scholarly journals The Benefits of Living With Close Others: A Longitudinal Examination of Mental Health Before and During a Global Stressor

2021 ◽  
pp. 216770262110533
Author(s):  
Natalie M. Sisson ◽  
Emily C. Willroth ◽  
Bonnie M. Le ◽  
Brett Q. Ford
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Close Relationships ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Romantic Partners ◽  
Disease Spread ◽  
Protective Function ◽  
The People ◽  
Longitudinal Examination ◽  
Unique Context

For better or worse, the people one lives with may exert a powerful influence on one’s mental health, perhaps especially during times of stress. The COVID-19 pandemic—a large-scale stressor that prompted health recommendations to stay home to reduce disease spread—provided a unique context for examining how the people who share one’s home may shape one’s mental health. A seven-wave longitudinal study assessed mental health month to month before and during the pandemic (February through September 2020) in two diverse samples of U.S. adults ( N = 656; N = 544). Preregistered analyses demonstrated that people living with close others (children and/or romantic partners) experienced better well-being before and during the pandemic’s first 6 months. These groups also experienced unique increases in ill-being during the pandemic’s onset, but parents’ ill-being also recovered more quickly. These findings highlight the crucial protective function of close relationships for mental health both generally and amid a pandemic.

scholarly journals The Mental Health Effects of Living with Close Others Before, During, and After the Onset of COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalie M. Sisson ◽  
Emily C Willroth ◽  
Bonnie M. Le ◽  
Brett Quaid Ford
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Close Relationships ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Romantic Partners ◽  
Romantic Partner ◽  
Protective Function ◽  
The Public ◽  
Longitudinal Approach ◽  
Additional Support ◽  
Mental Health Effects

The COVID-19 pandemic not only threatens physical health, but is also a multi-faceted stressor that threatens mental health. Given the public health focus on staying home to stem the tide of COVID-19, it is crucial to determine how the close others we live with (i.e., romantic partners or children) affect our mental health, for better or worse. We examined the month-to-month mental health (i.e., well-being and ill-being) of parents living with child(ren) and people living with romantic partners (versus people not living with these close others) from February through September 2020 in two diverse samples of U.S. adults (N=656; N=544). This longitudinal approach distinguishes three unique effects: differences existing before COVID-19 was declared a pandemic, differences due to the onset of the pandemic, and differences that persisted across the first six months of the pandemic. In both samples, living with child(ren) or living with a romantic partner were both protective for mental health, before and during the first six months of the pandemic. Some evidence suggests these groups experienced unique increases in ill-being during the onset of the pandemic, but their ill-being also recovered more quickly. These findings highlight the crucial protective function of close relationships for mental health both in general and amidst a pandemic, suggesting that people living without these close others may need additional support.

scholarly journals Tourist Mental Health Drives Destination Choice, Marketing, and Matching

2021 ◽  
pp. 004728752110115
Author(s):  
Mary-Ann Cooper ◽  
Ralf Buckley
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Destination Choice ◽  
Destination Marketing ◽  
Health Maintenance ◽  
Nature Tourism ◽  
Tourism Destinations ◽  
Tourism Enterprises ◽  
Health And Well Being

Leisure tourism, including destination choice, can be viewed as an investment in mental health maintenance. Destination marketing measures can thus be analyzed as mental health investment prospectuses, aiming to match tourist desires. A mental health framework is particularly relevant for parks and nature tourism destinations, since the benefits of nature for mental health are strongly established. We test it for one globally iconic destination, using a large-scale qualitative approach, both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tourists’ perceptions and choices contain strong mental health and well-being components, derived largely from autonomous information sources, and differing depending on origins. Parks agencies emphasize factual cognitive aspects, but tourism enterprises and destination marketing organizations use affective approaches appealing to tourists’ mental health.

