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This paper discusses the lasting impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on research ethics in social sciences by focusing on the concept of vulnerability. We unpack the current conceptualisations of vulnerability and their limitations and argue for the need to reconceptualise vulnerability as multidimensional, consisting of both universal and contextual dimensions, as well as their dynamic interplay. Multidimensional vulnerability is inspired by and relevant to social science research during the pandemic but can also be useful in other contexts such as climate change or conflict. The paper puts forwards several considerations about how this revised concept of vulnerability may be useful when evaluating ethical dimensions of social science research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has inflicted tremendous pressure on people, including older adults. Frail older adults are more susceptible to the adverse consequences of the pandemic. Although many studies have investigated the susceptibility and poor medical outcomes of COVID-19 in frail people, a few studies have explored the psychosocial effects of the pandemic on this group of vulnerable people. This study overviews the psychosocial consequences of the pandemic and necessary public interventions for frail older adults. Materials and Methods: An integrative review method was utilized to gather, analyze, and structure the study data. PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases were searched to extract the published English papers based on a designed strategy. The keywords and used Boolean operators in their titles or abstracts were (["COVID-19" OR "CORONA" OR "SARS-CoV-2"] AND ["frail" OR "frailty"]). A total of 50 articles (47 quantitative, 2 qualitative, and 1 mixed method) were selected for the final analysis. Results: Anxiety and depression were reported as the most significant psychological consequences in the related studies. The results also indicated the social relations of older frail people and their access to health services noticeably reduced during the pandemic. On the other hand, physical exercise programs, telemedicine, and reading activities were the most preventive measures to mitigate the impacts of public restrictions during the pandemic. Conclusion: The results of this review can assist policymakers in reflecting appropriate psychosocial support for frail seniors during the pandemic. As most studies on the psychosocial aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic among frail older adults are quantitative and have been performed in developed countries, it is suggested to conduct further qualitative studies. These studies should explore frail older adults' experiences and perceptions and their challenges during the pandemic, particularly in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pentecostalism, to which the Apostolic Faith Mission in Zimbabwe belongs, is one of the fastest growing brands of Christianity in Zimbabwe. Most Pentecostal churches promise divine health, deliverance, miracles and prosperity to their members. In the Apostolic Faith Mission of Zimbabwe, women constitute the greater percentage of the church membership. Despite the fact that Pentecostal churches make promises of a good life, a church is generally expected to be a safe haven to its members. This paper wished to examine whether the Pentecostal church response to COVID-19 helped to build or destroy the mental health of its majority members, the women. The findings however show that the church mostly affected women's mental health in a negative way as it grappled with the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. This article therefore contests the claim of providing a good life as done by some Pentecostal churches. This was a qualitative study and utilized findings from a sample of 15 members of the Apostolic Faith Mission in Zimbabwe who were selected using purposive sampling. The findings suggest that the women were stressed by the teachings on marriage and emphasis on collection of money, discrimination against single women, the prosperity gospel, and patriarchy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to examine key obligations of states to persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) under the right to health framework in the context of COVID-19. As a case study, it also describes the state of health in places of detention in the Philippines during the pandemic, with an end view of providing granular recommendations for prison policy reforms. Design/methodology/approach: Relevant rules under international human rights law related to places of detention were thematically analyzed to articulate the scope of the right to health of PDLs. To describe the state of places of detention in the Philippines, this paper relied on archival research of news from selected local mainstream and specialized media. Findings: The right to health framework provides a foundation for the response to COVID-19 in places of detention. Key concerns include increase in the number of infections, vulnerabilities in physical and mental health, and the spread of infection among correctional staff. Long-standing structural constraints and limited health information compound the threat of COVID-19. The Philippines must comply with its human rights obligations to PDLs to effectively address COVID-19-related concerns. Practical implications: Policy reforms in Philippine places of detention must include application of community standards on physical and mental health, implementation of emergency release and application of non-custodial measures for long-term prison decongestion. Originality/value: This is one of the few papers to analyze human rights in health care in places of detention during a pandemic, as nuanced in the context of the Philippines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Retos: Nuevas Perspectivas de Educación Física, Deporte y Recreación is the property of Federacion Espanola de Asociaciones de Docentes de Educacion Fisica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted global daily life, including the world of elite athletes. This paper examines the multifaceted impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on elite swimmers and water polo athletes, specifically their mental health, their concerns over the virus, their intentions of getting vaccinated, and sleep disturbances that they may have faced. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study on elite swimmers and water polo players, using an anonymous questionnaire. Results: A total of 200 elite athletes participated. The majority of the participants reported a negative impact on their mental health, screened positive for insomnia (n = 107 (53.5%), with females (n = 101; 57.7%), swimmers (n = 100, 66.7%), and university students (n = 71, 71.7%) being more vulnerable (p < 0.001). Concerns about contracting the disease especially during important training or tournament periods and potential career disruption also affected their psychological well-being. While the majority (75%) had the intention of getting vaccinated, an alarming percentage was yet uncertain over its decision. Conclusions: This study highlights the significant psychological distress faced by elite aquatic athletes during the pandemic. It emphasizes the difficulties faced by elite swimmers and water polo athletes and determines not only the importance of addressing the vaccination intentions of athletes, but also how critical it is to confront the challenges they face both for their personal health and for the restoration of world sports to their pre-pandemic state. More large-scale studies are required to inform policies targeted at minimizing disruption to the athletes' career, provision of information on preventive measures and vaccination, and improvement in psychological well-being in case of similar major public health issues in the future. Additionally, this study calls for further research to explore the unique challenges faced by aquatic athletes, such as those related to