The impact of COVID-19 on mental health of frontline health workers in Ghana and Uganda

AimTo examine the role and scope of practice of community mental health workers (CMHWs) as well as the impact and challenges associated with of work of CMHWs within Ghana's mental health delivery system.MethodsA cross sectional survey of 11 psychiatrists, 29 health policy directors and 164 CMHWs as well as key informant interviews with 3 CMHWs, 5 psychiatrists and 2 health policy directors and three focus group discussions with 21 CMHWs. Results of quantitative data were analysed with SPSS version 20 whilst the results from qualitative data were analysed manually through thematic analysis.ResultsIn addition to duties prescribed in their job descriptions, all the CMHWs identified several jobs that they routinely perform including jobs reserved for higher level cadres such as medication prescribing for which most of the CMHWs have no training. Some CMHWs reported they had considered leaving the mental health profession because of the stigma, risk, lack of opportunities for continuing professional development and career progression as well as poor remuneration. Almost all the stakeholders believed CMHWs in Ghana receive adequate training for the role they are expected to play although many identify some gaps in the training of these mental health workers for the expanded roles they actually play. All the stakeholders expressed concerns about the quality of the care provided by CMHWs.ConclusionThe study highlights several important issues, which facilitate or hinder effective task-shifting arrangements from psychiatrists to CMHWs and impact on the quality of care provided by the latter.Disclosure of interestThe author has not supplied his/her declaration of competing interest.

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Psychiatric Manifestations and Associated Risk Factors among Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19 in Edo State, Nigeria.

10.1101/2021.10.12.21264913 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Esther O Okogbenin ◽

Omonefe J Seb-Akahomen ◽

Osahogie I. Edeawe ◽

Mary Ehimigbai ◽

Helen Eboreime ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Risk Factors ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Health Workers ◽

Depression And Anxiety ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Prevalence Of Depression ◽

Edo State ◽

Associated Risk Factors ◽

The Impact

Objective The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has had devastating effects globally. These effects are likely to result in mental health problems at different levels. Although studies have reported the mental health burden of the pandemic on the general population and frontline health workers, the impact of the disease on the mental health of patients in COVID-19 treatment and isolation centres have been understudied in Africa. We estimated the prevalence of depression and anxiety and associated risk factors in hospitalized persons with COVID-19. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 489 patients with COVID-19 at the three government-designated treatment and isolation centres in Edo State, Nigeria. The 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) tool were used to assess depression and anxiety respectively. Binary logistic regression was applied to determine risk factors of depression and anxiety. Results Of the 489 participants, 49.1% and 38.0% had depressive and anxiety symptoms respectively. The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and combination of both were 16.2%, 12.9% and 9.0% respectively. Moderate-severe symptoms of COVID-19, ≥14 days in isolation, worrying about the outcome of infection and stigma increased the risk of having depression and anxiety. Additionally, being separated/divorced increased the risk of having depression and having comorbidity increased the risk of having anxiety. Conclusion A substantial proportion of our participants experienced depression, anxiety and a combination of both especially in those who had the risk factors we identified. The findings underscore the need to address these risk factors early in the course of the disease and integrate mental health interventions into COVID-19 management guidelines.

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COVID-19 and the mental health of professionals in the health sector in the UAE: An analytical study

Avicenna ◽

10.5339/avi.2021.9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Chokri Kooli

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Workers ◽

Research Question ◽

Health Sector ◽

Poor Mental Health ◽

Psychological Services ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Preventive Actions ◽

The Impact

As the Covid-19 pandemic persists, the public health interventions reported that many individuals during this pandemic situation experience different circumstances that lead to their poor mental health performance, such as isolation stress, anxiety, depression, anger, confusion, and unemployment. The aim of this study is to examine the existing literature in a comprehensive manner and to explore the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of UAE health workers. This study also examined the psychological factors that influence workers’ mental health due to the pandemic of COVID-19. An online questionnaire was administered to answer the research question. The results proved that the pandemic has affected both physical and mental health of UAE health workers. Consequently, the adoption of preventive actions at the governmental, organizational, and individual levels is highly recommended. In this research, the implementation of effective communication and the application of adequate psychological services have been suggested. To this end, the role of policy makers to be involved in placing governmental initiatives that prevent the spread of the virus and protect the mental health of workers has been highlighted.

