Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care, 20(1), 2021, pp.1-5. Online only
Publisher:
Department of Social Work. University of Strathclyde.
...children and young people’s access to creativity. This article explores the impact of these challenges, many of which are being exacerbated by COVID-19; and, shines a light on one initiative ‘Musicares’ that is helping to overcome these challenges in Scotland.
(Edited publisher abstract)
The importance of music and creativity in promoting the social development and wellbeing of children and young people is well documented. For children and young people with care experience, music can build resilience, help to heal trauma and support the development of supportive relationships; however, despite these myriad benefits, significant challenges remain that prevent care experienced children and young people’s access to creativity. This article explores the impact of these challenges, many of which are being exacerbated by COVID-19; and, shines a light on one initiative ‘Musicares’ that is helping to overcome these challenges in Scotland.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
Covid-19, music, looked after children, residential child care, music therapy;
Advice from the World Health Organisation on the considerations people should take to combat stress and support their mental and psychological well-being during coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak. The advice covers considerations for the general population, health professionals and care workers, team leaders and managers, those caring for children or older people, and for people living in self
(Edited publisher abstract)
Advice from the World Health Organisation on the considerations people should take to combat stress and support their mental and psychological well-being during coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak. The advice covers considerations for the general population, health professionals and care workers, team leaders and managers, those caring for children or older people, and for people living in self-isolation.
(Edited publisher abstract)
...to maintain their wellbeingduring the COVID-19 outbreak.
(Edited publisher abstract)
This guide provides practical tips about mental health during the lockdown and in the months to come. The resource is intended to be used in workplaces, communities, organisations and charities as a very brief guide to having a conversation about mental health. It provides links to sources of help and support as well as practical ideas and information for people who may need some support to maintain their wellbeingduring the COVID-19 outbreak.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Aging and Mental Health, 25(7), 2021, pp.1161-1164.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of physical distancing risk collateral damage such as increased loneliness. Older adults have been identified as being at higher risk of poor outcomes if infected and in many countries have been subjected to greater restrictions on physical contacts with others. Most research so far points towards an increase in loneliness during the pandemic. However...
(Edited publisher abstract)
Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of physical distancing risk collateral damage such as increased loneliness. Older adults have been identified as being at higher risk of poor outcomes if infected and in many countries have been subjected to greater restrictions on physical contacts with others. Most research so far points towards an increase in loneliness during the pandemic. However, there has been a lack of prospective studies based on representative samples of older adults, with the oldest old, older adults with low or no Internet usage, and those in poor health currently underrepresented. Despite the significance of cultural norms for individuals’ standards for social relations and, thus, the experience of loneliness, there has been a lack of comparative research on loneliness in older adults during the pandemic. Reviews have found little evidence for what interventions and what elements of interventions are effective in reducing loneliness. There is potential for social relations to be maintained via technology-based solutions, although there is a risk of excluding older adults with limited resources who are both least likely to use technology and most vulnerable to loneliness. Furthermore, remote social contacts cannot fully compensate for the loss of physical contacts. Where stay-at-home orders are not imposed, supporting neighbourliness and the community use of accessible open spaces are other options. Finally, policy responses to the pandemic need to be more nuanced and non-ageist in order to avoid unnecessary increases in loneliness in older adults.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
Covid-19, loneliness, social isolation, policy, digital technology;
ASSOCIATION OF MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS, GOOD GOVERNANCE INSTITUTE
Publisher:
Association of Mental Health Providers
Publication year:
2021
Pagination:
18
This report considers the specific requirements of effective governance in the VCSE mental health and wellbeing sector, particularly in the context of the experience of Covid-19. The pandemic has highlighted more than ever the critical role of the VCSE sector in supporting people and communities, keeping them safe and well, and in responding to the health needs exacerbated or generated...
