Bearing Bad News: The Impact of Delivering and Receiving News of Sudden Bereavement

2021 ◽  
pp. 105413732110616
Author(s):  
Susan Sweeney
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Sudden Death ◽  
Detrimental Effect ◽  
Bad News ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Loved One ◽  
Sudden Loss ◽  
Mental Health Issues ◽  
Peritraumatic Distress ◽  
The Impact

First responders and care professionals are often required to convey the deeply distressing news to relatives of the sudden death of a loved one. Witnessing the extreme anguish and grief of those receiving such news can have a detrimental effect on the bearers, leading to peritraumatic distress and feelings of inadequacy and burnout. For the recipients of such news, how it is delivered will impact on their understanding, acceptance, and processing of the sudden loss and may be a precursor for complicated grief or mental health issues such as anxiety or depression. Through writing about her own experience, the author aims to illustrate how interaction with professionals supported or impacted adversely on her grief and is intended to maintain professionals’ awareness of the impact of their delivery on recipients. Ancillary professionals also have an important role in how they interact with the bereaved and in ameliorating their deep distress.

scholarly journals The impact of COVID-19 restriction measures on loneliness among older adults in Austria

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erwin Stolz ◽  
Hannes Mayerl ◽  
Wolfgang Freidl
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Social Contacts ◽  
Mental Health Issues ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Opening Phase

Abstract Background To halt the spread of COVID-19, Austria implemented a 7-week ’lockdown’ in March/April 2020. We assess whether the ensuing reduction in social contacts led to increased loneliness among older adults (60+). Methods Three analyses were conducted: (1) A comparison between pre-pandemic (SHARE: 2013-2017) and pandemic (May 2020) levels of loneliness (UCLA-3 scale), (2) an assessment of the cross-sectional correlation between being affected by COVID-19 restriction measures and loneliness (May 2020), and (3) a longitudinal analysis of weekly changes (March-June 2020) in loneliness (Corona panel). Results We found (1) increased loneliness in 2020 compared with previous years, (2) a moderate positive association between the number of restriction measures older adults were affected from and their loneliness, and (3) that loneliness was higher during ’lockdown’ compared to the subsequent re-opening phase, particularly among those who live alone. Conclusion We provide evidence that COVID-19 restriction measures in Austria have indeed resulted in increased levels of loneliness among older adults. However, these effects seem to be short-lived, and thus no strong negative consequences for older adults’ mental health are expected. Nonetheless, the effects on loneliness, and subsequent mental health issues, might be both more long-lasting and severe if future restriction measures are enacted repeatedly and/or over longer time periods.

scholarly journals Cross sectional analysis of depression and stress in medical students

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tyler S. Jones ◽  
Deborah Rupert
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Help Seeking Behaviors ◽  
Mental Health Issues ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Sectional Analysis ◽  
The Impact

Medical student wellbeing is a topic of growing concern. Medical students experience high levels of stress and burnout and are at increased risk for depression and suicidal ideation compared to the general population. Even more concerning, medical students are disproportionately less likely to seek help for their mental health issues. Identifying and preventing these problems early can have lasting positive consequences over the course of a physician’s lifetime. We implemented a wellness program at our medical school in the spring of 2016 with the goals of decreasing burnout and depression, heightening awareness of mental health issues, and encouraging help-seeking behaviors. To analyze the impact of our program, we have implemented a quality assurance survey. Here we report lifestyle factors associated with positive screens for depression from that data and propose institutional initiatives that can be spearheaded by medical students for medical students to impact positive change.

Parenting Styles and Mental Health of Adolescents

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-46
Author(s):  
Vijeta Singh ◽  
Taruna Gera ◽  
Rakesh Kumar Behmani
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Parenting Styles ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
General Health Questionnaire ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Childhood And Adolescence ◽  
Developmental Phase ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Mental Health Issues ◽  
The Impact

Adolescence is a developmental phase marked with a heightened risk of inception of mental health disorders. The neglect in addressing mental health issues during childhood and adolescence could lead to the development of mental health problems in later life. The perspective with which children perceive their parent's parenting influences the children's mental health. Furthermore, the gender of the parent has its impacts on the shaping of a child's personality under the patriarchal society. The present research attempted to investigate the impact of different parenting styles (paternal) on adolescents' mental health. The study sample comprised 150 adolescents of 14-17 years in age from different schools located in the state of Haryana, India. Parenting Authority Questionnaire and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) were used to assess parenting styles and mental health. The present study's findings suggest that adolescents with a permissive parenting style have poor mental health compared with authoritative and authoritarian parenting styles. The study recommends incorporating healthy practices in parenting styles to prevent mental health issues among adolescents.

Best Practices for Distance Learning in Elementary Education During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-24
Author(s):  
Penelope Debs Keough ◽  
Jacqueline Simeon
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Distance Learning ◽  
Elementary Education ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Second Language Learners ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Cultural Backgrounds ◽  
Mental Health Issues ◽  
The Impact

The impact on elementary education, caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, has far reaching effects and can only be ameliorated by educators following best practices in distance learning. The purpose of this chapter is to bring to teachers, administrators, paraprofessionals, students, and parents innovative, effective ways to bring quality lessons at appropriate developmental levels to all students regardless of cultural backgrounds (i.e., second language learners, students qualified for special education, or those pupils hampered by trauma, homelessness, and/or mental health issues). This chapter will further describe through illustrations and step-by-step guides creating meaningful, interactive, and purposeful lessons to meet student needs based on assessment.