Economic analysis of mental health services

2012 ◽  
pp. 1473-1480
Author(s):  
Martin Knapp ◽  
Dan Chisholm
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Resource Allocation ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Economic Analysis ◽  
Priority Setting ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Poor Countries ◽  
Societal Needs ◽  
Distribution Of Resources

Economics is concerned with the use and distribution of resources within a society, and how different ways of allocating resources impact on the well-being of individuals. Economics enters the health sphere because resources available to meet societal needs or demands are finite, meaning that choices have to be made regarding how best to allocate them (typically to generate the greatest possible level of population health). Economics provides an explicit framework for thinking through ways of allocating resources. Resource allocation decisions in mental health are complicated by the fact that disorders are common, debilitating, and often long-lasting. Epidemiological research has demonstrated the considerable burden that mental disorders impose because of their prevalence, chronicity, and severity: globally, more than 10 per cent of lost years of healthy life and over 30 per cent of all years lived with disability are attributable to mental disorders. Low rates of recognition and effective treatment compound the problem, particularly in poor countries. However, disease burden is not in itself sufficient as a justification or mechanism for resource allocation or priority-setting. A disorder can place considerable burden on a population but if appropriate strategies to reduce this burden are absent or extremely expensive in relation to the health gains achieved, large-scale investment would be considered misplaced. The reason is that scarce resources could be more efficiently channelled to other burdensome conditions for which cost-effective responses were available. For priority-setting and resource allocation, it is necessary to ask what amount of burden from a disorder can be avoided by using evidence-based interventions, and at what relative cost of implementation in the target population. Cost and cost-effectiveness considerations enter into health care reform processes, priority-setting exercises within and across health programmes, and regulatory decisions concerning drug approval or pricing. Two broad levels of economic analysis can be distinguished: macro and micro.

Lifetime and 12-month prevalence of mental disorders in the Nigerian Survey of Mental Health and Well-Being

2006 ◽  
Vol 188 (5) ◽  
pp. 465-471 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oye Gureje ◽  
Victor O. Lasebikan ◽  
Lola Kola ◽  
Victor A. Makanjuola
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Unmet Need ◽  
Composite International Diagnostic Interview ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Traditional Healers ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress

BackgroundLarge-scale community studies of the prevalence of mental disorders using standardised assessment tools are rare in sub-Saharan Africa.AimsTo conduct such a study.MethodMultistage stratified clustered sampling of households in the Yoruba-speaking parts of Nigeria. Face-to-face interviews used the World Mental Health version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (WMH-CIDI).ResultsOf the 4984 people interviewed (response rate 79.9%), 12.1% had a lifetime rate of at least one DSM–IV disorder and 5.8% had 12-month disorders. Anxiety disorders were the most common (5.7% lifetime, 4.1% 12-month rates) but virtually no generalised anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder were identified. Of the 23% who had seriously disabling disorders, only about 8% had received treatment in the preceding 12 months. Treatment was mostly provided by general medical practitioners; only a few were treated by alternative practitioners such as traditional healers.ConclusionsThe observed low rates seem to reflect demographic and ascertainment factors. There was a large burden of unmet need for care among people with serious disorders.

scholarly journals The impact on the mental health and well-being of unpaid carers affected by social distancing, self-isolation and shielding during the COVID 19 pandemic in England – a systematic review

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tabo Akafekwa ◽  
Elizabeth Dalgarno ◽  
Arpana Verma
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
List Type ◽  
Digital Platforms ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
The People ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Health And Well Being

