The Bittersweet Dynamics of Psychological Distress and Relief During New Zealand’s COVID-19 Lockdown Clarify Avoidable Mental Health Burdens

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Bulbulia ◽  
Fiona Barlow ◽  
Don E. Davis ◽  
Lara Greaves ◽  
Benjamin Highland ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Panel Data ◽  
Natural Disasters ◽  
Health Satisfaction ◽  
Social Belonging ◽  
Health Dynamics ◽  
Health Burdens ◽  
Silver Lining

Research indicates COVID-19 lockdowns elevated psychological distress. Here, we leverage national panel data before and during New Zealand’s COVID-19 lockdown to clarify distress buffers (2018/2020, N = 940). To distinguish lockdown-related distress from natural disasters, we investigate distress dynamics following the Christchurch earthquakes (2011, N = 6,806). During lockdown, there were small increases in hopelessness, restlessness, and nervousness, and substantial increases in worthlessness. A sense of neighbourhood community became decoupled from this distress, which high levels of social belonging and health satisfaction did not prevent. A silver lining was a relief from feelings of effort fostered by social belonging. By contrast, the Christchurch earthquakes increased all distress indicators and distress buffers performed consistently. We infer that losses of employment and social routines during New Zealand’s lockdown, in a setting of government income and health protections, precipitated bittersweet mental health dynamics. That certain pandemic mental health burdens are avoidable has applied interest.

Mechanisms of COVID-19 Mental Health Burden

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Bulbulia ◽  
Sofia Piven ◽  
Fiona Barlow ◽  
Don E. Davis ◽  
Lara Greaves ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Health Satisfaction ◽  
Civic Attitudes ◽  
Social Belonging ◽  
Pervasive Health ◽  
The Government ◽  
Health Burdens ◽  
Political Economic

New Zealand's COVID-19 lockdown in March and April 2020 was among the world's most stringent. Similar to other countries, New Zealand's lockdown occurred amidst pervasive health and economic uncertainties. However, New Zealanders experienced comparatively less psychological distress. To test theories of pandemic distress mitigation, we use national longitudinal responses with pre-COVID-19 baselines and systematically quantify psychological distress trajectories within the same individuals during the lockdown (pre-COVID-19 = 2018/2019; stringent-lockdown = March/April 2020; N = 940). Most distress indicators were minimally elevated. However, there was a three-fold increase in feelings of worthlessness. Neither satisfaction with the government, nor business-satisfaction, nor a sense of neighbourhood community were effective distress defences. Perceived social-belonging and health-satisfaction mitigated feelings of worthlessness. A silver lining was a relief from feelings of effort, which social-belonging fostered. That social-belonging and health satisfaction could quell serious distress among those low in government confidence, low in business satisfaction, and low neighbourhood community proves that distress mitigation is possible without shifting a population's general political, economic, and civic attitudes. Protection of income and containment of infectious disease threat reduces mental health burdens. Though feelings of worthlessness surge during lockdown, such feelings attenuate from interpersonal belonging with people one already knows.

The Effectiveness of EMDR in Reducing Psychological Distress in Survivors of Natural Disasters: A Review

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 157-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fehmida Natha ◽  
Anna Daiches
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Natural Disasters ◽  
Clinical Significance ◽  
Humanitarian Assistance ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Disaster Survivors ◽  
Cost Efficient ◽  
The Impact

Natural disasters affect whole communities both at an individual level as well as economically and socially. However, the impact of natural disasters on an individual’s mental health is substantial; yet, the response to one’s mental health needs after a disaster is underdeveloped. Nevertheless, the Humanitarian Assistance Programme has attempted to address these needs by providing eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) to natural disaster survivors. This systematic review provides evidence for the effectiveness and efficacy of EMDR in the treatment of psychological distress in survivors of natural disasters. Of the 8 studies reviewed, 4 were controlled trials and 1 study part-controlled. All the studies demonstrated statistical and clinical significance in reducing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, anxiety, depression, and other distress experienced by survivors of natural disasters. In addition, 4 of the 8 studies demonstrated clinical significance after just 1 session, presenting EMDR as resource-, time-, and cost-efficient intervention. Theoretical framework, adaptation in intervention, methodological issues, and quality assessment of studies are discussed. Implications for future research and clinical practice are also discussed.

The psychological effects of COVID-19 spread in young Canadian adults

2021 ◽  
pp. 002076402098887
Author(s):  
Praneet K. Gill ◽  
Cynthia Du ◽  
Farihah Khan ◽  
Nima Karimi ◽  
Kanav Sabharwal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Emotional Distress ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Government Aid ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Burdens

