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COVID-19 and Well-being

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(@ashishjoshi)
Posts: 121
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The consequence from COVID-19 is going to have a severe effect on people’s emotional and psychological wellbeing. Amidst social isolation, financial uncertainty, loss of resources and social distancing this is an unprecedented time of stress, anxiety, and fear.

An Interesting read

Seven tips to manage your mental health and well-being during the COVID-19 outbreak

It will be interesting to hear your feedback on how concerned are you with the impact of COVID-19 on the well-being of the individuals.

What are some of the effective strategies as perceived by you to address the well-being of the individuals during this pandemic crisis?

This topic was modified 3 years ago by ashishjoshi
 
Posted : November 21, 2020 9:37 am
Loghashree, Ashruti Bhatt, shruti.sharma and 8 people reacted
(@kamalpreet)
Posts: 69
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Pandemic can pose threat to overall well being of the individual. Social, mental and physical well being could be affected adversely as it is difficult to maintain healthy lifestyle during crisis. Stress, anxiety and uncertainty about future can disrupt sleeping and eating patterns which can have negative impact on our health.

It is important to look after our health and loved our loved ones during pandemic by adopting simple measures such as stay connected through any electronic and social media, do breathing exercises, walking and reading good books.

Stay positive and make our communities healthy and stronger .

 
Posted : November 21, 2020 10:38 am
(@harpreet)
Posts: 60
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@kamalpreet Yes absolutely, the problem is particularly severe for geriatric population with high mortality rates especially with underlying co morbidities like hypertension and diabetes. The pandemic further highlights the need to strengthen public health programs for older people which can be used to address the current pandemic and can also help formulating future policies.

 
Posted : November 21, 2020 10:57 am
(@rohitashwa)
Posts: 8
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Covid-19 has affected the children’s health severely especially in the metropolitan cities where the spread of disease is very high. As I have observed that, children have stopped going to park, most of the children are spending time on gadgets (computer, mobiles, and video games) only, and time on physical activity is being decreased sharply, which is badly affecting their physical and mental health. In addition, online school is also increasing their time on computer and mobile. During interaction with many parents, I have found that most of them are worried for their children’s health and many complained about effect of using computers and mobiles on children’s eyes and their behavior. Some of the parents said that they have found that their children have started annoying and shows anger on very small issues which were not there before Covid-19 situation. It is necessary to support the children in this tough time through giving proper attention to them. The situation is worse where both the parents are working and not able to give their time to children, which is also affecting children’s mental health.

As per the current scenario, use of gadgets is good as they support out children in enhancing their knowledge but it is very necessary to take decision on certain aspects. The some of the important aspects which should be taken care off can be what type of gadgets, what type of content, what should be the time limits, what are the impact of long time using on health, how gadgets can also help in physical activity etc. Therefore, there is a need to design gadgets which can help children in physical and mental exercise both and through which they can enjoy and learn. In addition, participation of parents is also necessary thus, gadgets should have some features, which involves parents also. It will give motivation to children and strengthen the relationships among parents and them.

I have started playing various games with my kids, which involves lots of physical activity. In this way, I am trying to decrease their time on gadgets and making strong bond with them. We all know that there will be morning after every night thus be happy always.

This post was modified 3 years ago by ashishjoshi
 
Posted : November 21, 2020 1:49 pm
(@ashishjoshi)
Posts: 121
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@kamalpreet Agree Stress, anxiety and uncertainty can be important triggers to also have long lasting impact on occurrence of Non communicable diseases.

In a recent published article on "Mental health interventions and supports during COVID- 19 and other medical pandemics: A rapid systematic review of the evidence" results have shown that the research on mental health interventions have been developed and research on their effectiveness is growing.

Key findings show

1. Delays in receiving mental health interventions result in higher rates of baseline negative psychological symptoms.

2. Women, children and nurses treating patients with COVID-19 warrant particular attention 

3. Cultural considerations and literacy need to be considered when designing and implementing mental health interventions?

Another area to explore is digital/social media interventions for mental health support. The feasibility and effectiveness of developing and implementing digital interventions are rapidly growing concerns for future research.

Read article here.

//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7442905/.

 

 

 
Posted : November 21, 2020 10:09 pm
(@ashishjoshi)
Posts: 121
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@harpreet

Among adults, the risk for severe illness from COVID-19 increases with age, with older adults at highest risk (CDC Updated Sept. 11, 2020). In fact, 8 out of 10 COVID-19-related deaths reported in the United States have been among adults aged 65 years and older. In a recent article published "Geriatric Population During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Problems, Considerations, Exigencies, and Beyond" the paper highlights the importance of;

1. Enforcing self-quarantine or self-isolation in most countries to control or mitigate the overwhelming detrimental effects of this pandemic.

2. Hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette are also essential recommendations for older people.

3. Disinfection of the surroundings in which geriatric people are living should be frequently carried out to prevent contamination of surfaces and reduce chances of infection 

Regular monitoring and caring of elderly people will be beneficial in easing COVID-19 related worries, and will facilitate better management of the pandemic.