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Effect of COVID-19 on mental health of frontline health workers in Nigeria: A preliminary cross-sectional study

Journal of Psychosomatic Research ◽

10.1016/j.jpsychores.2020.110288 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 139 ◽

pp. 110288

Author(s):

Olufemi Erinoso ◽

Olusola Adejumo ◽

Azeez Fashina ◽

Ayodeji Falana ◽

Mary T Amure ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Workers ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Frontline Health Workers

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Health Impacts of Floods

Prehospital and Disaster Medicine ◽

10.1017/s1049023x00008141 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 25 (3) ◽

pp. 265-272 ◽

Cited By ~ 102

Author(s):

Weiwei Du ◽

Gerard Joseph FitzGerald ◽

Michele Clark ◽

Xiang-Yu Hou

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Conceptual Framework ◽

Health Workers ◽

Poor Mental Health ◽

Health Impacts ◽

Extensive Literature ◽

Number Of Factors ◽

Underlying Causes ◽

The Impact

AbstractIntroduction:Floods are the most common hazard to cause disasters and have led to extensive morbidity and mortality throughout the world. The impact of floods on the human community is related directly to the location and topography of the area, as well as human demographics and characteristics of the built environment.Objectives:The aim of this study is to identify the health impacts of disasters and the underlying causes of health impacts associated with floods. A conceptual framework is developed that may assist with the development of a rational and comprehensive approach to prevention, mitigation, and management.Methods:This study involved an extensive literature review that located >500 references, which were analyzed to identify common themes, findings, and expert views. The findings then were distilled into common themes.Results:The health impacts of floods are wide ranging, and depend on a number of factors. However, the health impacts of a particular flood are specific to the particular context. The immediate health impacts of floods include drowning, injuries, hypothermia, and animal bites. Health risks also are associated with the evacuation of patients, loss of health workers, and loss of health infrastructure including essential drugs and supplies. In the medium-term, infected wounds, complications of injury, poisoning, poor mental health, communicable diseases, and starvation are indirect effects of flooding. In the long-term, chronic disease, disability, poor mental health, and poverty-related diseases including malnutrition are the potential legacy.Conclusions:This article proposes a structured approach to the classification of the health impacts of floods and a conceptual framework that demonstrates the relationships between floods and the direct and indirect health consequences.

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Lessons from a theory of change-driven evaluation of a global mental health funding portfolio

International Journal of Mental Health Systems ◽

10.1186/s13033-021-00442-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

Author(s):

G. Miguel Esponda ◽

G. K. Ryan ◽

G. Lockwood Estrin ◽

S. Usmani ◽

L. Lee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Workers ◽

Common Mental Disorders ◽

Global Mental Health ◽

Descriptive Analysis ◽

Theory Of Change ◽

Mental Health Funding ◽

Health Funding ◽

High Staff Turnover ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background Given the underinvestment in global mental health to-date, it is important to consider how best to maximize the impact of existing investments. Theory of Change (ToC) is increasingly attracting the interest of funders seeking to evaluate their own impact. This is one of four papers investigating Grand Challenges Canada’s (GCC’s) first global mental health research funding portfolio (2012–2016) using a ToC-driven approach. Methods A portfolio-level ToC map was developed through a collaborative process involving GCC grantees and other key stakeholders. Proposed ToC indicators were harmonised with GCC’s pre-existing Results-based Management and Accountability Framework to produce a “Core Metrics Framework” of 23 indicators linked to 17 outcomes of the ToC map. For each indicator relevant to their project, the grantee was asked to set a target prior to the start of implementation, then report results at six-month intervals. We used the latest available dataset from all 56 projects in GCC’s global mental health funding portfolio to produce a descriptive analysis of projects’ characteristics and outcomes related to delivery. Results 12,999 people were trained to provide services, the majority of whom were lay or other non-specialist health workers. Most projects exceeded their training targets for capacity-building, except for those training lay health workers. Of the 321,933 people screened by GCC-funded projects, 162,915 received treatment. Most projects focused on more than one disorder and exceeded all their targets for screening, diagnosis and treatment. Fewer people than intended were screened for common mental disorders and epilepsy (60% and 54%, respectively), but many more were diagnosed and treated than originally proposed (148% and 174%, respectively). In contrast, the three projects that focused on perinatal depression exceeded screening and diagnosis targets, but only treated 43% of their intended target. Conclusions Under- or over-achievement of targets may reflect operational challenges such as high staff turnover, or challenges in setting appropriate targets, for example due to insufficient epidemiological evidence. Differences in delivery outcomes when disaggregated by disorder suggest that these challenges are not universal. We caution implementers, funders and evaluators from taking a one-size-fits all approach and make several recommendations for how to facilitate more in-depth, multi-method evaluation of impact using portfolio-level ToC.

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COVID-19 and the World of Work Dynamics: A Critical Review

Journal of Educational and Social Research ◽

10.36941/jesr-2020-0093 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. 119

Author(s):

A. M. Ogaboh Agba ◽

Stepen I. Ocheni ◽

Michael Sunday Agba

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Relations ◽

Occupational Safety ◽

Health Workers ◽

Policy Reforms ◽

Social Fabric ◽

Safety And Health ◽

The World ◽

Negative Impacts ◽

The Impact

COVID-19 has a profound impact on the world of work globally. It has altered the social fabric of the workplace and significantly accounts for the loss of normalcy in the world of work. As this threat continues, this paper sought to critically review the impact of COVID-19 on specific areas of the world of work. The study established the link between nCov and global loss of jobs. It critically examined how COVID-19 impacts on teleworking, occupational safety and health, workers mental health, discrimination, physical and social distancing at the workplace. Overwhelmingly, the paper concluded that COVID-19 exacerbates existing cracks in the world of work and its sustainability affects workers’ mental health, social relations, escalate discrimination and unemployment globally. The study suggested policy reforms as global remediation to the negative impacts of COVID-19 on the world of work.

