Navigating COVID-19: Insights from research on social ostracism

The COVID-19 pandemic and associated social distancing and lockdowns has caused unprecedented changes to social life. We consider the possible implications of these changes for mental health. Drawing from research on social ostracism emphasizing the importance of social connection for mental well-being, there is reason for concern regarding the mental health effects of the crisis. However, there are also reasons for optimism; people can be surprisingly resilient to stressful situations, the impact of ostracism tends to depend on social norms (which are rapidly changing), and mental health depends primarily on having at least one or two close social connections. Given the scale and unprecedented nature of the social disruption that occurred, we see strong reason for concern, but not despair.

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An audit looking at the impact of poverty on referrals to child and adolescent mental health services

BJPsych Open ◽

10.1192/bjo.2021.886 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (S1) ◽

pp. S338-S338

Author(s):

Aida Nourbakhsh ◽

Kandarp Joshi ◽

Breige Yorston

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Service Provision ◽

Well Being ◽

Referral Criteria ◽

Medication Intervention ◽

The Impact ◽

Mental Well Being ◽

Index Of Multiple Deprivation ◽

Made In ◽

Deprived Areas

AimsRecently, there has been a greater focus on how mental health in young people (YP) can be improved. Up to 10% of YP in Scotland have a diagnosable mental health condition1 and half of all adults with mental ill-health have had symptoms from their mid-teens2. Poverty is an important factor associated with poorer mental well-being from an early age which worsens if left untreated3. The aim of this audit was to answer the question: Are more YP referred from the least deprived areas, and are they more likely to require medication intervention or high intensity (tier 4) care? The results of which could help identify possible avenues for intervention to help improve retention of those most at risk of negative outcomes.MethodNHS Grampian CAMHS provides service to Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, and Moray. Pre-collected data over 15 months from these areas were analysed using the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) deciles to distinguish any differences between referrals made. In addition, this audit evaluated the data to define any trends of deprivation linking YP to medication intervention or tier 4 care.ResultResults showed that more referrals were made for YP in low-ranking areas (3.19% of decile one compared to 1.74% of decile ten). The referrals were also more likely to be rejected based on the referral criteria, 33% in decile one versus 21% in decile ten. The increased rejection of referrals is most likely a reflection of the health inequalities faced by communities in more deprived areas. In terms of service provision, the patients from the most deprived areas are 3 times more like to require tier 4 care while the least deprived are 1.5 times more likely as compared to percentage of population. With regards to medication intervention patients from deciles one, five, six and seven have significantly higher numbers.ConclusionThis project set out to look at the current service provided by CAMHS and found that despite best efforts deprivation has had an impact on the acceptance of referrals. Going forward this data will be shared with multiagency stakeholders to develop service provisions, in particular the issues identified with the rejection of referrals in more deprived areas. Higher level of medication use in more deprived population is not unexpected but highlights the need to share the findings with a multiagency network.

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Masculinity, Social Connectedness, and Mental Health: Men’s Diverse Patterns of Practice

American Journal of Men s Health ◽

10.1177/1557988318772732 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 12 (5) ◽

pp. 1247-1261 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Sarah K. McKenzie ◽

Sunny Collings ◽

Gabrielle Jenkin ◽

Jo River

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Support ◽

Social Relations ◽

Social Connectedness ◽

Well Being ◽

Support Networks ◽

Social Connections ◽

Science Literature ◽

The Social ◽

Patterns Of Practice

Men’s mental health has remained undertheorized, particularly in terms of the gendered nature of men’s social relations. While the importance of social connections and strong supportive networks for improving mental health and well-being is well documented, we know little about men’s social support networks or how men go about seeking or mobilizing social support. An in-depth understanding of the gendered nature of men’s social connections and the ways in which the interplay between masculinity and men’s social connections can impact men’s mental health is needed. Fifteen life history interviews were undertaken with men in the community. A theoretical framework of gender relations was used to analyze the men’s interviews. The findings provide rich insights into men’s diverse patterns of practice in regards to seeking or mobilizing social support. While some men differentiated between their social connections with men and women, others experienced difficulties in mobilizing support from existing connections. Some men maintained a desire to be independent, rejecting the need for social support, whereas others established support networks from which they could actively seek support. Overall, the findings suggest that patterns of social connectedness among men are diverse, challenging the social science literature that frames all men’s social relationships as being largely instrumental, and men as less able and less interested than women in building emotional and supportive relationships with others. The implications of these findings for promoting men’s social connectedness and mental health are discussed.

