Mental Health of Teachers Who Have Teleworked Due to COVID-19

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education included school closures and the implementation of virtual teaching and teleworking without the knowledge or resources needed to do so. This situation accentuated the inequality in accessing quality education and generated high rates of stress, anxiety, and general discomfort in teachers. This study aimed to explore the mental health of teachers who were forced to telework because of COVID-19, and to analyze the association with sociodemographic, teacher-related, and working conditions. The sample was 278 classroom teachers in Chile who teleworked more than 50% during the 2020 academic year. The participants were mostly women (82%) who entered the teaching profession at age 30 or younger (87%) and worked two or more unpaid overtime hours per day (67%). The dependent variable was mental health measured through the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). The independent variables were sociodemographic, teacher-related, and work conditions. The internal structure of the mental health construct was evaluated using the Rasch model. Crude odds ratios (cORs) and adjusted odds ratios (aORs) were estimated using logistic regression models. A high rate of poor mental health was identified in teachers (58%). The variables associated with poor mental health were working in a private–subsidized school (aOR = 2.89; 95% CI: 1.16–7.22), working two or more unpaid overtime hours (aOR = 2.25; 95% CI: 1.11–4.59), and being absent due to sickness (aOR = 3.82; 95% CI: 1.53–9.58). These results provide evidence suggesting the need for actions to improve the working conditions of teachers who telework in order to improve their mental health, and thus have a positive impact on the entire educational community.

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The Effect of Subjective Perception of Work in Relation to Occupational and Demographic Factors on the Mental Health of Polish Nurses

Frontiers in Psychiatry ◽

10.3389/fpsyt.2020.591957 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Author(s):

Krystyna Kowalczuk ◽

Elżbieta Krajewska-Kułak ◽

Marek Sobolewski

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Relations ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Demographic Factors ◽

Well Being ◽

Work Conditions ◽

Subjective Perception ◽

Stress Reactions ◽

Work Overload ◽

The Impact

Introduction: Nursing is considered one of the most stressful professions in the world. The high emotional burden associated with excessive workload in qualitative and quantitative terms, exposure to existing and emerging infectious diseases, daily confrontation with the suffering of individuals and their families and low social support leads to the development of numerous stress reactions among nurses, resulting in the development of anxiety, insomnia, social dysfunction and depression. Indeed, somatic and mental stress-related disease rates are higher among nurses than in the general population.Aim: To determine the impact of subjective work characteristics on the mental health of nurses in relation to demographic and occupational factors.Material and method: The research was carried out among 558 nurses working in hospitals in Podlaskie Voivodeship, and used the Subjective Work Evaluation Questionnaire (SWEQ) and Goldberg's GHQ-28 Questionnaire.Results: As measured by SWEQ, and as self-assessed by means of the GHQ-28 questionnaire, overall stress negatively affects the nurses' health (R2 = 18.7%). Among the partial measures of the SWEQ questionnaire, work overload had strong and the lack of rewards, social relations and lack of support had weak negative effect on the overall mental health assessment of nurses (R2 = 19.2%). The responsibility measure was an exception that had a positive impact on the nurses' well-being. Among occupational and demographic factors, only higher education in relation to secondary education in interactions with the overall stress measure and unpleasant work conditions had a positive effect on the overall mental health self-assessment of nurses (R2 = 20.7%).Conclusions: The results of our study provide a clear message to the hospital management that improving the work organization and atmosphere of nurses by reducing perceived work overload and increasing the responsibility of nurses can have a positive impact on their mental health. Encouraging nurses to improve their education can result not only in an obvious improvement in staff qualifications, but also in better resistance to stressors in the workplace and, consequently, in better staff well-being. Both measures can have a positive impact on the quality of care provided by nurses and on reducing staff turnover.

