Mental illness affects an estimated 500 million people globally, with 85% living in low- and medium-income countries (LMICs). Research has shown that people with mental illness are over-represented in the criminal justice system compared with the general population. There is limited information available on institutional attitudes towards mental illness in LMICs.

This study aimed to examine mental health literacy (MHL) and mental health stigma (MHS) among Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) officers.

A cross-sectional study using an online survey was conducted among ZPCS officers (N = 163) between August and December 2022. Data were collected using the Mental Health Literacy Scale (MHLS) and Attitudes Towards Mentally Ill Offenders (ATMIO). The primary hypothesis was that increased MHL is inversely related to MHS in this group.

A significant inverse correlation was found between MHL and MHS (r = 0.36, P < 0.001). A regression analysis controlling for age and sex showed that MHLS is a statistically significant component in this model, indicating that MHL is associated with reduced MHS (P < 0.001).

In this group, increased MHL is associated with decreased MHS. This suggests that interventions to increase MHL should be further evaluated in these settings.

Suicidal thoughts and behaviours (STBs) are common within healthcare systems. Diagnosing and treating them is challenging for healthcare professionals. Therefore, the way they respond to patients’ STBs constitutes regular grounds for complaints filed against them. Studies on disciplinary complaints regarding STBs are scarce and thus far have exclusively focused on death by suicide and primarily investigated psychiatrists.

To gain more insight into disciplinary law cases concerning patients’ STBs in The Netherlands.

A total of 108 public cases between 2010 and 2021 were codified and analysed.

Most complaints concerned undertreatment and insufficient involvement of the patient’s relatives or other healthcare professionals. Nearly half of the complaints were filed against psychiatrists.

Overall, compared with the number of health professionals in The Netherlands, risk of litigation appeared to be very low. Further research could be conducted on the discrepancy between the number of founded and unfounded complaints in first-instance and appeal cases.

Child and adolescent exposure to community and school violence in Africa is pervasive, with significant longer-term consequences for mental health and life outcomes.

To synthesise research on the impact of exposure to community and school violence, in terms of mental health and adjustment outcomes. The review focuses on adolescents in countries on the African continent, summarising existing knowledge regarding the impact on mental health and adjustment outcomes of different types of violence, and the associated mediating and/or moderating factors.

We used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis protocols (PRISMA-P) to conduct a systematic narrative review (PROSPERO registration CRD42023390724). PsycInfo, MEDLINE, Global Health and Web of Science databases were searched and 36 articles were included in the review. These studies were conducted in countries within Africa among adolescents (10–19 years of age) exposed to violence in their schools and/or communities, and investigated mental health and adjustment outcomes related to violence exposure.

Adolescents exposed to violence in their schools and communities have increased risk of negative outcomes in areas of psychological, social, behavioural and academic functioning that persist over time. Several mediating and/or moderating variables, such as social support, school climate and negative appraisals, were found.

Exposure to violence in school and the community has a significant and lasting impact on mental health and adjustment which can be exacerbated and/or ameliorated by several mediating and moderating factors. Future research will benefit from the development and evaluation of interventions that deploy early identification and of secondary prevention interventions which could mitigate effects of exposure to violence for youth in high-risk contexts and emerging economies that face additional economic challenges.