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COVID-19: impact on the mental health of university students

International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health ◽

10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20213789 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (10) ◽

pp. 4891

Author(s):

Priyanka Aswal ◽

Parvesh Singh

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Psychological Health ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Well Being ◽

Mental Illnesses ◽

Future Prospects ◽

Entire Country ◽

The Impact ◽

Mental Well Being ◽

Detrimental Impact

Background: Ever since the outbreak of the covid-19 pandemic, education institutions in the entire country were shut down. This shutdown of universities caused the students to stay at home which caused a detrimental impact on their mental health.Methods: This survey-based study aims to decipher the impact the lockdown has caused on the mental well-being of the students. The survey was conducted through a set of online questionnaires.Results: The results of the study show that the students suffered from various psychological problems. Anxiety and stress were the most prevalent amongst mental illnesses and were reportedly increased due to uncertainty about future prospects like job and graduation.Conclusions: The study confirms that the pandemic has had a negative impact on the psychological health of the patients and has amplified stress and fear amongst them.

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The impact of social isolation on a selected group of older brazilians within the context of the covid-19 pandemic

MOJ Gerontology & Geriatrics ◽

10.15406/mojgg.2021.06.00274 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 (3) ◽

pp. 89-94

Author(s):

Natalia Sperli Geraldes Marin dos Santos Sasaki ◽

Marília Louvison ◽

Camila Garcel Pancote ◽

Maria de Lourdes Sperli Geraldes Santos ◽

Amena Alcântara Ferraz Cury ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Isolation ◽

Social Life ◽

Social Activity ◽

Well Being ◽

The Elderly ◽

Health Condition ◽

Corona Virus ◽

The Social ◽

Data Collection Instrument ◽

The Impact

Objective: This paper is an examination of the experiences of a selected group of older Brazilians people which aims to analyse how they have been impacted by COVID-19 and, particularly, how they have been affected by protective social isolation measures. Methodology: 42 older residents of Sao Jose do Rio Preto were interviewed by phone. The applied script question was developed by International Longevity Centre the Netherlands, based at the Leyden Academy on Vitality and Aging. The data collection instrument consisted of five categories of analysis: social activities, social contacts and connectivity, well-being, vitality and health, and COVID-19 news and reports. Results: All in-person social activity ceased with the implementation of the isolation measures. Most of the interviewees pointed out to be suffering do to absence of their children, grand-children, other relatives and close friends from whom they have being apart since the beginning of the Corona virus pandemic. A large number of the interviewees recognized a worsening of their health condition and attributed it to the suspension of the physical activities and the social life that they had before isolation. Conclusion: The interviewed showed some insight about the experiences of older Brazilian adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. They all revealed a strong awareness of their physical vulnerability regarding corona virus. Most accepted the need to protect themselves through isolation or any other measures. However, there are barriers that difficulty the elderly people isolation as they live with of member of the family with different ages and in poor financial situations.

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Testing the Impact of a Planning Policy Based on New Urbanist Planning Principles on Residents’ Sense of Community and Mental Health in Perth, Western Australia

Environment and Behavior ◽

10.1177/0013916518798882 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 52 (3) ◽

pp. 305-339 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Paula Hooper ◽

Sarah Foster ◽

Matthew Knuiman ◽

Billie Giles-Corti

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Western Australia ◽

Sense Of Community ◽

Psychological Health ◽

Well Being ◽

Neighborhood Design ◽

Planning Policy ◽

The Social ◽

New Urbanist ◽

The Impact

There is growing concern that the built forms resulting from conventional suburban design may be adversely affecting the social well-being, sense of community, and psychological health of its residents. This study tested the premise that suburban neighborhood developments ( n = 36) designed in accordance with a New Urbanist inspired planning policy in Perth, Western Australia, improved residents’ ( n = 644) sense of community and mental health. Findings revealed that with each 10% increase in policy compliance, residents odds of experiencing high sense of community increased by 21% ( OR = 1.21, 95% CI = [1.04, 1.41]) and low psychological distress increased by 14% ( OR = 1.14, 95% CI = [1.01, 1.28]). These results add empirical input to the debate surrounding the rhetoric and purported social goals and benefits of the New Urbanism, indicating that implementation of its neo-traditionalist neighborhood design principles may help create the conditions for positive neighborhood sense of community and mental health.

