Exploring the impact of social protest on mental health: A study of the 2019 "Social Uprising" in Chile.

Socio-political conflicts, especially if accompanied by violent events, can affect the mental health of the population. This study aimed to estimate the causal effect of social protest-related violence on depressive symptoms during the 2019 social uprising in Chile. We collected population-representative data from a nationwide longitudinal survey (n = 2918), the fourth wave of which took place during the months of the social uprising in Chile (November 2019 and March 2020).

A Longitudinal Nationwide Study of Psychological Distress During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Chile.

Background: Despite numerous efforts to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, there are few longitudinal studies that examine the change in the burden of psychological distress over time and its associated factors, especially in developing countries.

Objective: The primary aim of this study was to assess the levels of psychological distress at two time points during the COVID-19 outbreak based on a representative community sample in Chile. The secondary aim was to identify groups that are more vulnerable to psychological distress during the pandemic.

Psychological distress during the COVID-19 epidemic in Chile: The role of economic uncertainty.

Previous research has shown that the COVID-19 outbreak, social distancing, and lockdown can affect people's psychological well-being. The aims of this study were (1) to estimate the extent to which perceptions and expectations regarding the social, economic, and domestic effects of the COVID-19 outbreak are associated with psychological distress and (2) to identify some demographic, psychosocial, and economic factors associated with increased vulnerability to psychological distress during the COVID-19 outbreak in Chile. 1078 people participated in a telephone survey between May 30 and June 10, 2020.

Feasibility and Acceptability of "Cuida tu Ánimo" (Take Care of Your Mood): An Internet-Based Program for Prevention and Early Intervention of Adolescent Depression in Chile and Colombia.

The rapid internet penetration in Latin American countries has made it possible to implement digital mental health interventions. "Cuida tu Ánimo" (Take Care of Your Mood) is an internet-based program for the prevention and early intervention of depression in adolescents. A pilot study was conducted in Chile and Colombia to study the feasibility and acceptability of the program and estimate its effects.

[Socioeconomic determinants and gender gaps in depressive symptoms in Chile].

Background: There are marked differences associated with socio-economic factors in the prevalence of depressive symptoms (DS) in men and women.

Aim: To estimate the association between socioeconomic status and DS in Chile and to estimate the gender gaps in this association.

Material And Methods: The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was applied as part of a socioeconomic survey carried out in a representative community sample (n = 2913).

Stigmatizing Beliefs and Attitudes to Depression in Adolescent School Students in Chile and Colombia.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) affects between 4 and 5% of adolescents. However, there is still a huge gap between adolescents who meet criteria for MDD and those who receive mental health care. Stigmatizing attitudes toward depression are among the main barriers to seeking professional help.

Subthreshold depression in adolescence: Gender differences in prevalence, clinical features, and associated factors.

Background: Subthreshold depression (SD) is an important mental health problem in adolescence given its high prevalence, comorbidity, and functional impairment. However, currently little is known about gender differences of SD in adolescence. The aim of this study was to examine gender differences in prevalence, clinical features, and associated factors in adolescents with subthreshold depressive episode (SDE).

Improving Mental Health Care in Developing Countries Through Digital Technologies: A Mini Narrative Review of the Chilean Case.

The uneven distribution of mental health resources contributes to the burden of mental disorders in vulnerable groups, especially in developing countries. Internet-based interventions and digital technologies can contribute to reducing the gap between high prevalence of mental disorders, demand for treatment, and access to mental health care, thereby reducing inequities in mental health. This mini review summarizes the current state of the field of e-mental health research in Chile, showing its progress, limitations, and challenges.

Internet-Based Interventions for the Prevention and Treatment of Mental Disorders in Latin America: A Scoping Review.

There is a huge gap in the treatment of mental disorders in Latin America, especially among socioeconomically disadvantaged groups. Given the sharp increase in Internet access and the rapid penetration of smartphones in the region, the use of Internet-based technologies might potentially contribute to overcoming this gap and to provide more widely distributed and low-cost mental health care in a variety of contexts. We conducted a scoping review of the literature in order to systematically map the existing evidence on use of Internet-based interventions for prevention, treatment, and management of mental disorders across Latin American countries, as well as to identify existing gaps in knowledge.