Browsing by Author "Morton, Alec"

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    Inequalities and mental health during the Coronavirus pandemic in the UK: a mixed-methods exploration
    (Springer, 2023-09-20) Lombardo, Chiara; Guo, Lijia; Solomon, Susan; Crepaz-Keay, David; McDaid, Shari; Thorpe, Lucy; Martin, Steven; John, Ann; Morton, Alec; Davidson, Gavin; Kousoulis, Antonis A.; Van Bortel, Tine
    Background The World Health Organisation declared the novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) a global pandemic on 11th March 2020. Since then, the world has been firmly in its grip. At the time of writing, there were more than 767,972,961 million confirmed cases and over 6,950,655 million deaths. While the main policy focus has been on controlling the virus and ensuring vaccine roll-out and uptake, the population mental health impacts of the pandemic are expected to be long-term, with certain population groups affected more than others. Methods The overall objectives of our ‘Coronavirus: Mental Health and the Pandemic’ study were to explore UK adults’ experiences of the Coronavirus pandemic and to gain insights into the mental health impacts, population-level changes over time, current and future mental health needs, and how these can best be addressed. The wider mixed-methods study consisted of repeated cross-sectional surveys and embedded qualitative sub-studies including in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with the wider UK adult population. For this particular inequalities and mental health sub-study, we used mixed methods data from our cross-sectional surveys and we carried out three Focus Group Discussions with a maximum variation sample from across the UK adult population. The discussions covered the broader topic of 'Inequalities and mental health during the Coronavirus pandemic in the UK’ and took place online between April and August 2020. Focus Groups transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis in NVIVO. Cross-sectional survey data were analysed using STATA for descriptive statistics. Results Three broad main themes emerged, each supporting a number of sub-themes: (1) Impacts of the pandemic; (2) Moving forward: needs and recommendations; (3) Coping mechanisms and resilience. Findings showed that participants described their experiences of the pandemic in relation to its impact on themselves and on different groups of people. Their experiences illustrated how the pandemic and subsequent measures had exacerbated existing inequalities and created new ones, and triggered various emotional responses. Participants also described their coping strategies and what worked and did not work for them, as well as support needs and recommendations for moving forward through, and out of, the pandemic; all of which are valuable learnings to be considered in policy making for improving mental health and for ensuring future preparedness. Conclusions The pandemic is taking a long-term toll on the nations’ mental health which will continue to have impacts for years to come. It is therefore crucial to learn the vital lessons learned from this pandemic. Specific as well as whole-government policies need to respond to this, address inequalities and the different needs across the life-course and across society, and take a holistic approach to mental health improvement across the UK.
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    Loneliness, coping, suicidal thoughts and self-harm during the COVID-19 pandemic: a repeat cross-sectional UK population survey
    (BMJ, 2021-12-30) John, Ann; Lee, Sze Chim; Solomon, Susan; Crepaz-Keay, David,; McDaid, Shari; Morton, Alec; Davidson, Gavin; Bortel, Tine Van; Kousoulis, Antonis A.
    Objective:There has been speculation on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated lockdown on suicidal thoughts and self-harm and the factors associated with any change. We aimed to assess the effects and change in effects of risk factors including loneliness and coping, as well as pre-existing mental health conditions on suicidal thoughts and self-harm during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design: This study was a repeated cross-sectional online population-based survey. Participants and measures Non-probability quota sampling was adopted on the UK adult population and four waves of data were analysed during the pandemic (17 March 2020 to 29 May 2020). Outcomes were suicidal thoughts and self-harm associated with the pandemic while loneliness, coping, pre-existing mental health conditions, employment status and demographics were covariates. We ran binomial regressions to evaluate the adjusted risks of the studied covariates as well as the changes in effects over time. Results: The proportion of individuals who felt lonely increased sharply from 9.8% to 23.9% after the UK lockdown began. Young people (aged 18–24 years), females, students, those who were unemployed and individuals with pre-existing mental health conditions were more likely to report feeling lonely and not coping well. 7.7%–10.0% and 1.9%–2.2% of respondents reported having suicidal thoughts and self-harm associated with the pandemic respectively throughout the period studied. Results from cross-tabulation and adjusted regression analyses showed young adults, coping poorly and with pre-existing mental health conditions were significantly associated with suicidal thoughts and self-harm. Loneliness was significantly associated with suicidal thoughts but not self-harm. Conclusions: The association between suicidality, loneliness and coping was evident in young people during the early stages of the pandemic. Developing effective interventions designed and coproduced to address loneliness and promote coping strategies during prolonged social isolation may promote mental health and help mitigate suicidal thoughts and self-harm associated with the pandemic.