The Rights of Pre-verbal Children involved in Video-recorded Research

2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 391-404
Author(s):  
Neerosh Mudaly
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Maternal Mental Health ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Early Interventions ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Mental Health Issues ◽  
Considerable Research ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Recorded Observation

There is considerable research on the impact of maternal mental health issues on infants’ development. These studies emphasise the importance of early interventions to prevent the development of psychopathology later in life. In many studies infants who are involved in video-recorded studies show an observable distressed reaction. Whilst these studies have made major contributions to the field of child development, a key question that arises is: is it ethically acceptable in research with pre-verbal children for them to experience emotional distress during the research process? This article explores the ethical issues of harm and benefit from the perspective of the child. It aims further to refine discussion and understanding of children’s vulnerability and examines pre-verbal children’s ethical rights in video-recorded observation studies.

The challenge of change fatigue on workplace mental health

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 199-203
Author(s):  
Jan Bruce ◽  
Lucy English
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Behavioral Health ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Workplace Issues ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Extreme Stress ◽  
Workplace Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Issues ◽  
The Impact

Purpose Change and “change fatigue” were contributing to a spectrum of workplace issues – from extreme stress and burnout – to rising mental health issues even before the impact of COVID-19. This paper aims to examine why identifying mental and behavioral health issues had become a top priority for some employers and explore the negative impacts mental health issues present to organizations. Design/methodology/approach To gain this additional insight and data, meQuilibrium partnered with Employer Health Innovation Roundtable (EHIR) to hold a series of four workshops and focus groups, in the Fall of 2019 with 37 participating EHIR members representing large employers. The authors also gathered data through a short survey instrument. The discussions and the survey focused on the current mental and behavioral health challenges being faced by their organizations and what innovations are being put in place or will need to be put in place as part of a future integrated workforce strategy. Findings A key, and foundational, finding was that among these human resource (HR) leaders there was a view shared by 97% of survey respondents that the workplace was facing a greater mental health challenge than previously. Hundred per cent of participants agreed that the success of a workplace mental health solution will now require highly personalized, whole-person care across the full range of problems from mild to severe and will need to include not just the employee but also their spouse/partner and children. Originality/value While identifying mental and behavioral health issues had become a top priority for some employers even before the pandemic, meQuilibrium believed there was a need for more clarity as to how the HR professionals were viewing the urgency of the situation. This study examines key stakeholders in their organizations, the effectiveness of their current solutions and what new approaches to employee mental health they were considering. This paper includes original data compiled through workshops and focus groups.

scholarly journals Coping With COVID-19: Mindfulness-Based Approaches for Mitigating Mental Health Crisis

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Antonova ◽  
Karoly Schlosser ◽  
Rakesh Pandey ◽  
Veena Kumari
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Panic Attacks ◽  
World Population ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Mental Health Issues ◽  
The Impact

The novel coronavirus disease COVID-19 that first emerged in Wuhan, China, in Nov-Dec 2019 has already impacted a significant proportion of the world population. Governments of many countries imposed quarantines and social distancing measures in 2020, many of which remain in place, to mitigate the spread of the SARS-Cov-2 virus causing the COVID-19 disease. The direct impact of COVID-19 on people infected with the virus, their families and the health care workers, as well as the impact of the mitigation measures such as quarantine, social distancing, and self-isolation on the rest of the population have contributed to a global mental health pandemic, including anxiety, depression, panic attacks, posttraumatic stress symptoms, psychosis, addiction, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and suicidality. These effects are present acutely (for example, due to fear of contamination or losing loved ones, effects of quarantine/isolation, withdrawal of community and social services, etc.) and may continue long after the pandemic is over (for example, due to bereavement, unemployment, financial losses, etc). The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered mental health problems in people without previous history of mental illness, as well as worsened the symptoms in those with pre-existing psychiatric diagnosis. Therefore, the global effort is called for to deal with this mental health pandemic secondary to COVID-19 itself to address the emergence of new as well as the exacerbation of the existing mental health issues. Conversely, this global context provides an extraordinary opportunity for studying individual differences in response to and resilience in the face of physical and psychological threat, challenge to “normal” way of life, and long-term uncertainty. In this viewpoint article we outline the particular suitability of mindfulness, its skills and mechanisms, as an approach to the prevention and management of mental health issues, as well as to the promotion of well-being and building the foundations of adaptability and flexibility in dealing with the long-term uncertainty and profound changes to the social, economic, and possibly political systems as this pandemic continues to unfold.

scholarly journals Factors influencing a physical education teacher’s pedagogical games practices with pupils experiencing social, emotional and mental health issues

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 305-321
Author(s):  
Nick O’Leary ◽  
Carl Longmore ◽  
Richard Medcalf
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Education ◽  
Social Behaviour ◽  
Pedagogical Practices ◽  
Learning Approaches ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Social Emotional ◽  
High Performing ◽  
Mental Health Issues ◽  
The Impact

Recognizing the limited research examining physical education teachers’ pedagogical practices for pupils experiencing social, emotional and behavioural issues, this case study sought to examine how a male teacher with a high performing sports background taught games to such pupils and identify those factors that led to such practices. Occupational socialization was used to explore how childhood experiences of physical education and high performance sport, higher education and the workplace influenced his teaching and learning approaches in a special school setting. Data were collected by conducting three semi-structured interviews, eight videoed lesson observations and a self-reflective journal. Inductive data analysis identified that the twin aims of developing life skills and transferability of such skills beyond physical education were said to be achieved by developing pupils’ emotional resilience and encouraging appropriate social behaviour. The influence of the teacher’s family, his high performing sporting background, the needs of the pupils and the school’s policies impacted on developing such resilience and social behaviour. Two suggestions are offered as a result of these findings. Firstly, prior examination of childhood values should be undertaken for those wishing to teach physical education to pupils experiencing social, emotional and mental health issues. Secondly, given this study contradicts research findings that teachers with high performing sport backgrounds emphasize the development of pupils’ practical performance, research examining the impact of such sportspersons on physical education pedagogy in different educational settings appears warranted.

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