The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on seafarers’ mental health and chronic fatigue: Beneficial effects of onboard peer support, external support and Internet access

The causal effect of public pensions on the mental wellbeing of the elderly in lower and middle-income countries deserves further investigation. This paper first constructed a theoretical framework for the impact of New Rural Society Pension Insurance pensions in China on the mental wellbeing of the rural elderly, and described potential channels through which pension income may affect mental wellbeing. We then used the fixed effect model and the instrument variable approach to estimate the casual effects of pension income on the mental wellbeing of the rural elderly. The results reveal that pension income improves mental wellbeing by relieving depression of the rural elderly; however, the beneficial effects of pension income are very limited. Pension income has no beneficial effects on the mental health of the rural elderly in the east region, whereas it slightly relieves depression of those in the middle and west regions. We also found that pension income produces small improvements in the mental health of older females, elderly persons living independently, and those with relatively poor economic conditions.

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Peer support in community settings: getting back to our roots

Mental Health and Social Inclusion ◽

10.1108/mhsi-03-2017-0010 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 21 (3) ◽

pp. 184-190 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

David Crepaz-Keay

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Peer Support ◽

Community Settings ◽

Community Based ◽

Community Benefit ◽

Content Type ◽

Mental Health Foundation ◽

The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to look at peer support in the context of broader communities. Design/methodology/approach It builds on the author’s experience working with the Mental Health Foundation of developing delivering and evaluating several self-management and peer support initiatives in a variety of settings with a range of different peer groups. It will consider what constitutes a peer and a community, and explore the notion of community solutions for community problems. Findings Peer support in community settings has the capacity to address social isolation, build skills and self-esteem and give individuals a better quality of life – it can also add value to whole communities and reframe the way entire groups are considered within them. It has the ability to be both more accessible and less stigmatising and thus reach more people. This also offers community based peer support as a contributor to preventing the deterioration of mental health and potentially reducing the impact of mental ill-health. Social implications The author needs to think more in terms of whole community and get better at improving how the author measures and articulates this community benefit. This will allow us to make better decisions about how best to apply resources for long term whole community gain. Peer support and peer leadership needs to be at the heart of this process. Originality/value This paper places a familiar approach in a different setting placing peer support firmly outside services and within comunities.

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The mental health consumer movement and peer providers in Israel

Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences ◽

10.1017/s2045796018000173 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 27 (5) ◽

pp. 420-426 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

G. S. Moran

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health System ◽

Peer Support ◽

Mental Health System ◽

Community Integration ◽

Models Of Care ◽

Community Services ◽

Unique Contribution ◽

Consumer Movement ◽

The Impact

Self-help peer-support groups in Israel emerged in the 1980s and, over time, dynamically interacted and co-developed with the statutory mental health (MH) system. In this editorial, I outline historical milestones of how the evolution of the Israeli mental health system was influenced by the consumer movement. A brief depiction of the consumer movement history. At first, consumers operated outside of the mainstream MH system. Gradually, consumer groups and institutional personnel joined efforts towards community integration and enhancement of quality of life, pushing forward a person-centered recovery orientation. In turn, some administrators and key stakeholders in rehabilitation community services grew to value the impact of knowledge-by-experience in contemporary mental health care. In this context, over the past decade, peer roles were developed in the mental health system, including consumer-providers in community services and peer specialists in inpatient psychiatric hospitals. The insertion of peer roles into the mainstream MH system is far-reaching, including the placement of a peer-project coordinator within the ministry of health. I describe the unique contribution of peers, as experts-by-experience, to mainstream professional knowledge and practice. I also highlight the potential challenges involved when peer models of care are added to traditional medical models of care. The Israeli case demonstrates how the consumer movement can play an active role in MH systems and be acknowledged and recognised as a partner for changing policy, practice and reshaping formal institutions. In addition, they play a vital role in the development of peer-support services.