their training environments and fear of contagion, to better support them in future public health crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychological well-being was drastically affected due to changes in the social environment brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study investigates how the COVID-19 pandemic affected individuals with anxiety disorders using narratives published on social media. Mid-pandemic and pre-pandemic datasets are collected and compiled from post titles published in the "r/Anxiety" subreddit, an internet community for people suffering from anxiety disorders. Then, a topic modelling pipeline based on clustering sentence embeddings in combination with sentiment analysis is applied to uncover trends in user narratives with the associated sentiment. In this study, three clustering algorithms, namely the Gaussian mixture model, spectral clustering, and k-means, were evaluated for their performance in clustering sentence embeddings using an internal evaluation method. The clusters formed reflected symptoms and types of anxiety disorders, demonstrating that unsupervised machine learning techniques, in particular topic modelling, can be used to detect mental health issues in social media data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chatbots are computer programs that present a conversation-like interface through which people can access information and services. The COVID-19 pandemic has driven a substantial increase in the use of chatbots to support and complement traditional health care systems. However, despite the uptake in their use, evidence to support the development and deployment of chatbots in public health remains limited. Recent reviews have focused on the use of chatbots during the COVID-19 pandemic and the use of conversational agents in health care more generally. This paper complements this research and addresses a gap in the literature by assessing the breadth and scope of research evidence for the use of chatbots across the domain of public health. Objective: This scoping review had 3 main objectives: (1) to identify the application domains in public health in which there is the most evidence for the development and use of chatbots; (2) to identify the types of chatbots that are being deployed in these domains; and (3) to ascertain the methods and methodologies by which chatbots are being evaluated in public health applications. This paper explored the implications for future research on the development and deployment of chatbots in public health in light of the analysis of the evidence for their use. Methods: Following the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines for scoping reviews, relevant studies were identified through searches conducted in the MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, IEEE Xplore, ACM Digital Library, and Open Grey databases from mid-June to August 2021. Studies were included if they used or evaluated chatbots for the purpose of prevention or intervention and for which the evidence showed a demonstrable health impact. Results: Of the 1506 studies identified, 32 were included in the review. The results show a substantial increase in the interest of chatbots in the past few years, shortly before the pandemic. Half (16/32, 50%) of the research evaluated chatbots applied to mental health or COVID-19. The studies suggest promise in the application of chatbots, especially to easily automated and repetitive tasks, but overall, the evidence for the efficacy of chatbots for prevention and intervention across all domains is limited at present. Conclusions: More research is needed to fully understand the effectiveness of using chatbots in public health. Concerns with the clinical, legal, and ethical aspects of the use of chatbots for health care are well founded given the speed with which they have been adopted in practice. Future research on their use should address these concerns through the development of expertise and best practices specific to public health, including a greater focus on user experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The outbreak of the COVID‐19 pandemic in late 2019 and in 2020 presented challenges to healthcare workers (HCW) around the world that were unexpected and dramatic. The relentless progress of infection, starting in China and rapidly spreading to Europe, North America and elsewhere gave more remote countries, like Australia, time to prepare but also time for unease. HCW everywhere had to readjust and change their work practices to cope. Further waves of infection and transmission with newer variants pose challenges to HCW and health systems, even after mass vaccination. Respiratory medicine HCW found themselves at the frontline, developing critical care services to support intensive care units and grappling with unanticipated concerns about safety, risk and the need to retrain. Several studies have addressed the need for rapid changes in the healthcare workforce for COVID‐19 and the impact of this preparation on HCW themselves. In this paper, we present a scoping review of the literature on preparing HCW for the pandemic, explore the Australian experience of building the respiratory workforce and propose evidence‐based recommendations to sustain this workforce in an unprecedented high‐risk environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Prisma Social is the property of Revista Prisma Social and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Global pandemic, lockdown restrictions, and COVID-19 compulsory social isolation guidelines have raised unprecedented mental health in the sports community. The COVID-19 pandemic is found to affect the mental health of the population. In critical situations, health authorities and sports communities must identify their priorities and make plans to maintain athletes' health and athletic activities. Several aspects play an important role in prioritization and strategic planning, e.g., physical and mental health, distribution of resources, and short to long-term environmental considerations. To identify the psychological health of sportspeople and athletes due to the outbreak of COVID-19 has been reviewed in this research. This review article also analyzes the impact of COVID-19 on health mental in databases. The COVID-19 outbreak and quarantine would have a serious negative impact on the mental health of athletes. From the accessible sources, 80 research articles were selected and examined for this purpose such as Research Gate, PubMed, Google Scholar, Springer, Scopus, and Web of Science and based on the involvement for this study 14 research articles were accessed. This research has an intention on mental health issues in athletes due to the Pandemic. This report outlines the mental, emotional and behavioural consequences of COVID-19 home confinement. Further, research literature reported that due to the lack of required training, physical activity, practice sessions, and collaboration with teammates and coaching staff are the prime causes of mental health issues in athletes. The discussions also reviewed several pieces of literature which examined the impacts on sports and athletes, impacts on various countries, fundamental issues of mental health and the diagnosis for the sports person and athletes, and the afterlife of the COVID-19 pandemic for them. Because of the compulsory restrictions and guidelines of this COVID-19 eruption, the athletes of different sports and geographical regions are suffering from fewer psychological issues which were identified in this paper. Accordingly, the COVID-19 pandemic appears to negatively affect the mental health of the athletes with the prevalence and levels of anxiety and stress increasing, and depression symptoms remaining unaltered. Addressing and mitigating the negative effect of COVID-19 on the mental health of this population identified from this review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic substantially impacted the mental health of the general population and particularly vulnerable individuals and groups. A wealth of research allows for estimating this