The pandemic has accelerated digitalisation in many aspects of life, but what does this mean for people who are not digitally connected? Emily Peckham and Panos Spanakis from the Closing the Gap Network (@CTGNetworkUK) explore the the “digital divide” and explain why understanding the extent of this divide in people with severe mental ill-health is an important aim of the network's OWLS project (Optimising Well-being during Self-isolation).
The Covid-19 pandemic is and will continue to have pervasive impacts on health and society. What key research questions and priorities are necessary to mitigate the impacts on mental health, especially for those people who may disproportionately affected? Louise Arseneault reflects on some of the research priorities and questions for mental health and brain sciences identified by an interdisciplinary group of people from across the bio-psycho-social spectrum in mental health science, including people with lived experience of mental health problems.
A new online study has been launched by the Oxford Centre for Emotions and Affective Neuroscience (OCEAN) to explore factors affecting resilience in adolescents during the Covid-19 pandemic, and understand how to better promote psychological well-being in adolescents during this time.
"We have a responsibility to put accessible and rapidly applicable evidence in the hands of the people we support, professionals and policymakers, as well as ensuring that the big concerns from before aren’t forgotten." The Alliance of Mental Health Research funders discuss the role of charitable research funders in the mental health research response to Covid-19.
SMaRteN have worked in partnership with Vitae to put together a survey to understand the impact of COVID-19 associated lock down on doctoral and early career researchers, the outcomes of which will guide the longer term response to supporting researchers through and following the pandemic.
Dr Alexandra Pitman, joint lead of the Loneliness & Social Isolation in Mental Health research network and trauma specialist Dr Michael Bloomfield reflect on the findings of a recent rapid review in The Lancet on the psychological effects of quarantine.
Survivors' voices, The McPin Foundation and VAMHN have launched an anonymous consultation to understand the impact of Covid-19 containment measures on “off-radar” children and young people trapped at home and at risk of violence and abuse to develop concrete measures to help children and young people at risk of such abuse. The online survey is aimed at adults who can identify with experiencing violence and abuse at home and no helping agency knowing about it for long periods (or ever).
The Emerging Minds network have worked with parents and carers to develop a new study to help understand how families are coping during the Covid-19 pandemic and what parents can do to help support their children’s mental health.
How can mental health ECRs adjust to disrupted research and working from home? Sam Parsons discusses challenges ECRs face and the need for a strong mental health research community.
Researchers from the MARCH network have launched a study into the psychological and social effects of Covid-19 in the UK. The Covid-19 Social Study is looking for people aged 18+ years in the UK to answer a 15-minute online survey now and then a shorter 10-minute follow-up survey once a week whilst social isolation measures...