Adolescent Mental Health in The Middle East and North Africa (Global Perspectives on Health Geography)

This 2-volume set focuses on adolescent health in the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA), and presents the latest research on the health risk behaviours and social behaviours that adolescents from the MENA region engage in. While there has been a surge in peer-reviewed research publications on population health in the MENA region in the last couple of decades, very few books offer a resource to address the diverse negative influences that disproportionately affect adolescents and children in the MENA region, including increased tobacco consumption culture, low emphasis on physical activity, increased sedentary behaviours, weak health policies, and societal issues related to displacement and political conflicts. These books offer a synthesis of current knowledge on adolescent health issues in the MENA region, and aim to provide evidence-informed adolescent health care practices that address current issues related to mental, physical, reproductive and nutritional health. Volume 1 focuses on mental health in the MENA region, the development and implementation of youth friendly public policies, and how to strategize in the age of COVID-19. The study will aid health care professionals, policy makers, government organizations and health program planners to assess current policies and practices related to adolescent health in the MENA region, and to identify the best courses of action moving forward. Acknowledgments Contents Contributors Part I: Introduction Adolescent Mental Health in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA): Where Are We and Where Do We Go from Here? 1 Introduction 1.1 Current Status of Adolescent Mental Health Research in MENA 1.2 Future Areas of Research References Part II: Mental Health in the MENA There Is No Health Without Mental Health: The Middle East and North Africa 1 Context: Happy to Unhappy Arabia? 2 Method 3 Results 3.1 Depression Measuring Depression in the Arab World BDI Scores for Arab Youth 3.2 Eating Disorders Socioeconomic Perspective Sociocultural Perspective The Thin Body Cult in the Arabia 3.3 Eating Disorders in the Arab World 3.4 Rethinking Eating Disorders 4 Discussion 5 Conclusions References A Silent Epidemic of Depression Among Adolescents in the Middle East and North Africa Region: Emerging Tribulation 1 Introduction 2 The Middle East and North Africa (Mena) Region 3 Research Methodology 3.1 Characteristics of the Included Studies 4 Findings 4.1 Prevalence Rate of Depression Among Adolescents from the MENA Region 4.2 Risk Factors for Depression Gender Age Psychosocial Context Family History Political Climate 4.3 Consequences 5 Summary and Recommendations References ‘Cn I jus txt, coz I don wan 2b heard’: Understanding Mental Illness Stigma in Arab Youth’s Everyday Lives 1 Introduction 2 Section 1: What Is Mental Illness Stigma 2.1 What Is Mental Health? 2.2 Mental Illness Stigma Is a Social Determinant of Mental Health 2.3 The Stigma Process 2.4 Mental Illness Public Stigma and Self-Stigma 3 Section 2: MENA Mental Illness Stigma Rapid Review 3.1 Anxiety and Depression 3.2 Mental Illness and Negative Beliefs 3.3 Mental Illness Stigma and Help-Seeking 4 Section 3: Mental Illness Stigma Research: A Way Forward 4.1 Making Sense of Depression 4.2 A New Zealand Social Media Mental Health Intervention 4.3 Youthline: ‘Cn I jus txt, coz I don wan 2b heard’ 5 Summary References Part III: Policy and Programs Needs That Target Adolescent Mental Health in the MENA Developing and Implementing Youth-Friendly Public Policies: A Perspective into the Arab Region 1 Introduction 2 Methodology 2.1 Data Extraction and Search Process 2.2 Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria 3 Results 3.1 Palestine 3.2 Lebanon 3.3 Egypt 3.4 Tunisia 4 Discussion References Adolescent Health in Saudi Arabia: Policy Dimensions 1 Introduction 2 Methodology 3 Results 3.1 Adolescent Demographics 3.2 Adolescent Health Needs, Conditions, and Causes 3.3 Consolidations Toward Policy-Directive Dimensions 4 Conclusions References Health Policies of Adolescents in the Middle East and North Africa: Past Experiences, Current Scene, and Future Strategic Directions 1 Part 1: The Landscape of Health Policies and Stakeholders of Adolescents in the MENA Region and Evidence from the Ground 1.1 Introduction 1.2 A Comprehensive Overview of the Sociopolitical and Biosocial Conditions in the MENA Adolescent Health Policies and SDGs in the MENA Region Stakeholders Involved and Their Contributions Adolescence Health Policies: Case Studies from the Region (Sudan, Palestine, and Lebanon) Sudan Palestine Lebanon The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 2 Part 2: What Works, What Doesn’t in the Health Policies of Adolescents in the Middle East and North Africa, How the COVID-19 Impacted on Adolescence, and How Do We Strategize from Needs and Priorities lens 2.1 General Discussion: A Perspective on the Past and Current Scenes Adolescents Amid the Coronavirus Pandemic Psychosocial Impacts of COVID-19 on Adolescents Globally The Needs and Priorities of Adolescents at the Policy Level in the MENA Region 2.2 Conclusion and Future Roadmap for Policy Development of Adolescent Health in MENA 2.3 Public Health Policy and Intervention Recommendations in the MENA Region 2.4 Future Outlook and Critical Questions for Consideration References Index