pandemic-related stress: understanding potential impact on ... · of mental health skills...
TRANSCRIPT
Pandemic-Related Stress: Understanding Potential Impact
on Mental Health & Implementing Effective
Coping Strategies
MEGAN D. KEYES, PH.D.
Agenda
Impact of previous pandemics on mental health
Early findings regarding mental health impact of COVID-19
Chronic pandemic-related stressors and coping suggestions
Strategies for reducing pandemic-related stress and anxiety
Review of resources
IMAGE BY MIROSLAVA CHRIENOVA FROM PIXABAY
Psychological Reactions to Pandemics
Broad spectrum of emotional reactions ranging from indifference to debilitating distress
Common behavioral responses to threat of infection:• Repetitive checking and reassurance
seeking• Avoidance of infection-related stimuli• Attempts to “decontaminate” potential
sources of infection
Pursuit of counterfeit cures or remedies
Civil unrest or mass panic
TAYLOR, 2020; IMAGE BY GORDON JOHNSON FROM PIXABAY
Personality Traits Associated with Emotional Vulnerability
Negative emotionality
Overestimation of threat
Intolerance of uncertainty
Monitoring versus blunting
Unrealistic optimism bias
TAYLOR, 2020; IMAGE BY FREEPIK
Mental Health Impact of COVID-19: Early Findings
Household Pulse Survey by U.S. Census Bureau (2020)
Reported symptoms of anxiety or depression (national estimate):• 4/23 to 5/5: 35.9%• 7/2 to 7/7: 39.0%
Women, Hispanics and African-Americans, and young adults (ages 18-29) reported more symptoms
NATIONAL CENTER FOR HEALTH STATISTICS, HOUSEHOLD PULSE SURVEY, 2020; IMAGE BY MARY PALKE FROM PIXABAY
APA Stress in America: May 2020
APA Stress in America: May 2020
APA Stress in America: May 2020
Chronic Stressor Definition: Continuous stress that persists for prolonged period of time
Psychological impact: • Anxiety or depression
• Impaired concentration
• Fatigue
Physical impact: • Insomnia
• Hypertension and heart disease
• Pain (e.g., headaches, muscle aches)
• Weakened immune system
AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, 2019; IMAGE BY GERD ALTMANN FROM PIXABAY
COVID-19 Stressors
Fear of infection
Overburdened healthcare system
Work and school-related stress
Financial hardship
Social isolation
Excessive media exposure
Multiple losses
ESTES & THOMPSON, 2020; TAYLOR, 2020; ILLUSTRATION BY THE WASHINGTON POST
Social Distancing, Quarantine & Isolation
Results in decreased:• Sensory stimuli • Social engagement & interaction• Participation in meaningful activities • Access to usual coping strategies
Typical reactions:• Anxiety and fear• Depression• Loneliness• Boredom• Anger and irritability• Uncertainty and frustration
AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, 2020; SAMHSA, 2020; IMAGE BY FREEPIK
Enhancing Social Connection
Virtually connect with others on a consistent basis
Be proactive and strategic
Seek support by sharing negative experiences with trusted contacts
Offer and provide support for others
AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, 2019 & 2020; IMAGE BY FREEPIK
Media & Social Media Exposure
Excessive media exposure about collective crises may amplify distress
Repeated exposure to graphic images may worsen impact on mental health
Social media may exacerbate anxiety more than traditional media sources
GARFIN ET AL., 2020; WEIR, 2020; IMAGE BY GERD ALTMANN FROM PIXABAY
Tips for Viewing Media Coverage
Obtain information from one or two reliable sources
Limit exposure to media
Limit exposure to recurring media stories
Discuss news coverage with children in clear, age-appropriate terms
Share and discuss useful information with friends and family
AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, 2020; WEIR, 2020; IMAGE BY FREEPIK
Loss & Grief Ambiguous Loss:• Most difficult to cope with due to
uncertainty and lack of closure
Anticipatory Grief:• Expected losses yet to come
Complicated Grief: • Uncontrollable circumstances
compound the loss and make it difficult to accept
• Enduring symptoms include disbelief, persistent longing, and rumination that result in impaired functioning
BERTUCCIO & RUNION, 2020; IMAGE BY GERD ALTMANN FROM PIXABAY
Coping with Grief
Journaling
Social Support
Psychotherapy
WEIR, 2020; IMAGE BY PRESSFOTO FROM FREEPIK
Effective Implementation of Mental Health Skills
Intentional choices and engagement in specific behaviors that promote good mental health
Consistent practice to promote skills acquisition
Rate intensity of mood (0-10 scale) before and after to assess effectiveness and improvement over time
Be strategic and determine what skills work best in different situations
Devotion of time in your daily schedule to implement skills as part of your regular routine
IMAGE BY GERD ALTMANN FROM PIXABAY
Relaxation Training
Purpose: counteract anxiety by engaging in behaviors that elicit the relaxation response, thus changing physiological responses to anxiety
Common techniques:• Breathing
• Progressive muscle relaxation
• Visualization
Common challenge: “I can’t relax.”
