Socio-Emotional and Academic Learning Before and After COVID-19 School Closures: Evidence from Ethiopia

This paper presents the findings of research undertaken in Ethiopia to examine the effects of COVID-19 school closures on children’s holistic learning, including both socio-emotional and academic learning. It draws on data collected in 2019 (prior to the pandemic) and 2021 (after schools reopened) to compare primary pupils’ learning before and after the school closures. In particular, the study adapts self-reporting scales that have been used in related contexts to measure Grade 3 and 6 children’s social skills, self-efficacy, emotional regulation and mental health and wellbeing, along with literacy and numeracy. Lesson observations were also undertaken to explore teachers’ behaviours to foster socio-emotional learning (SEL) in the classroom. The findings advance current knowledge in several respects. First, they quantify the decline in Ethiopian pupils’ social skills over the period of the school closures. Second, they identify a significant and strong relationship between learners’ social skills and their numeracy, even after taking other factors into account. Third, they reveal a significant association between children’s social skills and their mental health and wellbeing, highlighting the importance of interpersonal interactions to safeguard children’s holistic welfare. The paper concludes by proposing a model for understanding the relationship between learners’ SEL and academic outcomes, and with recommendations for education planning and practice, in Ethiopia and elsewhere.

Download Full-text

Perlukah Kesehatan Mental Remaja? Menyelisik Peranan Regulasi Emosi dan Dukungan Sosial Teman Sebaya Dalam Diri Remaja

Jurnal Ilmu Perilaku ◽

10.25077/jip.2.2.75-88.2018 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

pp. 75

Author(s):

Taufik Akbar Rizqi Yunanto

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Support ◽

Emotional Regulation ◽

Strong Relationship ◽

Teacher’S Role ◽

Dependent Variables ◽

Teacher's Role ◽

The Impact ◽

Scale Data

. Mental health is an important issue related to adolescent in their life. One of activitiy done by adolescent to spend their free time both at home and at school is to play with friends. In addition, friends factor becomes one of the strengthening factors in adolescent mental health. This study aims to determine the role of emotional regulation and peers social support toward mental health. This research was conducted on 102 students from Senior High School Yogyakarta, varying from 15 – 18 years old. Data was collected using teacher’s role interview, teacher’s role questionnaire, Mental Health Scale (Y), Emotional Regulation (X1) scale, and Peers Social Support (X2) scale. Data was analyzed using Anova and multiple regression analysis. The results showed that there was a strong relationship (F = 66,628; p < 0,01) between emotional regulation and peers social support toward mental health. Based on the analysis of determination, obtained R2 of 0,574 or 57,4%. This shows that the percentage of contributions, both independent to dependent variables is equal to 57,4%. Further analysis is needed to find out the impact of emotional regulation and peers social support in improving mental health literacy.

Download Full-text

Time Trends of the Public’s Attention Toward Suicide During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Retrospective, Longitudinal Time-Series Study

JMIR Public Health and Surveillance ◽

10.2196/24694 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (4) ◽

pp. e24694

Author(s):

