Well-Being of Canadian Veterans during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-Sectional Results from the COVID-19 Veteran Well-Being Study

Abstract Background The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have disproportionally affected different population groups. Veterans are more likely to have pre-existing mental health conditions compared to the general Canadian population, experience compounded stressors resulting from disruptions to familial, social, and occupational domains, and were faced with changes in healthcare delivery (e.g., telehealth). The objectives of this study are to assess (a) the mental health impact of COVID-19 and related life changes on the mental health of Veterans and (b) perceptions of and satisfaction with changes in healthcare treatments and delivery during the pandemic. Methods A total of 1139 Canadian Veterans were recruited to participate in an online survey. Participants completed questions pertaining to their mental health and well-being, lifestyle changes, and concerns relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as experiences and satisfaction with healthcare treatments during the pandemic. Results Results showed that 55.9% of respondents reported worse mental health functioning compared to before the pandemic. Frequency of probable posttraumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, alcohol use disorder, and suicidal ideation were 34.2%, 35.3%, 26.8%, 13.0%, and 22.0%, respectively. Between 39.0% and 53.0% of respondents attributed their symptoms as either directly related to or exacerbated by the pandemic. Approximately 18% of respondents reported using telehealth for mental health services during the pandemic, and among those, 73.0% indicated a choice to use telehealth even after the pandemic. Conclusions This study found that most Veterans experienced worsening mental health as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The use of telehealth services was widely endorsed by mental health treatment-seeking Veterans who transitioned to virtual care during the pandemic. Our findings have important clinical and program administrator implications, emphasizing the need to reach out to support veterans, especially those with pre-existing mental health conditions and to enhance and maintain virtual care even post pandemic.

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Overlooked and Unaddressed: A narrative review of mental health consequences of child marriages.

10.31235/osf.io/ew9pn ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Rochelle Ann Burgess ◽

Mairi Jeffery ◽

Sabina Odero ◽

Kelly Rose-Clarke ◽

Delanjathan Devakumar

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Emotional Distress ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Well Being ◽

Poor Mental Health ◽

Health Conditions ◽

Child Marriage ◽

Health Consequences ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Mental Health Conditions

Child Marriage (before the age of 18) affects over 12 million young women globally, annually. Despite acknowledgement of the negative impacts of the practice on reproductive health, mental health consequences are largely overlooked. Given the ability for poor mental health to intensify other health and social challenges, understanding the mental health consequences linked to child marriage is vital. Our study is the first to examine how mental health is approached in current literature on child marriage. Our conceptual framework was informed by a rapid assessment of key issues in the field. Systematic searches of papers published between 2000-2020 were completed on four electronic databases with no language restrictions. Our protocol was registered on Prospero (CRD42019139685). Articles were assessed using PRISMA guidelines, and their quality assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tools. Of the 4,457 records identified, 21 papers meeting inclusion criteria were analysed using narrative synthesis. The final sample included 5 qualitative, 1 mixed-methods and 15 quantitative studies (14 cross-sectional and 1 longitudinal study) reporting on data from 12 countries, largely in the global south. Intimate partner violence, poverty, challenges in childbirth and isolation were identified as social factors linked to emotional distress by those married as children. Depression was the most reported mental disorder. Anxiety, phobias, psychological distress, substance misuse, negative well-being and anti-social personality disorder were reported less frequently. Findings highlight that while significant emotional distress and specific mental health conditions are linked to child marriage, gaps in our understanding remain. Future studies are needed to; clarify directionality in these relationships; understand the mental health needs of young men, LGBTQI communities and those in humanitarian settings. Given the well documented cyclical relationship between social determinants and mental health conditions, we outline a series of community-oriented interventions which blend psychological, social and structural support to promote mental health and wellbeing in the contexts of child marriage.

