Depression is a mental disorder caused by various causes with significant and persistent depressed mood as the main clinical feature, and is the most common mental illness worldwide and in our country. The number of patients with depression worldwide was as high as 350 million in 2017, and the number of patients with depression in our country was nearly 100 million in 2019. The greatest danger of depression is self-injurious and suicidal behaviour, and this behaviour carries a high medical burden. Medication is the most costly treatment for depression in China, and while it is an effective way to treat patients with depression, it has many side effects and poor patient compliance. Non-pharmacological treatments commonly used in clinical practice include physiotherapy and psychotherapy. Physiotherapy is commonly used in non-convulsive electroconvulsive therapy, but its clinical efficacy is uncertain and it can also cause adverse effects such as heart failure and arrhythmias, which are poorly tolerated by patients. Psychotherapy is also a common non-pharmacological therapy. Cognitive therapy is a common form of psychotherapy, but the cycle of cognitive therapy is too long, the cost to the patient is high, and the patient’s cognitive ability has certain requirements. Music therapy is a combination of art and science. It is a cross-discipline that combines body, movement, dance and psychology and is a method of psychotherapy that has biological, psychological and social functions to compensate for deficiencies. Music therapy sees a fundamental connection between mind and body and emphasises that what affects the body also affects the mind. When mind-body integration is lacking, individuals will suffer from a variety of psychological disorders. Therefore, the core principles of music therapy emphasise that holistic individual health is embodied in the integration of mind and body, that body movement is expressive and communicative, and that music therapy uses body movement as a method of assessing the individual and as a means of clinical intervention.

COVID-19 is among the tremendous negative pandemics that have been recorded in human history. The study was conducted to give a breakdown of the effect of post-COVID-19 mental health among individuals residing in a developing country. The two scales, namely DASS-21 and IES-R, were employed to collect the essential related data. The findings indicated that anxiety was a typical and common mental issue among the population, including up to 56.75% of the participants having extremely severe anxiety, 13.18% reporting severe anxiety. Notably, no one has anxiety and depression under moderate levels. Additionally, there is 51.92% depression and 43.64% stress ranging from severe to extremely severe levels. Furthermore, there were significant statistical differences among the data on stress, anxiety, and depression according to gender (males and females) and subgroups (students, the elderly, and medical healthcare workers). Besides, the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder in the study was relatively high, especially when compared to the figures reported by the World Health Organization. Moreover, stress, anxiety, and depression all displayed positive correlations with post-traumatic stress disorder. This is big data on the mental health of the entire population that helps the country’s government propose policy strategies to support, medical care and social security for the population.

Objective: This study assessed the prevalence of psychological disorders and their correlation with health-promoting lifestyles among Chinese college students. Method: We used the Chinese version of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21) and the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP-II) questionnaires. Gender and major differences were analyzed with the chi-square test, and multiple logistic regression explored the relationship between HPLP and psychological disorders. Results: Among 17,636 students, low prevalence rates were observed for stress (4.0%), depression (7.2%), and anxiety (15.4%). Females and students in humanities and social sciences reported higher rates of multiple psychological disorders. Higher HPLP scores were inversely correlated with depression (OR = 0.479, 95% CI: 0.376–0.609), anxiety (OR = 0.480, 95% CI: 0.408–0.565), and stress (OR = 0.821, 95% CI: 0.636–1.060) after adjusting for confounders. Conclusions: The study found low overall prevalence of psychological disorders, with higher rates among females and humanities/social sciences majors. Higher HPLP scores, particularly in interpersonal relationships and nutrition, are associated with a lower risk of mental disorders.

The COVID-19 pandemic had an adverse impact on the mental health of frontline workers including firefighters. To better understand this occurrence, this cross-sectional study evaluated the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among 105 operational team and elite team firefighters in Kota Bharu, Kelantan State, Malaysia before and after the pandemic. The Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), a validated self-reporting survey tool, was used to assess symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress among the survey respondents. Findings revealed that firefighters had an increased level of anxiety and depression during the post-pandemic period compared to the pre-pandemic period. However, there was a decrease in the stress levels (20%) reported by study participants. Respondents belonging to the operational team had a higher reported level of depression, anxiety, and stress than those from the elite team. This may be attributed the operational team being more exposed to the risk of COVID-19 infection on account of their routine and more voluminous workload. The findings of this study suggest that firefighters, in general, are at an increased risk of mental health problems as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Knowing this, it is important to consider these findings when addressing the prevention and management of mental health among firefighters. This includes providing additional support and devoting more resources to those who are most at risk for experiencing symptoms of mental health such as firefighters performing functions aligned with that of an operational team.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the 21-item Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) in a sample of Moroccan students. Method: A total of 208 Moroccan students participated in this study. The dimensionality of the DASS-21 scale was assessed using exploratory factor analysis. Construct validity was assessed using the Stress Perception (PSS-10), State Anxiety (SAI), and Depression (CESD-10) scales. Results: Correlation analyses between Depression, Anxiety, and Stress subscales showed significant results. The exploratory factor analysis results confirmed the DASS’s three-dimensional structure. Furthermore, correlation analyses revealed positive correlations between the DASS-18 sub-dimensions and the three scales for Stress (PSS-10), Anxiety (SAI), and Depression (CESD-10). Conclusion: In line with previous work, the results of this study suggest that the DASS-18 reflect adequate psychometric properties, making it an appropriate tool for use in the university context.