(Edited publisher abstract)
This report considers the specific requirements of effective governance in the VCSE mental health and wellbeing sector, particularly in the context of the experience of Covid-19. The pandemic has highlighted more than ever the critical role of the VCSE sector in supporting people and communities, keeping them safe and well, and in responding to the health needs exacerbated or generated by the it; not as substitutes to statutory services but as partners. The report covers: the impact of the pandemic on demand; impact on funding; impact on staff and ways of working; impact on pre-existing inequalities; the challenge for boards – board competencies and capacities; increasing diversity in our governance arrangements; effective and proportionate governance; digital approach; executive team mental health; oversight, regulation, and legislative reform. COVID-19 has revealed both strengths and weaknesses in governance across the sector. It has provided opportunities for boards to be flexible and supportive while discharging their legal duties and for executive teams to be more autonomous where possible and drive change where urgently needed. Organisations that have been able to continue operating successfully and respond to the challenges effectively had the flexibility to do so and, for this to be possible, a positive relationship between the chair and the CEO is essential. Lean, flexible and fit for purpose governance arrangements have been beneficial during the pandemic, allowing organisations to take decisions quickly and for boards to be involved only where appropriate.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
Covid-19, governance, mental health, care providers, voluntary organisations, voluntary sector, social enterprises, community groups;
International Social Work, 63(6), 2020, pp.757-760.
Publisher:
Sage
Burnout has become part of everyday vocabulary. During the time of COVID-19, burnout is no longer exclusively associated with job-related stress. Our current climate is entrenched with unprecedented levels of varying societal stressors. Particularly during this time, social workers should prioritize their own mental health. This is necessary in order to have continued success when working...
(Edited publisher abstract)
Burnout has become part of everyday vocabulary. During the time of COVID-19, burnout is no longer exclusively associated with job-related stress. Our current climate is entrenched with unprecedented levels of varying societal stressors. Particularly during this time, social workers should prioritize their own mental health. This is necessary in order to have continued success when working with others. This article proposes interventions for social workers to implement in order to combat burnout during the time of COVID-19.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
stress, conditions of employment, social workers, Covid-19, self care, coping behaviour;
Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care, 19(3), 2020, Online only
Publisher:
Department of Social Work. University of Strathclyde.
In order to provide an emotionally responsive environment for young people in care, we must turn our attention to the emotional wellbeing of the adults who look after them. The COVID-19 pandemic provides an opportunity to highlight the importance of the emotional wellbeing of caring adults. This includes introducing processes within the workplace that can be adopted to support the development
(Edited publisher abstract)
In order to provide an emotionally responsive environment for young people in care, we must turn our attention to the emotional wellbeing of the adults who look after them. The COVID-19 pandemic provides an opportunity to highlight the importance of the emotional wellbeing of caring adults. This includes introducing processes within the workplace that can be adopted to support the development of self-care, such as developing skills in self-awareness, emotional literacy and regulation, enabling adults to be emotionally present and responsive to the needs of young people. This article reflects on the introduction of supervision, reflective practice and consultation within Aberlour Sycamore Services in Scotland, summarising a recent evaluation of these structures.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
Covid-19, residential child care, wellbeing, looked after children, social care staff, reflective practice, staff development, staff supervision, self care;
This report looks at the use of foodbanks and the experience of hunger in the households of unpaid carers providing care to someone living outside their own household in April 2020, duringCOVID-19 lockdown. Drawing on data from the April 2020 wave of Understanding Society COVID-19 survey, the analysis also reports evidence of changes in carers’ mentalwellbeing, analysing these by sex, age...