AbstractObjectiveThis study explores the impact of the COVID 19 lockdown measures on the mental health and well-being of unpaid carers, who make up the largest number of the carer population in England.Study designA systematic review research protocol was designed and used to conduct the review along with the Enhancing Transparency in Reporting the synthesis of Qualitative Research - ENTREQ statement [43]. Pre-determined inclusion and exclusion criteria were used. EndNote X9 reference management was used and the search process was represented using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) flow diagram [76]. Appraisal of the included research was carried out using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) [57]. Line by line coding was done using inductive thematic synthesis and EPPI Reviewer 4 software [60].ResultsFour themes emerged; immediate worries or fears, adapting to change, post pandemic fears and use of technology.ConclusionThe measures put in place during the first lockdown period have had detrimental impacts on unpaid carers, putting them at greater risk of burnout. However, use of digital platforms could have a positive impact on well-being. Recommendations for further research are provided.What is new?Key findings?Discontinued or reduced access to activities and services during the first lockdown during the pandemic has had a negative impact on both people who require care and their carers.Carers prioritise the mental health and wellbeing needs of the people they care for over their own.Further qualitative research from different groups of carers would be useful to gain a deeper understanding of the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic measures on unpaid carers.Use of digital technology and digital platforms may be useful tools for carers both during the pandemic and after.What this adds to what is known?There have been very few qualitative studies on the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic on the mental health and wellbeing of unpaid carers, this review has synthesised their findings and will contribute to future research.Unpaid carers are known to be at risk of poor mental health and wellbeing outcomes, this review demonstrates that they are even more at risk due to the increased reliance on them during the pandemic.What is this implication and what should change?There is limited qualitative data available from a range of different groups of carers for example, spouse carers, parent carers, carers of people who have specific needs or conditions. Therefore, purposeful sample research to determine the needs of groups of carers during the COVID 19 pandemic could be valuable.Unpaid carers who do not have appropriate support are more at risk of poor mental health and wellbeing outcomes. During the pandemic services have had to adapt to the various rules implemented. Digital adaptations to the provision of support to both carers and the people they care for could be beneficial both during and after the pandemic.

scholarly journals Psychological impact of COVID-19 on doctors and medical undergraduate students in a government medical college in Uttar Pradesh, India

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (12) ◽  
pp. 4781
Author(s):  
Kunwar Vaibhav ◽  
Adity Priya ◽  
Pratibha Gupta
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Psychological Impact ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Medical Undergraduate

Background: COVID-19 wrath has influenced the socio economic, physical and mental health well-being of all the citizens. Doctors being at the frontline has been affected substantially by it. The paucity of literature on mental health impact of medical health professionals directed the present study to explore the Psychological Impact of COVID-19 on doctors and medical undergraduates.Methods: A cross section online survey was used for data collection. Socio demographic, COVID 19 related preventive practice, Oslo social support scale-3 (OSSS-3) for social support and impact of events scale-revised (IES-R) scale for assessment of psychological Impact was used. Data was analyzed using SPSS 23.Results: Overall 56 (36.36%) of the participants reported having psychological Impact of whom 25 (43.86%) doctors and 31 (31.96%) students were affected. The predictor variables as derived by the regression model were presence of comorbidity, poor social support and postings in isolation wards.Conclusions: Large scale longitudinal multicentric studies can provide a better picture of the actual magnitude of the mental health impact. The predictive factors should be taken into account for policy making decisions. Coping skills and mental health preparedness for the frontline warriors can be lifesaving and will uplift their morale for better delivery of healthcare services in a resource constrained setting.

The Oxford Handbook of Music Therapy

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Music Therapy ◽  
International Research ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Rehabilitation Services ◽  
Multiple Perspectives ◽  
Therapeutic Practice ◽  
Doctoral Level ◽  
The People ◽  
University Of Edinburgh

Music is acknowledged as an arts medium with a universal and timeless potential to influence our behavior and emotions. As international research about the effects of music on well-being expands it is timely to consolidate and report the gains in the profession of music therapy through this firstOxford Handbook of Music Therapy. With a foreword by Professor Colwyn Trevarthen (Emeritus, University of Edinburgh) this handbook provides an overview of some populations who are served in music therapy, with information about the contexts in which practitioners work. These include mental health services, hospitals, education programmes, and rehabilitation services. The people who come to music therapy either through self-referrals or by referral from a practitioner or service are described in detail by practitioner researchers most of whom are qualified at doctoral level. A range of chapters from internationally recognized experts has resulted in a substantial multidisciplinary, and pluralistic account of recent advances and applications in music therapy. The handbook presents an overview of many of the models and approaches that have developed in the field since its inception. Many of these chapters were written by the founders of the methods. Multiple perspectives to practice are honored in this text, with music therapy predominantly described as a relational therapeutic practice throughout.

scholarly journals ProMe: A Mentoring Platform for Older Adults Using Machine Learning Techniques for Supporting the “Live and Learn” Concept