impact and identifying relevant factors contributing to or mitigating it. The current paper presents and synthesizes this evidence into a multiaxial model of COVID-19 mental health impacts. Based on existing research, we propose four axes: (1) Exposure to COVID-related events; (2) Personal and social vulnerability, such as previous mental health problems or belonging to a vulnerable group; (3) Time, which accounts for the differential impacts throughout the development of the pandemic; and (4) Context, including healthcare and public policies, and social representations of the illness influencing individual emotional reactions and relevant behaviors. These axes help acknowledge the complexity of communities' reactions and are pragmatic in identifying and prioritizing factors. The axes can provide individual information (i.e., more exposure is harmful) and account for interactions (e.g., exposure in an early phase of the pandemic differs from a later stage). This model contributes to the reflections of the evidence and informs the mental health response to the next pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social-emotional learning (SOEL) is the process of developing self-control on physical, mental, and societal and interpersonal skills which play a vital role in a student's life during his high school, undergraduate and during career building and finally succeed in his life. When the pandemic has occurred, people struggled intensely for survival. There has been a huge gap in identifying the troubles faced by student community, both in schools and colleges. The paper deals with situation before Pandemic, how the learning environment was and how it is, after the pandemic. The authors conducted a survey amongst college going students who expressed their mental in-abilities and psychological struggles after pandemic. The students spent most of their critical time of their engineering study online and at home. A detailed study and discussions in this paper has been made. The paper explains the techniques to develop social and emotional skills, which eventually end up landing in positivity and wholesomeness. The paper concludes the methods to retain emotional ability and keep the mental strength high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Positive psychology approaches have been shown to play a vital role in protecting mental health in times of challenge and are, therefore, important to include when studying the psychological outcomes of COVID-19. While existing research has focused on individual psychological health, this paper focuses on collective wellbeing and collective posttraumatic growth, with the aim of more clearly identifying the positive experiences and potential for positive growth for key institutions in our society during the pandemic. A range of positive psychology interventions for families, schools, workplaces, and clinical psychology are presented. The paper then considers how three broad-reaching phenomena existing in our wider society (i.e., arts and culture, eco-connection, and wellbeing literacy) can be used to boost collective wellbeing. A positive systems approach to understand civilian responses to the pandemic together with an examination of the role that positive psychology can play in supporting marginalized groups are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. This paper aims to bring forth how the basic right of education got adversely affected due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The unplanned and immediate shift to online classes adversely affected the students' physical and mental health as several issues that the students faced were related to the lack of adequate resources. Methods. The data for this paper were collected through a self-prepared and structured questionnaire, using Google forms, which was then circulated among different stakeholders of the educational institutes. The statistical analysis of the collected data was done using Microsoft Excel. Results and conclusion. According to the analysis of the survey, smartphones (75% of the total respondents) are relatively more accessible by students in comparison to computers or laptops (53%). And even if students had Internet connection (57%), they faced issues of low data bandwidth (39%) leading to poor quality of online interaction in classes. Another important result suggested that 57% of students lacked a quiet room or space to attend the online classes in their homes. Finally, the negative impacts of online classes on the physical and mental health of students were also analysed. Cognitive value. The findings and the analysis of this paper would thus help teachers and institutions to understand students' views and experiences of the pandemic. This understanding would help teachers to plan their teaching accordingly, bridging the digital divide, which would help students learn and grow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, for the first time, we provide monthly estimates of multidimensional hardships experienced by Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic. We compile data from the Census's Household Pulse Survey on job insecurity, food insufficiency, housing insecurity, and mental health. Our analysis covers two years of the pandemic, beginning in April 2020 and ending in March 2022. We find that during these two years, 16.3% of adults, on average, experienced two or more hardships simultaneously. At the peaks of the hardship crises in July and December 2020, approximately 20% or one in five adults experienced two or more hardships. The most common hardships experienced by Americans during the pandemic were job insecurity and mental health. Multidimensional hardships were more prevalent among Black and Hispanic adults and less among White and Asian adults. Our results underscore the fact that the pandemic compounded hardships experienced by Americans and left a long-lasting impact on their well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: During the COVID-19 pandemic, as society struggled with increasing disease burden, economic hardships, and with disease morbidity and mortality, governments and institutions began implementing stay-at-home or shelter-in-place orders to help stop the spread of the virus. Although wellintentioned, one unintended adverse consequence was an increase in violence, abuse, and neglect. Methods: We reviewed the literature on the effect the pandemic had on domestic violence, child and elder abuse and neglect, human trafficking, and gun violence. In this paper we explore common themes and causes of this violence and offer suggestions to help mitigate risk during ongoing and future pandemics. Just as these forms of violence primarily target at-risk, vulnerable populations, so did pandemic-related violence target marginalized populations including women, children, Blacks, and those with lower socioeconomic status. This became, and remains, a public health crisis within a crisis. In early 2021, the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) Public Health and Injury Committee was tasked with reviewing the impact the pandemic had on violence and abuse as the result of a resolution passed at the 2020 ACEP Council meeting. Conclusion: Measures meant to help control the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic had many unintended consequences and placed people at risk for violence. Emergency departments (ED), although stressed and strained during the pandemic, remain a safety net for survivors of violence. As we move out of this pandemic, hospitals and EDs need to focus on steps that can be taken to ensure they preserve and expand their ability to assist victims should another pandemic or global health crisis develop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the results of a survey undertaken in December 2021 and January 2022 related to public library staff in the United Kingdom and their experiences of COVID-19, exploring the lockdowns that were enabled, the subsequent re-openings, their mental health and their views for the future of the service post-COVID-19. Over 200 responses were received, and