scholarly journals Adjusting an Available Online Peer Support Platform in a Program to Supplement the Treatment of Perinatal Depression and Anxiety

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. e11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amit Baumel ◽  
Stephen M Schueller
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mood Disorders ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Perinatal Depression ◽  
Health Resources ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Health Products ◽  
The Impact

Background Perinatal depression and anxiety are common and debilitating conditions. Novel, cost effective services could improve the uptake and the impact of mental health resources among women who suffer from these conditions. E-mental health products are one example of such services. Many publically available e-mental health products exist, but these products lack validation and are not designed to be integrated into existing health care settings. Objective The objective of the study was to present a program to use 7 Cups of Tea (7Cups), an available technological platform that provides online peer (ie, listener) based emotional support, to supplement treatment for women experiencing perinatal depression or anxiety and to summarize patient’s feedback on the resultant program. Methods This study consisted of two stages. First, five clinicians specializing in the treatment of perinatal mood disorders received an overview of 7Cups. They provided feedback on the 7Cups platform and ways it could complement the existing treatment efforts to inform further adjustments. In the second stage, nine women with perinatal depression or anxiety used the platform for a single session and provided feedback. Results In response to clinicians’ feedback, guidelines for referring patients to use 7Cups as a supplement for treatment were created, and a training program for listeners was developed. Patients found the platform usable and useful and their attitudes toward the trained listeners were positive. Overall, patients noted a need for support outside the scheduled therapy time and believed that freely available online emotional support could help meet this need. Most patients were interested in receiving support from first time mothers and those who suffered in the past from perinatal mood disorders. Conclusions The study results highlight the use of 7Cups as a tool to introduce accessible and available support into existing treatment for women who suffer from perinatal mood disorders. Further research should focus on the benefits accrued from such a service. However, this article highlights how a publicly available eHealth product can be leveraged to create new services in a health care setting.

scholarly journals The Role of Maternity Services in Reducing the Prevalence and Cost of Perinatal Depression and Anxiety during COVID-19 in England

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachael Maree Hunter
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Maternity Care ◽  
Perinatal Depression ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Perinatal Mental Health ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Maternity Services ◽  
The Impact

In 2020 the novel coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) was declared a global pandemic. Pregnant women have been recognised as a group specifically at risk during this time due to the impact that the COVID-19 infection may have on the health of the birthing person and the unknown impact of vertical transmission to the fetus. Pregnant women also have a recognised risk of perinatal mental health problems including depression and anxiety. The aim of this paper is to summarise the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated infection control measures on perinatal depression and anxiety in England, the cost of the additional impact and the role of English National Health Service (NHS) trusts and maternity services in reducing the impact and cost. Studies including systematic reviews and meta-analyses have found a 3 to 5 fold increase in perinatal depression and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to non-pandemic times. This increased prevalence, if also seen in England, is at a potential cost to society of £10.6 billion for depression and £6.9 billion for anxiety, including a cost to the health care sector of £649 million and £1.7 billion respectively. Health care Trusts and maternity services have an important role to play in reducing this cost, not just in providing maternity care, but also in monitoring the health of the population and referring onwards where needed. Modest improvements in the availability of social support including improved partner involvement during pregnancy and labour and support given by health care staff during maternity care have the potential to reduce the risk of perinatal depression and anxiety. Signposting to and provision of perinatal mental health services, particularly for women at risk, is also likely improve outcomes for birthing people and their infants and hence to reduce the total cost to society of perinatal mental health problems.

scholarly journals ‘Having a Quiet Word’: Yarning with Aboriginal Women in the Pilbara Region of Western Australia about Mental Health and Mental Health Screening during the Perinatal Period

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (21) ◽  
pp. 4253 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma Carlin ◽  
David Atkinson ◽  
Julia V Marley
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Perinatal Depression ◽  
Perinatal Period ◽  
Screening Tools ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Aboriginal Women ◽  
Anxiety Screening ◽  
Mood Scale