Dayle Burnett ◽

Valsamma Eapen ◽

Ping-I Lin

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Kendall Test ◽

The United States ◽

School Closure ◽

After School ◽

Search Term ◽

School Closures ◽

Search Terms ◽

Before And After ◽

Interest Levels

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has overwhelmed health care systems around the world. Emerging evidence has suggested that substantially few patients seek help for suicidality at clinical settings during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has elicited concerns of an imminent mental health crisis as the course of the pandemic continues to unfold. Clarifying the relationship between the public’s attention to knowledge about suicide and the public’s attention to knowledge about the COVID-19 pandemic may provide insight into developing prevention strategies for a putative surge of suicide in relation to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Objective The goal of this retrospective, longitudinal time-series study is to understand the relationship between temporal trends of interest for the search term “suicide” and those of COVID-19–related terms, such as “social distancing,” “school closure,” and “lockdown.” Methods We used the Google Trends platform to collect data on daily interest levels for search terms related to suicide, several other mental health-related issues, and COVID-19 over the period between February 14, 2020 and May 13, 2020. A correlational analysis was performed to determine the association between the search term ‘‘suicide’’ and COVID-19–related search terms in 16 countries. The Mann-Kendall test was used to examine significant differences between interest levels for the search term “suicide” before and after school closure. Results We found that interest levels for the search term “suicide” statistically significantly inversely correlated with interest levels for the search terms “COVID-19” or “coronavirus” in nearly all countries between February 14, 2020 and May 13, 2020. Additionally, search interest for the term ‘‘suicide’’ significantly and negatively correlated with that of many COVID-19–related search terms, and search interest varied between countries. The Mann-Kendall test was used to examine significant differences between search interest levels for the term “suicide” before and after school closure. The Netherlands (P=.19), New Zealand (P=.003), the United Kingdom (P=.006), and the United States (P=.049) showed significant negative trends in interest levels for suicide in the 2-week period preceding school closures. In contrast, interest levels for suicide had a significant positive trend in Canada (P<.001) and the United States (P=.002) after school closures. Conclusions The public’s attention to suicide might inversely correlate with the public’s attention to COVID-19–related issues. Additionally, several anticontagion policies, such as school closure, might have led to a turning point for mental health crises, because the attention to suicidality increased after restrictions were implemented. Our results suggest that an increased risk of suicidal ideation may ensue due to the ongoing anticontagion policies. Timely intervention strategies for suicides should therefore be an integral part of efforts to flatten the epidemic curve.

Download Full-text

The MindLab Project. Local Museums Supporting Community Wellbeing Before and After UK Lockdown

Museum and Society ◽

10.29311/mas.v18i3.3506 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 18 (3) ◽

pp. 314-318

Author(s):

Jade French ◽

Nic Lunt ◽

Martin Pearson

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Impact ◽

First Century ◽

Community Resources ◽

Health And Wellbeing ◽

Community Wellbeing ◽

Before And After ◽

Mental Health Support ◽

Health Support

Catalyst is a science discovery centre and independent museum based in Widnes, United Kingdom. Since 2018, it has collaborated with mental health charity Mind Halton on The MindLab project; a science inspired wellbeing programme for residents local to the museum in an area where access to mental health support is low. As museums in the twenty-first century are being increasingly regarded as community resources capable of producing valuable social impact, this article considers the role of museums in harnessing this potential to enhance community health and wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic. It reflects on the challenges encountered during this unprecedented period of lockdown, as well as the emerging opportunities through the perspectives of those delivering The MindLab project.

Download Full-text

Time Trends of the Public’s Attention Toward Suicide During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Retrospective, Longitudinal Time-Series Study (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.24694 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Dayle Burnett ◽

Valsamma Eapen ◽

Ping-I Lin

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Kendall Test ◽

The United States ◽

School Closure ◽

After School ◽

Search Term ◽

School Closures ◽

Search Terms ◽

Before And After ◽

Interest Levels

BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has overwhelmed health care systems around the world. Emerging evidence has suggested that substantially few patients seek help for suicidality at clinical settings during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has elicited concerns of an imminent mental health crisis as the course of the pandemic continues to unfold. Clarifying the relationship between the public’s attention to knowledge about suicide and the public’s attention to knowledge about the COVID-19 pandemic may provide insight into developing prevention strategies for a putative surge of suicide in relation to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. OBJECTIVE The goal of this retrospective, longitudinal time-series study is to understand the relationship between temporal trends of interest for the search term “suicide” and those of COVID-19–related terms, such as “social distancing,” “school closure,” and “lockdown.” METHODS We used the Google Trends platform to collect data on daily interest levels for search terms related to suicide, several other mental health-related issues, and COVID-19 over the period between February 14, 2020 and May 13, 2020. A correlational analysis was performed to determine the association between the search term ‘‘suicide’’ and COVID-19–related search terms in 16 countries. The Mann-Kendall test was used to examine significant differences between interest levels for the search term “suicide” before and after school closure. RESULTS We found that interest levels for the search term “suicide” statistically significantly inversely correlated with interest levels for the search terms “COVID-19” or “coronavirus” in nearly all countries between February 14, 2020 and May 13, 2020. Additionally, search interest for the term ‘‘suicide’’ significantly and negatively correlated with that of many COVID-19–related search terms, and search interest varied between countries. The Mann-Kendall test was used to examine significant differences between search interest levels for the term “suicide” before and after school closure. The Netherlands (P=.19), New Zealand (P=.003), the United Kingdom (P=.006), and the United States (P=.049) showed significant negative trends in interest levels for suicide in the 2-week period preceding school closures. In contrast, interest levels for suicide had a significant positive trend in Canada (P<.001) and the United States (P=.002) after school closures. CONCLUSIONS The public’s attention to suicide might inversely correlate with the public’s attention to COVID-19–related issues. Additionally, several anticontagion policies, such as school closure, might have led to a turning point for mental health crises, because the attention to suicidality increased after restrictions were implemented. Our results suggest that an increased risk of suicidal ideation may ensue due to the ongoing anticontagion policies. Timely intervention strategies for suicides should therefore be an integral part of efforts to flatten the epidemic curve.

