Suchergebnisse

The opioid overdose epidemic is a growing concern for first responders on the front lines. Yet, limited knowledge exists regarding the psychological impacts from repeated exposure to overdose events. Using a scoping review approach, authors searched scholarly databases for a combination of related keywords including first responders, mental health, and opioid epidemic. Twenty-three (23) peer reviewed articles met criteria for inclusion. Six (6) additional non-refereed reports were also included. Frequently cited concerns included increased/unmanageable workloads, burnout, compassion fatigue, safety, negative attitudes/cynicism, cumulative/repeated exposures, and frustration with lack of resources. Several resources described proactive measures to mitigate the consequences. One such measure is a Behavioral Health Access Program (BHAP), a comprehensive, specialized program designed to address the mental health needs of first responders. Opioid settlement funding should be utilized to support the development of BHAPs in all first responder organizations to mitigate the negative mental health impacts inflicted by the epidemic.

Given the demanding nature of many professions, efforts are ongoing to develop initiatives to improve occupational wellbeing, including mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs). To assess the efficacy of MBIs, meta-analytic procedures were conducted on 35 randomized controlled trials derived from an earlier inclusive systematic literature search (covering all occupations, MBIs, and wellbeing-related outcomes). Mindfulness had significant moderate effects on deficit-based out- comes such as stress (SMD = −0.57), anxiety (SMD = −0.57), distress (SMD = −0.56), depression (SMD = −0.48), and burnout (SMD = −0.36), and significant moderate to small effects on asset-based outcomes like health (SMD = 0.63), job performance (SMD = 0.43), compassion and empathy (SMD = 0.42), mindfulness (SMD = 0.39), and positive wellbeing (SMD = 0.36), while no significant effects were observed for depression or emotional regulation. However, the quality of the studies was inconsistent, suggesting more high-quality randomised controlled trials are needed. ; Francisco José Eiroa-Orosa has received funding from the European Union's Framework Programme for Research and Innovation Horizon 2020 (2014–2020) under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Grant Agreement No 654808.

We are social creatures at heart, and connectivity sustains and strengthens us. As the world reconnects after shutdowns and boarder closures, we are reminded how important togetherness and interconnectivity is to being human and maintaining heath. To hug loved ones who we have only seen over zoom in recent years, and to meet in person colleagues who we have only spoken with online is wonderful. The mental health benefits of connectivity are clear, and strong relationships and frequent positive social interaction are strength factors in maintaining good mental health and living well. However, the lack of social connection is emerging as one of the greatest challenges of our age (Smith, 2018). More people are living alone and disconnected from their communities. Social isolation, especially among older people living alone, is a determinant of ill health and early death (WHO, 2022). Living alone can increase mortality risk as much as smoking 15 cigarettes a day or having an alcohol related disorder (Holt-Lunstad et al., 2015). Social isolation not only has psycho-social impact, but also physical. Loneliness has been linked to high stress causing autoimmune disease as well as an increase in both coronary heart disease and stroke (Valtota et al., 2016). As Rushby-Jones (2020) writes, "loneliness is lethal".

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on US military veterans' health, wellbeing, and care engagement. Healthcare systems like VA need additional information about the pandemic's biopsychosocial impacts and how a Whole Health approach may help to address them. OBJECTIVE: To examine how the pandemic has affected veterans' health, wellbeing, and engagement in the VA Whole Health System of Care. METHOD: We conducted qualitative interviews with 40 veterans at a large multicampus VA healthcare system during the pandemic. Informed by a Whole Health approach, interviews used open-ended questions to holistically explore pandemic impacts on mental and physical health, healthcare access and engagement, social support, coping strategies, and use of VA healthcare and wellness services. Interviews were conducted by telephone, audio-recorded, and analyzed using a matrix-based technique. Interviews were supplemented by an original survey assessing pandemic impacts; descriptive frequencies were calculated to describe and characterize the interviewed sample. INTERVIEW RESULTS: Nearly, all participating veterans described significant pandemic impacts on their wellbeing, especially loneliness and sorrow stemming from isolation and disruptions to ordinary routines. These emotional impacts—sometimes combined with new constraints on care access and personal mobility—disrupted veterans' health plans and sometimes deterred engagement in both routine and wellness care. Veterans already struggling with chronic mental and physical health conditions and those who experienced transitions or losses during the pandemic described the most severe impacts on their wellbeing. Virtual VA wellness services, especially health coaching and mind-body wellness groups, were a key source of support and connection for those who engaged in them. CONCLUSION: We discuss the implications of our findings for care systems attempting to implement a Whole Health System of Care, including how they can address postpandemic barriers to ...

Introduction: Spreading proven or promising Aboriginal health programs and implementing them in new settings can make cost-effective contributions to a range of Aboriginal Australian development, health and wellbeing, and educational outcomes. Studies have theorised the implementation of Aboriginal health programs but have not focussed explicitly on the conditions that influenced their spread. This study examined the broader political, institutional, social and economic conditions that influenced negotiations to transfer, implement, adapt and sustain one Aboriginal empowerment program - the Family Wellbeing (FWB) program - to at least 60 geographical sites across Australia over 24 years. Material and Methods: A historical account of the spread of the FWB Program was constructed using situational analysis, a theory-methods package derived from a post-structural interpretation of grounded theory methods. Data were collected from published empirical papers, evaluation reports and project papers, and interviews with 18 key actors in the spread of FWB. Social worlds and arenas maps were used to determine the organisations and their representative agents who were involved in FWB spread, and to analyse the enabling and constraining conditions. Results: The program was transferred through three interwoven social arenas: employment and community development; training and capacity development; and social and emotional wellbeing promotion and empowerment research. Program spread was fostered by three primary conditions: government policies and the availability and Aboriginal control of funding and support; Aboriginal leadership, associated informal networks and capability; and research evidence that built credibility for the program. Discussion and conclusion: The continued demand-driven transfer of empowerment programs requires policies that enable Aboriginal control of funding and Aboriginal leadership and networks. Flexible and sustained coordination of program delivery is best leveraged through regional innovation hubs ...