Tag Archives: Anxiety disorders

29Oct/26

Hidden Drivers of Depression in Zambia

Beyond Individual Risk: How Community Context and Structural Inequalities Shape Mental Health Across Zambia

Thu, July 29 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — National epidemiological evidence from the 2024 Zambia Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS) demonstrates that approximately 8.2% of Zambian adults aged 15–59 years—or roughly one in twelve people—screen positive for probable depression, probable anxiety, or both. Utilizing validated screening tools including the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7), the study establishes a national baseline for a population where epidemiological evidence was previously scarce. Symptom prevalence shows a distinct age trajectory, rising steadily from 4.2% among adolescents aged 15–19 to a peak of 11.5% among adults aged 40–44. While Zambia’s overall baseline is moderate compared to regional neighbors such as South Africa (where probable depression reaches 25.7%), it reflects a substantial mental health burden that remains largely undetected and untreated due to severe healthcare workforce constraints, structural low priority, and widespread social stigma. Continue reading →

09Apr/26

Between Invisible Loneliness and Suffocating Control

Invisible Prisons: Escaping High-Control Groups, Stalking, and Mental Abuse

April 9, 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — Distinguishing loneliness from objective social isolation. This analysis highlights that you can experience profound loneliness even when surrounded by people. This often happens in environments like busy cities due to “stimulus overload,” where a constant barrage of noise and interactions causes people to emotionally withdraw to protect themselves. To combat this hollow feeling, humans rely on “shared reality”—the perception of having common feelings, beliefs, or attitudes with others about the world. Establishing a shared reality with even just one person helps reduce uncertainty and fosters a genuine sense of connection and meaning, which acts as a powerful buffer against the pain of loneliness.
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16Jul/24

How being shot might affect Donald Trump’s mental health – and that of millions of others

Simon McCarthy-Jones, Trinity College Dublin

After the attempted assassination of Donald Trump at his Pennsylvania campaign rally, there is much speculation about how this will affect the 2024 US election. However, no one is yet asking how these events may affect Trump himself.

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22Jan/24

Mental health consequences of relentless money pursuit

Jan. 22, 2024 /Healthcare/ — There can be a significant link between the pursuit of money at any cost and mental illness. Here are some ways of this connection: Continue reading →