scholarly journals COVID-19 Pandemic: The Mental Health Impact on Elders

Author(s):  
Shandiz Moslehi ◽  
Mostafa Roshanravan
Keyword(s):  

The article's abstract is not available.  

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony D Mancini

In this commentary, I argue that the mental health impact of COVID-19 will show substantial variation across individuals, contexts, and time. Further, one key contributor to this variation will be the proximal and long-term impact of COVID-19 on the social environment. In addition to the mental health costs of the pandemic, it is likely that a subset of people will experience improved social and mental health functioning.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Jumbe ◽  
Adrienne Milner ◽  
Megan Clinch ◽  
Jonathan Kennedy ◽  
Richard J. Pinder ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Over recent years there have been several major terror attacks in cities across Europe. These attacks result in deaths, physical injuries, and pose long-term threats to mental health and wellbeing of large populations. Although psychologists have completed important work on mental health responses to disaster exposure including terrorist attacks, the mental health impacts of such attacks have been comparatively less examined in academic literature than the acute health response to physical injuries. This paper reflects on Southwark Council’s pioneering public mental health response to the June 2017 terror attack at London Bridge and Borough Market. It aims to explore perceptions of the mental health impact of the incident by those living and working in the borough. Methods A rapid qualitative evaluation informed by the logic underpinning Southwark Council’s response was conducted. Seven formative interviews were undertaken with individuals involved in the response planning and/or delivery, enabling the evaluation team to establish the response’s theoretical basis. Subsequently, nineteen semi-structured interviews with consenting Council employees, residents, business owners, and workers from the Borough were conducted to understand perceived mental health impacts of the attack and the success of the Council response. Thematic analysis of transcribed interviews was undertaken to evaluate the extent to which the response was implemented successfully. Results Participants reported feeling the attack had a wide-reaching negative impact on the mental health of residents, those working in the borough and visitors who witnessed the attack. Delivering the response was a challenge and response visibility within the community was limited. Participants suggested a comprehensive systematic approach to health needs assessment informed by knowledge and relationships of key Council workers and community stakeholders is imperative when responding to terrorist incidents. Improved communication and working relationships between statutory organisations and community stakeholders would ensure community groups are better supported. Prioritising mental health needs of terror attack responders to mitigate persisting negative impacts was highlighted. Conclusions This article highlights a potential public health approach and need for developing robust practical guidance in the aftermath of terror attacks. This approach has already influenced the response to the Christchurch mosque shooting in 2019.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
I R Rubikas

Abstract Background Lithuanian has experienced rapid and relatively successful transition to capitalism and transatlantic-Western values and practices in recent decades. Suicide and legal alcohol consumption rates remain the highest in the EU and OECD, and Lithuania's Positive emotions index score has been consistently amongst the 10 lowest in the world in recent years. Emigration rate is the highest in the EU and OECD, social inequality is amongst the highest in the same groups. Despite a relatively strong economy these changes are not automatically transferred to better social and emotional well-being. Methods This unconventional situation calls for strong and unconventional policy responses in the area of mental health, amongst others. Health impact assessment using theory-based approach and desk research. Results Recent attempts include strategic reorientation towards social and emotional well-being, stronger focus on prevention and promotion and primary care, intensifying efforts to reduce suicide rates, and implementation of strong regulatory measures to reduce alcohol use. Suicide rates have been declining since 2013 but remain high. Effort is made to implement best practices in media reporting, recognition and providing appropriate help for those in suicide crisis, expanding prevention efforts. Conclusions Finally, WHOs “best buys” in alcohol control were implemented since 2017, including steep increases in excise taxes, ban on alcohol advertisement, increase of allowed age, reducing alcohol trading hours and others. This resulted in the steepest decline of legal alcohol consumption in decades. The chosen policy route may be called iterative policy-making, whereby improvements are made along the way, which allows for quicker policy decisions and results. Key messages Mental health policies need to be based on the socio-political context of the specific country. Smaller countries such as Lithuania might benefit form flexible approaches to mental health policies.


Author(s):  
Eva Spiritus-Beerden ◽  
An Verelst ◽  
Ines Devlieger ◽  
Nina Langer Primdahl ◽  
Fábio Botelho Guedes ◽  
...  

