Prolonged lockdown: psychological risk factors among children and their mental health

The most talked phenomenon and sui generis of the modern time, the coronavirus diseases-2019 impacted individuals in a variety of ways. Older adults had a higher risk of vulnerability, while there were negative ramifications among children due to indirect impact. The preventive measures, including closing down of schools, malls and playgrounds as well as practising social distancing served as a shield against the hazard of outbreak. On the contrary, these strategies inculcated fear, anxiety, ambiguous communication and manifestation of externalizing behaviours in children. Children living in dysfunctional families in underprivileged circumstances were more susceptible to abuse during the pandemic, and had increased risk of behavioural symptomology and psychological morbidities. Challenges brought by the new normal for children requires redefining the role of parenting for effective monitoring and intervention to mitigate the symptoms. Preventive strategies outlined by international scientific communities include reflective listening, debriefing and psychological first aid for effective

Evaluation of Veterinary Students’ Communication Skills with a Service Dog Handler in a Simulated Client Scenario

Effective communication skills serve as a key component of excellent veterinary care and provide a foundation for building trusting relationships with clients. While many veterinary clients value their pets for companionship, the focus of other relationships may be based on a partnership between the human and animal, as is the case with the handlers of service dogs. As the use of service dogs in the US continues to grow, it is important that veterinary professionals are educated on how best to meet the unique needs of service dogs and their handlers. This article evaluates the interactions of veterinary students with a service dog handler in a simulated client scenario. Ten videotaped interactions were coded to assess third-year students’ communication skills (nonverbal communication, open-ended questions, reflective listening, and empathy), and their ability to discuss the diagnostic and therapeutic options for a dog with suspected intervertebral disk disease. Results showed that the majority of students demonstrated competence in the use of nonverbal communication skills and in discussing the biomedical aspects of the disease. Students require development in the use of open-ended questions, reflective listening statements, and expression of empathy, as well as building client rapport and discussing the psychosocial aspect of the disease on the client and patient. These findings suggest that veterinary students may benefit from targeted instruction on “best practices” in caring for service dogs and their handlers, including greater attention to the psychosocial aspects of a disease, and from additional communication practice using standardized clients with service dogs.

A Symbiotic Link Between Music, Movement, and Social Emotional Learning: Mindful Learning in Early Learners

In the following study we investigate how young learners engage with music and movement to illustrate their understandings and connections to nature. We discover a symbiotic relationship between the performing arts, Social Emotional Learning, and Mindful Learning over the course of six months, and examine the potentials and constraints of this harmonization. Results from this study show that learning in a co-constructivist setting, which allows opportunities for reflective listening, choice, intentional focus, and feedback, supports the development of behavioural and emotional abilities, and empowers students to delve deeper into their connections with nature through composing abstract music and movement pieces.

Neurologist, 8 years’ experience, USA

This chapter offers advice to providers caring for patients with Non-Epileptic Seizures (NES). Care providers should respect the patients and allow them to take the lead in the diagnostic and therapeutic process. Motivational interviewing techniques, such as reflective listening, in which the clinician reflects back the patient’s stated feelings and reasons for change, are critical in supporting patients to engage with and adhere to the therapeutic process. The author vividly remembers a clinical appointment with a patient who was lost in her somatic symptoms, overcome with headaches and auditory hallucinations of a loud bang, and unable to engage in a discussion of her diagnosis. When the author stopped trying to educate the patient about her diagnosis and asked her how the seizures affected her life, reflecting back her responses and pain, the headaches and hallucinations resolved and she was able to engage fully in a conversation about her NES and plans for treatment. Ultimately, caring for patients with NES is often a heavy burden, but it is also a privilege and a blessing—it is what healthcare should be, something that is easy to lose in the modern medical system.