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giorgos Kostopoulos ◽  
Katja Neureiter ◽  
Dragos Papatoiu ◽  
Manfred Tscheligi ◽  
Christos Chrysoulas
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Machine Learning Techniques ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
The People ◽  
Unique Framework ◽  
Intergenerational Cooperation

It is well known what an important role employment plays in our lives and how it influences our everyday life. With the help of employment, all of us as individuals manage to create our personal and social net that not only gives meaning and financial security but also heavily affects our social status, contributes to self-esteem, and plays a vital role on the way our social relationships at work and (not only) are formed. Being work active even after the retirement time has been found to have mostly useful and positive effects. Age groups that are in the after retirement age group (65 and more) and keep working can significantly improve their mental health since they feel that there are still things to offer to others. ProMe aims to provide a unique framework for the people being in this transitional phase of their life, from work to retirement, thus playing a vital role in supporting their mental health and well-being. ProMe provides a platform for the younger generation to benefit from the accumulated professional and formal knowledge and experience of the older. In this way, ProMe supports professional intergenerational cooperation and mentoring, bringing together older adults with younger generations.

scholarly journals Dealing with Community Mental Health post the Fukushima disaster: lessons learnt for the COVID-19 pandemic

QJM ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 113 (11) ◽  
pp. 787-788
Author(s):  
M Momoi ◽  
M Murakami ◽  
N Horikoshi ◽  
M Maeda
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Telephone Counseling ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Resource Information ◽  
Nuclear Disaster ◽  
The People ◽  
Fukushima Nuclear Disaster ◽  
Fukushima Disaster

Abstract Under the COVID-19 pandemic, mitigation of psychological distress is required. At present, the demand for remote intervention for the numerous affected people is increasing, and telephonic support can be useful. Since the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011, we have been developing a large-scale telephonic support system and implementing brief interventions for the Fukushima people identified at risk of psychological problems such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. In this article, we report the lessons from the Fukushima disaster that can be applied to the COVID-19 pandemic and describe how the telephonic intervention facilitates easier access to psychological help for people with a broad range of psychological distress who are not able to visit treatment or care resources. In our telephonic intervention, we first sent a mental health and lifestyle survey to the people affected by the Fukushima disaster. The counselor team then provided telephonic intervention to high-risk persons as identified on the basis of the survey results. The individuals had expected to receive from the telephonic system help mainly in the form of stress-coping methods, social resource information such as schools, public offices or medical facilities, and lifestyle advice. Since we also experienced that psychological care for telephone counselors was necessary to mitigate the substantial emotional burden, we used the following three approaches: (i) regular supervision of the telephone counseling methods, (ii) seminars for improvement of counseling skills and (iii) individual psychological support. The positive loops between counselors and consulters will help advance a society affected by a disaster.

Public awareness of psychological problems in Pakistan

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-45
Author(s):  
Waqar Husain ◽  
Fayyaz Ahmed Faize
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Psychological Treatment ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Psychological Problems ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Self Help ◽  
Health Practitioners ◽  
Income Data

Purpose Awareness of psychological problems is essential to address the problems adequately. It also contributes positively in the overall psychosocial well-being of a society. The rates of mental health literacy have been investigated in many countries and have been found to be lower than expected. The purpose of this study was to explore public awareness of psychological problems and psychological treatment in Pakistan. Design/methodology/approach The current study explored the latest levels of public awareness of psychological problems in the country by involving 3,500 respondents from five major cities. The sample of the study was sufficiently rich to represent Pakistanis based on gender, age, education, profession and income. Data were gathered from 3,500 respondents through interviews and a self-respondent questionnaire. Findings The study revealed that the awareness of psychological problems in Pakistan was 36 per cent. Several significant variations were also found based on different demographic factors. The study also revealed that 42.17 per cent of the respondents were aware of psychotherapy as a possible way of treating psychological problems followed by their awareness of social support (17.29 per cent), medicine (16.74 per cent), supernatural practices (6.29 per cent), religious practices (5.60 per cent) and self-help (3.57 per cent). Practical implications As a result of the findings of unsatisfactory levels of public awareness of psychological problems, this paper has implications for mental health practitioners and policymakers to play their active part in improving the situation. Originality/value The current study is the first large-scale study in the country.

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