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A rapid review of home-based activities that can promote mental wellness during the COVID-19 pandemic

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0243125 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 15 (12) ◽

pp. e0243125

Author(s):

Joseph H. Puyat ◽

Haroon Ahmad ◽

Ana Michelle Avina-Galindo ◽

Arminee Kazanjian ◽

Aanchel Gupta ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Professionals ◽

Risk Of Bias ◽

Rapid Review ◽

Review Author ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Home Based ◽

Mental Wellness ◽

The Impact ◽

At Home

Background During the COVID-19 pandemic, public health measures such as isolation, quarantine, and social distancing are needed. Some of these measures can adversely affect mental health. Activities that can be performed at home may mitigate these consequences and improve overall mental well-being. In this study, home-based activities that have potential beneficial effects on mental health were examined. Methods A rapid review was conducted based on a search of the following databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PyscINFO, Global Health, epistemonikos.org, covid19reviews.org, and eppi.ioe.ac.uk/covid19_map_v13.html. Eligible studies include randomized controlled trials and non-randomized studies published between 1/1/2000 and 28/05/2020 and that examined the impact of various activities on mental health outcomes in low-resource settings and contexts that lead to social isolation. Studies of activities that require mental health professionals or that could not be done at home were excluded. Two review authors performed title/abstract screening. At the full-text review stage, 25% of the potentially eligible studies were reviewed in full by two review authors; the rest were reviewed by one review author. Risk of bias assessment and data extraction were performed by one review author and checked by a second review author. The main outcome assessed was change or differences in mental health as expressed in Cohen’s d; analysis was conducted following the synthesis without meta-analysis guidelines (SWiM). PROSPERO registration: CRD42020186082. Results Of 1,236 unique records identified, 160 were reviewed in full, resulting in 16 included studies. The included studies reported on the beneficial effects of exercise, yoga, progressive muscle relaxation, and listening to relaxing music. One study reported on the association between solitary religious activities and post traumatic stress disorder symptoms. While most of the included studies examined activities in group settings, particularly among individuals in prisons, the activities were described as something that can be performed at home and alone. All included studies were assessed to be at risk of bias in one or more of the bias domains examined. Conclusions There is some evidence that certain home-based activities can promote mental wellness during the COVID-19 pandemic. Guidelines are needed to help optimize benefits while minimizing potential risks when performing these activities.

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A qualitative longitudinal study of the first UK Dual Diagnosis Anonymous (DDA), an integrated peer-support programme for concurrent disorders

Advances in Dual Diagnosis ◽

10.1108/add-01-2020-0001 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 151-167

Author(s):

Raffaella Margherita Milani ◽

Keisha Nahar ◽

Daniel Ware ◽

Alan Butler ◽

Sean Roush ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Peer Support ◽

Dual Diagnosis ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Recovery Process ◽

Concurrent Disorders ◽

Addictive Disorders ◽

Content Type ◽

The Usa ◽

The Impact

Purpose Dual Diagnosis Anonymous (DDA) is a peer-led programme developed in the USA, which aims to address mental and addictive disorders in an integrated manner. This study is part of a mixed-methods evaluation of the first DDA pilot in the UK, and the purpose of this study is to explore the impact and mechanism of change of the programme through the perspective of DDA attendees, facilitators and the funding commissioners. Design/methodology/approach Six DDA members were interviewed three times over a period of 12 months, the facilitators were interviewed twice and the commissioner was interviewed once. The qualitative longitudinal data were analysed using a trajectory thematic analysis. Findings DDA attendance was perceived to have had a positive impact on five main areas: acceptance of self, of others and from others; social functioning; self-development; recovery progression; and feeling of hope. The possibility of addressing both mental health and addiction at the same time was a key factor in the recovery process. The facilitators observed that DDA had contributed to integrate members into employment and education, while the commissioner stressed the importance of joint commissioning and sustainability. Originality/value The longitudinal approach provided a unique insight into the recovery process of DDA members. Being able to address the mental health as well as the substance use problems was considered to be a fundamental strength of DDA in comparison to the single purpose peer-support fellowships.

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Online and Recovery-Oriented Support Groups Facilitated by Peer Support Workers in Times of COVID-19: Protocol for a Feasibility Pre-Post Study

JMIR Research Protocols ◽

10.2196/22500 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (12) ◽

pp. e22500

Author(s):

Jean-Francois Pelletier ◽

Janie Houle ◽

Marie-Hélène Goulet ◽

Robert-Paul Juster ◽

Charles-Édouard Giguère ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Peer Support ◽

Support Groups ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Control Group ◽

