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Background: The COVID-19 pandemic restricted movement, closed businesses, and economic activities which disproportionately affected people globally. This pandemic has resurfaced the existing cracks in the societal set-up and has pushed the vulnerable and marginalized communities like migrant workers, people with disabilities, geriatric population, and commercial sex workers (CSWs) to an edge for their existence. Materials and Methods: Due to the paucity of peer-reviewed research publications on CSWs, formative research was conducted to identify the determinants and attributes of the challenges faced by CSWs during COVID-19 situation in India. Media scanning approach was used to collate literature from newspaper and magazine reporting, and peer-reviewed articles were referred from research-based search engines. Results: In total, 31 articles were included for content analysis and four domains of issues i.e., economic, social, psychological and health related challenged faced by them were identified which are supported with the verbatims of the community members as reported in the data sources considered for this study. It was identified that the CSWs adopted several protective measures and coping strategies to deal with the pandemic situation. Conclusion: This research highlighted that there is a need for further exploration of issues among CSWs by conducting studies among the communities. Furthermore, this paper provides a scope for future implementation research by identifying the key priorities and determinants of the challenges among the personal livelihood of CSWs in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to describe the implementation of a remote mindfulness program designed to serve as a mental health resource for MS-speech-language pathology students coping with the initial restrictions related to COVID-19. A cursory review of the literature outlining the negative social, emotional, and psychological impact COVID-19 has had on graduate students is presented. The benefits of mindfulness practice are well-documented, therefore, making it an appropriate mental health resource for minimizing the loneliness, stress, anxiety, and uncertainty experienced by students. Elements of a remote mindfulness program implemented within days of the stay-at-home order are described including the theoretical framework, session content, as well as strategies, techniques, and resources for independent practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Health systems are adapting to the unique challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Social distancing has forced clinicians to provide their services through online platforms in high income countries. Similar trends have been noticed in Low and middle-income countries (LAMIC). Digital health can help LAMIC address traditional barriers to care by overcoming issues related to stigma, discrimination, staffing, and physical and geographical resource constraints. Mobile phone subscriptions exceed 80% of the population in many LAMICs. Mobile platforms represent a viable resource in overcoming the significant mental health gap in LAMIC. This paper discusses the enormous potential that digital health has to transform healthcare delivery in LAMICs, as well as numerous challenges to implementation. We also discuss the need to develop national digital health strategies and suggest solutions to some of the barriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) affects not only individual’s physical health but also their well-being and makes them vulnerable in different ways. Post-COVID-19 depression is dependent on the dynamic interaction between social, medical, economic, geographical, and political factors determining the availability, vulnerability, and distribution of pandemic outbreaks that create fear apprehension and instability among the population. Aim: To evaluate the level of depression (pre and post) and the management of depression among patients from Western Uttar Pradesh of Northern India after the pandemic of COVID-19. Materials and Methods: It was a longitudinal study involving a total of 156 patients with depression. Through chit randomization methods, patients are allocated into two groups, that is, experimental (n=92) and control (n=64). Both groups received appropriate pharmacotherapy. The experimental group in addition also underwent eight therapeutic sessions of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) (relaxation breathing exercise, activity scheduling, and cognitive restructuring). The period of study was from July 2021 to January 2022. Depression was assessed by applying the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) pre- and post-intervention. Results: According to BDI II, 59.78% of patients report severe levels, 25% of patients report moderate levels, and 15.21% report mild levels of depression. Patients who received medications plus CBT showed significantly better improvement than the patients who received only medications. Conclusion: Patients with post-COVID-19 depression showed better improvement with medications plus CBT than medications alone. The finding of this study underline the importance of CBT in the treatment of depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The causal impact of income shocks on mental well-being in developing countries is an under-researched area. The COVID-19 pandemic, along with the economic recession caused by the lockdowns to reduce transmission, provides a natural experimental setting to examine the causal impact of a decline in monthly per capita expenditure (MPCE) on mental health of the general population in India during the pandemic. Aim: To evaluate the impact of income shocks on mental health of adults in metro cities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: The data were collected using the abridged version of the Depression Anxiety Stress Schedule administered through a telephonic survey on adult residents of six metropolitan cities in September-August 2020 and July-August 2021. Results: In the present study, 994 adults participated from six metropolitan cities. Average treatment effects were estimated using Propensity Score Matching. The mean normalized scores are significantly higher for respondents whose MPCE had fallen (treated) vis-à-vis respondents whose MPCE had remained same or increased (control): anxiety (0.21 for treated vs -0.19 for control), stress (0.16 vs -0.14), and depression (0.04 vs -0.19). Propensity score matching reveals that the normalized scores for anxiety, stress, and depression were 33 (95% confidence intervals, CI: 20.0-46.7), 25 (95% CI: 12.9-36.9), and 36 (95% CI: 18.6-53.1) higher among the treated group vis-a-vis control group. The ATET was 34 (95% CI: 18.9-48.9), 26 (95% CI: 10.1-42.9), and 32 (955 CI: 12.3-50.7) for these three outcomes, respectively. The post-estimation tests indicated that the results are valid. Conclusions: The study advocates that policies to ensure income security should be made an integral part of the response packages to tackle pandemics like COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Healthcare workers are under significant constant stress as a result of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The aim of this study, therefore, was to analyze bibliometrically the impact, trend, and characteristics of scientific production related to the mental health