Download Full-text

Researching Socio-Emotional Learning, Mental Health and Wellbeing: Methodological Issues in Low-Income Contexts

10.35489/bsg-rise-wp_2021/068 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Stephen Bayley ◽

Darge Wole ◽

Louise Yorke ◽

Paul Ramchandani ◽

Pauline Rose

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Low Income ◽

Emotional Learning ◽

Academic Learning ◽

Methodological Issues ◽

Learning Loss ◽

Middle Income ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Health And Wellbeing ◽

Valid Data

This paper explores methodological issues relating to research on children’s socio-emotional learning (SEL), mental health and wellbeing in low- and lower-middle-income countries. In particular, it examines the key considerations and challenges that researchers may face and provides practical guidance for generating reliable and valid data on SEL, mental health and wellbeing in diverse settings and different cultural contexts. In so doing, the paper draws on the experience of recent research undertaken in Ethiopia to illustrate some of the issues and how they were addressed. The present study extends earlier 2018-2019 RISE Ethiopia research, expanding its scope to consider further aspects of SEL, mental health and wellbeing in the particular context of COVID-19. In particular, the research highlights that the pandemic has brought to the fore the importance of assessing learning, and learning loss, beyond academic learning alone.

Download Full-text

The Effects of a Forest Therapy Programme on Mental Hospital Patients with Affective and Psychotic Disorders

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17010118 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

pp. 118 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Ernest Bielinis ◽

Aneta Jaroszewska ◽

Adrian Łukowski ◽

Norimasa Takayama

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Psychiatric Hospital ◽

Psychotic Disorders ◽

Post Traumatic Stress ◽

Health And Wellbeing ◽

Psychological Indicators ◽

Before And After ◽

Hospital Patients ◽

Therapy Interventions ◽

Positive Effect

The positive effect of forest bathing on the mental health and wellbeing of those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder or experiencing stress has been proven. It is not known, however, how ‘forest therapy’ affects the mental health of people who are treated in a psychiatric hospital for affective or psychotic disorders. Potentially, forest therapy could bring many benefits to these people. To test the potential effectiveness of this therapy, a quasi-experiment was carried out in a psychiatric hospital in Olsztyn (north Poland). In the summer and autumn of 2018, the patients of the psychiatric hospital in Olsztyn participated in forest therapy interventions. The proposed forest therapy consisted of participating in one hour and forty-five minutes walks under the supervision of a therapist. Subjects filled out the Profile of Mood States Questionnaire (POMS) and the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S) before and after the study. In the case of a group of patients with affective disorders, forest therapy had a positive effect on nearly all POMS scale subscales, with the exception of the ‘anger–hostility’ subscale, which did not change its values significantly after the intervention. In these patients, the greatest impacts were noted in the subscales ‘confusion’ and ‘depression–dejection’; the level of anxiety measured with the STAI-S scale also significantly decreased. In the case of patients with psychotic disorders, the values of the ‘confusion’ and ‘vigour’ subscales and the STAI-S scale exhibited the greatest changes. These changes were positive for the health of patients. Regarding the ‘fatigue’ subscale, no significant changes were observed in patients with psychotic disorders. The observed changes in psychological indicators in psychiatric hospital patients with both kinds of disorders indicate that the intervention of forest therapy can positively affect their mental health. The changes observed in psychological indicators were related to the characteristics of the given disorder.

Download Full-text