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Evaluating clinical outcomes of routinely delivered task-shared care for depression in rural Haiti

Global Mental Health ◽

10.1017/gmh.2021.17 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Alexandra L. Rose ◽

Ryan McBain ◽

Jesse Wilson ◽

Sarah F. Coleman ◽

Emmanuel Mathieu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Clinical Outcomes ◽

Positive Impact ◽

International Health ◽

Routine Care ◽

Care Organization ◽

Depression Care ◽

Resource Limited Settings ◽

Resource Limited ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background There is a growing literature in support of the effectiveness of task-shared mental health interventions in resource-limited settings globally. However, despite evidence that effect sizes are greater in research studies than actual care, the literature is sparse on the impact of such interventions as delivered in routine care. In this paper, we examine the clinical outcomes of routine depression care in a task-shared mental health system established in rural Haiti by the international health care organization Partners In Health, in collaboration with the Haitian Ministry of Health, following the 2010 earthquake. Methods For patients seeking depression care betw|een January 2016 and December 2019, we conducted mixed-effects longitudinal regression to quantify the effect of depression visit dose on symptoms, incorporating interaction effects to examine the relationship between baseline severity and dose. Results 306 patients attended 2052 visits. Each visit was associated with an average reduction of 1.11 in depression score (range 0–39), controlling for sex, age, and days in treatment (95% CI −1.478 to −0.91; p < 0.001). Patients with more severe symptoms experienced greater improvement as a function of visits (p = 0.04). Psychotherapy was provided less frequently and medication more often than expected for patients with moderate symptoms. Conclusions Our findings support the potential positive impact of scaling up routine mental health services in low- and middle-income countries, despite greater than expected variability in service provision, as well as the importance of understanding potential barriers and facilitators to care as they occur in resource-limited settings.

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The Influence of Human–Animal Interactions on Mental and Physical Health during the First COVID-19 Lockdown Phase in the U.K.: A Qualitative Exploration

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18030976 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (3) ◽

pp. 976 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Emily Shoesmith ◽

Lion Shahab ◽

Dimitra Kale ◽

Daniel S. Mills ◽

Catherine Reeve ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Online Survey ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Companion Animals ◽

Free Text ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Human Animal ◽

Human Animal Interaction ◽

Animal Interaction ◽

The Impact

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic presents an opportunity to explore the role of animals as sources of emotional and physical support during a period when most of the population is experiencing social and environmental challenges. We investigated how companion animal owners perceived the influence of human–animal interaction on their physical and mental health during the first COVID-19 lockdown phase in the U.K., and what concerns they had regarding their animals at this time. We also explored the impact of participants’ interaction with non-companion animals during this phase. A cross-sectional online survey of U.K. residents aged over 18 was conducted between April and June 2020. The final item of the survey invited open-ended free-text responses, allowing participants to describe any experiences and/or perceptions of their human–animal relationships during the COVID-19 lockdown phase. A qualitative thematic analysis of responses was undertaken. Four main themes related to the following aspects of human–animal interactions during the COVID-19 lockdown phase were identified: the positive impact of animal ownership during the COVID-19 lockdown (e.g., amelioration of wellbeing and mental health), concerns relating to animal ownership during the COVID-19 lockdown (e.g., concerns over animals carrying the COVID-19 virus), grief and loss of an animal during the COVID-19 lockdown and the impact of engaging with non-companion animals during the COVID-19 lockdown. The findings complement and extend previous insights into the impact of human–animal interaction with both companion and non-companion animals. They also highlight the challenges of caring for an animal during the lockdown phase and indicate the need to consider the development of further targeted support strategies, such as “day care” for the companion animals of key workers in this context.

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Persistent distress after psychological exposure to the Nagasaki atomic bomb explosion

The British Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1192/bjp.bp.110.085472 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 199 (5) ◽

pp. 411-416 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Yoshiharu Kim ◽

Atsuro Tsutsumi ◽

Takashi Izutsu ◽

Noriyuki Kawamura ◽

Takao Miyazaki ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Atomic Bomb ◽

