This article explores the authors’ experiences of supporting the mental health of children and young people with learning disabilities during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The article discusses the prevalence of and risk factors for the development of mental health issues in this group. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
Sexual and gender minorities are more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety caused by COVID-19. However, they also have specific variables that have been little studied but which may protect them from this adverse situation. The aim of this study was to find out whether there were differences in socio-demographic and psychosocial variables in two groups of Spanish gay young people (high and low resilience), and predictors of risk and protective factors were examined. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
The study aimed to assess changes in adolescent visits due to eating disorders (EDs) during the pandemic. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
There is a growing global awareness of the psychological consequences of long COVID, supported by emerging empirical evidence. However, the emergence and long-term trajectories of psychological symptoms following the infection are still unclear. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
This study identified elevated rates of depression and anxiety in pregnant individuals, as measured during the COVID-19 pandemic. Though elevated insomnia and sleep problems were reported, they did not differ significantly from pre-COVID pregnancy samples.
Financial difficulties, social isolation, risk of COVID-19 infection, and relationship difficulties experienced as a result of the pandemic were found to be related to elevated mental health symptoms. Results also indicated a detrimental effect of negative cognitive appraisal and a protective effect of greater access to social support.
These results highlight the impact of the pandemic on the wellbeing of pregnant individuals, and indicate areas for focus when developing intervention and support measures.
These three papers suggest telemental health could be used in future response-planning to an emergency which renders face-to-face care unsafe. For it to be widely incorporated into routine care going forward, a personalised approach must be considered, which applies the ‘good’ aspects of telemental health, mitigates the ‘bad’ aspects and avoids the ‘ugly’ inequality gap it has the potential to widen. This has implications for how services could adapt and improve to accommodate telemental health.
The prevalence of mental health concerns amongst care givers within this review is significant, 1 in 2 participants met the criteria for a diagnosable mental health condition. This learning clearly demonstrates the need for early intervention and preventative measures to enable improved staff wellbeing in healthcare.
The COVID-19 pandemic presented both serious health threats and economic hardships, which were reflected in increased rates of mood and anxiety symptoms. We examined two separate distress domains, health worries and work distress, as predictors of mood and anxiety symptoms. Additionally, we considered whether these two domains might be uniquely associated with the development of dysfunctional beliefs, as a proposed mechanism to account for increased symptoms during the pandemic. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted family caregivers of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). This study evaluated a virtual course for family caregivers from across Canada, focused on supporting the mental health and well-being of adults with IDD and their families.
To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
Evidence shows that people with learning disabilities are at higher risk of contracting and dying from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) than the general population.... Most of the documents examined were consistent with the guidance and recommendations for easy read information but several discrepancies were also identified.
To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
Occupational surveys of doctors consistently show higher rates of depression and anxiety than reported in general population surveys, findings replicated in all other occupational groups, suggesting potential selection bias. We evaluated the comparative mental health of different occupations in Australia from the same sampling frame over the past 6 years and assessed whether COVID-19 differentially affected different occupational groups. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
"the findings in this study, of a particularly strong association between loneliness and suicidal ideation among younger people, indicate a timely signal that this already vulnerable group may need additional psychological support in the current climate, to mitigate against serious, negative consequences for their mental health. The findings also demonstrate the potential gravity of loneliness as an issue. The authors suggest that for young people who really struggle with loneliness, especially young men, strategies to combat this problem should be recognised as an important priority, and a focus on suicide prevention may also be warranted."
This systematic review provided a comprehensive and up-to-date synthesis of a large volume of data, which has recently emerged since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a unique study, offering pooled prevalence estimates and focusing on doctors specifically as a high-risk group of the health workforce cohort. However, there was a wide variation in point prevalence and pooled prevalence estimates had broad confidence intervals.
Adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) may be at higher risk of COVID-19 death. We compared COVID-19 infection, severe infection, mortality, case fatality and excess deaths, among adults with, and without, ID. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
The objective of this study was to characterize changes in alcohol use during lockdown in Ireland and associations with drinking motives and psychopathological symptoms.
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This research sought to explore individuals’ experience of the first lockdown in the UK. Lockdown restrictions threatened individuals’ well-being on many aspects of their lives. As anxiety, loneliness and a compromised grieving process may lead to severe mental health issues, early interventions are needed to prevent these and promote well-being. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
The strongest predictive factors were those we already know to be risk factors for mental ill health. The impact was greatest on those who had previously used mental health support services.
Female gender and experience of food poverty were substantial predictors of higher risk. Pupils who were preparing for important examinations were also impacted more severely than others.
This study aims to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on older incarcerated persons’ mental and physical health. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
This article considers the literature and asks the question ‘Can COVID-19 be considered an ACE itself?’ Ultimately, the long-term implications of an accumulation of risk and harm need to be considered and embedded in practice, to effectively respond to the future needs of vulnerable children. Read in full with your MPFT ATHENS login
Expert opinion article on vaccine hesitancy. Looks at questions such as whether vaccination should be compulsory for healthcare staff. Read in full with MPFT ATHENS login.