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The impact of the initial and 2nd national COVID-19 lockdown on mental health in young people with and without pre-existing depressive symptoms

10.1101/2021.11.03.21265861 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Andrea Joensen ◽

Stine Danielsen ◽

Per Kragh Andersen ◽

Jonathan Groot ◽

Katrine Strandberg-Larsen

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Young People ◽

Cross Sections ◽

Random Effect ◽

Health Indicators ◽

Well Being ◽

The Impact ◽

Mental Well Being ◽

Linear Regressions

Background The evidence on mental well-being and loneliness among young people during the initial lockdown is mixed, and little is known about the long-lasting impact of the sequential lockdowns. We examine changes in young peoples mental health from before to during the initial and second more prolonged lockdown, and whether women and those with pre-existing depressive symptoms were disproportionally impacted. Methods Participants reported on mental health indicators in an ongoing 18-year data collection in the Danish National Birth Cohort and in a COVID-19 survey, including 8 data points: 7 in the initial lockdown, and 1 year post. Changes in quality of life (QoL), mental well-being, and loneliness were estimated with random effect linear regressions on longitudinal data (N=32,985), and linear regressions on repeated cross-sections (N=28,579). Findings Interim deterioration in mental well-being and loneliness was observed during the initial lockdown, and only in those without pre-existing depressive symptoms. During the second lockdown, a modest deterioration was again observed for mental well-being and loneliness. QoL likewise only declined among those without pre-existing symptoms, where women showed a greater decline than men. QoL did not normalise during the initial lockdown and remained at lower levels during the second lockdown. These findings were not replicated in the repeated cross-sections. Interpretation Except for an interim decrease in mental health during lockdown, and only in those without pre-existing depressive symptoms, this studys findings do not suggest a substantial detrimental impact of the lockdowns. Potential methodological differences in-between studies are a possible explanation for the mixed evidence. Funding The Velux Foundation

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The impact of employees’ well-being on performance in the workplace

Strategic HR Review ◽

10.1108/shr-01-2018-0009 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 17 (2) ◽

pp. 72-75 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Janice Haddon

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Personal Experience ◽

Well Being ◽

Content Type ◽

Different Types ◽

The Individual ◽

Hr Managers ◽

The Impact ◽

Mental Well Being ◽

Made In

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to look at the link between employee well-being in the workplace and its effect on productivity. Specifically, it looks at the different types of well-being (physical, nutritional and mental) and how organisations should be putting the welfare of staff at the heart of their workplace culture, to ensure their well-being and productivity. Design/methodology/approach Written as a viewpoint, the paper outlines the ways in which organisations traditionally offer employees incentives to look after their physical and nutritional well-being, such as gym memberships and healthy food options. It goes on to look at the impact of mental health on productivity and the symptoms employees may display if they are suffering with mental illness. Findings Mental health is one of the key contributors to productivity, and employers should do more to ensure the mental well-being of their staff. In addition, it outlines the impact a person’s mental well-being can have not only on themselves, but also on those around them, affecting, therefore, the productivity of a team/organisation as a whole, not just the individual. Originality/value The findings in the paper are based on personal experience, as well as recent statistics which are used to highlight the importance of the arguments made in the paper about the effect of mental health on and individual’s well-being and productivity. It is designed to advise HR managers and employers of the steps they can take to ensure the well-being of their employees and the benefits to themselves in doing so.

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Telephone Emergency Service 142 (TelefonSeelsorge) during the COVID-19 Pandemic–Cross-Sectional Survey among Counselors in Austria

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18052228 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (5) ◽

pp. 2228

Author(s):

Elke Humer ◽

Christoph Pieh ◽

Thomas Probst ◽

Ida-Maria Kisler ◽

Wolfgang Schimböck ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Stress Level ◽

Crisis Intervention ◽

Reference Group ◽

Well Being ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

The Impact ◽

Mental Well Being ◽

Second Wave

Telephone emergency services play an important role in providing low-threshold, anonymous crisis intervention free of cost. The current study aims to examine the mental well-being and perceived stress level of counselors as well as the main topics of helpline callers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Austria. In the current study, 374 counselors were recruited within the Austrian nationwide organization TelefonSeelsorge during the second wave of COVID-19 infection in Austria. The mental well-being (WHO-5) and perceived stress-level (PSS-10) were assessed and counselors were asked about the frequency of different topics thematized by callers and changes compared to pre-pandemic times. Compared to a reference group of the Austrian general population, counselors experienced less stress (13.22 vs. 16.42) and higher mental well-being (66.26 vs. 57.36; p < 0.001). The most frequent topics during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Austria were loneliness and mental health. More calls were registered in 2020 compared to 2019 and especially the topics loneliness, mental health, professional activities and relationships were reported to be thematized more often during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the time before (p < 0.001). The results contribute to an understanding of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on telephone crisis intervention.