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    Resilience across the UK during the Coronavirus pandemic
    (Mental Health Foundation, 2020-09-03) Kousoulis, Antonis; McDaid, Shari; Crepaz-Keay, David; Solomon, Susan; Lombardo, Chiara; Yap, Jade; Weeks, Lauren; O’Sullivan, Chris; Baird, Rachel; Grange, Richard; Giugliano, Toni; Van Bortel, Tine; John, Ann; Lee, Sze; Morton, Alec; Davidson, Gavin; Morillo, Hannah
    -Resilience enables us as individuals, communities, nations and as a country, to cope with the stress of the coronavirus pandemic. -This study shows that most people (64%) say they are coping well with the stress of the pandemic. However, many are struggling with the current crisis. -Of those who have experienced stress due to the pandemic, almost nine out of ten (87%) are using at least one coping strategy. -People have used a wide range of strategies to cope; these most often included going for a walk, spending time in green spaces, and staying connected with others. -We found that some people are resorting to potentially harmful ways of coping, including increased alcohol consumption, substance misuse, and over-eating, putting their mental and physical health at greater risk. -While each nation has made available mental health literacy resources in response to COVID-19, this study’s findings point to where more policy and investment could be targeted to support people and communities to remain resilient in the face of local or national restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic.
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    The COVID-19 pandemic, financial inequalities and mental health in the UK
    (Mental Health Foundation, 2020-05-01) Kousoulis, Antonis; McDaid, Shari; Crepaz-Keay, David; Solomon, Susan; Lombardo, Chiara; Yap, Jade; Weeks, Lauren; O’Sullivan, Chris; Baird, Rachel; Grange, Richard; Giugliano, Toni; Thorpe, Lucy; Van Bortel, Tine; John, Ann; Lee, Sze; Morton, Alec; Davidson, Gavin; Knifton, Lee; Rowland, Mark
    We all can experience mental health problems, whatever our background or walk of life. But the risk of experiencing mental ill-health is not equally distributed across our society. Those who face the greatest disadvantages in life also face the greatest risk to their mental health. The distribution of infections and deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic, the lockdown and associated measures, and the longer-term socioeconomic impact are likely to reproduce and intensify the financial inequalities that contribute to the increased prevalence and unequal distribution of mental ill-health. This briefing discusses the mental health effects of these financial inequalities in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. It draws evidence from the ‘Coronavirus: Mental Health in the Pandemic’ research – a UK-wide, long-term study of how the pandemic affects people’s mental health. The study is led by the Mental Health Foundation, in collaboration with the University of Cambridge, Swansea University, the University of Strathclyde and Queen’s University Belfast.
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    The divergence of mental health experiences during the Coronavirus pandemic in the UK
    (Mental Health Foundation, 2020-07-02) Kousoulis, Antonis; McDaid, Shari; Crepaz-Keay, David; Solomon, Susan; Lombardo, Chiara; Yap, Jade; Weeks, Lauren; O’Sullivan, Chris; Baird, Rachel; Grange, Richard; Giugliano, Toni; Thorpe, Lucy; Van Bortel, Tine; John, Ann; Lee, Sze; Morton, Alec; Davidson, Gavin
    The Coronavirus: Mental Health in the Pandemic study provides unique insights into the mental health effects of the pandemic since mid-March, with five waves of data collected so far across the UK specifically focused on mental health and well-being. We want to use good quality evidence to influence the actions that we need to take as a country to prevent a mental health crisis in the years to come. While we have all been affected by the COVID-19 crisis, the evidence from the Foundation’s Coronavirus: Mental Health in the Pandemic (‘our’) study shows a divergence in people’s experience depending on their social and/or economic context in society. As has been said: we are all in the same storm, but we are not all in the same boat. Even as the measures taken to curb the spread of COVID-19 change, with reduced restrictions for most and sustained isolation for a minority, with some having been affected directly by the virus and many less so, some returning to normal work life and many others experiencing changed employment status, differences in the mental health impact will persist and likely increase.