The COVID-19 pandemic is a defining global health crisis of our time. While the impact of COVID-19, including its mental health impact, is increasingly being documented, there remain important gaps regarding the specific consequences of the pandemic on particular population groups, including refugees and migrants. This study aims to uncover the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of refugees and migrants worldwide, disentangling the possible role of social and daily stressors, i.e., experiences of discrimination and daily living conditions. Descriptive analysis and structural equation modeling were used to analyze the responses of N = 20,742 refugees and migrants on the self-reporting global ApartTogether survey. Survey findings indicated that the mental health of refugees and migrants during the COVID-19 pandemic was significantly impacted, particularly for certain subgroups, (i.e., insecure housing situation and residence status, older respondents, and females) who reported experiencing higher levels of increased discrimination and increases in daily life stressors. There is a need to recognize the detrimental mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on particular refugee and migrant groups and to develop interventions that target their unique needs.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-37
Author(s):  
Melanie L. Hill ◽  
Brandon Nichter ◽  
Peter J. Na ◽  
Sonya B. Norman ◽  
Leslie A. Morland ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
pp. 002076402110272
Author(s):  
Dana Alonzo ◽  
Marciana Popescu ◽  
Pinar Zubaroglu-Ioannides

Background: On March 5th, Guatemala declared a ‘State of Calamity’ in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and strict lockdown measures were initiated. The psychological consequences of these measures are yet to be fully understood. There is limited research on the psychological impact of the virus in the general population, and even less focused on Latin America and high-risk communities characterized by poverty, limited mental health resources, and high rates of stigma around mental illness. The goal of this study is to examine the psychological impact of COVID-19 across several highly vulnerable districts in Guatemala. Methods: A semi-structured phone interview was conducted of 295 individuals in multiple districts in Guatemala City to assess self-perceived mental health consequences related to the pandemic. Sociodemographic, medical, and mental health data were collected. Chisquares and t-tests used for categorical and continuous variables, as appropriate, to describe the sample. Binary logistic regressions were estimated to examine associations between sociodemographic characteristics and mental health symptoms (anxiety, stress, depression, burnout, escalation of pre-existing mental health symptoms, and a sense of safety). Results: The results indicate high levels of anxiety and stress in all target communities. Significant differences based on gender, age, and the number of children in the household were identified: women and older adults experience higher rates of stress and anxiety associated with the pandemic; while families with greater number of children experience higher levels of burnout. Conclusion: Contextualizing the current pandemic as a complex emergency can help inform further studies focusing on socioeconomic challenges and higher vulnerabilities as preconditions affecting the impact of the pandemic on mental health. Given the limited available resources for mental health care in Guatemala, informal networks of care may play an important role in meeting the needs of those individuals experiencing increased psychological distress resulting from the pandemic.


Author(s):  
Asaf Benjamin ◽  
Yael Kuperman ◽  
Noa Eren ◽  
Ron Rotkopf ◽  
Maya Amitai ◽  
...  

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic poses multiple psychologically stressful challenges and is associated with an increased risk for mental illness. Previous studies have focused on the psychopathological symptoms associated with the outbreak peak. Here, we examined the behavioural and mental-health impact of the pandemic in Israel using an online survey, during the six weeks encompassing the end of the first outbreak and the beginning of the second. We used clinically validated instruments to assess anxiety- and depression-related emotional distress, symptoms, and coping strategies, as well as questions designed to specifically assess COVID-19-related concerns. Higher emotional burden was associated with being female, younger, unemployed, living in high socioeconomic status localities, having prior medical conditions, encountering more people, and experiencing physiological symptoms. Our findings highlight the environmental context and its importance in understanding individual ability to cope with the long-term stressful challenges of the pandemic.


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. e046547
Author(s):  
Luke Johnson ◽  
Kerry Gutridge ◽  
Julie Parkes ◽  
Anjana Roy ◽  
Emma Plugge

ObjectiveTo examine the extent, nature and quality of literature on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of imprisoned people and prison staff.DesignScoping review.Data sourcesPubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Global Health, Cochrane, PsycINFO, PsychExtra, Web of Science and Scopus were searched for any paper from 2019 onwards that focused on the mental health impact of COVID-19 on imprisoned people and prison staff. A grey literature search focused on international and government sources and professional bodies representing healthcare, public health and prison staff was also performed. We also performed hand searching of the reference lists of included studies.Eligibility criteria for selection of studiesAll papers, regardless of study design, were included if they examined the mental health of imprisoned people or prison staff specifically during the COVID-19 pandemic. Imprisoned people could be of any age and from any countries. All languages were included. Two independent reviewers quality assessed appropriate papers.ResultsOf 647 articles found, 83 were eligible for inclusion, the majority (58%) of which were opinion pieces. The articles focused on the challenges to prisoner mental health. Fear of COVID-19, the impact of isolation, discontinuation of prison visits and reduced mental health services were all likely to have an adverse effect on the mental well-being of imprisoned people. The limited research and poor quality of articles included mean that the findings are not conclusive. However, they suggest a significant adverse impact on the mental health and well-being of those who live and work in prisons.ConclusionsIt is key to address the mental health impacts of the pandemic on people who live and work in prisons. These findings are discussed in terms of implications for getting the balance between infection control imperatives and the fundamental human rights of prison populations.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 853-866
Author(s):  
Berliany Venny Sipollo ◽  
Mochamad Ali Sodikin

