Emotional and Mental Wellbeing Following COVID-19 Public Health Measures on People Living With Dementia and Carers

Background: To date, there appears to be no evidence on the longer-term impacts caused by COVID-19 and its related public health restrictions on some of the most vulnerable in our societies. The aim of this research was to explore the change in impact of COVID-19 public health measures on the mental wellbeing of people living with dementia (PLWD) and unpaid carers. Method: Semi-structured, follow-up telephone interviews were conducted with PLWD and unpaid carers between June and July 2020. Participants were asked about their experiences of accessing social support services during the pandemic, and the impact of restrictions on their daily lives. Results: 20 interviews were conducted and thematically analyzed, which produced 3 primary themes concerning emotional responses and impact to mental health and wellbeing during the course of the pandemic: 1) Impact on mental health during lockdown, 2) Changes to mental health following easing of public health, and 3) The long-term effect of public health measures. Conclusions: The findings from this research shed light on the longer-term psychological impacts of the UK Government’s public health measures on PLWD and their carers. The loss of social support services was key in impacting this cohort mentally and emotionally, displaying a need for better psychological support, for both carers and PLWD.

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Evaluating Mental Health and Wellbeing of Postgraduate Researchers: Prevalence and Contributing Factors

10.31234/osf.io/k92hq ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Jelena Milicev ◽

Stephany Biello ◽

Maria Gardani

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Support ◽

Academic Success ◽

Online Survey ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Sleep Problems ◽

Mental Wellbeing ◽

Contributing Factors ◽

Health And Wellbeing ◽

The Uk

AbstractIntroduction: Recent research has revealed high rates of mental health issues in postgraduate researchers (PGRs). Mental ill-health is a barrier to life satisfaction and academic success. More knowledge is necessary to understand the extent and origins of mental health problems of PGRs in the UK. Aims: To assess the prevalence of anxiety, depression, sleep problems, subjective mental wellbeing, and suicide behaviours of PGRs in the UK, as well as to explore the factors that underpin these outcomes.Methods: An online survey (N=479) was used to measure the mental health outcomes, and assess the influence of demographic, trait and academic variables, and social support. Results: In this sample the prevalence of mental ill-health was high, while wellbeing was lower than in the general population. Female, non-binary and non-heterosexual PGRs had poorer mental health than their male and/or heterosexual counterparts. Researchers in the field of Arts had higher levels of wellbeing, while those in the 5th year of study or above were at a higher risk of suicidal behaviours. Resilience, adaptive perfectionism, social support and positive evaluations of progress and preparation, departmental climate, and supervisory relationship were associated with positive outcomes, while maladaptive perfectionism and workaholism were linked to the negative ones. Resilience and workaholism were the only variables that played a role in all mental health outcomes.Conclusions: The current paper contributes new knowledge about the PGR wellbeing, the prevalence of mental health symptoms, and some of the factors that shape them. Our findings imply that institutional efforts to improve PGR mental health and wellbeing should include a variety of strategies to promote equality, diversity, resilience, integration and work-life balance of PGRs.

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Health and social support services in older adults recently discharged from hospital: service utilisation and costs and exploration of the impact of a home-exercise intervention

BMC Geriatrics ◽

10.1186/s12877-016-0254-x ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

Author(s):

I. Farag ◽

K. Howard ◽

S. O’Rourke ◽

M. L. Ferreira ◽

S. R. Lord ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Older Adults ◽

Support Services ◽

Exercise Intervention ◽

Home Exercise ◽

Service Utilisation ◽

Hospital Service ◽

Social Support Services ◽

The Impact

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Leaving rehab: enhancing transitions into stable housing

10.31235/osf.io/vypsj ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Cameron Duff ◽

Nicholas Hill ◽

Hazel Blunden ◽

kylie valentine ◽

Sean Randall ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Support ◽

Substance Use ◽

Support Services ◽

Transition Planning ◽

International Comparisons ◽

Housing Instability ◽

Substance Use Problems ◽

Stable Housing ◽

Social Support Services

The project will examine the coordination between residential treatment and housing and social support services using international comparisons and linked administrative data followed by testing in the field. It aims to enhance transition planning and reduce the risk of housing instability for individuals leaving treatment for mental health and/or substance use problems.