Background and aim: The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) not only threatens physical health but also psychological well-being. As a result of the pandemic, increased mental health burdens have been recorded in young adults around the world. We sought to understand the association of stressors related to the COVID-19 pandemic with symptoms of psychological and emotional distress in young Canadian adults. Method: Questionnaire respondents were asked about the extent to which they were personally impacted by COVID-19, and symptoms related to depression, anxiety, post-traumatic disorder, and emotional distress. Results: Of 84 respondents, most identified as female (74%; 62/84). Overall, 61% (51/84) reported experiencing symptoms of psychological distress related to depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); specifically, 43% (36/84) reported anxiety-related symptoms, 33% (28/84) reported depression-related symptoms, and 6% (5/84) reported PTSD-related symptoms. Individuals with family in settings high risk for COVID-19 infection and individuals who received government aid with a reduction in income were 4.30-fold and 2.80-fold more likely, respectively, to experience symptoms of psychological distress (95% CI 1.31–14.14; p = .013 and 95% CI 1.08–7.25; p = .038, respectively). Visits to social media daily to hourly for COVID-19 related news resulted in a 3.24-fold increase in the likelihood of experiencing depression-related symptoms (95% CI 1.26–8.35; p = .020). Conclusion: We demonstrate a necessity to focus on alleviating the mental health burdens and contributing stressors within young Canadian adults. Though the mental health burdens are currently exacerbated by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, they may persist after the pandemic ends if left unaddressed.

Mental health implications for older adults after natural disasters – a systematic review and meta-analysis

2015 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Georgina Parker ◽  
David Lie ◽  
Dan J. Siskind ◽  
Melinda Martin-Khan ◽  
Beverly Raphael ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Natural Disasters ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Adjustment Disorder ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACTBackground:Natural disasters affect the health and well-being of adults throughout the world. There is some debate in the literature as to whether older persons have increased risk of mental health outcomes after exposure to natural disasters when compared with younger adults. To date, no systematic review has evaluated this. We aimed to synthesize the available evidence on the impact of natural disasters on the mental health and psychological distress experienced by older adults.Design:A meta-analysis was conducted on papers identified through a systematic review. The primary outcomes measured were post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety disorders, adjustment disorder, and psychological distress.Results:We identified six papers with sufficient data for a random effects meta-analysis. Older adults were 2.11 times more likely to experience PTSD symptoms and 1.73 more likely to develop adjustment disorder when exposed to natural disasters when compared with younger adults.Conclusions:Given the global rise in the number of older adults affected by natural disasters, mental health services need to be prepared to meet their needs following natural disasters, particularly around the early detection and management of PTSD.

scholarly journals Psychological distress and psychiatric disorder after natural disasters: systematic review and meta-analysis

2018 ◽  
Vol 213 (6) ◽  
pp. 716-722 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben Beaglehole ◽  
Roger T. Mulder ◽  
Chris M. Frampton ◽  
Joseph M. Boden ◽  
Giles Newton-Howes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Psychiatric Disorder ◽  
Natural Disasters ◽  
Psychiatric Disorders ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Quality Criteria ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Meta Analyses

BackgroundNatural disasters are increasing in frequency and severity. They cause widespread hardship and are associated with detrimental effects on mental health.AimsOur aim is to provide the best estimate of the effects of natural disasters on mental health through a systematic review and meta-analysis of the rates of psychological distress and psychiatric disorder after natural disasters.MethodThis systematic review and meta-analysis is limited to studies that met predetermined quality criteria. We required included studies to make comparisons with pre-disaster or non-disaster exposed controls, and sample representative populations. Key studies were identified through a comprehensive search of PubMed, EMBASE and PsycINFO from 1980 to 3 March 2017. Random effects meta-analyses were performed for studies that reported key outcomes with appropriate statistics.ResultsForty-one studies were identified by the literature search, of which 27 contributed to the meta-analyses. Continuous measures of psychological distress were increased after natural disasters (combined standardised mean difference 0.63, 95% CI 0.27–0.98, P = 0.005). Psychiatric disorders were also increased (combined odds ratio 1.84, 95% CI 1.43–2.38, P < 0.001). Rates of post-traumatic stress disorder and depression were significantly increased after disasters. Findings for anxiety and alcohol misuse/dependence were not significant. High rates of heterogeneity suggest that disaster-specific factors and, to a lesser degree, methodological factors contribute to the variance between studies.ConclusionsIncreased rates of psychological distress and psychiatric disorders follow natural disasters. High levels of heterogeneity between studies suggest that disaster variables and post-disaster response have the potential to mitigate adverse effects.Declaration of interestNone.

A descriptive study of the prevalence of psychological distress and mental disorders in the Canadian population: comparison between low-income and non-low-income populations

2010 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 148-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Caron ◽  
A. Liu
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Substance Abuse ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Descriptive Study ◽  
Canadian Community Health Survey ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
High Psychological Distress

Objective This descriptive study compares rates of high psychological distress and mental disorders between low-income and non-low-income populations in Canada. Methods Data were collected through the Canadian Community Health Survey – Mental Health and Well-being (CCHS 1.2), which surveyed 36 984 Canadians aged 15 or over; 17.9% (n = 6620) was classified within the low-income population using the Low Income Measure. The K-10 was used to measure psychological distress and the CIDI for assessing mental disorders. Results One out of 5 Canadians reported high psychological distress, and 1 out of 10 reported at least one of the five mental disorders surveyed or substance abuse. Women, single, separated or divorced respondents, non-immigrants and Aboriginal Canadians were more likely to report suffering from psychological distress or from mental disorders and substance abuse. Rates of reported psychological distress and of mental disorders and substance abuse were much higher in low-income populations, and these differences were statistically consistent in most of the sociodemographic strata. Conclusion This study helps determine the vulnerable groups in mental health for which prevention and promotion programs could be designed.

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