Despite high rates of perinatal depression and anxiety, little is known about how Aboriginal women in Australia experience these disorders and the acceptability of current clinical screening tools. In a 2014 study, the Kimberley Mum’s Mood Scale (KMMS) was validated as an acceptable perinatal depression and anxiety screening tool for Aboriginal women in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. In the current study, we explored if it was appropriate to trial and validate the KMMS with Aboriginal women in the Pilbara. Yarning as a methodology was used to guide interviews with 15 Aboriginal women in the Pilbara who had received maternal and child health care within the last three years. Data were analysed thematically, the results revealing that this cohort of participants shared similar experiences of stress and hardship during the perinatal period. Participants valued the KMMS for its narrative-based approach to screening that explored the individual’s risk and protective factors. While support for the KMMS was apparent, particular qualities of the administering health care professional were viewed as critical to the tool being well received and culturally safe. Building on these findings, we will work with our partner health services in the Pilbara to validate the KMMS with Pilbara Aboriginal women.

The Impact of Detention on the Health of Asylum Seekers

2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 399-414 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trine Filges ◽  
Edith Montgomery ◽  
Marianne Kastrup
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Primary Study ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

Objectives: This review assesses the evidence about the effects of detention on the mental and physical health and social functioning of asylum seekers. Method and Analysis: We followed Campbell Collaboration guidelines to conduct a systematic review. Meta-analytic methods were used to quantitatively synthesize the study results. Results: Primary study effect sizes for post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety, while the asylum seekers were still detained lies in the range 0.35–0.99, all favoring the nondetained asylum group. Author’s Conclusions: There is some evidence to suggest an independent adverse effect of detention on the mental health of asylum seekers. The conclusions should however be interpreted with caution as they are based on few studies. More research is needed in order to fully investigate the effect of detention on mental health.

scholarly journals Family Physicians’ Standpoint and Mental Health Assessment in the Light of COVID-19 Pandemic—A Nationwide Survey Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 2093
Author(s):  
Tina Vilovic ◽  
Josko Bozic ◽  
Marino Vilovic ◽  
Doris Rusic ◽  
Sanja Zuzic Furlan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Family Physicians ◽  
Knowledge Score ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Event Scale ◽  
The Impact

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, family physicians (FPs) are the backbone of the healthcare system with considerable impact on the general population, and their well-being is of great importance. The aim of this investigation was to assess FPs mental health, as well as knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAPs) regarding the pandemic, and opinions on non-communicable disease (NCD) health care provided to patients. A cross-sectional study was carried out with a sample of 613 FPs. Anxiety and depression levels were estimated with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, subjective perceived stress with the Perceived Stress Scale, while trauma-related symptoms were assessed using the Impact on Event Scale-COVID19. KAPs toward the pandemic and opinions regarding NCD patients were evaluated with questionnaires accordingly. Results have shown that age (β = −0.02, p = 0.013) and personal risk of COVID‑19 (β = 1.05, p < 0.001) were significant independent correlates of the knowledge score. A total of 87.7% FPs expressed moderate/high perceived stress, 45.2% moderate/severe trauma-related symptoms, 60.4% borderline/abnormal anxiety levels, and 52.4% borderline/abnormal depression levels. Knowledge score was an independent predictor of perceived stress (β = −0.33, p = 0.023) and anxiety (β = −0.31, p = 0.006) levels. Limited accessibility to healthcare services and decreased number of newly-diagnosed NCD cases were mostly agreed on. The pandemic puts a considerable strain on FPs mental health, as well as on public health measures, due to the decreased overall quality of NCD patient health care. Educational programs may bridge the gaps between FPs’ knowledge. Thus lowering anxiety and improving patient care.

scholarly journals The Impact of Macroeconomic Policies on Healthcare Delivery in Kenya: An Analysis of the National Sexual Violence Prevention and Care Response

2020 ◽  
pp. 0272684X2098259
Author(s):  
Leso Munala ◽  
Emily Welle ◽  
Nene Okunna ◽  
Emily Hohenshell
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Sexual Violence ◽  
Healthcare Delivery ◽  
Health Economy ◽  
Economic Policies ◽  
Macroeconomic Policies ◽  
Complex Needs ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Structural Inequities ◽  
The Impact

