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

PLoS ONE ◽  
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.

scholarly journals Impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on attitude, behavior, and mental health of patients with rheumatic diseases

2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marwa A. H. Hammad ◽  
Mervat Eissa ◽  
Ghada A. Dawa
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Rheumatic Diseases ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Healthy Individuals ◽  
Phone Calls ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Attitude Behavior ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Rheumatic Patients ◽  
At Home

Abstract Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has become a global health, social, and economic crisis. Healthcare professionals, patients, healthy individuals, and the whole community are under inevitable psychological pressure which may cause different psychological problems as fear, anxiety, depression, and insomnia. The aim was to assess the impact of the COVID19 pandemic on the attitude, behavior, and mental health of rheumatic patients and to compare them with healthy individuals. This is a case-control study, 360 participants were included and divided into a patient group composed of 180 patients with rheumatic diseases, and a control group composed of 180 healthy people. Data were collected via a self-administered structured questionnaire designed on Google forms. It was sent to participants via social networks and emails to different rheumatic patients and healthy individuals. Mental health was measured by the 5-item Brief Symptom Rating Scale (BSRS-5). Results The mean age of cases and control were (35.05 ± 8.79 vs 34.56 ± 9.06) years. In comparing attitudes and behavior toward COVID 19, there was a statistically significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) between both groups regarding washing hands, going outdoors, wearing masks and gloves outdoors, and staying in their rooms. Patients depended mainly on telehealth more than usual where about 50% used either phone calls, internet or sent their relatives to their physicians; moreover, 20% did not contact their physicians at all the past few months. There was a statistically significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) between both groups regarding feeling angry/irritated, inferior and insomniac. The BSRS-5 total score and being defined as a psychiatric case (according to the BSRS-5 scale) also differed significantly between patients and controls. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients showed more adherence to their medications and stayed mostly at home and they have higher BSRS scores. Conclusion Patients with rheumatic diseases show comparable degrees of anxiety and depression to healthy individuals, but higher distress symptoms and panic in the form of anger, irritability, and insomnia. They have a significantly higher sense of inferiority and a higher total BSRS compared to controls. SLE patients show more adherence to their medications and stay mostly at home as a reflection of feeling more vulnerable. Moreover, they have higher degrees of psychological affection in the form of higher BSRS scores. Abandoning drug purchasing without medical prescription is necessary in Egypt to protect our patients from unnecessary drug shortages adding to their fear and anxiety. Mental health should be addressed in the same manner we deal with the infectious disease itself, being of no less importance. Mental health professionals, social workers, and support groups need to provide psychological support to vulnerable populations, including patients with rheumatic diseases. Rheumatologists should be aware of the need for psychiatric consultation for their patients whenever necessary.

What Gives a Diagnostic Label Value? Common Use Over Informativeness

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Babak Hemmatian ◽  
Sze Yu Yu Chan ◽  
Steven A. Sloman
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Causal Relation ◽  
Causal Beliefs ◽  
Diagnostic Categories ◽  
Diagnostic Labels ◽  
Diagnostic Label ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Practical Implications

A label’s entrenchment, its degree of use by members of a community, affects its perceived explanatory value even if the label provides no substantive information (Hemmatian & Sloman, 2018). In three experiments, we show that laypersons and mental health professionals see entrenched psychiatric and non-psychiatric diagnostic labels as better explanations than non-entrenched labels even if they are circular. Using scenarios involving experts who discuss unfamiliar diagnostic categories, we show that this preference is not due to violations of conversational norms, lack of reflectiveness or attentiveness, and the characters’ familiarity or unfamiliarity with the label. In Experiment 1, whether a label provided novel symptom information or not had no impact on lay responses, while its entrenchment enhanced ratings of explanation quality. The effect persisted in Experiment 2 for causally incoherent categories and regardless of direct provision of mechanistic information. The effect of entrenchment was partly related to induced causal beliefs about the category, even when participants were informed there is no causal relation. Most participants in both experiments did not report any effect of entrenchment and the effect was present for those who did not. In Experiment 3, mental health professionals showed the effect using diagnoses that were mere shorthands for symptoms, despite a tendency to rate all explanations as unsatisfactory. The data suggest that bringing experts’ attention to the manipulation eliminates the effect. We discuss practical implications for mental health disciplines and potential ways to mitigate the impact of entrenchment.