 
Posted : November 21, 2020 10:18 pm
kamalpreet reacted
(@ashishjoshi)
Posts: 121
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@rohitashwa

You raise a very important issue of how COVID-19 has resulted in social isolation of children and their dependence on electronic gadgets. Play is an essential part of children's physical and social development. Closures of parks and playgrounds were not uncommon throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. In a recent paper "The COVID-19 Pandemic: Technology use to Support the Wellbeing of Children", the study explores how technology became essential during a time of isolation and social distancing and was used to leverage and maintain wellbeing for children.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic will be long-lasting. However, this propels us toward a new way of life in a way that enhances wellbeing for all.

 

 
Posted : November 21, 2020 10:23 pm
(@kamalpreet)
Posts: 69
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@ashishjoshi 

Yes sir, Women, nurses and children warrant attention. However, for children other than psychological impacts  a recent published article “The indirect impact of COVID-19 on child health” explores  child well-being during pandemic and mentions the consequences of COVID -19 Such as:

Delay in immunization: which could expose communities at risk of an outbreak of a vaccine-preventable disease

Obesogenic behaviors in children: which might exacerbate the epidemic of childhood obesity

Risk of malnutrition:  There is also the issue of malnourishment as many students rely on school meals

School closure and timing of going back:  UNESCO has provided statistics exploring the number of affected learners worldwide (as of June 16- 2020 affected learners were:1,091,439,976)

These repercussions if not addressed, could have become worse outcomes in the future.

Here is the link of article:

//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7494255/

This post was modified 3 years ago by kamalpreet
 
Posted : November 22, 2020 1:02 pm
(@harpreet)
Posts: 60
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@ashishjoshi

The current pandemic has its repercussions across all age groups, but specifically for older populations its effects have been quite serious due to multi-play of decreased immunity and presence of other comorbidities like diabetes, hypertension etc. Although there are government guideline of dos and don’ts for older population, but self – isolation has been detrimental for their mental health. To overcome this, technological advancements can be effectively harnessed to address loneliness among elderly. The ease to access and use of these tools may lead in an effective intervention which can be integrated into crisis communications, public health responses and care programs to address loneliness among the older population.

//www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/WWOP-07-2020-0036/full/html

 
Posted : November 22, 2020 5:16 pm
(@shyamlithakur)
Posts: 23
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@ashishjoshi

I totally agree with the fact that it is the geriatric population which has faced the adverse outcome in terms of physiological and psychological aftermath and mortality caused by COVID-19. In these times their routine and ability to access health care services were impacted to a great extent. For them suddenly the burden of self-care management increased. I believe to address the above issue it is digital health technologies which have become a major support for accessing remote care. In addition to this data also suggests that digital technologies have also connected 70% of seniors to the internet making them well informed and connected to loved ones. It can enable safe access to 24/7 virtual care services which includes video consultation with healthcare professionals for medical advice, prescribing of medications, delivery of medications at their doorstep, and mental health support. So we can conclude that digital health technology has the capability to address the challenges faced by elderly populations and has emerged as a new alternative for care delivery amid COVID-19 times. 

The study titled "Digital Health Tech supports senior during COVID-19" has documented how TELUS HEALTH offered free and safe virtual care services to support the Canadian Population and healthcare professionals. 

Following is the link to this informative read:

//www.telushealth.co/item/digital-health-tech-supports-seniors-during-covid-19/

 

 

 

 

 
Posted : November 22, 2020 6:16 pm
(@mahimakaur)
Posts: 24
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One thing common between the infected and the uninfected of this Coronavirus is the effect it has on our mental and emotional well-being. Starting with the frontlines, managing pandemic directly or indirectly, patients, children, and the general population the amount of stress to meet demand and maintain personal health is overwhelming. With just a few months of experience, various studies have clearly shown the negative psychological impact of COVID-19 on the population. College students’ are more prone to feelings of loneliness, and they experience higher rates of anxiety and depression in comparison to the general population. During the pandemic, college students feel less connected with friends, organizations, and hobbies. The loss of college life leads to disruption of routine, increases uncertainty about the future, and a lack of social networks. Students are not able to participant in extra-circular activities that play a huge role in shaping their careers. Though online learning has enormous advantages, at some level college students find it hard to stay motivated in their studies. Also, increased screen time due to online classes, working for part-time jobs/internships, and socializing can lead to increased bouts of depression and anxiety. Therefore, their well-being is of concern during this pandemic. 

Below are few evidence-based practical suggestions that will help improve well-being during the crisis:

  • Ensure that your information comes from authentic and credible sources and make mindful use of social media. 
  • Take good care of yourself. Take time to relax and free your mind of negative thoughts. Maintain adequate nutrition by eating three healthy meals each day. 
  • Try to get in at least one physical activity each day: For good well-being, it is necessary to get some fresh air and to get rid of the negativity. Other activities that can be done are yoga, relaxing breathing exercises, or even stretching. 
  • Focus on what you can do and what you can’t and maintain a routine: Start your day at about the same time each day. Set a goal for coursework/task to be completed by the end of each day. 
  • Picking new hobbies such as gardening, baking, or painting can be relaxing or rejuvenating. 
  • Rather than dealing with negative emotions alone, seek the support of a healthcare professional or communicate with others how you are feeling. Make an effort to stay socially connected by engaging in regular video or phone calls with friends and family. 
 
