Stigma of mental disorders (SMD) can negatively affect interactions with patients and the quality of care (Al-Natour A, 2021). Religiosity is believed to increase stigma because religionists interpret mental health problems as a punishment or test from God (alHarbi H, 2023). Islam is perceived by the Kazakh population as part of their ethnic identity, although it does not have a dominant influence on people's behavior (Sultangaliyeva A., 1998).The aim of the study was to compare the SMD among nurses according to attitudes towards religion.A survey study was conducted among 214 nurses in Western Kazakhstan. The average age was 36.8 (SD 11.3) years. 150 respondents considered themselves deeply religious, 36 did not profess any religion, the rest found it difficult to answer. SMD was measured in 14 statements on a Likert scale from “completely disagree” to “completely agree”. The questionnaire was created considering the cultural specificities of the country and meet high requirements for factor validation and reliability. We found no statistically significant differences between the responses of religious and non-religious nurses. Stigma in both groups regarding depression and suicide is higher than in European countries, but comparable to Asian indicators. Nurses in both groups equally believed that depression is a sign of weakness, on the one hand, but disagreed with their condemnation, on the other. Paradoxically, religious nurses were less likely to agree with the statement “Religion has condemned suicide in the harshest way for centuries, therefore, this is the right message for our time” than atheists (9.3% (95% CI 5-15.6%) vs 27.8% (95% CI 14.2-45.2%), RR 0.504 (95% CI 0.261-0.975), which, probably due to the peculiarities of Islam in Kazakhstan.Our study did not reveal a risk of discrimination against patients with mental disorders by nurses related to religiosity, but monitoring and preventive interventions in nursing education are needed.SMD among nurses is widespread, but their religiosity does not worsen their attitude towards patients with mental illness. Further research in this area is needed to develop interventio ns to reduce SMD.

In Belgium, about one in ten people use an antidepressant (AD) and almost one in five use benzodiazepines or Z-drugs (BZRA), often for much longer than recommended. In 2025, the Psychotropics: 10 Days (Psychofarmaca 10-daagse / Psychotropes : 10 jours de sensibilisation) national campaign was launched for the first time from 1–10 October 25, during the 10 Days of Mental Health. The campaign promotes the appropriate use of ADs and BZRA, focusing not only on less initiation but also on more reviewing long-term use and discontinuing when appropriate.Increase awareness among healthcare professionals such as clinicians, pharmacists, and psychotherapists and patients about the risks of long-term AD and BZRA use. Facilitate communication between healthcare providers and patients regarding AD and BZRA.Inspired by the Choosing Wisely movement, the campaign is clinician-led, evidence-based, and multidisciplinary, supported by professional associations of general practitioners, pharmacists, and psychologists, the Belgian Centre for Pharmacotherapeutic Information, the Belgian Psychotropics Expert Platform, and Ghent University. The four key calls to action were: (1) for sleep problems, start with non-pharmacological advice; (2) for depressive symptoms, start with dialogue before prescribing; (3) for long-term BZRA use, plan gradual tapering; and (4) for long-term AD use, review regularly. Campaign materials included a bilingual website (psychofarmaca10daagse.be / psychotropes10jours.be), visuals, downloadable posters (“Sleeping pills and antidepressants: start? forever?”), podcasts with Belgian experts on depression, sleep, and tapering, and videos.The campaign reached a broad audience of primary care professionals. Dissemination through newsletters of the professional organizations and social media increased visibility. The campaign website received over 3,500 visitors, and engagement with podcasts and videos was positive.The campaign raised awareness among healthcare professionals and encouraged dialogue about rational AD and BZRA use; however, yearly initiatives will be necessary, involving more partners across both regions of the country to ensure broader reach and sustained impact.The Psychotropics: 10 Days campaign raises awareness and empowers healthcare professionals and patients to initiate and maintain open conversations about ADs and BZRA use. By fostering dialogue and providing evidence-based resources, the campaign contributes to promoting more appropriate use of ADs and BZRA  in Belgium.