scholarly journals Do Public Pensions Improve Mental Wellbeing? Evidence from the New Rural Society Pension Insurance Program

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 2391
Author(s):  
Fang Wang ◽  
Haitao Zheng
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Rural Society ◽  
Rural Elderly ◽  
Public Pensions ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Elderly Persons ◽  
Pension Insurance ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Pension Income ◽  
The Impact

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.

scholarly journals The Impacts of Working with People Experiencing Suicidal Ideation: Mental Health Nurses Describe Their Experience

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Lynley Murtagh
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Qualitative Description ◽  
Work Place ◽  
National Guidelines ◽  
Graduate Studies ◽  
Mental Health Nurses ◽  
Suicidal Crisis ◽  
The Impact

<p>New Zealand has one of the highest suicide rates in the world and mental health nurses are the most likely professionals to assess a person presenting with suicidal ideation. Managing a suicidal crisis is acknowledged as being one of the most difficult and frightening challenges facing mental health professionals. This research aimed to have mental health nurses who work in acute mental health settings describe the impact that working with people experiencing suicidal ideation has on their personal and professional lives. This study followed the tenets of fundamental qualitative description as presented by Sandelowski (2000). Five mental health nurses participated in individual semi structured interviews. The data collected under-went systematic thematic analysis and the extracted findings were presented as a straight description. The findings from this study revealed that personal philosophies of care, the work place culture, organisational and professional expectations and their personal concepts about suicide all influenced the experiences of these participants. Mental exhaustion, tension and feelings of isolation and alienation from family and society were universal experiences. Two recommendations have been made based on the insights gained from this research. These are; tertiary institutions should offer post graduate studies on the subject of suicide as it relates to mental health nursing and national guidelines for the provision of supervision to mental health nurses need to be developed.</p>

scholarly journals Aromatherapy for Symptom Relief in Patients with Burn: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Medicina ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Hye Won Lee ◽  
Lin Ang ◽  
Jung Tae Kim ◽  
Myeong Soo Lee
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Data Extraction ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Symptom Relief ◽  
Routine Care ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Review Author ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Study Selection ◽  
Meta Analyses

Background and Objectives: This review aimed to provide an updated review of evidence regarding the effects of aromatherapy in relieving symptoms of burn injuries, focusing on pain and physiological distress. Materials and Methods: Fifteen databases (including five English databases, four Korean medical databases, and four Iranian databases) and trial registries were searched for studies published between their dates of inception and July 2021. Two review authors individually performed study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment, and any discrepancies were solved by a third review author. Results: Eight RCTs met our inclusion criteria and were analyzed in this updated systematic review. Our meta-analyses revealed that inhaled aromatherapy plus routine care showed beneficial effects in relieving pain after dressing, as compared to placebo plus routine care (p < 0.00001) and routine care alone (p = 0.02). Additionally, inhaled aromatherapy plus routine care (p < 0.00001) and aromatherapy massage plus routine care (p < 0.0001) also showed superior effects in calming anxiety, as compared to routine care alone. None of the included studies reported on AEs. Overall, the risk of bias across the studies was concerning. Conclusions: This updated review and synthesis of the studies had brought a more detailed understanding of the potential application of aromatherapy for easing the pain and anxiety of burn patients.

scholarly journals The impact of online group counselling programs on substance use, mental health, and physical health among adults: A systematic review protocol