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Prevalence of physical and mental health conditions in Medicare-enrolled, autistic older adults

Autism ◽

10.1177/1362361319890793 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 24 (3) ◽

pp. 755-764 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Brittany N Hand ◽

Amber M Angell ◽

Lauren Harris ◽

Laura Arnstein Carpenter

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

Confidence Interval ◽

Odds Ratio ◽

Psychotic Disorders ◽

Well Being ◽

Health Conditions ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Mental Health Conditions

While there is emerging evidence on the prevalence of physical and mental health conditions among autistic adults, less is known about this population’s needs during older adulthood (aged 65+). We conducted a cross-sectional retrospective cohort study of 2016–2017 Medicare data to compare the prevalence of physical and mental health conditions in a national sample of autistic older adults (N = 4685) to a matched population comparison (N = 46,850) cohort. Autistic older adults had significantly greater odds of nearly all physical health conditions including epilepsy (odds ratio = 18.9; 95% confidence interval = 17.2–20.7), Parkinson’s disease (odds ratio = 6.1; 95% confidence interval = 5.3–7.0), and gastrointestinal conditions (odds ratio = 5.2; 95% confidence interval = 4.9–5.5). Most mental health conditions were more common among autistic older adults, including schizophrenia and psychotic disorders (odds ratio = 25.3; 95% confidence interval = 22.4–28.7), attention deficit disorders (odds ratio = 24.4; 95% confidence interval = 16.2–31.0), personality disorders (odds ratio = 24.1; 95% confidence interval = 17.8–32.5), and suicidality or self-inflicted injury (odds ratio = 11.1; 95% confidence interval = 8.9–13.8). Health conditions commonly associated with advanced age in the general population (e.g. osteoporosis, cognitive disorders, heart disease, cancer, cerebrovascular disease, osteoarthritis) were also significantly more common among autistic older adults. By highlighting the significant physical and mental health needs for which autistic older adults require care, our findings can inform healthcare systems, healthcare providers, and public health initiatives seeking to promote well-being in this growing population.

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Overlooked and unaddressed: A narrative review of mental health consequences of child marriages

PLOS Global Public Health ◽

10.1371/journal.pgph.0000131 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. e0000131

Author(s):

Rochelle A. Burgess ◽

Mairi Jeffery ◽

Sabina Adhiambo Odero ◽

Kelly Rose-Clarke ◽

Delanjathan Devakumar

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Emotional Distress ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Well Being ◽

Poor Mental Health ◽

Health Conditions ◽

Child Marriage ◽

Health Consequences ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Mental Health Conditions

Child Marriage (before the age of 18) affects over 12 million young women globally, annually. Despite acknowledgement of the negative impacts of the practice on reproductive health, mental health consequences are largely overlooked. Given the ability for poor mental health to intensify other health and social challenges, understanding the mental health consequences linked to child marriage is vital. Our study is the first to examine how mental health is approached in current literature on child marriage. Our conceptual framework was informed by a rapid assessment of key issues in the field. Systematic searches of papers published between 2000–2020 were completed on four electronic databases with no language restrictions. Our protocol was registered on Prospero (CRD42019139685). Articles were assessed using PRISMA guidelines, and their quality assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tools. Of the 4,457 records identified, 21 papers meeting inclusion criteria were analysed using narrative synthesis. The final sample included 5 qualitative, 1 mixed-methods and 15 quantitative studies (14 cross-sectional and 1 longitudinal study) reporting on data from 12 countries, largely in the global south. Intimate partner violence, poverty, challenges in childbirth and isolation were identified as social factors linked to emotional distress by those married as children. Depression was the most reported mental disorder. Anxiety, phobias, psychological distress, substance misuse, negative well-being and anti-social personality disorder were reported less frequently. Findings highlight that while significant emotional distress and specific mental health conditions are linked to child marriage, gaps in our understanding remain. Future studies are needed to; clarify directionality in these relationships; understand the mental health needs of young men, LGBTQI communities and those in humanitarian settings. Given the well documented cyclical relationship between social determinants and mental health conditions, we outline a series of community-oriented interventions which blend psychological, social and structural support to promote mental health and wellbeing in the contexts of child marriage.

