Obesity, a major problem worldwide, is more prevalent among people with schizophrenia. This study examined the effect of behavior intervention, nutritional information and physical exercise on the body mass index (BMI) and weight of people who were hospitalized with persistent DSM-IV schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorders. Fifty nine inpatients with a BMI greater than 25 participated, (28 intervention group; 31 control group). Significant reductions in BMI and weight were observed in the intervention group after 3 months and were maintained 1-year post study [F(1,52) = 6.1, p = .017) and F(1,52) = 3.7, P = .006, respectively]. If provided with adequate information and an appropriate framework, people with persistent schizophrenia can significantly reduce BMI and weight and maintain the loss.

These findings highlight the importance of proximity of staff members to incidences of restraints. This may have implications in understanding the professional and social discourse concerning mechanical restraints.

Mental health nurses, tasked with the constant care of clients undergoing mental health treatment, have faced unique challenges arising from the uncertain outcomes of the COVID-19 pandemic. The shared exposure of both nurses and their patients to a traumatic event such this pandemic leads to additional challenges and ways of coping. The psychological effects of this shared trauma on mental health nurses arising from the pandemic are the subject of this study. An online survey was used to examine personal levels of anxiety and concern, personal and national resilience (NR), and posttraumatic growth (PTG) among 183 mental health nurses working in mental health services in Israel. Overall, the study revealed moderate levels of concern and relatively low levels of anxiety, with significant negative correlations between personal and NR and levels of concern and anxiety. Higher levels of personal and NR were related to lower levels of concern and anxiety, and there was a significant positive correlation between assessments of personal resilience and NR. A significant positive correlation was found between personal and NR and PTG. Higher religiosity was associated with higher resilience, and higher professional seniority was related to higher PTG. Finally, results for particular demographic subgroups indicate that in Israel, special attention should be given to those mental health nurses who have immigrated to Israel, are non-Jews or have less professional experience.

Rationale and Objective At the beginning of vaccination against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), information about the effects of the vaccine was not known and hesitancy was observed among the population. The mental health staff members in our center in Israel had to decide whether to get vaccinated or not. The objective of this study was to evaluate the differences in demographic characteristics of vaccinated and nonvaccinated mental health care workers (HCWs), and to identify their reasons for or against vaccination. Method Data on characteristics of 357 staff members at a mental health center (MHCS) in Israel and their attitudes regarding COVID‐19 vaccination, those who were nonvaccinated, were collected via anonymous questionnaires, from 1 January to 10 January 2021. The groups were then compared using χ 2 , Fisher's exact tests, t test or Mann–Whitney nonparametric test as appropriate. A logistic regression was then performed using the significant variables and odd ratios presented. Results Eighty‐one per cent of the sample received at least the first dose of the vaccine. Results indicated differences in seniority ( p < 0.001), profession ( p < 0.001), department ( p < 0.001), risk groups ( p < 0.05), religion ( p < 0.001), religiosity ( p < 0.001), previous care for COVID‐19 patients ( p < 0.05) and level of interaction with patients ( p < 0.01), between the vaccinated and nonvaccinated staff. The factor that was found to be most influential regarding vaccination and which convinced those originally against the vaccine to become vaccinated was the level of scientific knowledge about the vaccine. Conclusion Efforts and resources should focus on the dissemination of reliable scientific data about the vaccine, to increase vaccination rates among mental HCWs.

Israel's diverse culture presents challenges to the nation's health care system; lack of culturally appropriate care adversely affects overall quality of care. Therefore, cultural competence needs strengthening, especially among mental health nurses, for whom communication is the essence of treatment. The current study aimed to examine and evaluate the degree of cultural competence of mental health nurses in Israel. We sought to determine whether demographic variables, such as age, sex, and other characteristics, have effects on cultural competence. This study used a structured self-report questionnaire to survey 107 Israeli mental health nurses about their perceptions of their own cultural competence. Most participants attributed great importance to sociocultural aspects of patient care (mean score = 4, SD = 0.628) and were knowledgeable, but a majority (mean score = 3, SD = 0.83) reported difficulties implementing their knowledge during treatment. Cultural knowledge and awareness correlated with personal characteristics, such as sex and country of origin. There were gaps between cultural knowledge and the ability to apply existing knowledge in practice. A need exists not only for ongoing training in and maintenance of cultural knowledge, but also for tools to implement culturally appropriate care. [ Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 60 (11), 33–39.]