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Lessons From a Theory of Change-driven Evaluation of a Global Mental Health Funding Portfolio

10.21203/rs.3.rs-85841/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Georgina Miguel-Esponda ◽

Grace Kathryn Ryan ◽

Georgia Lockwood-Estrin ◽

Shamaila Usmani ◽

Lucy Lee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Workers ◽

Common Mental Disorders ◽

Global Mental Health ◽

Descriptive Analysis ◽

Theory Of Change ◽

Mental Health Funding ◽

Health Funding ◽

High Staff Turnover ◽

The Impact

Abstract BackgroundGiven the underinvestment in global mental health to-date, it is important to consider how best to maximize the impact of existing investments. Theory of Change (ToC) is increasingly attracting the interest of funders seeking to evaluate their own impact. This is the first of four papers investigating Grand Challenges Canada’s (GCC’s) first global mental health research funding portfolio (2012-2016) using a ToC-driven approach.MethodsA portfolio-level ToC map was developed through a collaborative process involving GCC grantees and other key stakeholders. Proposed ToC indicators were harmonised with GCC’s pre-existing Results-based Management and Accountability Framework to produce a “Core Metrics Framework” of 23 indicators linked to 17 outcomes of the ToC map. For each indicator relevant to their project, the grantee was asked to set a target prior to the start of implementation, then report results at six-month intervals. We used the latest available dataset from all 56 projects in GCC’s global mental health funding portfolio to produce a descriptive analysis of projects’ characteristics and outcomes related to delivery. Results12,999 people were trained to provide services, the majority of whom were lay or other non-specialist health workers. Most projects exceeded their training targets for capacity-building, except for those training lay health workers. Of the 321,933 people screened by GCC-funded projects, 162,915 received treatment. Most projects focused on more than one disorder and exceeded all their targets for screening, diagnosis and treatment. Fewer people than intended were screened for common mental disorders and epilepsy (60% and 54%, respectively), but many more were diagnosed and treated than originally proposed (148% and 174%, respectively). In contrast, the three projects that focused on perinatal depression exceeded screening and diagnosis targets, but only treated 43% of their intended target. ConclusionsUnder- or over-achievement of targets may reflect operational challenges such as high staff turnover, or challenges in setting appropriate targets, for example due to insufficient epidemiological evidence. Differences in delivery outcomes when disaggregated by disorder suggest that these challenges are not universal. We caution implementers, funders and evaluators from taking a one-size-fits all approach and make several recommendations for how to facilitate more in-depth, multi-method evaluation of impact using portfolio-level ToC.

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Toward Designs of Workplace Stress Management Mobile Apps for Frontline Health Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond: Design Implications for a Mixed Methods Qualitative Study (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.30640 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Beenish Moalla Chaudhry ◽

Ashraful Islam ◽

Monica Matthieu

Keyword(s):

Mixed Methods ◽

Qualitative Study ◽

Coping Strategies ◽

Stress Management ◽

Health Workers ◽

Mobile Apps ◽

Workplace Stressors ◽

Frontline Health Workers ◽

Google Search ◽

The Impact

BACKGROUND In recent years, mobile apps have been developed to prevent burnout, promote anxiety management, and provide health education to workers in various workplace settings. However, there remains a paucity of such apps for frontline health workers (FHWs), even though FHWs are the most susceptible to stress due to the nature of their jobs. OBJECTIVE The goal of this study was to provide suggestions for designing stress management apps to address workplace stressors of FHWs based on the understanding of their needs from FHWs’ own perspectives and theories of stress. METHODS A mixed methods qualitative study was conducted. Using a variety of search strings, we first collected 41 relevant web-based news articles published between December 2019 and May 2020 through the Google search engine. We then conducted a cross-sectional survey with 20 FHWs. Two researchers independently conducted qualitative analysis of all the collected data using a deductive followed by an inductive approach. RESULTS Prevailing uncertainty and fear of contracting the infection was causing stress among FHWs. Moral injury associated with seeing patients die from lack of care and lack of experience in handling various circumstances were other sources of stress. FHWs mentioned 4 coping strategies. Quick coping strategies such as walking away from stressful situations, entertainment, and exercise were the most common ways to mitigate the impact of stress at work. Peer support and counseling services were other popular methods. Building resilience and driving oneself forward using internal motivation were also meaningful ways of overcoming stressful situations. Time constraints and limited management support prevented FHWs from engaging in stress management activities. CONCLUSIONS Our study identified stressors, coping strategies, and challenges with applying coping strategies that can guide the design of stress management apps for FHWs. Given that the pandemic is ongoing and health care crises continue, FHWs remain a vulnerable population in need of attention.

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