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Changes in emotions and worries during the Covid-19 pandemic: an online-survey with children and adults with and without mental health conditions

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health ◽

10.1186/s13034-021-00363-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Josefine Rothe ◽

Judith Buse ◽

Anne Uhlmann ◽

Annet Bluschke ◽

Veit Roessner

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Online Survey ◽

Emotional Responses ◽

Well Being ◽

Health Conditions ◽

Potential Health ◽

Children And Adolescent ◽

Mental Health Conditions

Abstract Background The novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) has spread quickly worldwide with dramatic consequences on our daily lives. Adverse psychosocial consequences of Covid-19 might be particularly severe for children and adolescents, parents of young children and people with mental health conditions (mhc), who are more prone to the experience of psychosocial stress and who are more dependent on the access to professional psychosocial support. The present survey therefore aimed to explore perceived stress and the emotional responses of children and adolescents as well as adults with and without mhc during the social restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Methods The survey gathered information about 284 children and adolescent (parent-on-child-reports) and 456 adults (including 284 parents, self-reports). The participants were allocated to four groups: children and adolescents with mhc, children and adolescent without mhc, adults with mhc and adults without mhc. The survey included general questions about socio-demographic characteristics and mental health status, the CoRonavIruSHealth Impact Survey and the Perceived Stress Scale (only data on adults). Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used for comparing the emotional responses during the Covid-19 pandemic with emotions before the Covid-19 pandemic. Independent sample t-test were used to compare the level of perceived stress between the adult groups, linear regression analyses were conducted to examine which variables predicted perceived stress during the Covid-19 restrictions. Results An increase to the worse during the Covid-19 restrictions was observed for most emotions and worries in all four groups (children and adolescents with mhc, children and adolescents without mhc, adults with mhc, adults without mhc). Contrary to our expectations, a greater number of emotions worsened significantly for children and adolescents as well as adults without mhc as compared to those with mhc. We found higher perceived stress in parents as compared to adults without children in the same household and in adults with mhc as compared to those without mhc. Discussion Covid-19-related social restrictions and potential health risks seem to affect emotions and perceived stress in children, adolescents and adults. Especially, Covid-19 seems to be have worsened the mental well-being of children and adolescent and their families, who were mentally healthy before the Covid-19 pandemic.

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Beyond the high: Mapping patterns of use and motives for use of cannabis as medicine

Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs ◽

10.1177/1455072520985967 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 145507252098596

Author(s):

Sinikka L. Kvamme ◽

Michael M. Pedersen ◽

Sagi Alagem-Iversen ◽

Birgitte Thylstrup

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Side Effects ◽

Sleep Disturbances ◽

Online Survey ◽

Cannabis Use ◽

Health Conditions ◽

Convenience Sample ◽

Mental Health Conditions ◽

Patient Organisations ◽

Patterns Of Use

Background: In Denmark the boundaries between cannabis as an illicit drug and licit medicine have shifted rapidly in recent years, affecting also policy. However, the vast majority of Danes, who use cannabis as medicine (CaM) continue to rely on the unregulated market for supply. This study explores patterns of use and motives for use of CaM in Denmark. Methods: An anonymous online survey was made available to a convenience sample of users of CaM from July 14, 2018 to November 1, 2018. Participants were recruited through patient organisations, social and public media, and the illegal open cannabis market. Results: Of the final sample ( n = 3,021), a majority were women (62.6%) and the mean age was 49 years. Most had no prescription for CaM (90.9%), a majority had no or limited previous experience with recreational cannabis use (63.9%), and had used CaM for two years or less (65.0%). The most common form of intake was oil (56.8%) followed by smoke (24.0%). CBD oil (65.0%) was used more than hash, pot or skunk (36.2%). Most frequent conditions treated were chronic pain (32.0%), sleep disturbances (27.5%), stress (23.7%), osteoarthritis (22.7%), anxiety (19.6%), and depression (19.6%). Overall, users experienced CaM to be effective in managing somatic and mental health conditions and reported relatively few side-effects. CBD oil only users were more likely to be women, older, have limited recreational experience and have initiated use recently. Conclusions: A new user group has emerged in Denmark that, for the most part, use illegally sourced CaM to treat a broad range of somatic and mental health conditions, often with experienced effect and relatively low level of side-effects. The prevalent use of low-potency CBD oil indicates an interest in effects beyond the high normally associated with cannabis use. More clinical research into the effects and side-effects of CaM is needed to draw the boundaries of the medical utility of cannabis.