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Response to the COVID-19 Outbreak in Urban Settings in China

10.21203/rs.3.rs-71833/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Zhao Ni ◽

Eli R. Lebowitz ◽

Zhijie Zou ◽

Honghong Wang ◽

Huaping Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Urban Communities ◽

Social Life ◽

Online Survey ◽

Perceived Health ◽

Well Being ◽

Urban Residents ◽

Perceived Health Status ◽

Screening Criteria ◽

The Social ◽

The Impact

Abstract The COVID-19 outbreak in China was devastating, and spread throughout the country before being contained. Stringent physical distancing recommendations and shelter-in-place were first introduced in the hardest-hit provinces, and by March, these recommendations were uniform throughout the country. In the presence of an evolving and deadly pandemic, we sought to investigate the impact of this pandemic on individual well-being and prevention practices among Chinese urban residents. From March 2-11, 2020, 4,607 individuals were recruited from 11 provinces with varying numbers of COVID-19 casers using the social networking app WeChat to complete a brief, anonymous, online survey. The analytical sample was restricted to 2,551 urban residents. Standardized scales measured generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), the primary outcome. Multiple logistic regression was conducted to identify correlates of GAD alongside assessment of community practices in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We found that during the COVID-19 pandemic, recommended public health practices significantly (p<0.001) increased, including wearing facial mask, practicing physical distancing, handwashing, decreased public spitting, and going outside in urban communities. Overall, 40.3% of participants met screening criteria for GAD and 49.3%, 62.6%, and 55.4% reported that their work, social life, and family life were interrupted by anxious feelings, respectively. Independent correlates of having anxiety symptoms included being a healthcare provider (aOR=1.58, p<0.01), living in regions with a higher density of COVID-19 cases (aOR=2.13, p<0.01), having completed college (aOR=1.38, p=0.03), meeting screening criteria for depression (aOR=6.03, p<0.01) and poorer perceived health status (aOR=1.54, p<0.01). COVID-19 had a profound impact on the health of urban dwellers throughout China. Not only did they markedly increase their self- and community-protective behaviors, but they also experienced high levels of anxiety associated with a heightened vulnerability like depression, having poor perceived health, and the potential of increased exposure to COVID-19 such as living closer to the epicenter of the pandemic.

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The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and well-being of people living with a long-term physical health condition: a qualitative study

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-021-11751-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

A. Fisher ◽

A. Roberts ◽

A. R. McKinlay ◽

D. Fancourt ◽

A. Burton

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Support ◽

Physical Health ◽

Well Being ◽

Severe Illness ◽

Health And Wellbeing ◽

Being There ◽

The Impact ◽

Health And Well Being

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions caused major global disruption. Individuals with long-term physical health conditions (LTCs) are at higher risk of severe illness and often subject to the strictest pandemic guidance, so may be disproportionally affected. The aim of this study was to qualitatively explore how living with a LTC during the COVID-19 pandemic affected people’s mental health and wellbeing. Methods Participants were people living with LTCs who participated in telephone/video call interviews based on a semi-structured topic guide. Key themes and subthemes were determined using deductive and inductive thematic analysis. Results The sample included 32 participants with LTCs (most commonly cancer, respiratory conditions or cardiovascular diseases), mean age 57 (SD 13) years, 66% female and 72% white British. There were four overarching themes specific to living with a LTC. These were 1) high levels of fear and anxiety related to perceived consequences of catching COVID-19, 2) impact of shielding/isolation on mental health and wellbeing, 3) experience of healthcare during the pandemic and 4) anxiety created by uncertainty about the future. Fourteen subthemes were identified, including concerns about accessing essential supplies and the importance of social support. Individuals who lived alone and were advised to shield could be profoundly negatively affected. Conclusions This study found that there were a number of aspects of living with a LTC during the pandemic that had a significant impact on mental health and well-being. There should be focus on how best to provide practical and social support to people with LTCs during a pandemic, particularly if they have to shield or isolate.

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