Web Based ◽

Clinical Recovery ◽

Study Results ◽

And Control ◽

The Impact

Background In times of pandemics, social distancing, isolation, and quarantine have precipitated depression, anxiety, and substance misuse. Scientific literature suggests that patients living with mental health problems or illnesses (MHPIs) who interact with peer support workers (PSWs) experience not only the empathy and connectedness that comes from similar life experiences but also feel hope in the possibility of recovery. So far, it is the effect of mental health teams or programs with PSWs that has been evaluated. Objective This paper presents the protocol for a web-based intervention facilitated by PSWs. The five principal research questions are whether this intervention will have an impact in terms of (Q1) personal-civic recovery and (Q2) clinical recovery, (Q3) how these recovery potentials can be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, (Q4) how the lived experience of persons in recovery can be mobilized to cope with such a situation, and (Q5) how sex and gender considerations can be taken into account for the pairing of PSWs with service users beyond considerations based solely on psychiatric diagnoses or specific MHPIs. This will help us assess the impact of PSWs in this setting. Methods PSWs will lead a typical informal peer support group within the larger context of online peer support groups, focusing on personal-civic recovery. They will be scripted with a fixed, predetermined duration (a series of 10 weekly 90-minute online workshops). There will be 2 experimental subgroups—patients diagnosed with (1) psychotic disorders (n=10) and (2) anxiety or mood disorders (n=10)—compared to a control group (n=10). Random assignment to the intervention and control arms will be conducted using a 2:1 ratio. Several instruments will be used to assess clinical recovery (eg, the Recovery Assessment Scale, the Citizenship Measure questionnaire). The COVID-19 Stress Scales will be used to assess effects in terms of clinical recovery and stress- or anxiety-related responses to COVID-19. Changes will be compared between groups from baseline to endpoint in the intervention and control groups using the Student paired sample t test. Results This pilot study was funded in March 2020. The protocol was approved on June 16, 2020, by the Research Ethics Committees of the Montreal Mental Health University Institute. Recruitment took place during the months of July and August, and results are expected in December 2020. Conclusions Study results will provide reliable evidence on the effectiveness of a web-based intervention provided by PSWs. The investigators, alongside key decision makers and patient partners, will ensure knowledge translation throughout, and our massive open online course (MOOC), The Fundamentals of Recovery, will be updated with the evidence and new knowledge generated by this feasibility study. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04445324; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04445324 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) PRR1-10.2196/22500

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Improving Moderator Responsiveness in Online Peer Support Through Automated Triage (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.11410 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

David N Milne ◽

Kathryn L. McCabe ◽

Rafael A. Calvo

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Machine Learning ◽

Peer Support ◽

Response Latency ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Well Being ◽

Unique Contribution ◽

Triage System ◽

Percentage Points ◽

The Impact

BACKGROUND Online peer support forums require oversight to ensure they remain safe and therapeutic. As online communities grow, they place a greater burden on their human moderators, which increases the likelihood that people at risk may be overlooked. This study evaluated the potential for machine learning to assist online peer support by directing moderators’ attention where it is most needed. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of an automated triage system and the extent to which it influences moderator behavior. METHODS A machine learning classifier was trained to prioritize forum messages as green, amber, red, or crisis depending on how urgently they require attention from a moderator. This was then launched as a set of widgets injected into a popular online peer support forum hosted by ReachOut.com, an Australian Web-based youth mental health service that aims to intervene early in the onset of mental health problems in young people. The accuracy of the system was evaluated using a holdout test set of manually prioritized messages. The impact on moderator behavior was measured as response ratio and response latency, that is, the proportion of messages that receive at least one reply from a moderator and how long it took for these replies to be made. These measures were compared across 3 periods: before launch, after an informal launch, and after a formal launch accompanied by training. RESULTS The algorithm achieved 84% f-measure in identifying content that required a moderator response. Between prelaunch and post-training periods, response ratios increased by 0.9, 4.4, and 10.5 percentage points for messages labelled as crisis, red, and green, respectively, but decreased by 5.0 percentage points for amber messages. Logistic regression indicated that the triage system was a significant contributor to response ratios for green, amber, and red messages, but not for crisis messages. Response latency was significantly reduced (P<.001), between the same periods, by factors of 80%, 80%, 77%, and 12% for crisis, red, amber, and green messages, respectively. Regression analysis indicated that the triage system made a significant and unique contribution to reducing the time taken to respond to green, amber, and red messages, but not to crisis messages, after accounting for moderator and community activity. CONCLUSIONS The triage system was generally accurate, and moderators were largely in agreement with how messages were prioritized. It had a modest effect on response ratios, primarily because moderators were already more likely to respond to high priority content before the introduction of triage. However, it significantly and substantially reduced the time taken for moderators to respond to prioritized content. Further evaluations are needed to assess the impact of mistakes made by the triage algorithm and how changes to moderator responsiveness impact the well-being of forum members.