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Public Concerns during the COVID-19 Lockdown: A Multicultural Cross-Sectional Study among Internet Survey Respondents in Three Countries

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm10081577 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (8) ◽

pp. 1577

Author(s):

Alona Emodi-Perlman ◽

Ilana Eli ◽

Nir Uziel ◽

Joanna Smardz ◽

Anahat Khehra ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Online Survey ◽

Middle Eastern ◽

Well Being ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Internet Survey ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Culturally Different ◽

Patient Health

(1) Background: this study aimed to evaluate the worries, anxiety, and depression in the public during the initial coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic lockdown in three culturally different groups of internet survey respondents: Middle Eastern (Israel), European (Poland), and North American (Canada). (2) Methods: a cross-sectional online survey was conducted in the mentioned countries during the lockdown periods. The survey included a demographic questionnaire, a questionnaire on personal concerns, and the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4). A total of 2207 people successfully completed the survey. (3) Results: Polish respondents were the most concerned about being infected. Canadian respondents worried the most about their finances, relations with relatives and friends, and both physical and mental health. Polish respondents worried the least about their physical health, and Israeli respondents worried the least about their mental health and relations with relatives and friends. Canadian respondents obtained the highest score in the PHQ-4, while the scores of Israeli respondents were the lowest. (4) Conclusions: various factors should be considered while formulating appropriate solutions in emergency circumstances such as a pandemic. Understanding these factors will aid in the development of strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of stress, social isolation, and uncertainty on the well-being and mental health of culturally different societies.

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Prevalence of parental mental health conditions among children aged 0–16 years in Denmark: A nationwide register-based cross-sectional study

Scandinavian Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1177/14034948211045462 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 140349482110454

Author(s):

Amanda M.S. Christesen ◽

Camilla K. Knudsen ◽

Kirsten Fonager ◽

Martin N. Johansen ◽

Signe Heuckendorff

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Geographical Variation ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Health Condition ◽

Health Conditions ◽

Mental Health Condition ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Parental Mental Health ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Mental Health Conditions

Aim: Parental mental health conditions adversely affect the children. Information on the prevalence of parental mental health conditions is needed to help policymakers allocate resources appropriately. Therefore, the aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of children with parental mental health conditions in Denmark and further estimate the age-specific prevalence and geographical variation. Methods: In this nationwide register-based cross-sectional study, we included all children born between 2000 and 2016 if they resided in Denmark on 31 December 2016. Information on both maternal and paternal mental health conditions was retrieved from primary and secondary healthcare registers. Parental mental health conditions were categorised in three severity groups: minor, moderate, and severe. We estimated the proportion of children with parental mental health conditions on 31 December 2016. Results: Of the 1,106,459 children aged 0–16 years, 39.1% had at least one parent with a mental health condition. The prevalence increased with age of the children until the age of six years. Geographical variation in the prevalence ranged from 29.0% to 48.3% in the 98 municipalities. Minor parental mental health conditions (23.5%) were more common than moderate (13.5%) and severe parental mental health conditions (2.2%). Hospital-diagnosed parental mental health conditions were prevalent in 12.8% of the children. Conclusions: Two in five children aged 0–16 years in Denmark have parents with a mental health condition and geographical variation exists. The high prevalence of children with parental mental health conditions is an important public health challenge, which calls for attention.

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Resilience, well-being, depression symptoms and concussion levels in equestrian athletes

Journal of Public Mental Health ◽

10.1108/jpmh-08-2020-0110 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Annika McGivern ◽

Stephen Shannon ◽

Gavin Breslin

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Online Survey ◽

Well Being ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Content Type ◽

Mental Health Support ◽

History Of

Purpose This paper aims to conduct the first cross-sectional survey on depression, Resilience, well-being, depression symptoms and concussion levels in equestrian athletes and to assess whether past concussion rates were associated with depression, resilience and well-being. Design/methodology/approach In total, 511 participants from Canada, Republic of Ireland, UK, Australia and USA took part in an international cross-sectional, online survey evaluating concussion history, depression symptoms, resilience and well-being. Findings In total, 27.1% of athletes met clinically relevant symptoms of major depressive disorder. Significant differences were shown in the well-being and resilience scores between countries. Significant relationships were observed between reported history of concussion and both high depression scores and low well-being scores. Practical implications Findings highlight the need for mental health promotion and support in equestrian sport. Social implications Results support previous research suggesting a need for enhanced mental health support for equestrians. There is reason to believe that mental illness could still be present in riders with normal levels of resilience and well-being. Originality/value This study examined an understudied athlete group: equestrian athletes and presents important findings with implications for the physical and mental health of this population.

