scholarly journals The mental state of Americans amid the COVID-19 crisis: How socially vulnerable populations face greater disparities during and after a crisis

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (9) ◽  
pp. 69-80
Author(s):  
Elisabeth Dubois, MBA ◽  
Xiaojun (Jenny) Yuan, PhD
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Vulnerable Populations ◽  
Mental Health Crisis ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Frontline Workers ◽  
Emergency Managers ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Mental Health Challenges

The coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) public health crisis has accentuated divides and caused millions of Americans to suffer from increased mental health challenges. Although these challenges are seen throughout the country, socially vulnerable populations including frontline workers, older adults, and children, among others, face increased risk of mental health issues. There has been a notable mental health crisis in the country due to the isolation, stay-at-home orders, and preventive measures put in place to curb the spread. This study investigates the mental health challenges that socially vulnerable populations often face during crises and presents the factors affecting these populations during (and following) the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on an analysis of these factors, several recommendations are made to aid emergency managers, public health officials, policymakers, and academics in better addressing mental health challenges as we continue to battle COVID-19 and in preparation for future public health crises.

Mental health and policing: Picking up the pieces in a broken system

2021 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 93-99
Author(s):  
Eileen Florence Pepler ◽  
Clay G. Barber
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Vulnerable Populations ◽  
Mental Health Crisis ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Community Partners ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
High Utilizers ◽  
The Many ◽  
The Impact

A key theme of this article is the need to view the intersection of public safety and public health through a new lens to break down the traditional information silos of the many agencies that serve vulnerable populations and the impact of inadequate community-based mental health services that contribute to the increasing number of calls to police in responding to people in or approaching a mental health crisis. The manifestation of this crisis in the community is that the police are too often the first port in the storm. This article suggests the system is broken and needs fixing. Implementing a population health approach to identifying the high utilizers in the community and building a case for sustained funding, partnerships, resources, and accountability together with data sharing agreements, community partners and police collaboratively design and evaluate outcome approaches aimed at prevention and recovery to minimize contact with the police.

scholarly journals Mental health crisis in midlife – a proposed research agenda

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dawid Gondek ◽  
Bettina Moltrecht ◽  
George Ploubidis
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Research Agenda ◽  
Public Mental Health ◽  
Statistical Modelling ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mental Health Crisis ◽  
Birth Cohorts ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Increased Risk

There is a growing amount of evidence indicating increased levels of psychological distress, suicide rates and decreased well-being in midlife (age 45-55). We refer to this phenomenon as the ‘midlife mental health crisis’. As there is little empirical evidence or theoretical grounds to explain the midlife mental health crisis, we propose a research agenda. In order to facilitate further research, we consulted members of public, mental health professionals and researchers on potential reasons for the midlife mental health crisis. Subsequently, we translated those into research questions testable with the British birth cohorts. We propose a series of studies using three statistical modelling approaches: descriptive (what is the midlife mental health crisis?), predictive (who is at increased risk of experiencing the midlife mental health crisis?) and explanatory (what are the processes leading to the midlife mental health crisis?).

scholarly journals Abandonment: Experiences of accessing emergency services during mental health crisis

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Rene Lovelace ◽  
Liam Phelan ◽  
Rosanna Langer ◽  
Moira Ferguson ◽  
Lissa L Gagnon
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Emergency Services ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Major Theme ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Mental Health Crisis ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Mental Health Challenges

Purpose: Emergency departments (ED’s) often serve as the access point to health services for individuals living with mental health challenges, with mental health crisis (MHC) accounting for 15% of all presentations to ED’s in Canada. Consumers’ experiences of emergency mental health services have widely been reported as negative. This research aims to explore the experiences of individuals accessing the ED for MHC. Method: A supra-analysis was conducted using data from four semi-structured interviews collected from a larger study exploring stigma, discrimination and resilience in people experiencing mental health challenges. Supra-analysis aims to explore an aspect of the data from a different theoretical perspective. Transcripts were selected based on a participant history of voluntarily accessing emergency services for MHC. Data analysis was completed using the process of thematic analysis which involved immersion in the data, the development and refinement of codes leading to themes. Findings: A major theme of abandonment was identified in participant interviews with subthemes of; geographic, socioemotional and therapeutic abandonment. Participants reported that the locations of care, lack of social/emotional engagement and lack of health care providers’ (HCP) knowledge led to negative experiences attending ED’s. Participants also reported a lack of desire to access emergency services in the future. Conclusion: Future research is vital to enhance the delivery of emergency services, to reduce the feelings of abandonment experienced by individuals accessing the ED for MHC. Training and education must be provided to HCP’s staffing ED’s that focuses on providing high quality, appropriate emergency services to this vulnerable population.

scholarly journals Mental health crisis in midlife – a proposed research agenda

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dawid Gondek ◽  
Bettina Moltrecht ◽  
George Ploubidis
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Research Agenda ◽  
Public Mental Health ◽  
Statistical Modelling ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mental Health Crisis ◽  
Birth Cohorts ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Increased Risk

There is a growing amount of evidence indicating increased levels of psychological distress, suicide rates and decreased well-being in midlife (age 45-55). We refer to this phenomenon as the ‘midlife mental health crisis’. As there is little empirical evidence or theoretical grounds to explain the midlife mental health crisis, we propose a research agenda. In order to facilitate further research, we consulted members of public, mental health professionals and researchers on potential reasons for the midlife mental health crisis. Subsequently, we translated those into research questions testable with the British birth cohorts. We propose a series of studies using three statistical modelling approaches: descriptive (what is the midlife mental health crisis?), predictive (who is at increased risk of experiencing the midlife mental health crisis?) and explanatory (what are the processes leading to the midlife mental health crisis?).

