ABSTRACT Objectives To examine the extent of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health and well-being of mental health professionals (MHPs) in the Netherlands and understand their needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design and setting A cross-sectional, mixed-methods study was conducted with MHPs from the Netherlands from June 2020 to October 2020, consisting of an online survey and three online focus group discussions. Participants Participants were MHPs from various occupational groups (psychologists, social workers, mental health nurses, developmental education workers, etc). Primary and secondary outcome measures The online survey included questions about work-related changes due to COVID-19 perceived resilience to stress, changes in lifestyle behaviours and mental health symptoms. The focus group discussions focused mostly on work experiences during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Results MHP’s reported an increase in experience workload during the pandemic (mean score 8.04 based on a scale of 1-10) compared to before the pandemic (mean score of 7). During the first wave of the pandemic, 50% of respondents reported increased stress, 32% increased sleeping problems and 24% increased mental health problems. Adverse occupational (eg, increased workload OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.28–2.32), psychological (eg, life satisfaction OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.52–0.75), lifestyle (eg, increased sleep problems OR 2.80, 95% CI 2.07–3.80) and physical factors (decline in physical health OR 3.56, 95% CI 2.61–4.85) were associated with a decline in mental health. Participants expressed significant concern in the focus group discussions about the duration of the pandemic, the high workload, less work-life balance and lack of contact with colleagues. Suggestions to improve working conditions included ensuring clear communication about guidelines and facilitating worker contact and support via peer-to- peer coaching where experiences can be shared. Conclusions The current study indicates that MHP experienced a decline in mental health status during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, which should be taken into consideration by employers, policymakers and researchers.
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The outbreak of the COVID-19 virus in December 2019 and the restrictive measures that were implemented to slow down the spread of the virus have had a significant impact on our way of life. The sudden shift from offline to online activities and work may have resulted in new cybersecurity risks. The present study therefore examined changes in the prevalence, nature and impact of cybercrime among Dutch citizens and SME owners, during the pandemic. Qualitative interviews with ten experts working at various public and private organizations in the Netherlands that have insights into cybercrime victimization and data from victim surveys administrated in 2019 and 2021 were analyzed. The results show that there was only a small, non-statistically significant increase in the prevalence of cybercrime during the pandemic among citizens and SME owners. Nevertheless, the COVID-19 pandemic did have an impact on the modus operandi of cybercriminals: victims indicated that a considerable proportion of the offenses was related to the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the case of online fraud. Moreover, the use of new applications and programs for work was associated with an increased risk of cybercrime victimization during the COVID-19 crisis. These results suggest that increases in rates of registered cybercrime that were found in previous studies might be the consequence of a reporting effect and that cybercriminals adapt their modus operandi to current societal developments.
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One of the authors of this research report participated in an international survey which provided insight into the ethical challenges that social workers faced during the covid-19 pandemic. However, this study did not show the prevalence of the challenges described. Were they widespread, or was it more a matter of individual cases? We conducted an additional survey among Dutch social professionals to shed more light on this matter, seeking an answer to our main question: what is the nature and extent of the ethical burden on social professionals in the Netherlands during the first phase of the covid-19 pandemic?
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The guidance offered here is intended to assist social workers in thinking through the specific ethical challenges that arise whilst practising during a pandemic or other type of crisis. In crisis conditions, people who need social work services, and social workers themselves, face increased and unusual risks. These challenging conditions are further compounded by scarce or reallocated governmental and social resources. While the ethical principles underpinning social work remain unchanged by crises, unique and evolving circumstances may demand that they be prioritised differently. A decision or action that might be regarded as ethically wrong in ‘normal’ times, may be judged to be right in a time of crisis. Examples include: prioritising individual and public health considerations by restricting people’s freedom of movement; not consulting people about treatment and services; or avoiding face-to-face meetings.
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A new viral illness called coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is currently spreading throughout the world at an alarming rate (Dong et al., 2020). As family nursing practitioners, educators, and researchers, we work from a guiding assumption that health and “illness is a family affair” (Wright & Bell, 2009, p. ix). Patients, clients, residents, and their families are inextricably connected. The science and practice of Family Nursing is based on a systemic premise offered by Wright and Leahey (2013) that serious illness and life challenges impact the family unit, and reciprocally, the functioning of the family unit (including their structure, development, and function) influences the health and well-being of each family member. This especially holds true for the current coronavirus pandemic which is creating unique hardships and suffering in an alarmingly large number of patients and their families around the world.