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Social Media Activities, Emotion Regulation Strategies, and Their Interactions on People’s Mental Health in COVID-19 Pandemic

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17238931 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (23) ◽

pp. 8931 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Yang Yang ◽

Keqiao Liu ◽

Siqi Li ◽

Man Shu

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Media ◽

Emotion Regulation ◽

Online Survey ◽

Health Indicators ◽

Well Being ◽

Emotion Regulation Strategies ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Psychological Well Being ◽

Regulation Strategies

The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically changed the general population’s life worldwide. People may spend more time on social media because of policies like “work at home”. Using a cross-sectional dataset collected through an online survey in February 2020, in China, we examined (1) the relationships between social media activities and people’s mental health status and (2) the moderation effect of emotional-regulation strategies. The sample included people aged ≥18 years from 32 provinces and regions in China (N = 3159). The inferential analyses included a set of multiple linear regressions with interactions. Our results showed that sharing timely, accurate, and positive COVID-19 information, reducing excessive discussions on COVID-19, and promoting caring online interactions rather than being judgmental, might positively associate with the general public’s psychological well-being. Additionally, the relationships between social media activities and psychological well-being varied at different emotion-regulation strategy levels. Adopting the cognitive reappraisal strategy might allay the adverse relationships between certain social media activities and mental health indicators. Our findings expanded the theory of how social media activities can be associated with a human being’s mental health and how it can interact with emotion-regulation strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Harm Perceptions of E-cigarettes Among Smokers With and Without Mental Health Conditions in England: A Cross-Sectional Population Survey

Nicotine & Tobacco Research ◽

10.1093/ntr/ntaa020 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Charlie Albert Smith ◽

Lion Shahab ◽

Ann McNeill ◽

Sarah E Jackson ◽

Jamie Brown ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Status ◽

Health Condition ◽

Mental Health Status ◽

Health Conditions ◽

Similar Proportion ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Mental Health Conditions ◽

Disadvantaged Groups ◽

Nationally Representative

Abstract Introduction E-cigarettes (ECs) may benefit smokers with mental health conditions who are more likely to smoke, and smoke more heavily, than those without mental health conditions. This could be undermined if harm misperceptions in this group are high as is the case in the general population. This study aimed to assess EC harm perceptions relative to cigarettes as a function of mental health status and a variety of characteristics. Methods Data were collected from 6531 current smokers in 2016/2017 in household surveys of representative samples of adults. The associations of mental health status (self-reported mental health condition and past year treatment), smoking and EC use characteristics, and characteristics relating to use of potential information sources with harm perceptions of ECs relative to cigarettes (measured by correct response “less harmful” vs. wrong responses “more harmful,” “equally harmful,” “don’t know”) were analyzed with logistic regression. Results A similar proportion of smokers without mental health conditions (61.5%, 95% CI 60.1–62.9) and with mental health conditions (both with [61.3%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 58.7–63.8] and without past year treatment [61.5%, 95% CI 58.1–64.7]) held inaccurate EC harm perceptions (all P > 0.05). Being female, nonwhite, aged 25–34 compared with 16–24, from lower social grades (C2, D, and E), not having post-16 qualifications, no EC experience, a daily smoker, unmotivated to quit <1 month, non-internet user and non-broadsheet reader were all associated with more inaccurate harm perceptions (all p < .05). Conclusions The majority of smokers in England have inaccurate harm perceptions of ECs regardless of mental health status. Implications This study is the first to use a nationally representative sample in order to investigate whether smokers with and without mental health conditions differ with regard to harm perceptions of ECs. Findings show that the majority of smokers in England hold inaccurate harm perceptions of ECs, and this does not differ as a function of mental health status. A number of characteristics associated with disadvantaged groups were significantly associated with inaccurate harm perceptions. These findings highlight the need to improve awareness and understanding among disadvantaged groups regarding the relative harms of ECs compared with tobacco.

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