The Mental Health Crisis on US Campuses

Nature Rx ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 4-16
Author(s):  
Rakow Donald
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Public Health Approach ◽  
Mental Health Crisis ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Health Concerns ◽  
Health Clinics ◽  
Mental Health Concerns ◽  
Increasing Demand ◽  
Broad Public Health

The authors address the growing mental health crisis on American campuses. They explore the results of surveys that indicate rising levels of anxiety and depression in addition to other mental health concerns among student populations, including some of the potential causes of this trend. The chapter concludes with a review of how campus health clinics are responding to this increasing demand for mental health care, including different public health approaches that have been found to be effective on various campuses. This broad public health approach provides the foundation for the development of programs that encourage students to spend time in nature as a response to mental health concerns.

Deterioration of mental health despite successful control of the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyeon-seung Lee ◽  
Derek Dean ◽  
Tatiana Baxter ◽  
Taylor Griffith ◽  
Sohee Park
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Network ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Mental Health Crisis ◽  
Psychological Outcome ◽  
Psychological Burden ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Psychosis Risk

South Korea was able to successfully control the spread of COVID-19 without nationwide lockdowns or drastic social distancing efforts, but pandemic-related psychological outcome of the general population remains unknown. We aimed to document the mental health outcome in relation to social factors during the pandemic. Between March and June 2020, 400 South Korean residents participated in an online study of depression, anxiety, stress, psychosis-risk and loneliness, as well as indices of social network, physical health and demographics. Clinical levels of depression, anxiety or stress were reported by 45% of the respondents, and psychosis-risk was present in 12.8%; a drastic increase above the base rate prior to the pandemic. Subjective feelings of loneliness, but not the size of the social network accounted for poor mental health. Women were especially at increased risk for mental health problems. Thus, despite effective mitigation of the pandemic, there was a striking deterioration of mental health. As the psychological burden of the continuing pandemic accrues, the probability of an impending mental health crisis is increasing, especially in countries with greater infection and death rates than South Korea. Comprehensive efforts to address the psychological aftermath of the pandemic are urgently needed.

scholarly journals The psychological and emotional impact of coronavirus disease on COVID-19 patients in Najran Province, Saudi Arabia: An exploratory study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eisa Yazeed Ghazwani ◽  
Mohammed Saeed Z Alayed ◽  
Awad Mohammed Al-Qahtani ◽  
Yahya Hussein Ahmed Abdulla ◽  
Mohammed Ansar Qureshi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Psychological Impact ◽  
Emotional Impact ◽  
Mental Health Crisis ◽  
Financial Loss ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Increased Risk

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic contributes to a significant mental health crisis. This pandemic caused a widening economic crisis, growing financial loss, and numerous uncertainties. This pandemic brought alarming implications and overall increased risk for psychiatric illness. This study explores the psychological impact experienced by patients who tested positive from coronavirus disease in the Najran region, Saudi Arabia.Design and Methods: This exploratory analysis included 210 COVID-19 positive patients. The study was conducted during a six month period starting from March to September 2020, in two tertiary government hospitals in Najran, Saudi Arabia. Samples were selected using purposive sampling. The researches utilized survey questionnaire and face-to-face interview to collect the data. The statistical data were calculated using IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 2.0 to compute the following statistical formulas: percentage distribution, mean, standard deviation, and Chi-square test of independence.Results: The findings of this study revealed that the majority of COVID-19 positive patients were middle-aged adults (n=98 or 46.7%), male (n=178 or 84.8%), and were non-Saudi nationals (n=132 or 62.9%). It was found out that COVID-19 patients experienced bothersome behaviour at a very high level (x̅=2.63 ± 0.6734). Meanwhile, depression (x̅=2.51 ± 0.7070), worry (x̅=2.23 ± 0.8811), and anxiety (x̅=2.21 ± 0.8719) was only at a high level.Conclusions: The study findings revealed that the majority of participants had high levels of depression, anxiety and bothersome behaviours. However, demographic characteristics like age, sex, and nationality were not significantly related to coronavirus patients' psychological health problems during the pandemic. Assessment and interventions for psychosocial concerns, integration of mental health considerations, consultation with specialists, and treatment for severe psychosocial consequences must be administered in COVID-19 care facilities.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document