Sexual violence is one of the most common forms of violence against women in Kenya. This study documents the care of sexual violence survivors from the perspective of health care practitioners based on an analytic framework developed in studies of the political-economy of health to examine the effects of International Financial Institutions’ conditionalities on the allocation of national fiscal resources. The study documented the working conditions of practitioners and myriad challenges that they experience in providing quality services to sexual violence survivors. The issues reflected in the results are grounded in social structural inequities driven by the global political economic policies that perpetuate poverty and dependency throughout Africa and the developing world. Macro-level variables associated with health care provision are assessed with a focus on global macroeconomic policies established by the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, their impact on Kenya’s health economy and their ultimate impact on the capacity of the health system to meet the complex needs of survivors of sexual violence. In this paper, study results are analysed within the context of these macroeconomic policies and their legacy.

scholarly journals The current pandemic, a complex emergency? Mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on highly vulnerable communities in Guatemala

2021 ◽  
pp. 002076402110272
Author(s):  
Dana Alonzo ◽  
Marciana Popescu ◽  
Pinar Zubaroglu-Ioannides
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Impact ◽  
Health Resources ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Continuous Variables ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Health Symptoms ◽  
Number Of Children ◽  
Complex Emergency ◽  
The Impact

Background: On March 5th, Guatemala declared a ‘State of Calamity’ in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and strict lockdown measures were initiated. The psychological consequences of these measures are yet to be fully understood. There is limited research on the psychological impact of the virus in the general population, and even less focused on Latin America and high-risk communities characterized by poverty, limited mental health resources, and high rates of stigma around mental illness. The goal of this study is to examine the psychological impact of COVID-19 across several highly vulnerable districts in Guatemala. Methods: A semi-structured phone interview was conducted of 295 individuals in multiple districts in Guatemala City to assess self-perceived mental health consequences related to the pandemic. Sociodemographic, medical, and mental health data were collected. Chisquares and t-tests used for categorical and continuous variables, as appropriate, to describe the sample. Binary logistic regressions were estimated to examine associations between sociodemographic characteristics and mental health symptoms (anxiety, stress, depression, burnout, escalation of pre-existing mental health symptoms, and a sense of safety). Results: The results indicate high levels of anxiety and stress in all target communities. Significant differences based on gender, age, and the number of children in the household were identified: women and older adults experience higher rates of stress and anxiety associated with the pandemic; while families with greater number of children experience higher levels of burnout. Conclusion: Contextualizing the current pandemic as a complex emergency can help inform further studies focusing on socioeconomic challenges and higher vulnerabilities as preconditions affecting the impact of the pandemic on mental health. Given the limited available resources for mental health care in Guatemala, informal networks of care may play an important role in meeting the needs of those individuals experiencing increased psychological distress resulting from the pandemic.

scholarly journals Primary care teams’ experiences of delivering mental health care during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachelle Ashcroft ◽  
Catherine Donnelly ◽  
Maya Dancey ◽  
Sandeep Gill ◽  
Simon Lam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Virtual Care ◽  
Primary Care Teams ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Integrated primary care teams are ideally positioned to support the mental health care needs arising during the COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding how COVID-19 has affected mental health care delivery within primary care settings will be critical to inform future policy and practice decisions during the later phases of the pandemic and beyond. The objective of our study was to describe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on primary care teams’ delivery of mental health care. Methods A qualitative study using focus groups conducted with primary care teams in Ontario, Canada. Focus group data was analysed using thematic analysis. Results We conducted 11 focus groups with 10 primary care teams and a total of 48 participants. With respect to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health care in primary care teams, we identified three key themes: i) the high demand for mental health care, ii) the rapid transformation to virtual care, and iii) the impact on providers. Conclusions From the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, primary care quickly responded to the rising mental health care demands of their patients. Despite the numerous challenges they faced with the rapid transition to virtual care, primary care teams have persevered. It is essential that policy and decision-makers take note of the toll that these demands have placed on providers. There is an immediate need to enhance primary care’s capacity for mental health care for the duration of the pandemic and beyond.

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