DAVIS, ESHELMAN & MCKAY, 2019 ; MONTERO-MARIN ET AL., 2019; IMAGE BY SNOWING FROM FREEPIK
Mindfulness
Definition: cultivating an awareness and acceptance of the present moment without judgment; living fully in the here and now
Common techniques:• Everyday mindfulness
• Mindfulness meditation
• Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
Common Challenge: Mind chatter
STAHL & GOLDSTEIN, 2010 AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, 2019; IMAGE BY DANIEL GLAUBER FROM PIXABAY
Resilience Definition: ability to adapt to adversity
Continue to function and progress when experiencing difficulty and distress
Learn skills to build resiliency over time
Four ways to increase resiliency: Build connections
Practice wellness
Find meaning/purpose
Healthy thinking
AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCATION, 2012; PECONGA ET AL., 2020; IMAGE BY KIM THOMAS FROM PIXABAY
Seeking Professional Assistance
Potential indicators:
Subjective distress
Impaired daily functioning
Compromised relationships
Excessive symptoms
Safety concerns
Psychology Today: Find a Therapisthttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists
ASSOCIATION FOR BEHAVIORAL AND COGNITIVE THERAPIES; IMAGE BY MOHAMED ASSAN FROM PIXABAY
Resources
IMAGE BY GERD ALTMANN FROM PIXABAY
COVID-19 Survey Links
National Center for Health Sciences: Household Pulse Surveyhttps://www.cdc.gov/nchs/covid19/pulse/mental-health.htm
American Psychological Association: Stress in Americahttps://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress
Online Resources American Psychological Association: COVID-19 Information & Resources
https://www.apa.org/topics/covid-19/
National Center for PTSD: COVID-19 Resources for Managing Stresshttps://www.ptsd.va.gov/covid/index.asp
International Society of Traumatic Stress Studies: COVID-19 Resourceshttps://istss.org/public-resources/covid-19-resources
Center for Traumatic Stress Studies: COVID-19 Pandemic Resource Pageshttps://www.cstsonline.org/resources/resource-master-list/coronavirus-and-emerging-infectious-disease-outbreaks-response
Mobile Apps
Headspacehttps://www.headspace.com/
Calm https://www.calm.com/
COVID Coachhttps://www.ptsd.va.gov/appvid/mobile/COVID_coach_app.asp
Research Opportunity
Mental Health Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic Study
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/research/research-conducted-at-nimh/join-a-study/trials/adult-studies/mental-health-impact-of-
covid-19-pandemic-study.shtml
Training Opportunity
Post-Master’s Certificate Program:
Evidence-Based Assessment & Treatment
of PTSD in Adults
https://brownschool.wustl.edu/Resources-and-Initiatives/Post-Masters-Certificate/Pages/Evidence-Based-Assessment-and-Treatment-of-PTSD-in-
Adults.aspx
Contact
Megan D. Keyes, Ph.D.
https://traumaempowered.com/
References• American Psychological Association. (2012). Building your resilience. https://www.apa.org/topics/resilience
• American Psychological Association. (2019, October 25). Stress won’t go away? Maybe you are suffering from chronic stress. https://www.apa.org/topics/chronic-stress
• American Psychological Association. (2019, October 30). Mindfulness meditation: A research-proven way to reduce stress. https://www.apa.org/topics/mindfulness-meditation
• American Psychological Association. (2019, November 1). Healthy ways to handle life’s stressors. https://www.apa.org/topics/stress-tips
• American Psychological Association. (2020, March). Five ways to view coverage of coronavirus. https://www.apa.org/topics/covid-19/view-coverage
References• American Psychological Association. (2020, March). Keeping your distance to stay safe. https://www.apa.org/practice/programs/dmhi/research-information/social-distancing
• American Psychological Association. (2020, May). Stress in the time of COVID-19, Volume one. https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2020/report
• Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies. Deciding when to seek treatment. https://www.abct.org/Information/?m=mInformation&fa=DecidingWhenToSeek
• Bertuccio, R. F. & Runion, M. C. (2020, June 1). Considering grief in mental health outcomes of COVID-19. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy. Advance online publication. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/tra0000723
• Davis, M., Eshelman, E., & McKay, M. (2019). The relaxation & stress reduction workbook. New Harbinger Publications.
References• Estes, K. D. & Thompson, R. R. (2020, June 1). Preparing for the aftermath of COVID-19: Shifting risk and downstream health consequences. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy. Advance online publication. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/tra0000853
• Garfin, D., Silver, R., & Holman, E. (2020, March 25). American Psychological Association. Too much coronavirus media exposure may be bad for your health. https://www.apa.org/pubs/highlights/spotlight/issue-181
• Medical University of South Carolina. (2020. March 18). Managing anxiety related to COVID-19. https://web.musc.edu/about/news-center/2020/03/18/managing-anxiety-related-to-covid-19
• Montero-Marin, J., Garcia-Campayo, J., Perez-Yus, M.C., Zabaleta-del-Olmo, E., & Cuijpers, P. (2019). Meditation techniques v. relaxation therapies when treating anxiety” a meta-analytic review. Psychological Medicine, 49, 2118-2133. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0033291719001600
• PeConga, E., Gauthier, G., Holloway, A., Walker, R., Rosencrans, P., Zoellner, L., & Bedard-Gilligan, M. (2020). Resilience is spreading: Mental health within the COVID-19 pandemic. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy. Advance online publication. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/tra0000874
References• Stahl, B. & Goldstein, E. (2010). A mindfulness-based stress reduction workbook. New Harbinger Publications.
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2020, April). Tips for social distancing, quarantine, and isolation during an infectious disease outbreak. https://store.samhsa.gov/product/Taking-Care-of-Your-Behavioral-Health-Tips-for-Social-Distancing-Quarantine-and-Isolation-During-an-Infectious-Disease-Outbreak/PEP20-01-01-007
• Taylor, S. (2020). The psychology of pandemics: Preparing for the next global outbreak of infectious disease. Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
• Weir, K. (2020, March 16). American Psychological Association. Seven crucial research findings that can help people deal with COVID-19. https://www.apa.org/news/apa/2020/03/covid-19-research-findings
• Weir, K. (2020, June 1). American Psychological Association. Grieving life and loss. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2020/06/covid-grieving-life