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Physical and social distancing measures during the COVID-19 pandemic had the potential to jeopardize health and well-being of older adults. Especially older adults who lived alone faced challenges due to restrictive COVID-19 measures. In this study, we explored views and support needs to maintain health and well-being of older adults living in a single household during the COVID-19 pandemic.We employed an interpretative phenomenological analysis, including twenty semi-structured interviews with older adults (≥65 years old) living in single households during the pandemic. Interviews were conducted between June and September 2021, audio-recorded and lasted approximately one hour. Data analysis was guided by the heuristic framework of Smith et al. Trustworthiness of the study was enhanced through bracketing and multiple interdisciplinary moments of revision of the data analysis.The views and support needs of participants to maintain health and well-being during the pandemic were captured in three overarching themes: ‘A lingering search for connectedness’, ‘Dealing with a discouraging situation to stay well’, and ‘Leaning on lessons learned during life’. Important resources that enabled participants to maintain health and well-being were: experiences of social connectedness, acceptance of the situation, and (re)gaining a sense of control. Participants described how they leaned on lessons learned from life-experiences when facing situations that challenged their health and well-being.Our study points out that views and support needs of older adults to maintain health and well-being during the pandemic were diverse and rooted in various coping mechanisms. During future situations similar to the pandemic, public health policies should include strategies to promote social connectedness among older adults who live alone, to prevent adverse health outcomes.• Experiences of social connectedness, acceptance, and (re)gaining a sense of control were coping mechanisms that enabled older adults to maintain health and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. • Public health policies should include strategies to promote social connectedness among older adults who live alone, to prevent adverse health outcomes during future pandemics.
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A comparative study of the effects of the pandemic across six countries, including The UK, Australia, Belgium, Cyprus, Ireland and The Netherlands. The authors outline 21 design principles for mobile learning, which is hoped will help us respond effectively in the uncertain present, and plan systematically for an unpredictable, post-pandemic future. This paper is based on the emergency changes we have had to make in the European DEIMP Project (2017-2020), “Designing and Evaluating Innovative Mobile Pedagogies” (DEIMP). DEIMP is undertaken by a transnational consortium comprising partner institutions and schools from the participating countries.
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Introduction: The social distancing restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic have changed students’ learning environment and limited their social interactions. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the influence of the social distancing restrictions on students’ social networks, wellbeing, and academic performance. Methods: We performed a questionnaire study in which 102 students participated before and 167 students during the pandemic. They completed an online questionnaire about how they formed their five peer social networks (study-related support, collaboration, friendship, share information, and learn-from) out-of-class. We performed social network analysis to compare the sizes, structures, and compositions of students’ five social networks before and during the pandemic, between first- and second-year students, and between international and domestic students. Additionally, we performed Kruskal–Wallis H test to compare students’ academic performance before and during the pandemic. We performed thematic analysis to answers for two open-end questions in the online questionnaire to explore what difficulties students encountered during the COVID-19 pandemic and what support they needed. Results: The results showed that the size of students’ social networks during the pandemic was significantly smaller than before the pandemic. Besides, the formation of social networks differed between first- and second-year students, and between domestic and international students. However, academic performance did not decline during the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, we identified three key areas in which students experienced difficulties and needed support by thematic analysis: social connections and interactions, learning and studying, and physical and mental wellbeing. Conclusion: When institutions implement learning with social distancing, such as online learning, they need to consider changes in students’ social networks and provide appropriate support.
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1 Maternity services across Europe during the pandemic has undergone changes to limit virus transmission; however, many changes are not evidence-based. 2 Although these changes were introduced to keep women, babies and healthcare staff safe, the exclusion of companions and the separation of mothers and babies is particularly antithetical to a human rights-based approach to quality care. 3 A poll of COST Action 18211 network members showed that inconsistency in the application of restrictions was high, and there were significant deviations from the recommendations of authoritative bodies. 4 Concerns have emerged that restrictions in practice may have longer term negative impacts on mothers and their families and, in particular, may impact on the long-term health of babies. 5 When practice changes deviate from evidence-based frameworks that underpin quality care, they must be monitored, appraised and evaluated to minimise unintended iatrogenic effects.
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In our Guest Editorial “The COVID-19 Pandemic: A Family Affair,” which was published in the Journal of Family Nursing by members of the FAMily Health in Europe–Research in Nursing (FAME-RN) group (Luttik et al., 2020), we highlighted the impact on nurses and families.The pandemic was at its beginning, and we described the situation of patients and families and the need for family nursing. Furthermore, we addressed the effect on the mental health of nurses and other health care professionals, due to the increasing workload they needed to manage. In this Guest Editorial, we discuss the impact of the COVID-19 on families during and post pandemic.
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