General Health Questionnaire ◽

Primary Outcome Measure ◽

Poor Mental Health ◽

Radiological Hazard ◽

Sample Group ◽

Individual Perception ◽

Health Deterioration ◽

Bomb Explosion

BackgroundAlthough there is speculation that individuals living in the vicinity of nuclear disasters have persistent mental health deterioration due to psychological stress, few attempts have been made to examine this issue.AimsTo determine whether having been in the vicinity of the Nagasaki atomic bomb explosion in the absence of substantial exposure to radiation affected the mental health of local inhabitants more than half a century later.MethodParticipants were randomly recruited from individuals who lived in the vicinity of the atomic bomb explosion in uncontaminated suburbs of Nagasaki. This sample (n = 347) was stratified by gender, age, perception of the explosion and current district of residence. Controls (n = 288) were recruited from among individuals who had moved into the area from outside Nagasaki 5–15 years after the bombing, matched for gender, age and district of residence. The primary outcome measure was the proportion of those at high risk of mental disorder based on the 28-item version of the General Health Questionnaire, with a cut-off point of 5/6. Other parameters related to individual perception of the explosion, health status, life events and habits were also assessed.ResultsHaving been in the vicinity of the explosion was the most significant factor (OR = 5.26, 95% CI 2.56–11.11) contributing to poorer mental health; erroneous knowledge of radiological hazard showed a mild association. In the sample group, anxiety after learning of the potential radiological hazard was significantly correlated with poor mental health (P<0.05), whereas anxiety about the explosion, or the degree of perception of it, was not; 74.5% of the sample group believed erroneously that the flash of the explosion was synonymous with radiation.ConclusionsHaving been in the vicinity of the atomic bomb explosion without radiological exposure continued to be associated with poorer mental health more than half a century after the event. Fear on learning about the potential radiological hazard and lack of knowledge about radiological risk are responsible for this association.

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Relationship between social competences and the sense of general mental health and intensity of stress among nurses

Pomeranian Journal of Life Sciences ◽

10.21164/pomjlifesci.673 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 66 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Agnieszka Chrzan-Rodak ◽

Barbara Ślusarska ◽

Grzegorz Nowicki ◽

Alina Deluga ◽

Agnieszka Bartoszek

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Interpersonal Relationships ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Positive Impact ◽

General Health Questionnaire ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

General Mental Health ◽

The Social ◽

The Mean ◽

Social Competences

Introduction: Social competences are indispensable in occupations reliant on interpersonal interactions, such as in medical professions, e.g. nursing, conditioning not only the effective construction of interpersonal relationships, but ever more often emphasizing a positive impact on strengthening coping skills in stressful situations. The object of our study was to assess the connection of social competences with the sense of general mental health and intensity of stress in the group of nurses.Materials and methods: In the study took part 291 nurses (ages 23–63, mean job seniority 11 years, SD = 10.22). We used the Social Competence Questionnaire (KKS) according to Anna Matczak, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), as adapted by Zygfryd Juczyński and Nina Ogińska-Bulik, and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) in the adaptation of Zofia Makowska and Dorota Merecz to collect information for the study.Results: Stress intensity among respondents averaged 16.83 points (SD = 4.47). In the 4 analyzed indicators of the GHQ-28, the mean point score was: somatic symptoms M = 8.45, anxiety and insomnia M = 8.75, functional disorders M = 8.07, depression symptoms M = 2.46. 38.1% of the results of the level of general mental health were in the range 5–6, which is the average level of mental health perceived in the group of nurses.Conclusions: The level of perceived stress among more than half of the surveyed group of nurses was average (52.6%). The level of social competences is not significantly correlated with the intensity of stress experienced. The level of general mental health of 38.1% of the nurses fell in the range of average. The level of social competences significantly correlates with the general mental health status of the nurse respondents (R = -0.254, p < 0.001).

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Using Record Linkage to Examine the Impact of Poor Mental Health on Breast Screening Uptake

International Journal for Population Data Science ◽

10.23889/ijpds.v3i2.474 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Emma Ross ◽