ABSTRAK Pandemi COVID-19 merupakan bencana non alam yang berdampak tidak hanya pada kesehatan fisik saja tetapi berdampak pula terhadap kesehatan jiwa dan psikososial masyarakat. Dampak kesehatan jiwa dan psikososial ini dapat menurunkan sistem imunitas tubuh manusia khususnya kelompok rentan yaitu kelompok lansia. Semakin seseorang merasa cemas yang berlebihan, maka tubuh mengalami kegagalan dalam menghasilkan antibodi untuk melawan virus.. Klien yang terdiagnosis positif COVID-19 merasa sangat takut dengan bayangan kematian, dan secara sosial diisolasi yang akan menimbulkan stigma sehingga mungkin terjadi ansietas dan depresi yang bila berlanjut dapat menyebabkan keputusasaan yang akan memperburuk kondisi fisik. Pemberdayaan generasi muda dalam hal ini adalah siswa SMAN 1 Sumberpucung dalam mendukung kesehatan jiwa dan psikosial lansia, yaitu lansia yang berada dalam keluarga siswa. Metode yang digunakan di masa pandemic COVID-19 dengan kegiatan atau pelatihan DKJPS (Dukungan Kesehatan Jiwa dan Psikososial) dievaluasi selama 1,5 bulan berupa melakukan upaya promosi kesehatan (peningkatan imunitas fisik dan imunitas jiwa) dan pencegahan masalah kesehatan (pencegahan penularan dan pencegahan masalah kesehatan jiwa) yang pada akhirnya disebut sebagai Adaptasi Kebiasaan Baru (AKBmelalui virtual menggunakan zoom dan platform Whatsapp Group Chat dengan metode ceramah, Tanya jawab, diskusi dan demonstrasi. Hasil Jumlah audience: 50 siswa dan jumlah lansia dan pra lansia: 11 orang Kata Kunci : Kesehatan Jiwa, Psikososial, Generasi Muda, Lansia  ABSTRACT The COVID-19 pandemic is a non-natural disaster that has an impact not only on physical health but also on the mental and psychosocial health of the community. This mental and psychosocial health impact can reduce the immune system of the human body, especially vulnerable groups, namely the older adults. The more a person feels excessively anxious; the body fails to produce antibodies to fight the virus. Clients who are diagnosed positive for COVID-19 feel very afraid of the image of death and are socially isolated which will lead to stigma so that anxiety and depression may occur if it continues. Can cause despair that will worsen the physical condition. The empowerment of the younger generation in this case is the students of SMAN 1 Sumberpucung in supporting the mental and psychosocial health of the older adults, which was the older adults who are in the student's family. The method used during the COVID-19 pandemic with DKJPS (Mental Health and Psychosocial Support) activities or training was evaluated for 4 weeks in the form of health promotion efforts (increasing physical immunity and mental immunity) and prevention of health problems (prevention of transmission and prevention of mental health problems. ) which is finally referred to as New Habit Adaptation (AKB through virtual using zoom and the Whatsapp Group Chat platform with the methods of lecturing, question and answer, discussion and demonstration Results Number of audiences: 50 students and the number of older adults and pre-elderly: 11 people Keywords: Mental Health, Psychosocial, Young Generation, Older Adults


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ousman Bajinka

Following childbirth, with a psychosis and associated mood disturbance, Postpartum Psychosis (PPP) is studied to be a severe mental health condition. PPP affects 1 to 2 per 1000 women among the psychiatric emergency. To curb this severe disorder, acute clinical intervention is warranted. Maternal mental health problems with a focus on depression as the condition with the biggest public health impact should be the way forward. This review is set to look into the risk factors, prevention and management of PPP. Both the acute onset and recurrence of psychiatric illness are common during the perinatal period as women are more vulnerable during this period. Timely detection and effective management of perinatal psychiatric disorders are critical for managing PPP. Part of the management strategies for women who experience PPP is to seek guidance on further pregnancies and risk of illness. Since PPP is a disturbing complication of childbirth that carries high risks for both mother and child, if one is at high risk of developing puerperal psychosis, there is the need for a specialist care during pregnancy and be seen by a psychiatrist.


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