the findings indicate a range of views. The importance of the library as a community resource is evident in the comments from staff, and their observations of patrons on library re-openings. Findings also indicate concern for the future of the library service, and fear that new technologies like e-books may be seen as adequate replacements for the traditional library service. Findings also indicate staff face stress and mental health issues in terms of dealing with patrons while the virus remains highly prevalent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Epidemics or pandemics, such as the current Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis, pose unique challenges to healthcare professionals (HCPs). Caring for patients during an epidemic/pandemic may impact negatively on the mental health of HCPs. There is a lack of evidence-based advice on what would be effective in mitigating this impact.Objectives: This rapid review synthesizes the evidence on the psychological impact of pandemics/epidemics on the mental health of HCPs, what factors predict this impact, and the evidence of prevention/intervention strategies to reduce this impact.Method: According to rapid review guidelines, systematic searches were carried out in Embase.com , PubMed, APA PsycINFO-Ovid SP, and Web of Science (core collection). Searches were restricted to the years 2003 or later to ensure inclusion of the most recent epidemic/pandemics, such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). Papers written in French or English, published in peer-reviewed journals, and of quantitative design using validated measures of mental health outcomes were included. Of 1308 papers found, 50 were included. The full protocol for this rapid review was registered with Prospero (reg.no. CRD42020175985).Results: Results show that exposed HCPs working with patients during an epidemic/pandemic are at heightened risk of mental health problems in the short and longer term, particularly: psychological distress, insomnia, alcohol/drug misuse, and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, burnout, anger, and higher perceived stress. These mental health problems are predicted by organizational, social, personal, and psychological factors and may interfere with the quality of patient care. Few evidence-based early interventions exist so far.Discussion: HCPs need to be provided with psychosocial support to protect their mental wellbeing if they are to continue to provide high quality patient care. Several recommendations relevant during and after an epidemic/pandemic, such as COVID-19, and in preparation for a future outbreak, are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing uptake of the metaphor of a “tsunami” of mental health problems related to COVID-19, reflects widespread concern for pandemic-related mental distress. Mental health may be compromised by such things as loneliness and depression linked to social isolation, as well as fear of infection from coronavirus. Of interest to question is the veracity of this concern and how the alleged decline in mental wellness might affect one of society’s most important issues: Namely, the issue of parenting. Owing to the novel nature of this subject matter, scoping review was selected to substantiate critical commentary in this paper surrounding parenting, the COVID-19 pandemic and the disabling effects of mental health difficulties. Findings suggest that there is no linear, formulaic or conclusive relationship between the pandemic, mental health and parenting. Rather, present discourses, such as those that embrace a tsunami metaphor, ought to attain more nuance and balance, in the context of protective factors, opportunities and strengths also at play. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The socio-cultural response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the level of adherence to evidence-based guidelines played a crucial role in determining the morbidity and mortality outcomes during the pandemic. This review aims to evaluate the impact of stigma and psycho-socio-cultural challenges on efforts to control the COVID-19 pandemic and to identify ways to mitigate such challenges in future pandemics. Methods: Using keywords including COVID-19, coronavirus, stigma, psychosocial challenges, and others, the authors searched seven major databases with a time limitation of July 2021, which yielded 2,038 results. Out of these, 15 papers were included in this review. Results: The findings of the review indicated that several psychosocial, socio-economic, and ethno-cultural factors are linked to the transmission and control of COVID-19. The research revealed that stigma and related psychosocial challenges and others, such as anxiety, fear, and stigma-driven social isolation, have resulted in significant mental health problems. Discussion: The review underscores the negative impact of stigma on COVID-19 patients, survivors, and the general population. Addressing stigma and psychosocial challenges is crucial to effectively manage the current pandemic and to prevent similar challenges during future public health crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several repercussions of the COVID‐19 pandemic and its subsequent isolation period have been reported worldwide. In this paper, we analyze the behavioral and emotional effects of 1 year of coronavirus‐related lockdown in Colombia. A cross‐sectional correlational design was used on a sample of 1853 participants from different regions, and with different levels of education, income, and employment situations. We applied the fear of coronavirus scale, the use of preventive behaviors scale, and a scale to measure pleasant and unpleasant emotions based on the circumplex model of affect. Our data shows that women, participants who were unemployed during the lockdown, and participants that study or work in legal, computational, or related fields, have been more affected in terms of unpleasant emotions. In addition, we observed a trend towards a relation between higher income and educational levels with lower degrees of fear, higher degrees of pleasant emotions, and a greater use of preventive behaviors related to the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the impact of work in a pandemic context on workers’ mental health. Psychosocial risks have always been a challenging aspect of workplace health and safety practices. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected workplaces in all sectors causing unexpected changes in work organization and working conditions, leading to the emergence of new psychosocial risks for health and wellbeing of workers. This mini-review aims to identify the main work stressors during pandemic period and related mental health problems to suggest recommendations and adjust health and safety practices regarding workplace mental health. A literature search has been performed using MEDLINE/PubMed, ResearchGate and Google Scholar databases, selecting articles focusing on workrelated stressors and workers’ mental health problems related to the pandemic. Specific psychosocial risks have been identified, including fear of contagion, telework-related risks, isolation and stigmatization, rapid digitalization demands, job insecurity, elevated risk of violence at work or home, and work-life imbalance, among others. All those risks can lead to elevated levels of stress among workers and affect their mental health and wellbeing, especially in terms of psychological distress, anxiety, and depression. As one of the social determinants of health, the workplace has an important and moderating role in workers’ health. Therefore, in the pandemic context more than ever health protection practices at the workplace should be devoted to mental health problems. Recommendations provided in this study are expected to contribute to workplace practices to preserve and promote workers’ mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Psicoterapia Cognitiva e Comportamentale is the property of Edizioni Centro Studi Erickson SpA and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a worldwide public health concern. It continues to spread rapidly throughout the world causing multiple physical and psychological consequences in the population. Especially, people affected by severe psychiatric or neurological diseases are highly susceptible to serious health complications not only due to the direct effect of the infection but also to the indirect effect of COVID-19 following social distancing during lockdowns and its general social consequences. Indeed, lockdown and difficulties in using the care services produced psychological consequences in caregivers such as depression, anxiety, and worsening of the quality of life which in turn affected the ability to manage patients. Our aim was to systematically review the psychological consequences of the COVID-19 lockdown in caregivers of patients with cognitive impairment and dementia and the impact on the health of their patients. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted by searching in MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science by two independent researchers following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement guidelines. Data extraction and quality assessment were also performed. Papers were screened for eligibility by abstract and then those which met inclusion criteria were included in this review. Results: The initial search returned 410 records. After the abstract screening and the inclusion/exclusion criteria were applied, 315 were excluded because they were irrelevant, 30 because they were reviews, meta-analyses, letters to editors, editorials, guidelines, or case reports, and 10 because they were duplicates. Then, 38 out of 55 abstracts/full-text articles were excluded because they did not simultaneously assess mental health of patients and caregivers. In the end, 17 papers were deemed eligible and included in the present review. Conclusion: Based on current literature, the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing lockdown caused severe psychological consequences for caregivers of patients with dementia, worsening their mental health, and increasing the psychological and physical burden, independently from the severity of the disease of their relatives, which resulted also independently globally worsened. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic created an unprecedented physical and mental health crisis on an international scale. Clients and therapists alike navigated the fears and uncertainty surrounding the virus, often in an environment of social isolation. The following paper presents a brief overview of the unique stressors and psychosocial factors impacting therapeutic work in the time of the coronavirus pandemic, including fears of the virus and social transmission, relational stressors due to isolation, grieving in isolation, fear of death, financial challenges, and the transition to telehealth. In addition, this paper aims to provide specific interventions and helpful approaches for psychotherapists navigating the novel challenges and demands to their clinical work through an AEDP (Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy) perceptive. This includes finding an entry point for accessing the pain: undoing aloneness; moving through the pain: dyadic affect regulation; and paying close attention to vitality within suffering: searching for transformance. Recommendations for the health and care of the clinician are also discussed, such as attuning to self-needs, anticipating and detecting dysregulation, staying with the good, meaning-making, identifying and responding to burnout, and the importance of receiving personal therapy and clinical supervision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Research is beginning to quantify the impact of COVID-19 on people with pre-existing mental health conditions. Our paper addresses a lack of in-depth qualitative research exploring their experiences and perceptions of how life has changed at this time. Methods: We used qualitative interviews (N = 49) to explore experiences of the pandemic for people with pre-existing mental health conditions. In a participatory, coproduced approach, researchers with lived experiences of mental health conditions conducted interviews and analysed data as part of a multi-disciplinary research team. Results: Existing mental health difficulties were exacerbated for many people. People experienced specific psychological impacts of the pandemic, struggles with social connectedness, and inadequate access to mental health services, while some found new ways to cope and connect to the community. New remote ways to access mental health care, including digital solutions, provided continuity of care for some but presented substantial barriers for others. People from black and ethnic minority (BAME) communities experienced heightened anxiety, stigma and racism associated with the pandemic, further impacting their mental health. Conclusion: There is a need for evidence-based solutions to achieve accessible and effective mental health care in response to the pandemic, especially remote approaches to care. Further research should explore the long-term impacts of COVID-19 on people with pre-existing mental health conditions. Particular attention should be paid to understanding inequalities of impact on mental health, especially for people from BAME communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is considerable interest in exploring effects of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on mental health. Suicide is one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide and changes in daily life brought by the pandemic may be additional risk factors in people with pre-existing mental disorders. This rapid PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) scoping review aims to identify and analyze current evidence about the relation between COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, along with COVID-19 disease and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) infection, and suicide in individuals with previously diagnosed mental disorders. First, we conducted a comprehensive review of the literature, then proceeded to discuss findings in a narrative way. Tables were constructed and articles sorted according to the studies' methodologies. 53 papers were eventually identified as eligible, among which 33 are cross-sectional studies, 9 are longitudinal studies, and 11 studies using other methodologies. Despite suffering from a mental disorder is a risk factor for suicidal behavior per se, the advent of COVID-19 pandemic may exacerbate this relation. Nevertheless, data addressing a clear correlation between suicidal behavior and the pandemic outbreak are still controversial. Longitudinal analysis using validated suicide scales and multicenter studies could provide deeper insight and knowledge about this topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic continues to exert a significant toll on the Australian primary healthcare system. Although wellbeing challenges faced by hospital-based healthcare workers are widely discussed, less is known about the experiences of general practitioners (GPs) during the initial phases of the pandemic. This paper reports qualitative survey data from Australian GPs, examining their workplace and psychosocial experiences during the initial months of the pandemic. Methods: An Australia-wide, cross-sectional, online survey of frontline healthcare workers was conducted in 2020. A qualitative approach using content analysis was utilised to examine responses to four free-text questions from GPs. Results: A total of 299 GPs provided 888 free-text responses. The findings reveal that general practice was overlooked and undervalued within the pandemic response, resulting in negative impacts on GP wellbeing. Four themes were identified: (1) marginalisation of GPs; (2) uncertainty, undersupported and undervalued in the workplace; (3) isolation and disrupted personal lives; and (4) strategies to support GPs during times of crises. Key concerns included poor access to personal protective equipment, occupational burnout and poor wellbeing, insufficient