Dermot O'Reilly

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Breast Screening ◽

Census Data ◽

Breast Cancer Mortality ◽

Poor Mental Health ◽

Breast Screening Programme ◽

Screening Uptake ◽

National Breast ◽

The Impact ◽

Prescribing Information

BackgroundThe UK National Breast Screening Programme is estimated to reduce breast cancer mortality by 20%. To maximise the benefits of the programme, we first need to understand the underlying factors contributing to variations in screening uptake. One potentially significant factor which may contribute to these gradients in screening uptake is poor mental health. ObjectivesThe objectives of this study were to examine the impact of poor mental health on breast screening uptake, and whether this explained any of the previously observed socio-demographic gradients in screening uptake. MethodsBreast screening records were obtained from the National Breast Screening System (NBSS) and were subsequently linked to 2011 Census data within the Northern Ireland Longitudinal Study (NILS). The NILS encompasses 28\% of Census data. This was then linked to psychotropic prescribing information from the Enhanced Prescribing Database (EPD), to produce a de-identified research dataset containing 57,328 women. FindingsWomen with self-reported poor mental health were over 20% less likely to attend screening compared to their counterparts who didn't have poor mental health. Using psychotropic prescribing information as a proxy for the presence of mental illness yielded similar results, with those taking anxiolytics, antipsychotics or hypnotics in the three months before screening invitation significantly less likely to attend than those who were not. ConclusionWomen with poor mental health were significantly less likely to attend breast screening. However, poor mental health did not explain any of the previously determined socio-demographic gradients in screening uptake.

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In their own words: Understanding Australians’ priority concerns regarding mental health in the context of COVID-19

10.31234/osf.io/pwfdm ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Marlee Bower ◽

Amarina Donohoe-Bales ◽

Scarlett Smout ◽

Andre Quan Ho Nguyen ◽

Julia Boyle ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Lived Experience ◽

Financial Stability ◽

Community Sample ◽

Poor Mental Health ◽

Community Members ◽

Good Mental Health ◽

Australian Community ◽

Seeking Help ◽

The Impact

The COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the recent bushfires and flash floods, have resulted in significant and unprecedented mental health impacts in Australia. Despite the known impacts, there is a paucity of research directly asking Australian community members about their mental health experiences and what they perceive to be the most important mental health issues in the context of the pandemic. This study utilises qualitative data from Alone Together, a longitudinal mixed-methods study investigating the effects of COVID-19 on mental health in an Australian community sample (N = 2,056). Of the 1,350 participants who completed the first follow-up survey, a total of 1,037 participants, who ranged in sex (69.9% female), age (M = 40-49 years), state/territory of residence, and socioeconomic status, shared responses to two open-ended questions regarding the most important issues for mental health in Australia and the impact of COVID-19 on their individual mental health. Responses were analysed using thematic analysis. Participants described COVID-19 as primarily impacting their mental health through the disruption it posed to their social world and financial stability. A key concern for participants who reported having poor mental health was the existence of multiple competing barriers to accessing good mental health care. According to participant responses, the pandemic had pressurized an already over-burdened mental health service system, leaving many without timely, appropriate support. Further absent or stigmatising rhetoric around mental health, at both a political and community level, also prevented participants from seeking help. Insights gained from the present research provide opportunities for policymakers and health practitioners to draw on the expertise of Australians’ lived experience and address priority issues through targeted policy planning. This could ultimately support a more responsive, integrated and effective mental health system, during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

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A United Kingdom Pilot Study of Kinetic Shift Therapy and Mindfulness Based Therapy for Clients Living with Intellectual Disabilities and Enduring Mental Health Problems

Journal of Psychiatry and Mental Health ◽

10.16966/2474-7769.137 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Collins-McGroarty J ◽

Faulkes-Sharrock E ◽

Wilkes R

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Intellectual Disabilities ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Health Problems ◽

Behavioral Issues ◽

Client Group ◽

Sensitive Topics ◽

Kinetic Shift ◽

The Impact

Objective: Clients with moderate intellectual disabilities are reported to struggle with ongoing mental health problems, especially around emotional and behavioral issues around sensitive topics like their sexuality, which is not always easy to communicate through traditional talking therapies for this client group, therefore a group of individuals were selected to determine the impact of a newer energy psychotherapy technique called Kinetic Shift Therapy (KS) alongside Mindfulness based therapy (MBT) which is utilized more, however with limited published research to determine the positive impact on the symptoms and behaviors that affect this client group.