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheryl L Currie ◽  
Richard Larouche ◽  
M. L. Voss ◽  
Erin K. Higa ◽  
Rae Spiwak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Substance Use ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Group Counselling ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Online Group

Abstract Background: COVID-19 has resulted in an increased demand for online mental health services globally. There is emerging evidence for the efficacy for group online interventions that support population-based mental health, but a systematic review is lacking. The primary objective of this rapid systematic review is to summarize the evidence for online group counselling programs for adults. A second objective is to assess, within studies selected for our primary objective, the impact of online group counselling programs that encourage PA on outcomes compared to those that do not.Methods and Design: Randomized controlled trials that assess the impact of online group counselling programs on substance use, mental health, or physical health among community dwelling adults will be searched in MEDLINE, PsycInfo, CINHAL, and the Central Register of Controlled Trials. The review will be structured using PRISMA guidelines. Studies will be synthesized using the Cochrane Handbook and Synthesis Without Meta-Analysis (SWiM) reporting guideline. Quality will be evaluated using GRADE. Risk of bias will be assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool; with higher quality studies prioritized when drawing conclusions. The role of sex and gender will be considered as well as possible gender biases at all stages of the review.Discussion: This review will examine the effectiveness of online counselling programs that can be delivered to populations in a group format, and thus in a potentially cost-effective way. Findings will inform the decisions of governments, communities, and health care organizations responding to the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada. Systematic review registration: The protocol has been registered at the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO: CRD42020187551).

scholarly journals Prevalence of and risk factors for post-intensive care syndrome: Multicenter study of patients living at home after treatment in 12 Japanese intensive care units, SMAP-HoPe study

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. e0252167
Author(s):  
Takeshi Unoki ◽  
Hideaki Sakuramoto ◽  
Sakura Uemura ◽  
Takahiro Tsujimoto ◽  
Takako Yamaguchi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Unplanned Admission ◽  
Event Scale ◽  
Icu Discharge ◽  
One Year ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Post Intensive Care Syndrome ◽  
At Home

Few studies have examined the epidemiology of post-intensive care syndrome in Japan. This study investigated the mental health and quality of life of patients living at home in Japan after intensive care unit (ICU) discharge. Additionally, we examined whether unplanned admission to the ICU was associated with more severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depressive symptoms. An ambidirectional cohort study was conducted at 12 ICUs in Japan. Patients who stayed in the ICU for > 3 nights and were living at home for 1 year afterward were included. One year after ICU discharge, we retrospectively screened patients and performed a mail survey on a monthly basis, including the Impact of Event Scale—Revised (IER-S), the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS), and the EuroQOL—5 Dimension (EQ-5D-L) questionnaires. Patients’ characteristics, delirium and coma status, drugs used, and ICU and hospital length of stay were assessed from medical records. Descriptive statistics and multilevel linear regression modeling were used to examine our hypothesis. Among 7,030 discharged patients, 854 patients were surveyed by mail. Of these, 778 patients responded (response rate = 91.1%). The data from 754 patients were analyzed. The median IES-R score was 3 (interquartile range [IQR] = 1‒9), and the prevalence of suspected PTSD was 6.0%. The median HADS anxiety score was 4.00 (IQR = 1.17‒6.00), and the prevalence of anxiety was 16.6%. The median HADS depression score was 5 (IQR = 2‒8), and the prevalence of depression was 28.1%. EQ-5D-L scores were lower in our participants than in the sex- and age-matched Japanese population. Unplanned admission was an independent risk factor for more severe PTSD, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. Approximately one-third of patients in the general ICU population experienced mental health issues one year after ICU discharge. Unplanned admission was an independent predictor for more severe PTSD symptoms.

scholarly journals Considering Mindfulness Techniques in School-based Anti-bullying Programmes

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mairead Foody ◽  
Muthanna Samara
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Perspective Taking ◽  
School Bullying ◽  
Duty Of Care ◽  
Whole School ◽  
School Based ◽  
Current Psychological ◽  
The Impact

