ABSTRACT
This study examined the emergence and implementation of community touchpoints established in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic for victims/survivors of domestic abuse (DA). Community touchpoints are designated places, both online and in accessible settings such as pharmacies and banks, where victims/survivors can seek confidential advice and be directed to expert DA services. The research adopted a case study approach and explored a range of perspectives through expert interviews, document analysis, consultation with survivors and stakeholders and a survey of DA co-ordinators. Four national community touchpoint schemes were identified and, of these, three were implemented rapidly and were available in 2020-2021 when the UK experienced lockdowns. Partnerships between Government/voluntary organisations and commercial businesses-assisted design and implementation. Some stakeholders considered that the schemes lacked responsivity to the local context and noted challenges in providing a confidential service in rural areas. Whilst pharmacies, banks and online spaces were identified as non-stigmatised and trusted places to seek advice, community touchpoints were judged less accessible for some groups including those experiencing digital poverty and victims whose movements were heavily scrutinised. Most of the touchpoint schemes targeted adults only. There were also concerns about whether frontline staff in commercial businesses received sufficient training. Whilst robust evidence of outcomes was limited, there were indications that the schemes had achieved good reach with some early evidence of take-up. Testimonials indicated that victims/survivors were using the touchpoints in flexible ways which met their needs. Moreover, the wide reach and visibility of these initiatives delivered in non-stigmatised settings may have served to raise public awareness of DA, reducing the silence that has traditionally surrounded it. Further research into the use and impact of these initiatives is required and there may be future potential to extend community touchpoints to include children and young people experiencing DA.
ABSTRACT
Τhe present study aimed to generate evidence on the role of core elements of positive psychology interventions (PPIs) such as empathy, resilience, gratitude and hope in mitigating the psychological distress of the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants (N = 203) were recruited from the island of Ireland (mean age = 37.7 years, ± 13.2) and completed an online questionnaire including measures of resilience, hope, gratitude, empathy, depression, stress, anxiety and the subjective distress of COVID-19. A four-step hierarchical regression model was applied. Resilience showed positive significant correlations with gratitude, hope and empathy. Age, gender, presence/absence of a chronic health condition (CHC) and country of residence were not predictors of the subjective distress of COVID-19. Resilience and empathy were a negative and a positive predictor of the subjective distress respectively, while gratitude and hope had no predictive value in this model. Upon adding depression, stress and anxiety, the explained variance in scores of the distress of COVID-19 increased considerably from 16% to 55%. Individuals who experience higher levels of depression and anxiety without necessarily the presence of a CHC and regardless of age, gender, and country of residence, may be more susceptible to experience the subjective distress of COVID-19. These findings can be used to inform the design and delivery of PPIs either as a public health prevention measure or as a treatment programme within a broader context of a public mental health promotion strategy to tackle the psychological impact of this pandemic in adults of the general population. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of International Journal of Health Promotion & Education is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)