of health professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A bibliometric analysis of the scientific production on the mental health of health professionals and COVID-19 in Scopus from December 2019 to December 2021 was performed. An advanced search was designed using Boolean operators in Scopus and applied in April 2022. The metadata was entered into Microsoft Excel for the elaboration of the tables, SciVal to obtain the bibliometric indicators, and VosViewer to plot collaborative networks. RESULTS: A total of 1393 manuscripts, 1007 of which met the eligibility criteria, were found on the mental health of health workers and COVID-19.The country with the highest academic production was the United States and Harvard University with 27 manuscripts as the most productive institution. The scientific journal with the highest scientific production was the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health with 138 manuscripts and 1580 citations, and the author with the most citations per publication was Carnnasi Claudia with 69.8. CONCLUSION: The countries with the highest economic income occupy the first places in scientific production on the mental health of health workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the United States as the leader. There is a gap in the scientific knowledge on the mental health of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in middle- and low-income countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The unprecedented onset of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) had a huge impact on health-care facilities, leading to different psychosocial challenges among health-care workers (HCWs) during this pandemic. Aim: This study aimed to explore the impact of COVID-19 on the work, family, and personal life of HCWs engaged in COVID-19 duties during the first wave in India and gain insights on the coping strategies. Materials and Methods: The findings from 12 qualitative in-depth interviews were analyzed and presented in this article. This study is a part of a mix-method design study conducted at two hospitals and one community site in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The present qualitative sample was drawn conveniently from the randomly selected quantitative sample chosen from the three sites. Results: This study highlights that in the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, HCWs experienced transition in work life, burnout, disruption in family life, negative emotions such as fear, and experiences of stigma. The findings also reveal that while institutional workers faced discrimination and stigma outside their workplace, noninstitutional workers faced discrimination at multiple sites during traveling and at in their residential places and additionally faced harassment while working in the community. The findings also suggest that despite numerous challenges faced by HCWs, they were driven by a sense of responsibility and displayed resilience. Conclusion: Considering the HCWs as the backbone of the health-care system, it is crucial to boost and maintain the mental well-being of HCWs by providing timely and tailored interventions to sustain their resilience and build better responses to future pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has radically transformed workplaces, bearing an adverse impact on the mental health of employees. Aim: The current study attempts to gain an understanding of the mental health of employees while working from home (WFH) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Setting and Design: The research followed a mixed-methods design and was conducted across two phases, with participants divided into two subgroups - the WFH subgroup (currently engaging in WFH) and the not working from home (NWFH) subgroup (unable to engage in vocational tasks due to the pandemic). Materials and Methods: The first phase employed quantitative standardized measures of workplace well-being, work and social adjustment, and quality of mental health across 187 participants. The second phase involved in-depth interviews of 31 participants selected from the previous phase, to understand the factors impacting mental health. Results: Strong correlations were recorded between the mental health of an individual and work-related constructs such as workplace well-being and work and social adjustment. The study revealed that participants rated themselves as being significantly more stressed and less productive during the pandemic. Thematic analysis identified the stressors (factors that negatively impact mental health) and enhancers (factors that enhance mental health). Fourteen stressors and 12 enhancers were identified for the WFH group, while five stressors and three enhancers were identified for the NWFH group. Conclusions: The results of the study indicate a significant relationship between the mental health of employees and work-related experiences through the pandemic. Further research on the stressors and enhancers identified through the study can pave the way for effective interventions to promote employee mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: An evaluation of Iranian pregnant women's mental health during the COVID-19 outbreak is an ignored issue. The current study aimed to investigate the mental health of Iranian pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: Literature searching was conducted, and studies were published from 01 March 2020 to 30 June 2022 on PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, SID, and Magiran screened for the relevant articles. Results: There was a total of 10 studies included in this systematic review. In the present study, the prevalence of moderate to the high level of depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms was 40%, 19 to 74%, and 70%, respectively. There were some protective factors such as physical activity, social support, using progressive relaxation, and husbands' involvement in caring behaviours of their pregnant wives that can enhance the mental health of Iranian pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusions: Regarding the high prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among Iranian pregnant women during the current pandemic, the mental health status of pregnant women should be regularly evaluated and essential educational and interventional programs should be provided for this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The ongoing Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a huge mental health impact on people, especially the infected population. They are at greater risk of developing psychological symptoms due to the fear of death and developing severe disability, lack of proper treatment and social restrictions, stigma, and discrimination. The early psychological symptoms, if ignored, may have long-term consequences on the health and well-being of COVID patients. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the mental health services have been impacted negatively, and the need for technology-based psychological interventions has been identified as an alternative treatment method. Hence, the Telephone-Based Brief Psycho-Social interventions (TBPSI) will be developed for COVID-19 patients. Materials and Method: A five-session tele psychosocial intervention including rapport establishment and assessment, supportive counselling, activity scheduling, relaxation technique, and post-assessment will be developed based on the extensive review of the literature. Face and content validation of the intervention package will be done by the mental health experts. Further, the feasibility of the intervention program will be tested on COVID-19 patients in the Dharwad district, and later, the same will be implemented across the COVID hospitals of Karnataka state. Discussion and Conclusion: The study results may bring new insights into the culturally sensitive technology-oriented interventions during this pandemic in the country. The paradigm may be shifted from routine treatment to cost-effective and time-based intervention in the public health system in India. The telephonic brief psychosocial interventions can be utilised as a mainstream treatment during non-emergency situations as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic in March 2020. It had opened doors to several issues that were never envisaged. The global economy and the health equilibrium were disturbed. This review systematically assesses and compiles the literature describing the influence of COVID-19 on the psychological or mental health of the younger generation. Databases such as PubMed, SCOPUS and Google Scholar were searched electronically for relevant data. The results indicate that the mental health of the younger generation was affected to a large extent. The school and college students had to adapt to the new way of online education. COVID-19 had affected childhood, family dynamics and students' lives in schools and colleges. It increased the number of domestic violence cases, which had severe effects on the mental health status of the younger generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most important occupational and environmental pollutants are biological agents such as various types of viruses. Recently the 2019-nCoV causes lower respiratory tract disease, called novel coronavirus pneumonia that in addition to causes physical disorders, can lead to mental health problems. This study looks at some of the articles that deal with psychological problems caused by the coronavirus pandemic in different groups of people. For this purpose, a review of the published literature was performed in some databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, Elsevier) and related references were used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Backgroud: Physicians are at a high risk of being infected by coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Methodology: Our aim was to understand lived experiences of physicians who recovered from COVID-19 by focusing on mental health and psycho-social protective factors through a qualitative study using a narrative approach. A semi-structured questionnaire was outlined referring to literature and seeking experts' opinions. Telephonic interviews were conducted after fulfilling the inclusion criteria. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, and narratives were written and interpreted. Results: Mental health concerns identified from the narratives of five physicians are fear of infecting others, feeling guilty of transmitting infection, stigma, loneliness, and worry about complications after recovery. Social support, faith in a higher power, sense of purpose, and resilience were their sources of strength. Conclusion: Given the vulnerability and professional commitment to serve people, there is an urgent need to address their mental health needs. Support groups and having interactions with mental health professionals during periods of isolation are some recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current global health crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, has posed an unprecedented challenge to our health systems, economy, socio-political organizations, and the infrastructure of most countries and the world. This pandemic has affected physical health as well as mental health adversely. Several recent evidence suggests that health systems across the world have to improve their preparedness in context to infectious pandemics. The research on mental health aspects of COVID-19 and other related pandemics is lacking due to obvious reasons. This narrative review article, along with our personal views, is on various current and future mental health issues in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic focusing on various challenges and suggested solutions. The aim is also to update mental health strategies in the context of such rapidly spreading contagious illness, which can act as a resource for such a situation, currently and in future. We recommend that there is a need to facilitate mental health research to understand the psychiatric aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic, include psychiatrists in the task force, and make available psychotropic and other medications with special attention to the deprived sector of the society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In January 2020, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the outbreak of a new corona virus disease, COVID-19 to be public health Emergency of International concern and by March 2020 it had progressed rapidly across several continents to be a pandemic. After COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic the U.K. Government placed strict measures in mid-March 2020 to limit spread by enforcing social distancing, travel restrictions and complete lockdown. In U.K. by end of April 2020 official estimates of confirmed COVID-19 positive cases reached 161,000 and the number of deaths has exceeded 26,000 in hospitals and in care homes. COVID-19 continues to have an impact on all aspects of life in U.K. The Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych), London, a leading professional body of U.K. and global mental health professionals was prompt to act in this public health emergency. RCPsych lias issued guidance for clinicians, patients & carers, organised a series of webinars to support members and undertook a membership survey. It lias played a crucial role in influencing national policy decisions. This article will focus on mental health impact of COVID-19 pandemic inU.K. and the initiatives taken by RCPsych. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a humanitarian crisis, healthcare workers are on the frontline in providing their services. Despite being crisis management personnel, healthcare workers may get exposed to occupational stress due to unprecedented circumstances, challenges in delivery of high-quality care, lack of resources, and most importantly for being at high risk to suffer from the impact of the situation itself. Therefore, it is imperative to maintain the mental health of healthcare workers on a regular basis and more so during a pandemic like COVID-19. For addressing the occupational stress in healthcare workers, a Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) based intervention is suggested, also supported by a Cochrane review, which can build/ improve/ enhance resilience, needed to shield individuals against the development of psychopathology, at the public health level in humanitarian crises. In addition to developing resilience, which will be helpful in combating anxiety, depression, somatization, and incapacitation, CBT will also help in dealing with the social isolation which has been part and parcel of COVID-19 and similar pandemic situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]