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Innovative Development in the Context of Complementarity

THE PROBLEMS OF ECONOMY ◽

10.32983/2222-0712-2021-2-181-186 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 (48) ◽

pp. 181-186

Author(s):

H. I. Rybak ◽

Keyword(s):

Economic Development ◽

Social Justice ◽

Positive Impact ◽

High Rate ◽

Favourable Result ◽

Ripple Effect ◽

Innovative Development ◽

Institutional Complementarity ◽

Complementary Approach ◽

The Impact

The peculiarities of innovative development in the interaction of economic and social components of the external and internal environment are studied on the basis of a complementary approach, namely the relationship between economic efficiency and social justice, their negative and positive impact on the quality of life and socio-economic development opportunities. As for complementary development, the idea of justice, which currently is an important factor in achieving European living standards and guaranteeing social-economic rights of a person and citizen, plays an important role in reforming all the spheres of public life, democratization of Ukrainian society, and providing Ukraine's integration into the European political and legal space. Complementarity research is becoming relevant at the present stage of global economic development, when the market situation is characterized by a fairly high rate of transformation, and innovation becomes the main competitive factor. The author considers the emergence of the complementarity concept in research works made in various areas (e.g., the concept of institutional complementarity), and also highlights the features of compensatory and supplemental complementarity. Unconditional following global examples without taking into account the state of real socio-economic and institutional structures in a certain state will not give a favourable result from implementing reforms and introducing innovations due to the lack of complementary connections. Therefore, the conditions for the emergence of new institutional changes and the impact of "social elevators" on social development in the long run are analyzed. The presence of complex unresolved problems in the development of our state actualizes the study of the complementary context of innovative development, aimed at rethinking the role of social justice in solving major economic problems. Due to a complementary approach, the economic system will be able to increase such features as adaptability and continuity by developing mechanisms of self-preservation, and will acquire systematic innovative development with a ripple effect.

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Perceived mental health, wellbeing and associated factors among Nepali migrant and non-migrant workers: A qualitative study

10.1101/2020.11.23.20236794 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Hridaya Raj Devkota ◽

Bishnu Bhandari ◽

Pratik Adhikary

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Qualitative Study ◽

Physical Health ◽

Working Conditions ◽

Migrant Workers ◽

Health Condition ◽

Poor Mental Health ◽

Physical Work ◽

Health And Wellbeing ◽

Mental And Physical Health

AbstractBackgroundPoor mental health and illness among the working population have serious socio-economic and public health consequences for both the individual and society/country. With a dramatic increase in work migration over the past decades, there is recent concern about the health and wellbeing of migrant workers and their accessibility to healthcare services in destination countries. This study aimed to explore the mental health and wellbeing experiences of Nepali returnee-migrants and non-migrant workers, and identify their perception on the risk factors for poor health and health service accessibility for them.MethodsThis qualitative study was conducted among Nepali migrant and non-migrant workers in February 2020. Four focus group discussions (n=25) and 15 in-depth interviews were conducted with male non-migrant and returnee migrant workers from Gulf countries and Malaysia. The discussions and interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, translated into English and analysed thematically.ResultMigrant workers reported a higher risk of developing adverse mental health conditions than non-migrant workers. In addition, fever, upper respiratory infection, abdominal pain, ulcer, and occupational injuries were common health problems among both migrant and non-migrant workers. Other major illnesses reported by the migrant workers were heat burns and rashes, snake-bites, dengue, malaria, gallstone, kidney failure, and sexually transmitted diseases, while non-migrants reported hypertension, diabetes, and heart diseases. Adverse living and working conditions including exploitation and abuse by employers, lack of privacy and congested accommodation, language barriers, long hours’ hard physical work without breaks, and unhealthy lifestyles were the contributing factors to migrant workers’ poor mental and physical health. Both migrant and non-migrants reported poor compliance of job conditions and labor protection by their employers such as application of safety measures at work, provision of insurance and healthcare facilities that affected for their wellbeing negatively. Family problems compounded by constant financial burdens and unmet expectations were the most important factors linked with migrant workers’ poor mental health condition.ConclusionBoth migrant and non-migrant workers experienced poor mental and physical health condition largely affected by their adverse living and working conditions, unmet familial and financial needs and adherence to unhealthy life styles. It is needed to ensure the compliance of work agreement by employers and promotion of labor rights in relation to worker’s health and safety. In addition, policy interventions on raising awareness on occupational health risk and effective safety training to all migrant and non-migrant workers are recommended.

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