(Edited publisher abstract)
This report looks at the use of foodbanks and the experience of hunger in the households of unpaid carers providing care to someone living outside their own household in April 2020, duringCOVID-19 lockdown. Drawing on data from the April 2020 wave of Understanding Society COVID-19 survey, the analysis also reports evidence of changes in carers’ mentalwellbeing, analysing these by sex, age and employment status. There were an estimated 6,048,286 adults providing care to someone living outside their own household in the UK in 2020. They are a ‘subset’ of the 10,991,440 adults estimated to be carers. The analysis shows considerable evidence of the difficulties some carers face – 228,625 carers said someone in their household had gone hungry in the previous week with women being twice as likely as men to report this; figures were especially high for younger carers, reaching 12.24% for those aged 17-30. In addition, 106,450 carers (1.76%) said their household had used a foodbank in the past month – female carers were twice as likely as men to use foodbanks and foodbank use was especially high (8%) for carers aged 17-30. The report also looks at carers’ mentalwellbeing in April 2020 and compares it with the same carers’ reported wellbeing in the 2017-19 wave of the survey. It shows that carers’ mentalwellbeing was lower than that of non-carers in both surveys – mentalwellbeing was much lower among female carers than male carers and lower for working age carers, especially those aged 17-45. Between 2017-19 and April 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the mentalwellbeing of female carers, older carers, carers in employment and those without a paid job declined.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
Covid-19, carers, young carers, women, mental health, older people, wellbeing, poverty, nutrition, user views, mental health problems;
Aging and Mental Health, 25(7), 2021, pp.1314-1319.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Objectives: From the perspective of the nursing home (NH) practitioners, to gain understanding of (1) whether challenging behavior in NH residents changed during the COVID-19 measures, (2) whether the practitioners’ involvement in the treatment of challenging behavior changed, (3) what can be learned from the experience of NH staff. Methods: A mixed methods study with a survey in 323 NH...
(Edited publisher abstract)
Objectives: From the perspective of the nursing home (NH) practitioners, to gain understanding of (1) whether challenging behavior in NH residents changed during the COVID-19 measures, (2) whether the practitioners’ involvement in the treatment of challenging behavior changed, (3) what can be learned from the experience of NH staff. Methods: A mixed methods study with a survey in 323 NH practitioners (psychologists, elderly care physicians, nurse practitioners) in the Netherlands, and in-depth interviews in 16 NH practitioners. Nonparametric analyses were used to compare estimated proportions of residents with increased and with decreased challenging behavior. Content analyses were conducted for open-ended questions and in-depth interviews. Results: Participants reported changes in challenging behavior with slightly higher proportions for increased (Q1/Mdn/Q3: 12.5%, 21.7%, 30.8%) than for decreased (8.7%, 14.8%, 27.8%, Z = –2.35, p = .019) challenging behavior. Half of the participants reported that their work load increased and work satisfaction worsened during the measures. Different strategies were described to respond to the effects of COVID-19 measures, such as video calls, providing special areas for residents to meet their loved ones, adjusting activities, and reducing the exposure to negative news. Conclusions: Because COVID-19 measures resulted in both increased and decreased challenging behavior in NH residents, it is important to monitor for their potential long lasting effects. Increased work load and worsened work satisfaction of the NH staff, together with the changes in type of challenging behavior, indicate that the harmful effects of the anti-pandemic measures should be taken seriously.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Journal of Mental Health, 30(2), 2021, pp.156-163.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Place of publication:
London
Background: COVID-19 pandemic lockdown measures changed the everyday lives of people around the world. Aims: To evaluate the effects of different coping strategies on mental health duringCOVID-19 lockdown. Methods: A representative sample for Austria was recruited through Qualtrics® in a period of 4 weeks after the lockdown started. Measurements were coping inventory (SCI), psychological quality...
(Edited publisher abstract)
Background: COVID-19 pandemic lockdown measures changed the everyday lives of people around the world. Aims: To evaluate the effects of different coping strategies on mental health duringCOVID-19 lockdown. Methods: A representative sample for Austria was recruited through Qualtrics® in a period of 4 weeks after the lockdown started. Measurements were coping inventory (SCI), psychological quality of life (WHO-QOL BREF, psychological domain), well-being (WHO-5), depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), stress (PSS-10), and insomnia (ISI). Regression analyses were performed with coping strategies as predictors and mental health measures as dependent variables. Results: The representative sample included N = 1,005 respondents (52.7% women). Positive thinking, active stress coping and social support were found to be positive predictors for psychological life quality, well-being, and negative predictors for perceived stress, depression, anxiety, and insomnia. Alcohol and cigarette consumption was a negative predictor for psychological life quality, and well-being, and a positive predictor for perceived stress, depression, anxiety, and insomnia. Support in faith was a positive predictor for perceived stress, depression, anxiety, and insomnia. Conclusions: Coping strategies are significant predictors for mental health measures. Education about positive thinking, active coping, and social support could be beneficial for dealing with a decrease in mental health due to COVID-19 pandemic.
(Edited publisher abstract)