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Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health of University Students in Pakistan

10.20944/preprints202012.0367.v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Hafiz Muhammad Asif ◽

Hafiz Abdul Sattar

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Mental Health ◽

University Students ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Family Income ◽

Sampling Procedure ◽

Mental Wellbeing ◽

Snowball Sampling ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Impact

Purpose: A novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 was identified as the cause of COVID-19 eventually led to the declaration of Public health emergency of international concern and a pandemic by WHO due to its exponential global spread. Present study was conducted to investigate the impact of second wave of pandemic on mental wellbeing and social behaviors among university students of Pakistan during this crucial period of COVID-19 infection. Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was designed to evaluate the psychosocial impact during the current COVID-19 outbreak among the students of The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan. Snowball sampling or chain referral sampling procedure was adopted to recruit the participants in the study. Verbal informed consent was taken from all participants before recruitment in the study irrespective of their gender, age and socioeconomic status. Results: Mental health of university students during COVID-19 epidemic was affected to a varying degree revealing that 26.66% were recorded to have mild, 27.15% moderate and 17.04% suffering from severe anxiety out of total 1029 students. Students who were residing in urban areas with parents and having a steady family income were negatively associated and found protective factors against anxiety. However, having a relative or an acquaintance infected with COVID-19 was an independent risk factor for experienced anxiety. Positively associated factors with the level of anxiety symptoms included economic stressors, effects on daily-life, and academic delays whereas social support was negatively correlated with anxiety in COVID-19 related stressors. Conclusion: Public health emergencies and such pandemic are exerting serious psychological impacts on university students. It is recommended that the higher authorities should plan better policies to reduce this impact for the provision of high quality and timely crisis-oriented psychological services to university students.

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Decision-making for receiving paid home care for dementia in the time of COVID-19: a qualitative study

BMC Geriatrics ◽

10.1186/s12877-020-01719-0 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Clarissa Giebel ◽

Kerry Hanna ◽

Jacqueline Cannon ◽

Ruth Eley ◽

Hilary Tetlow ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Decision Making ◽

Home Care ◽

Home Care Services ◽

Health Measures ◽

Care Services ◽

Decision Making Processes ◽

The Uk ◽

The Impact ◽

Care Support

Abstract Background The lockdown imposed in the UK on the 23rd of March and associated public health measures of social distancing are likely to have had a great impact on care provision. The aim of this study was to explore the decision-making processes of continued paid home care support for dementia in the time of COVID-19. Methods Unpaid carers caring for a person living with dementia (PLWD) who were accessing paid home care before COVID-19 and residing in the UK were eligible to take part. Participants were interviewed over the phone and asked about their experiences of using paid home care services before and since COVID-19, and their decision-making processes of accessing paid home care since the outbreak and public health restrictions. Results Fifteen unpaid carers, who were also accessing paid care support for the PLWD before COVID-19, were included in the analysis. Thematic analysis identified three overarching themes: (1) Risk; (2) Making difficult choices and risk management; and (3) Implications for unpaid carers. Many unpaid carers decided to discontinue paid carers entering the home due to the risk of infection, resulting in unpaid carers having to pick up the care hours to support the person living with dementia. Conclusions This is the first study to report on the impact of COVID-19 on paid home care changes in dementia. Findings raise implications for providing better Personal Protective Equipment for paid carers, and to support unpaid carers better in their roles, with the pandemic likely to stay in place for the foreseeable future.

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Longitudinal Examination of COVID-19 Public Health Measures on Mental Health for Rural Patients With Serious Mental Illness

Military Medicine ◽

10.1093/milmed/usaa559 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Natalie B Riblet ◽

Susan P Stevens ◽

Brian Shiner ◽

Sarah Cornelius ◽

Jenna Forehand ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Mental Health ◽

