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