Schools have a duty of care to all students and to directly prevent and intervene with bullying amongst children and adolescents. The emergence of cyberbullying escalates this responsibility as the strategies that have become appropriate at national levels for bullying do not always parallel over to online environments. The impact on mental health is the most obvious concern for those responsible for reducing bullying, however, input from psychologists and mental health professionals is scant and often limited on this topic. This paper outlines what bullying is and the devastating impact it can have on the mental health of those involved. It will outline the most common anti-bullying initiatives as well as the current psychological and educational techniques, which could also be used to alleviate distress associated with bullying involvement. We will focus specifically on the role of mindfulness techniques and argue for more of such exercises to be included in whole-school bullying programmes. We conclude by arguing the need to investigate components relevant to both mindfulness and anti-bullying programmes (e.g., empathy, perspective-taking) as active ingredients for reducing the impact of bullying on mental health.

Students Responding to Natural Disasters and Terrorism

2012 ◽  
pp. 229-250
Author(s):  
Ryan P. Kilmer ◽  
Virginia Gil-Rivas ◽  
Steven J. Hardy
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
School Mental Health ◽  
School Setting ◽  
School Personnel ◽  
Emotional Needs ◽  
Cultural Considerations ◽  
School Based ◽  
The Impact

This chapter seeks to help teachers and school mental health professionals understand the needs of students who have faced a disaster or terrorism and identify strategies for school-based responses. The chapter provides an overview of the effects of these events on school children and youths, including relevant developmental and cultural considerations, and the impact on the school setting. Then, the discussion emphasizes recommendations for, and possible responses by, teachers, school-based mental health professionals, and administrators. Indeed, just as these traumas can affect multiple levels of school children’s lives, the needed response of school-based professionals can be framed as multi-level, ranging from curricular modification to interventions specifically targeting youngsters’ socio-emotional needs. The sections that follow seek to inform and guide responses for school personnel and provide clear, “actionable” recommendations.

scholarly journals A rapid review of mental and physical health effects of working at home: how do we optimise health?

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jodi Oakman ◽  
Natasha Kinsman ◽  
Rwth Stuckey ◽  
Melissa Graham ◽  
Victoria Weale
Keyword(s):  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Selection Criteria ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Rapid Review ◽  
Foreseeable Future ◽  
Working At Home ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Mental And Physical Health ◽  
At Home

Abstract Background The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in changes to the working arrangements of millions of employees who are now based at home and may continue to work at home, in some capacity, for the foreseeable future. Decisions on how to promote employees’ health whilst working at home (WAH) need to be based on the best available evidence to optimise worker outcomes. The aim of this rapid review was to review the impact of WAH on individual workers’ mental and physical health, and determine any gender difference, to develop recommendations for employers and employees to optimise workers’ health. Method A search was undertaken in three databases, PsychInfo, ProQuest, and Web of Science, from 2007 to May 2020. Selection criteria included studies which involved employees who regularly worked at home, and specifically reported on physical or mental health-related outcomes. Two review authors independently screened studies for inclusion, one author extracted data and conducted risk of bias assessments with review by a second author. Results Twenty-three papers meet the selection criteria for this review. Ten health outcomes were reported: pain, self-reported health, safety, well-being, stress, depression, fatigue, quality of life, strain and happiness. The impact on health outcomes was strongly influenced by the degree of organisational support available to employees, colleague support, social connectedness (outside of work), and levels of work to family conflict. Overall, women were less likely to experience improved health outcomes when WAH. Conclusions This review identified several health outcomes affected by WAH. The health/work relationship is complex and requires consideration of broader system factors to optimise the effects of WAH on workers’ health. It is likely mandated WAH will continue to some degree for the foreseeable future; organisations will need to implement formalised WAH policies that consider work-home boundary management support, role clarity, workload, performance indicators, technical support, facilitation of co-worker networking, and training for managers.

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