Mental Illness ◽

Serious Mental Illness ◽

Well Being ◽

Rural Populations ◽

Health Measures ◽

The Impact ◽

Rural Patients ◽

At Home

ABSTRACT Introduction There is emerging evidence to support that the COVID-19 pandemic and related public health measures may be associated with negative mental health sequelae. Rural populations in particular may fair worse because they share many unique characteristics that may put them at higher risk for adverse outcomes with the pandemic. Yet, rural populations may also be more resilient due to increased sense of community. Little is known about the impact of the pandemic on the mental health and well-being of a rural population pre- and post-pandemic, especially those with serious mental illness. Material and Methods We conducted a longitudinal, mixed-methods study with assessments preceding the pandemic (between October 2019 and March 2020) and during the stay-at-home orders (between April 23, 2020, and May 4, 2020). Changes in hopelessness, suicidal ideation, connectedness, and treatment engagement were assessed using a repeated-measures ANOVA or Friedman test. Results Among 17 eligible participants, 11 people were interviewed. Overall, there were no notable changes in any symptom scale in the first 3-5 months before the pandemic or during the stay-at-home orders. The few patients who reported worse symptoms were significantly older (mean age: 71.7 years, SD: 4.0). Most patients denied disruptions to treatment, and some perceived telepsychiatry as beneficial. Conclusions Rural patients with serious mental illness may be fairly resilient in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic when they have access to treatment and supports. Longer-term outcomes are needed in rural patients with serious mental illness to better understand the impact of the pandemic on this population.

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Lockdown experiences and views on future research participation of autistic adults in the UK during the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic

10.31234/osf.io/ncbem ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Alba X Realpe Rojas ◽

Nicola Mills ◽

Lucy Beasant ◽

Sarah Douglas ◽

Lorcan Kenny ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Mental Health ◽

Research Participation ◽

Future Research ◽

Health Issues ◽

Mental Health Issues ◽

Autistic People ◽

Autistic Adults ◽

The Uk ◽

The Impact

The COVID-19 lockdown was a set of nationwide public health restrictions in force on the UK from March 2020 in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Co-occurring anxiety and depression in autistic people placed them at heightened risk of potential adverse mental health due to the lockdown. Furthermore, the impact of current and future public health measures on autistic people’s willingness to take part in autism research was unknown. We carried out in-depth interviews with 31 autistic adults exploring their experiences of the COVID-19 lockdown and how the pandemic may affect future research participation. Transcripts were analysed thematically within a critical realism framework. Participants identified positive aspects of lockdown such as enjoying the lack of social pressures and using their well-developed skills for dealing with uncertainty. Autistic people also shared challenges of adjusting to lockdown, e.g., rapid change in daily routines. While hopeful about the freedom gained from easing restrictions, participants were concerned about the inconsistent communication and application of rules during the transition out of lockdown which may exacerbate already rising mental health issues among autistic people. The participants viewed research participation and engagement with increased relevance during the pandemic and welcomed efforts to conduct research using online methods of communication. The COVID-19 lockdown had a varied effect in the lives and routines of autistic people. However, healthcare providers and researchers need to be mindful of rising mental health issues during the pandemic, especially for people who were already vulnerable. The response to the pandemic may have offered opportunities for innovation in research processes enabling more autistic people to engage with research and making studies more inclusive.

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The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health and wellbeing of UK healthcare workers

10.1101/2020.10.23.20218396 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

James Gilleen ◽

Aida Santaolalla ◽

Lorena Valdearenas ◽

Clara Salice ◽

Montserrat Fusté

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Protective Factors ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Risk And Protective Factors ◽

Mental Wellbeing ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Controllable Factors ◽

The Uk ◽

The Impact

AbstractBackgroundThere is an urgent need to understand the psychological impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on UK healthcare workers (HCW).AimsTo reveal risk and protective factors associated with poor mental wellbeing of HCW working during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK.Method2773 UK HCWs completed a survey between 22ndApril and 10th May 2020 containing scales measuring anxiety, depression, PTSD, and stress, and questions about roles and COVID-19-related factors including workplace preparation and risk management. Respondents were classified as high or low symptomatic on each mental health scale and logistic regression revealed risk and protective factors associated with each outcome. Change in wellbeing from pre to during COVID-19 was also quantified.ResultsA large proportion of UK HCW had high mental health symptoms. ‘Fixed’ risk factors of poor mental health included being female, being ‘frontline’, pre-existing mental health diagnoses, and experience of stressful/traumatic events. An additional set of ‘controllable’ factors also significantly increased risk: PPE availability, workload, lack of COVID-19 preparation and training, and insufficient communication of clinical procedures. Resilience and sharing stress reduced risk, as did ethical support for those making treatment decisions. Allied HCW and managers were at elevated risk of high symptoms particularly PTSD. Wellbeing, especially of frontline workers, had significantly worsened compared to before COVID-19.ConclusionsPoor mental wellbeing was prevalent in HCW during the UK COVID-19 response. A number of controllable factors should be targeted, and protective factors promoted, to reduce the detrimental effect of COVID-19 and other pandemics on HCW mental health.

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