyed about providing End of Life care. Method: A descriptive correlational design was utilized. The sample composed of 48 nurses in neonatal and pediatric intensive care units in general hospitals in Port Said Governorate. Tools: The 20-item state anxiety questionnaire and the nurses' attitudes toward pediatric end of life care were used to collect data. Results: 46.8% of the studied nurses had demonstrated generally positive attitude toward End of Life care. 33.3% of them had tendered to reported sometimes to have anxiety symptoms, there is a statistical significant relation between level of anxiety and the attitude toward areas with comfort in discussing the pediatric End of Life care, and physician involvement. Conclusion & Recommendation: positive attitude of pediatric nurses concerning End of Life care. Moreover, negative nurses' attitude toward the benefits of pediatric nursing care relating End of Life, and there was a statistical significant relation between level of anxiety and the attitude toward comfort in discussing the pediatric nursing care regarding End of Life, and physician involvement. Therefore, The study findings emphasize the need for acquainting pediatric nurses with effective coping strategies to overcome anxiety to improve their attitude toward End of Life care.