Scientific research on extending forgiveness to others is roughly 40 years old.  Since its inception there have been thousands of articles written on the topic showing that extending forgiveness to others is good for one’s personal physical and emotional health. Benefits include decreases in stomachaches, headaches, anxiety, depression, heart disease, diabetes, and more.1) Review the important scientific literature on extending forgiveness. 2) Relate our experience of applying this information to incarcerated individuals.Material in books, journal articles, and from the internet were reviewed. Important principles of extending forgiveness were collated. Focus was placed on health benefits of forgiveness and on the steps required to extend forgiveness to others.We identified skills that can help a person extend forgiveness and become a more forgiving person. Results of the research were written up into a course curriculum designed to be taught in 1-hour weekly group meetings over a 3-month period. This curriculum was integrated into Religious Services at the Utah State Correctional Facility, USA (UDC). Two cohorts completed the curriculum- one group of incarcerated men and one group of incarcerated women.The health benefits to the individual extending forgiveness are many. More importantly, the ability to extend forgiveness can be taught and can be learned. Our implementation of these principles at UDC exceeded our expectations. Women and men in our course were less angry and more accepting of the humanity of others after taking the course. Our experience parallelled those of inmates elsewhere who have learned how to forgive. Similar results exist with refugees, trauma victims, war survivors, and others.Learning how to and the practice of extending forgiveness is a well-established means to improve the quality of life for those who have been injured. With the turmoil in today’s world, these results are relevant to all of our patients. We suggest that information on forgiveness be readily available to PCPs to distribute to patients who express interest in such.

Fatigue is highly prevalent among healthcare workers and is associated with impaired health, reduced productivity, and increased occupational risk. Fatigue assessment using standardized scales may provide a practical approach for identifying workers at risk of functional decline and guiding workplace health promotion strategies. However, its association with objectively measured physical fitness remains unclear in occupational healthcare settings.This study aimed to examine whether moderate-to-severe personal or work-related fatigue, assessed using validated fatigue scales, is independently associated with physical fitness performance, such as muscle strength, muscle endurance, flexibility, cardiorespiratory fitness, and grip strength among hospital employees.In this multicenter, cross-sectional study, personal and work-related fatigue were assessed using validated scales, and participants were categorized into mild or moderate-to-severe fatigue groups. Independent t-tests were conducted to compare demographic characteristics and physical fitness parameters between fatigue groups. Multivariate linear regression analyses were performed to examine associations between fatigue severity and physical fitness outcomes, particularly muscle strength and muscle endurance, adjusting for potential confounders.A total of 365 hospital employees were enrolled, with a mean age of approximately 45 years. Compared with employees reporting mild fatigue, those in the moderate-to-severe fatigue group were significantly younger (43.2 vs. 46.1 years, p < 0.05), exhibited poorer muscle strength and endurance as measured by sit-up normative scores (3.54 vs. 3.94, p < 0.05), and had lower overall physical fitness scores (11.8 vs. 12.7, p < 0.05). After multivariable adjustment, moderate-to-severe fatigue remained independently associated with lower muscle strength and endurance (β = −0.10; 95% CI: −0.19 to −0.01; p = 0.026). Compared with employees reporting mild fatigue, those with moderate-to-severe fatigue demonstrated an approximately 0.1-point reduction in muscle strength and endurance performance.Fatigue severity, assessed using standardized scales, was independently associated with poorer muscle strength and endurance, suggesting that fatigue may capture aspects of functional health status not fully reflected by traditional cardiometabolic or anthropometric indicators.Fatigue assessment may serve as a scalable and actionable tool for healthcare employers to identify workers at risk of functional decline and to guide targeted workplace health promotion and fatigue management strategies. Keywords (MeSH Terms) Fatigue; Physical Fitness; Workplace Health Promotion