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From end user to provider: making sense of becoming a peer support worker using interpretative phenomenological analysis

Journal of Public Mental Health ◽

10.1108/jpmh-03-2013-0016 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 83-92 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Gemma Dyble ◽

Anna Tickle ◽

Christine Collinson

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Peer Support ◽

Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Structured Interview ◽

Health Problems ◽

Phenomenological Analysis ◽

Original Research ◽

Content Type ◽

The Impact

Purpose – There has been extensive growth in the employment of mental health peer support workers (PSWs) over the last decade. However, limited research exists when exploring how PSWs make sense of the transition of entering and enacting the role. The purpose of this paper is to explore the lived experience of NHS employed PSWs’ transition from their own experiences of mental health problems to provide a service to support individuals with their mental health problems. Design/methodology/approach – The study used purposive sampling to recruit seven participants who were individually interviewed using a semi-structured interview schedule. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Findings – Three superordinate themes were identified: fluctuating identities, PSW role and organisational culture. These were interpreted as interdependent with interrelating subordinate themes. Research limitations/implications – Participants considered the complex, idiosyncratic and changeable nature of the transitions and the impact on their individual, interpersonal and collective identities. Emotional and practical support appeared to assist the transition whilst competing roles and blurred boundaries constrained the enactment of the new role. Implications for practice and research are provided. Originality/value – Reports on original research and adds to the sparse UK literature in this area.

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Feeling Blue - Get Green

Earth Common Journal ◽

10.31542/j.ecj.11 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Holli-Anne Passmore

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Empirical Data ◽

Well Being ◽

Additive Effects ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Research Findings ◽

The Impact ◽

Health And Well Being ◽

Periods Of Stress ◽

Additive State

Human bodies and minds evolved together—simultaneously and interdependently. Therefore, if nature provides for our physical health and well-being, it follows that nature also provides for our mental health and well-being. Psychologists have begun to recognize the impact that exposure to nature has on many aspects of our mental health and well-being; and a substantial body of supporting research and empirical data has accumulated. Nature’s beneficial effects on individuals’ mental health have been shown to extend beyond a mere restoration to baseline after negative periods of stress, anxiety, or depression. Nature’s beneficial effects extend to positively increasing true mental health and well-being, to elevating individuals beyond a neutral “just getting by” level and into an additive state of thriving and flourishing. This paper discusses highlights from the ever-increasing body of research findings and empirical data evidencing the positive and additive effects that nature has on our mental health and well-being. Included in this discussion are findings from a recent series of studies conducted at Grant MacEwan University that this author was involved in. The research summarized in this paper demonstrates that our relationship with nature is vital to our mental health and well-being.

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Addressing Mental Health Needs of Health Care Workers through Peer Support Groups During the COVID-19 Crisis

Proceedings of IMPRS ◽

10.18060/24783 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 3 ◽

Author(s):

Tanner Thornsberry ◽

Jill Nault Connors ◽

Julie Welch ◽

Julie Hayden ◽

Jennifer Hartwell ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Peer Support ◽

Social Life ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Psychological Resources ◽

Psychological Burden ◽

Mental Health Support ◽

Health Support ◽

Frontline Healthcare Workers ◽

The Impact

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has placed a high psychological burden on frontline healthcare workers. Often quarantined away from their families and with little downtime to process their experiences, those on the frontlines of the pandemic are experiencing pronounced levels of distress and significantly elevated rates of burnout. Although many wellness and psychological resources are available to providers, there is low uptake and little is known about their effectiveness. In this study, we assess the impact of group-based peer support sessions on symptoms of acute distress, anxiety and depression, and provider burn out. Methods: An established peer support model is adapted for use with groups of frontline healthcare workers that will participate in 6 to 8 weekly group sessions using videoconferences. The study approach is a phased feasibility to research design. During the feasibility phase, we will initially test the intervention in 3 groups of 8 providers using a quasi-experimental, pre- post analysis of change. If preliminary results are positive, we will scale the intervention and progress to a more rigorous study design using a differences-in-differences approach to assess change over time between exposure and non-exposure groups. Outcomes will be measured at baseline, intervention completion, and 3- and 6- month follow ups. During the feasibility phase we will assess intervention fidelity and conduct qualitative analysis to assess the effects of the pandemic on work, family and social life. Results: This is a work in progress. At present we have recruited 28 emergency medicine physicians and residents with a target start date of August 1, 2020. Potential Impact: We anticipate the results of this study will provide evidence in support of a recent call for “the use of non-clinical mental health support, such as social or peer support” from the American College of Emergency Physicians in conjunction with 42 leading professional organizations in medicine. In addition, results may lead to advocacy for improved policies that mitigate against “fear of resultant loss of licensure, loss of income, or other career setbacks” for seeking mental health support.

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