workplace support, and conflicting or confusing medical guidelines. Conclusions: Primary healthcare constitutes an essential pillar of the Australian healthcare system. This study presents the many factors that impacted on GP wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Enabling GP voices to be heard and including GPs in decision-making in preparation for future crises will enhance the delivery of primary care, reducing the burden on hospital services, and help sustain a safe and effective health workforce long term. The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant challenges and wellbeing issues for healthcare workers such as general practitioners (GPs), especially during the initial months in 2020. A large nationwide survey of Australian healthcare workers was undertaken in 2020 to understand their experiences, from which 299 GPs provided free-text survey responses for qualitative analysis. This analysis showed GPs felt marginalised, undervalued and under-supported while working in risky work conditions, pointing to a need for GP voices to be heard to safeguard their wellbeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This review summarizes evidence pertaining to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the psychological health of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Materials and Methods: An electronic search was conducted using four major databases: PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Using an umbrella methodology, the reference lists of relevant papers were reviewed, and citation searches were conducted. The study included articles written in English between January 2020 and March 2021 that focused on the psychological health of autistic children and adolescents. Results: All eight studies included in the final review were cross-sectional. Three of the eight studies were conducted in Italy, two in Turkey, and one study each in Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom, with a total of 1,407 participants. All studies used a mixture of standardized and non-standardized questionnaires to collect data. The total number of patients were 1407 at a mean age of 9.53 (SD = 2.96) years. Seven studies report gender; male 74.7% (657/880) and female 25.3% (223/880). The finding showed that behavioral issues in children and adolescents with ASD have significantly increased; 521 (51.9 percent) of the 1004 individuals with ASD presented with behavioral changes, including conduct problems, emotional problems, aggression, and hyperactivity. Some studies also found increased anxiety and difficulties managing emotions. Only one study reported clinical stabilization in children with ASD during COVID-19. Finally, 82.7% of families and caregivers of children with ASD (544 out of 658) faced challenges during COVID-19. Conclusion: Although the studies in this review suggest a general worsening of ASD children's clinical status, it remains difficult to draw definitive conclusions at this moment, with newer COVID-19 variants on the rise worldwide. During this difficult pandemic period, caregivers, families, and healthcare professionals are recommended to pay more attention to the ASD patients' health and care needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the reflections of a cohort of Australian children who lived through the 2020–21 COVID‐19 pandemic and experienced being in 'lockdown'; a state of largely being confined to the home for long periods daily. We report how children reflect on their experiences and illustrate how reflections draw on similar topics focused on localised child concerns regarding health, education, family, digital engagement, mealtimes and food. Further, we argue for the importance of including children's own voices of lived experience in reports regarding life during the pandemic since these perspectives may differ from those reported by adults on children's behalf. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Healthcare workers' work performance and mental health are associated with positive mental health outcomes and directly related to increased productivity and decreased disability costs. Methods We conducted a systematic review to identify factors associated with work performance of healthcare workers during a pandemic and conducted a meta-analysis of the prevalence of mental health outcomes in this context. Primary papers were collected and analysed using the Population/Intervention/Comparison/Outcome framework and using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. To critically appraise the studies included in the review, we used the AXIS appraisal tool to assess each cross-sectional study's quality. Results The study identified nine factors associated with the work performance and mental health of healthcare workers, including experiencing feelings of depression, anxiety, having inadequate support, experiencing occupational stress, decreased productivity, lack of workplace preparedness, financial concerns associated with changes in income and daily living, fear of transmission and burnout/fatigue. Conclusion There is a rapidly rising need to address the work performance and mental health of healthcare workers providing timely care to patients. Regular and sustained interventions, including the use of information and communication technologies such as telehealth, are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cancer is a long-term condition with biopsychosocial components. People with cancer living in rural areas can have poorer treatment outcomes and higher rates of unmet psychosocial needs than those in urban areas. Cancer, as opposed to other chronic conditions, poses a unique challenge in this current COVID-19 pandemic context, given immunocompromised states of patients and long-term survivor treatment effects. The disaggregated impact of psychosocial issues potentiated by the pandemic on rural vs. urban cancer populations is yet to be quantified. This rapid review investigates whether (i) people with cancer are experiencing pandemic-related psychosocial impacts, (ii) these impacts are equivalent in urban and rural locations, and (iii) whether the rapid uptake of telehealth mitigates or reinforces any identified impacts. Method: A rapid review was conducted for literature published between December 2019 and 13 August 2021. Results: Fifteen papers were included, incorporating evidence from five countries. The available literature suggests people affected by cancer living in rural areas are evidencing disproportionate psychosocial impacts of COVID-19, compounding cancer experiences. Despite its widespread and necessary use during the pandemic, telehealth was identified as an additional challenge for rural people with cancer. Conclusions: Clinicians working with rural people affected by cancer should ensure recognition of the greater risks of psychosocial concerns in their rural patients, and reduced access to health services. Whilst telehealth and other remote technologies are useful and necessary in this pandemic era, clinicians should consider whether its use benefits their rural clients or reinforces existing disparities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This paper aims to examine the maternal and child mental health and parenting outcomes in the context of COVID‐19 pandemic conditions using a sample from Melbourne, Australia – a city exposed to one of the longest lockdowns world‐wide in response to the pandemic. Methods: This study utilises observational data from a prospective, pregnancy cohort, Mercy Pregnancy Emotional Wellbeing Study and includes 468 women and their children followed up in Melbourne to 3–4 years postpartum pre‐COVID pandemic and compared to those followed up during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Results: When compared to mothers followed up at 3–4 years postpartum pre‐pandemic, those followed up during the COVID‐19 pandemic showed higher depressive symptoms with a steep incline in their symptom trajectory (EMMdifference = 1.72, Bonferroni‐corrected P < 0.01, d = 0.35) and had a three times higher risk of scoring 13 or above on the EPDS (aRR = 3.22, Bonferroni‐corrected P < 0.01). Although this increase was not associated with the variation in the duration of exposure to pandemic conditions, the steep increase in depressive symptoms was more pronounced in those with pre‐existing depressive disorders. There was no difference in parenting stress or adjusted childhood mental health symptoms or disorder. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the vulnerability of those with pre‐existing clinical mental health disorders and the need for adequate clinical care for this vulnerable group. Equally, our study indicates the possibility that parenting and early childhood mental health outcomes, at least in the short term, may be resilient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND With the outbreak of COVID-19 the emotional health problems of healthcare workers have been further aggravated. If now left unaddressed this can lead to distress as well affect their effectiveness at work. It becomes essential to look at those specific emotional needs of healthcare workers, enabling them experience emotional well –being at different levels. OBJECTIVE This study examines the Human Resource (HR) Champion approach in combating the emotional health problems of healthcare workers. The objectives of the study included identifying the different emotional needs of Health care workers, mapping the various Human Resource Champion roles towards each of the identified emotional needs of workers and the different levels of emotional well-being. The study further looks at the feasibility/availability of the various identified employee champion roles in healthcare. METHODS Based on a mini review the purpose of the paper is to create a unique synthesis and proposal for utility of healthcare organizations The exploration included terms of search in combination and in particular related to emotional fitness of healthcare workers, COVID-19, HR role in managing employee stress, workplace stress, employee champion and HR champion. The potential chances of subjectivity in selection of the papers cannot be overlooked though the various databases used for review include Google Scholar, Web of Science, Semantic Scholar which provides the most cited work RESULTS The study reports a negative influence of pandemic on HCW’s mental health. The identified needs of healthcare workers during the pandemic include caring, protecting, hearing, preparing and supporting them. The identified needs have been mapped towards the various HR champions i.e., physical, social, financial, emotional, work-life integration and meaning in work champion. The various practices that were available and were considered feasible have also been evaluated. The fulfillment of the specific emotional needs of HCW’s can lead to emotional well- being at different levels including essentials, belonging, purpose and flourishing. But the fact remains that many of the champion roles are way far from being implemented in healthcare due to the nature of work and to an extent attitude of the management. CONCLUSIONS The findings of the study reveal that different employee champions can nurture the specific emotional needs of healthcare workers thereby leading to fulfillment of their emotional well-being at different levels. Some champion roles are more visible (physical and financial champions) as compared to work- life integration, social, emotional, meaning in work champions in healthcare organizations. LIMITATIONS The potential chances of subjectivity in selection of papers cannot be overlooked though the study made use of Semantic Scholar, Google Scholar, Web of Science which provides the most cited work. Since the core purpose of this paper is to provide a unique synthesis and proposal of value to healthcare workers, this mini review has its use in contribution towards a conceptual model that can be subject to empirical attestations in future research to further establish the role of different HR champions towards the increased emotional well-being of Healthcare workers at the workplace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The changes in people's mental health have become one of the hot topics during the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents have been said to be among the most vulnerable groups in terms of the imposed anti-pandemic measures. The present paper analyzes the trends in mental health indicators in a sample of Slovak parents (N = 363) who participated in four waves of data collection over a year and a half of the COVID-19 pandemic. The mental health indicators were represented by general levels of depression and anxiety as well as COVID-related stress and anxiety. While there were only minor changes in depression and anxiety, the dynamic in COVID-related stress and especially anxiety was more noteworthy. Besides some exceptions, the results hold even after controlling for the socioeconomic situation. The gender differences in the mental health trends were found to be negligible. Overall, we observed no substantial deterioration in the mental health indicators across the four waves of the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 in South Africa, many safety measures were implemented to protect the lives of the population. Ironically, these same safety measures have negatively impacted on the lives of children and their caregivers resulting in increased mental health problems. This study forms part of the multicountry Co-SPACE (COVID-19: Supporting Parents, Adolescents and Children during Epidemics) study that explores how families are coping during the COVID-19 pandemic, and what caregivers can do to help support their children's mental health. This paper aims to gain a better understanding of the mental health status of families specifically in South Africa in the early onset of the pandemic during restrictive lockdown measures, and identify certain risk factors that might contribute towards deteriorating mental health. Two hundred and fifty-four South African parents and carers of children and adolescents completed an online survey about their child's mental health as well as their own mental health during and post- hard lockdown in South Africa. Data collection took place over the period of the first and second waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa. Results showed that children experienced significantly higher mental health problems than adolescents (p = 0.016). Younger children were particularly negatively affected by lockdown and had more mental health problems than adolescents (p = 0.023); including emotional problems (p = 0.017), misconduct (p = 0.030), and hyperactivity (p = 0.001). Additionally, the presence of special educational needs/neurodevelopmental disorders (SEN/ND) was associated with more mental health problems (p = 0.001). Surprisingly, single parent households, which is another well-known risk factor showed no differences in mental health problems compared to nuclear families. There was also a reciprocal relationship between parental/carer mental health and child/adolescent mental health, with higher level of endorsement of mental health problems in children by parents/caregivers who themselves associated with higher levels of depression, anxiety and stress (all p's < 0.001). These results highlight the dramatic impact that COVID-19 had on children, adolescents and parents in South Africa early in the pandemic, and emphasises the need for specific support structures to be implemented within the SEN/ND community, as well as for younger children and single parent households. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: COVID-19; infant mental health; early childhood mental health; pandemic EN COVID-19 infant mental health early childhood mental health pandemic 5 7 3 02/07/22 20220101 NES 220101 The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for infants, toddlers, young children, their families, and the professionals who serve them (e.g., Brown et al., 2020; Holmes et al., 2021). COVID-19, infant mental health, early childhood mental health, pandemic Following an introduction by Ayelet Talmi, four papers examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on an array of infant and early childhood mental health services offered across clinical and community settings. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), recent pandemic initially reported in Wuhan, would be predicted to affect the mental health of frontline healthcare providers. So, there is an urge need to monitor their mood, sleep rate and other mental health problems to introduce the required mental health interventions when needed. Aim: Reviewing plus evaluating the literatures conducted on mental health problems among healthcare workers (HCW) during the COVID-19 crisis. Methods: A systematic research study of literature databases was performed till to June 1st, 2020. All studies published in the period (January 2020 to May 2020) that related to review analysis subject in these databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and EBSCO host) were used to perform this review. Upon initial screening, a total of 35 papers were selected but 14 papers were used finally. Results: The meta-analysis of the fourteen studies that based on analysing many facets of HCW mental health concerning COVID-19 revealed the presence of an extensive strain among them due to stress experience, depression, anxiety and sleep disturbance symptoms. Extreme levels of these symptoms were observed in 2.2 % to 14.5% of all participants. Conclusion: As COVID-19 is a global public mental health emergency, every country has to learn from previous epidemics experience and urgently provide multifaceted psychological safeguarding of their healthcare providers' mental health to keep their effectiveness as indispensable resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides the author's assessment of the nature of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic crisis as of the period from mid-March to mid-April 2020. This analysis at this early stage of this crisis does not aim to offer specific predictions regarding how this emergency will continue to evolve or ultimately end. Instead, it documents key themes and issues that have developed during the earliest phase of the crisis and it utilizes known select points from the preexisting scientific literature in order to provide insight into some of the core issues that psychologists and other social scientists (in particular) will likely strive to investigate in the coming months and years. Issues involving loss, mental health, prosocial and destructive social behavior, and social, economic, and political matters are particularly highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviewed mediators of psychological well-being among healthcare workers responding to pandemics. After registration on PROSPERO, a systematic review was performed in four databases and 39 studies were included. Worse mental health outcomes, such as stress, depressive symptoms, anxiety and burnout were related to demographic characteristics, contact with infected patients and poor perceived support. Self-efficacy, coping ability, altruism and organisational support were protective factors. Despite limitations in the quality of available evidence, this review highlights the prevalence of poor mental health in healthcare workers and proposes target mediators for future interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This paper was the first study comparing levels of anxiety and depression and assessing the affecting factors among the general population, frontline healthcare workers, and COVID-19 inpatients in Turkey during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. We collected data from the general population (n = 162), frontline healthcare workers (n = 131), and COVID-19 inpatients (n = 86) using Individual Characteristics Form, Generalised Anxiety Disorder Scale, and Beck Depression Inventory in this cross-sectional study. Results: An increased prevalence of depression and anxiety were found predominantly in frontline healthcare workers (p < 0.001). COVID-19 inpatients and frontline healthcare workers were more likely to demonstrate anxiety (p < 0.001) than the general population. In the regression analysis, while fear of infecting relatives was a significant predictor of anxiety and depression in the general population, gender and experiencing important life events were associated with anxiety. Fear of infecting relatives and lack of personal protective equipment while providing care were predictors of anxiety and depression in healthcare workers (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the fear of being re-hospitalised due to re-infection was a predictor of depression and anxiety levels of the COVID-19 inpatients. Conclusion: Policymakers and mental health providers are advised to continuously monitor psychological outcomes and provide necessary health support during this pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible Summary: What is known on the subject?: There is only limited information on how the COVID‐19 pandemic has affected people diagnosed with mental health disorders, especially people admitted to psychiatric wards.We surveyed the views of inpatients at Qatar's only psychiatric hospital regarding how the pandemic had affected their mental health and social changes they had experienced during the pandemic. What the paper adds to existing knowledge?: Nearly half (43%) of those who completed the survey reported that the pandemic had led to a deterioration in their mental health.Those who reported deterioration in their mental health during the pandemic were significantly more likely to have experienced negative social changes during the pandemic. Examples included increased stress from the home and reduced ability to discuss emotions/feelings with family members. What are the implications for practice?: Mental health services need to ensure ongoing support for patients during and after the pandemic. Mental health nurses have a pivotal role including identifying early warning signs of relapse of mental disorders, delivering talking treatments and providing practical advice and COVID‐19‐related education.Further work is needed to assess the views of people diagnosed with mental health problems in different countries and at a different time point during the pandemic. Introduction: The impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on people under the care of mental health services has received relatively little attention in the scientific literature. Aim: To assess psychiatric inpatients' views regarding their mental health and experience of social change during the pandemic. Method: Cross‐sectional survey of consecutive patients admitted to Qatar's only psychiatric hospital between mid‐June and mid‐October 2020. Results: Data were analysed for 114/284 (40%) patients admitted during the study period. 8 (7%) reported a history of COVID‐19. 43% reported that the pandemic had led to deterioration in their mental health, 11% to an improvement and 39% that there had been no attributable change. Those reporting worsened mental health, attributable to the pandemic, were significantly more likely to report having experienced four negative social changes during the pandemic, namely reduced ability to discuss emotions/feelings with family members, decreased time spent exercising, decreased time spent relaxing and increased stress from the home. Demographic factors did not distinguish those reporting worsened mental health from those whose mental health was improved or unchanged. Discussion: A large proportion of psychiatric inpatients reported negative social and mental health changes during the pandemic. However, the study cannot determine causality. Implications for practice: Mental health services should consider the psychological and social aspects of people's lives, including their interactions with family, friends and the community. This is especially relevant during the COVID‐19 pandemic due to its wide impact on society. Interventions for people diagnosed with mental health disorders should address their psychological and social needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]