Chronic stress has a far-reaching impact on health, behavior, and patient–provider interaction. In general practice, many patients present with complaints in which chronic, often hidden, stress plays an important role. Chronic stress is also a major driver of health inequalities, disproportionately affecting people in socially and economically vulnerable circumstances and contributing to persistent poorer health outcomes. Altough chronic stress is common, It is often difficult to recognize, explain clearly, and address effectively. To support general practitioners and practice nurses, the Dutch Centre for Health Disparities (Pharos) developed a training programme with conversation charts and animated videos. These materials were co-created with people with lived experience and public health experts to ensure accessibility and relevance for diverse patient populations.Recognize and interpret signs of stress during consultations Discuss causes of stress in a non-stigmatizing way Explain stress and its effects on body and behavior in understandable language, using visual tools Collaborate with patients on solutions, self-care, and referral when neededThe workshop uses case-based discussions, role-play consultations, conversation charts, and action-planning exercises to translate insights into daily practice. Schedule 0–10m  Introduction Overview of workshop goals, relevance to general practice, and brief participant check-in. 10–25m Understanding chronic stress Explanation of chronic stress, including effects on physiology, behavior, and decision-making, links with health inequalities,impact on patient–provider interactions. 25–45m  Case-based exploration Discussion of 1–2 realistic general practice cases focusing on recognizing stress signals, understanding patient behavior, and exploring help-seeking patterns. 45–65m  Practising the consultation Hands-on role-play using conversation charts to practice explaining chronic stress, exploring stressors, and aligning explanations with patient perspectives. 65–80m  From insight to action Participants identify concrete changes for their own consultations 80–90m  Wrap-up Key take-home messages, overview of materialsParticipants gain practical language and tools to address chronic stress directly in the consultation. Stress-sensitive working supports shared understanding, patient self-care, appropriate referral, and more person-centred, equitable, and integrated primary care.Stress-sensitive working equips professionals with practical knowledge, shared language, and accessible tools to recognize and address chronic stress in everyday care. By combining theory, case-based learning, and experiential practice, this workshop supports more person-centred, equitable, and integrated care.

Jordan is a lower-middle-income country with a population of 11.5 million (49% females). Eight out of ten (83%) live in cities and the rest in rural areas and desert. This study was conducted in Amman, the capital of Jordan that demonstrates the Jordanian's society sociocultural texture.Domestic violence affected women globally during the covid-19 crisis that changed the social and economic aspects of many humans’ lives. This study aimed to explore the perceptions of social workers about the effects of covid-19 pandemic and its restrictions on domestic violence in Jordan.Qualitative study conducted from February to July 2022 in Amman, Jordan. The data were collected through individual in-depth interviews with 20 social workers who worked in different Family and Juvenile Protection centers throughout Amman city, to explore their perceptions about the status of violence against women during the coronavirus pandemic. The data was analyzed using latent content analysis.We were able to recognize two themes from the narratives; The First Theme was: Covid- 19 fear and restrictions aggravated the barriers and impacted reaching out and access to social services. This theme was built on two categories: Prevailing socio-cultural hushing especially among less privileged women; the victim’s ambivalence between the risk of exposure to the virus versus her fear from the perpetrator. The Second Theme was: COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions generated tremendous stress for victims, perpetrators, and social workers. This theme was constructed on four categories: the increase in the incidence of domestic abuse during the pandemic; the increase of socio-economic hardships; the increase in alcohol and drug abuse by victims and their abusers; and the social workers’ concern about the accessibility to ask for help during the quarantine.There has been a noticeable increase in domestic violence in Jordan during covid-19 crisis attributed to many factors such as spending a lot of time with the abusers and tremendous difficulty to access family protection departments.Empowering women and providing psychosocial support to both victims and perpetrators can prevent and decrease the hazardous impact of domestic violence. This is crucial to protect vulnerable women and save their lives during crisis.