Posted : November 22, 2020 10:30 pm
(@dr-aishwarya_2811)
Posts: 10
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Couldn't agree more. COVID-19 has certainly taken a toll on mental well-being. With the existing stigma looming over the topic of Mental health the lockdown enforced disruptions in the ongoing treatment of patients let alone the diagnosis of new patients. Many patients under lockdown lost access to therapy. Due to economic constraints a few had to halt treatments. Most of the set-ups quickly moved to Telemedicine.

Countries reported widespread disruption of many kinds of critical mental health services:

  • Over 60% reported disruptions to mental health services for vulnerable people, including children and adolescents (72%), older adults (70%), and women requiring antenatal or postnatal services (61%).
  • 67% saw disruptions to counseling and psychotherapy; 65% to critical harm reduction services; and 45% to opioid agonist maintenance treatment for opioid dependence.
  • More than a third (35%) reported disruptions to emergency interventions, including those for people experiencing prolonged seizures; severe substance use withdrawal syndromes; and delirium, often a sign of a serious underlying medical condition.
  • 30% reported disruptions to access for medications for mental, neurological and substance use disorders. 
  • Around three-quarters reported at least partial disruptions to school and workplace mental health services (78% and 75% respectively).

With less investment in Mental well being and increased out of the pocket expenditure, accessible care is still a long way for many patients when it comes to mental wellbeing.

 

//www.who.int/news/item/05-10-2020-covid-19-disrupting-mental-health-services-in-most-countries-who-survey

 

 

 

 
Posted : November 22, 2020 10:32 pm
(@soundharya)
Posts: 4
Active Member
 

The outbreak of COVID 19 has emphasized the importance of Mental Health in our lives like never before. Almost all the age groups of various socioeconomic strata suffered in taking care of their mental health.

 

There has been a surge in suicide cases in India due to COVID related issues.  There were different reasons for suicide like fear of the disease, COVID 19 positive, pressure to be in quarantine, loneliness, not able to live with family during this situation, lack of social life, financial crisis, unavailability of alcohol, etc. In spite of being the second populous country in the world, India has limited mental health care professionals. And the stigma around mental health is quite prominent.

Read article here: //www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016517812031489X

 

Hence it is the need of the hour to create awareness among the population about the importance of mental health and the ill-effects of neglecting the same through available mass media and social media networks. It is also essential to enhance mental health services provided through digital health platforms and engage adequate mental health professionals.

 
Posted : November 23, 2020 6:03 pm
(@ritikakaur)
Posts: 14
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@ashishjoshi

The unprecedented COVID‐19 emergency highlights a great need for mental health care systems to utilize digital interventions not only in response to COVID‐19 but also as part of the routine care. Many mental health professionals (MHPs) and therapists have already replaced in-person consultations with telephonic or video consultations. 

However, various barriers exist that still hinder the acceptance and implementation of digital health interventions. These barriers are mainly associated with training and licensing of MHPs, payments, evaluation of treatment outcomes as effective use of services and quality assurance still remains a problem in majority of the LMICs. Also, patients with low socioeconomic status do not usually have access to digital technologies on which the online mental health services rely. Hence, these barriers significantly impede the use of these potential interventions.

Taylor et al., 2020 suggests that long‐term interventions should aim to introduce innovative digital mental health services such as stepped‐care models and simultaneously provide preventive and self-management services in addition to mental health services. (Reference: //onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/eat.23300 )

A roadmap of the system and policy level requirements should be introduced to expedite the development and implementation of digital mental health interventions during COVID-19 as well as part of the routine care.

It is the time to catalyze change and comprehensively address the barriers that inhibit efficient and effective delivery of digital mental health interventions for benefit of the general population.

 
Posted : November 23, 2020 6:13 pm
Ashruti Bhatt, shruti.sharma, kamalpreet and 2 people reacted
(@ashishjoshi)
Posts: 121
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@ritikakaur Very well said. One urgent issue that is in hand is the pandemic crisis. Whether the students return to school in person or remote, education leaders and policy makers must come up with plans on how to address social, emotional, behavioral effects of the pandemic. There is going to be a need of an integrated approach to address school based mental health services. Several considerations need to be in place.

Schools: Establishing school clubs  to engage kids more in creative activities

College: More experiential learning programs with a specific focus on initiatives that help students alleviate anxiety related to their education and career. 

Many times we talk about students and their concerns, it is equally important to take into account the well-being of the staff and faculty. Increasing faculty and staff engagement and supporting them by developing a culture of respect, understanding, resilience will go long way to helping them be productive in their work environment and for their personal well-being. Educating the staff and faculty, workshops that can help them cope with the anxiety and providing access to counseling resources could be key.  

We need to find new ways to re-imagine how to address Well-Being post COVID-19. 

 
Posted : November 24, 2020 1:18 pm
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