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The Hindu
09-07-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
NIMHANS study finds higher degrees of depression among ‘severely injured' road traffic accident victims
A recent study by a team of researchers from NIMHANS has found higher degrees of depression among 'severely injured' Road Traffic Accident (RTA) victims. Aimed at understanding the 'quality of life', anxiety, and depression levels among the victims of RTA, the study has recommended that following medical treatment, RTA victims and their families must undergo psychosocial counselling to lessen their anxiety and enhance their quality of life. The study titled Quality of life, anxiety and depression among non-fatal road traffic accidents victims in South India was published in Social Sciences and Humanities Open, an open access scientific journal, on June 28. Financial hardship Road traffic accidents, whether fatal or non-fatal, can be the cause of substantial financial hardships and significant mental health issues to victims and their families. While several studies done in the past have shown that RTAs lead to stigma, stress and anxiety, depression and economic burden on individuals and their families, there are a limited number of studies available on the association between RTA victims' quality of life (QoL) and their stressful conditions. QoL assessment is widely used for many ailments, for instance on stroke-affected, hypertensive, and diabetic patients. 'These conditions and their relationship with QoL have been reported in many studies. However, there is no Indian research available on depression, anxiety or the quality of life among RTA victims. Our study recommends that psychosocial counselling following medical treatment is a must for RTA victims and their families,' Palaniappan Marimuthu, professor and head of the Department of Biostatistics at NIMHANS, told The Hindu. Non-fatal RTA victims 'The objective of this paper is to understand depression among non-fatal RTA victims in terms of quality of life, anxiety and associated socio-demographic variables. This paper is part of a larger study funded by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR),' said Dr. Marimuthu, who is the corresponding author of the study. For the study, the researchers randomly selected a total of 407 non-fatal RTA victims from the State Crime Record Bureaus (SCRBs) of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Data collection was done using socio-demographic and accident information, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and WHO Quality of Life tools. 'The four domains of QoL (physical health, psychological health, social relationships, and environment) apart from education and age were employed along with the Quantile Regression approach to examine how they affect the dependent variable of depression score. Non-fatal victims were classified into 'Severely Injured' and 'No Serious Injury'. When age, education and expenditure on RTA treatment were compared, except age the other two variables were statistically significant. The four domains of QoL also significantly differed between these two groups,' the doctor explained. Anxiety as variable Manoj Kumar Sharma, professor at the Department of Clinical Psychology, who also heads SHUT Clinic at NIMHANS and is part of the research team for this study, said anxiety is the most important variable which contributed in almost all the quantiles of depression followed by psychological health, social relationship, environmental health and age of the RTA victims. Asserting the importance of not using mobile phones while driving, Dr. Sharma said using a phone while driving distracts the driver's attention from the road, slows reaction time, and increases the chances of accidents. 'Even a few seconds of looking at a screen can lead to a serious crash. Safe driving requires full concentration on the surroundings, road signs, and other vehicles, which is impossible if someone is texting or calling. Therefore, avoiding mobile phone use while driving helps ensure safety for everyone on the road,' he added.
Epoch Times
25-04-2025
- Health
- Epoch Times
Gardening and Farming May Improve Mental Health, Self-Worth: Study
People seeking a mental health boost might just find the answer in the great outdoors. New research shows that when doctors 'prescribe' nature-based activities, like gardening and farming, patients experience significant reductions in anxiety and depression while reporting substantial increases in overall happiness. 'There is also something to be said for connecting with nature in the company of other people who live in the same place as you,' Peter Coventry, professor of environment and mental health in the Department of Health Sciences at the University of York, said in a Benefits of Nature-Based Activities Green social prescribing is a type of treatment that encourages people to engage in activities in nature, such as community gardening and outdoor exercise, to improve their mental and physical health. The new UK Published in Health & Social Care in the Community, researchers evaluated a green social prescribing program that ran between February 2022 and March 2023 in Humber and North Yorkshire. Participants were surveyed for their overall life satisfaction and well-being, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale for symptoms of anxiety and depression. Related Stories 3/31/2025 4/5/2025 After doing outdoor activities in nature, participants reported: Life satisfaction scores increased from an average of 5.10 to 6.67 Feelings of personal worth improved from 5.36 to 6.84 Happiness levels rose from 5.15 to 6.71 Anxiety levels decreased from 5.35 to 4.06 'Anxiety and depression can often be born out of loneliness and feelings of disconnectedness, so it makes sense that taking part in shared activities close to home—especially those that involve caring for and improving your local environment—can help lift mood and reduce anxiety,' Coventry said. Participants who engaged in green activities for longer periods of three to four months experienced greater improvements than those who participated for only one to four weeks. Longer participation led to an average increase of 1.27 points in life satisfaction scores and a 1.35-point improvement in happiness. According to researchers, the reported improvements were similar to those achieved with short-term cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)—where someone meets one-on-one with a therapist from six weeks to a year or more—suggesting activities in nature could complement or potentially serve as alternatives to traditional therapy approaches. CBT is a form of psychotherapy that helps people identify and change negative thinking and behavioral patterns. The type of activity also influenced the degree of mental health improvement. Participants in horticultural and care-farming activities showed greater improvements in their sense of worth and happiness than those engaged in sports or creative activities. The positive effects were consistent across all age groups, from 18 to 85, and across both sexes. 'This intervention might not work for everyone, but through an initial exploratory conversation, a social prescriber will discuss with a patient or user of the service if nature-based activities would be suited to them,' Trish Darcy, research associate from the University's Mental Health and Addiction Research Group, said in the statement. How Nature Benefits Mental Health Spending time in nature helps calm your mind and reduce stress by giving your brain a break from constant noise, screens, and everyday pressures, Sanam Hafeez, a neuropsychologist and director at Comprehend the Mind in New York, told The Epoch Times. 'Natural settings, like parks or gardens, help people feel more relaxed and focused because they're less overwhelming than busy city environments,' she said. Activities like walking, hiking, or gardening get the body moving and boost chemicals in the brain—like endorphins and serotonin—that improve mood and energy. Sunshine exposure during outdoor activities helps the body produce vitamin D, which plays a significant role in maintaining mood stability and supporting overall health. 'Nature also helps you feel more present and mindful, which can lower anxiety and stop negative thoughts from spiraling,' Hafeez added. Psychologically, being in nature can facilitate mindfulness, Dr. Mike McGrath, board-certified psychiatrist and chief clinical officer at The Ohana Addiction Treatment Center in Hawaii, told The Epoch Times. 'This can help us feel more relaxed and calm.' However, he said, while outdoor physical activity can be beneficial, moderate to intense exercise, such as high-intensity interval training, could actually increase stress hormone (cortisol) levels. 'Sports, in particular, can be competitive,' he added. 'Which can also increase pressure and stress and raise levels of cortisol.' Although exercising can be helpful for mental and physical health, he added, taking a relaxing nature walk is 'simply more calming' than many forms of exercise. Patients can access green social prescribing programs through their primary care provider, by speaking with a 'link worker' who can facilitate referrals to local nature-based activities. These programs often involve connecting people with community gardens, parks, walking groups, or other green spaces, sometimes through community organizations.