Public Health England Knowledge and Library Services (KLS) has produced this page to help those working on the current coronavirus outbreak, to identify and access emerging evidence as it is published.
Most of the resources are freely accessible but some may ask for an OpenAthens sign-in.
THIS Institute at the University of Cambridge has undertaken a rapid response project to develop an ethical framework for COVID-19 testing for NHS workers. It sought to identify and characterise the ethical considerations likely to be important to the testing programme, while recognising the tension between different values and goals. Open Access
Public Health England has published a summary of stakeholder insights into factors affecting the impact of COVID-19 on black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities. This follows the publication of the findings of a review into disparities in the risk and outcomes of COVID-19 on 2 June 2020.
This briefing sets out the immediate challenge of COVID-19 for mental health trusts, how the sector has responded and what is needed to navigate the next phase.
So far, mental health
care for the patients and health professionals directly
affected by the 2019-nCoV epidemic has been underaddressed, although the National Health Commission
of China released the notification of basic principles
for emergency psychological crisis interventions for
the 2019-nCoV pneumonia on Jan 26, 2020.5 This
notification contained a reference to mental health
problems and interventions that occurred during the
2003 SARS outbreak, and mentioned that mental health
care should be provided for patients with 2019-nCoV
pneumonitis, close contacts, suspected cases who are
isolated at home, patients in fever clinics, families and
friends of affected people, health professionals caring
for infected patients, and the public who are in need.
Key messages
• Information is key; people who are quarantined need to
understand the situation
• Effective and rapid communication is essential
• Supplies (both general and medical) need to be provided
• The quarantine period should be short and the duration
should not be changed unless in extreme circumstances
• Most of the adverse effects come from the imposition of
a restriction of liberty; voluntary quarantine is associated
with less distress and fewer long-term complications
• Public health officials should emphasise the altruistic
choice of self-isolating
I am noticing a strong tension in my counselling work: even though I find the adverse circumstances are asking a lot of me personally and professionally, at the same time I am witnessing my therapeutic relationships deepening and strengthening. My clients and I may both be wounding, but somehow we are also both healing.
The current coronavirus pandemic has forced mental health outpatient services to close their doors and transition their practice to telephone or video consultations. Remote mental health interventions including telephone or video calls, and digital interventions such as computerised, web-based or app-based interventions have existed for some time.
There is a possible danger that the current uncertainty around COVID-19 could make things worse for those with obsessive-type conditions. For those with OCD or conditions involving cleanliness, neatness, germ-phobia, tidiness or some obsessive behaviours, the COVID-19 outbreak may actually reinforce to them that their problem-behaviours were actually what kept them safe during the outbreak. This could make their conditions even harder to treat or manage in the future.
A group of trauma experts co-ordinated by University College London is gathering resources for co-ordinating psychosocial support through the crisis. The site draws together evidence from external sources and new guidance produced by the working group, and is being expanded regularly as a rapid response to the pandemic.
People struggling with their mental health during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak will be offered additional online support and practical guidance to help them cope.
Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) has launched a range of digital services and online support for people with mental health issues. News story goes on to describe some of the initiatives.
The Oxford Centre for Anxiety Disorders and Trauma (OxCADAT) has produced some notes about delivering therapies for PTSD, social anxiety and panic disorder remotely.
These guidelines have been developed in light of the recent Covid-19 pandemic and a recognition that many supervisors and supervisees are now using remote supervision for the first time.
Some supervisors will have been offering supervision via telephone or video platforms for many years. These guidelines have been developed primarily as a resource for supervisors and supervisees who are new to this way of working but we hope that experienced practitioners will also find them helpful.
The Royal College of Psychiatrists has produced guidance for mental health clinicians on various aspects of COVID19, including ethical issues, community mental health; forensic settings, inpatient settings, PPE, legal issues, workforce issues and using digital technology for patient consultations.
The Royal College of Psychiatrists has developed an eLearning hub to support psychiatrists and other clinicians working in mental health settings in gaining or refreshing knowledge and skills to support patients and staff during the COVID-19 outbreak.
HPS, with support from stakeholders, has produced a short video clip to support colleagues required to obtain an upper respiratory tract diagnostic sample.This resource describes the techniques involved in obtaining an upper respiratory tract COVID-19 diagnostic sample
Health professions preventing and controlling Coronavirus Disease 2019 are prone to skin and mucous membrane injury, which may cause acute and chronic dermatitis, secondary infection and aggravation of underlying skin diseases. This is a consensus of Chinese experts on protective measures and advice on hand‐cleaning‐ and medical‐glove‐related hand protection, mask‐ and goggles‐related face protection, UV‐related protection, eye protection, nasal and oral mucosa protection, outer ear, and hair protection.