Addressing the psychosocial impact of COVID-19 on children and adolescents: The need for collaboration

Rohanachandra, Yasodha Maheshi

doi:10.4038/sljch.v50i2.9552

Cited by 2 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 23 publications

(34 reference statements)

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“…Although not statistically significant, the direction of the results indicates collateral benefits of the PCS as a potential intervention to support both the child with ASD and their mothers at home, which would be crucial during emergencies that lead to constrained circumstances at home (WHO, 2020; Baghdadli et al ., 2021). Indeed, the closure of schools due to COVID-19 had attributed to major psychological and behavioral problems among children and adolescents with ASD in South Asia (Omar et al ., 2017; Zarrin, 2020; Baweja et al ., 2021; Rohanachandra, 2021; Sharma et al ., 2021). Thus, digital customization of the PCS at ASD school settings and further research could demonstrate a pragmatic solution for providing mental health care to mothers of children with ASD, which can be a sustainable solution during situations of health resource constraints such as the current pandemic, as well as an effective way to reach mothers in rural and remote areas during typical situations.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feasibility of a school-based mental health program implementation to improve the status of depression and quality of life of mothers of children with autism spectrum disorders in urban Bangladesh: MENTHOL study

et al. 2022

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Background We assessed the feasibility of implementing psychological counseling services (PCS) for mothers of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) integrated within special education settings in urban Bangladesh. Method In two special education schools for ASD in Dhaka City, trained female psychologists screened mothers using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). PCS was administered to all the mothers irrespective of a diagnosis of depression. Mothers with a PHQ-9 score >4 who met criteria for a major depressive episode (MDE) based on the DSM-IV Structured Interview Axis I Disorders (SCID-I) were also administered skill-building training through monthly home visits to support ASD care. The level of depression was assessed by the Depression Measurement Scale (DMS), and quality of life (QoL) was measured by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) of EQ5D5L scale before and after PCS. Result Among 188 mothers enrolled in the study, 81 (43%) received PCS, and 27.1% (22) had MDE. In the first month, 73 sessions were scheduled and 60 completed (85%). In the last month, 53 sessions were scheduled and 52 completed (98%). The mean DMS score decreased from 79.5 ± 23 to 60 ± 20 (p = 0.004), and DMS scores were significantly higher among mothers with MDE (97.8 ± 12.1 v. 69.9 ± 22.1; p < 0.001) compared to those without MDE (72.7 ± 22.6 v. 56.1 ± 18.1; p = 0.003). The mean VAS score improved from 70.3 ± 14.1 to 80.2 ± 13.3 (p = 0.001) between the first and the last session. Changes in DMS were negatively correlated with changes in VAS scores (β: −0.213, 95% CI 0.370 to −0.056). Conclusion Within special education schools for ASD in urban Bangladesh, it was feasible to administer an integrated program of PCS for mothers of children with ASD by trained psychologists who were able to screen and intervene to reduce their level of depression and improve their quality of life.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feasibility of a school-based mental health program implementation to improve the status of depression and quality of life of mothers of children with autism spectrum disorders in urban Bangladesh: MENTHOL study

et al. 2022

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“…Evidence on exposure to different forms of violence against children and youth in Sri Lanka remain woefully deficient [21]. Despite Sri Lanka's often regionally impressive health and education indicators [22], youth mental health, including in the context of violence and now COVID-19, are a growing concern [23]. Sri Lanka continues to observe annual increases in non-fatal self-harm, disproportionately affecting adolescent girls [24], while the legacy of civil conflict differentially impacts youth along ethnic, geographic and socioeconomic lines.…”

Section: A Study Setting and Scholarly Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Table 1 presents CBRs' background characteristics against an overall national profile where possible ( � ) [26]. Contemporary national data disaggregated to explore youth (18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29) characteristics including marriage, family and socioeconomic factors are unavailable. Our CBR sample over-represents minority youth proportional to national demographics, particularly Tamils, due to the parent project's intentional inclusion of often invisibilised communities from previous research.…”

Section: B Study Sample Team Positionalities and Reflexivitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Cultivating capacities in community-based researchers in low-resource settings: Lessons from a participatory study on violence and mental health in Sri Lanka

Palfreyman

Riyaz²,

Rizwan³

et al. 2022

PLOS Glob Public Health

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Participatory methods, which rely heavily on community-based data collectors, are growing in popularity to deliver much-needed evidence on violence and mental health in low- and middle-income countries. These settings, along with local researchers, encounter the highest burden of violence and mental ill-health, with the fewest resources to respond. Despite increased focus on wellbeing for research participants and, to a lesser degree, professional researchers in such studies, the role-specific needs of community-based researchers receive scant attention. This co-produced paper draws insights from one group’s experience to identify rewards, challenges, and recommendations for supporting wellbeing and development of community-based researchers in sensitive participatory projects in low-resource settings. Twenty-one community-based researchers supporting a mixed-methods study on youth, violence and mental health in Sri Lanka submitted 63 reflexive structured journal entries across three rounds of data collection. We applied Attride-Stirling’s method for thematic analysis to explore peer researchers’ learning about research, violence and mental health; personal-professional boundaries; challenges in sensitive research; and experiences of support from the core team. Sri Lanka’s first study capturing experiences of diverse community-based researchers aims to inform the growing number of global health and development actors relying on such talent to deliver sensitive and emotionally difficult work in resource-limited and potentially volatile settings. Viewing participatory research as an opportunity for mutual learning among both community-based and professional researchers, we identify practice gaps and opportunities to foster respectful team dynamics and create generative and safe co-production projects for all parties. Intentional choices around communication, training, human and consumable resources, project design, and navigating instable research conditions can strengthen numerous personal and professional capacities across teams. Such individual and collective growth holds potential to benefit short- and long-term quality of evidence and inform action on critical issues, including violence and mental health, facing high-burden, low-resource contexts.

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Addressing the psychosocial impact of COVID-19 on children and adolescents: The need for collaboration

Cited by 2 publications

References 23 publications

Feasibility of a school-based mental health program implementation to improve the status of depression and quality of life of mothers of children with autism spectrum disorders in urban Bangladesh: MENTHOL study

Feasibility of a school-based mental health program implementation to improve the status of depression and quality of life of mothers of children with autism spectrum disorders in urban Bangladesh: MENTHOL study

Cultivating capacities in community-based researchers in low-resource settings: Lessons from a participatory study on violence and mental health in Sri Lanka

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