COVID-19 and the changing roles of social workers in minority communities: Lessons from the Israeli ultra-Orthodox community

Minority groups have been disproportionately vulnerable to COVID-19's effects. Whereas, social workers have been instrumental in countering those effects, their roles have been understudied, particularly during the ‘new normal' that followed the outbreak. This gap is addressed by drawing on interviews with 28 social workers in the Jewish ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) society in Israel, held after the outbreak and during the ‘new normal'. Three main roles are identified: first responders, during the outbreak;a voice for community needs, in the ‘new normal';and policy translators – throughout. The findings contribute a temporal aspect to the literature by highlighting social workers' dynamic roles. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of International Social Work is the property of Sage Publications, Ltd. 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.)

Heteronormativity in health settings: Realities of LGBT youth's access to healthcare in South Africa

In South Africa, sexual and gender minorities experience a wide array of health inequities and face many difficulties in accessing health services. This is largely due to the general heteronormative-based health system that is not well equipped to meet the needs of those not conforming to "normal" forms of gender and sexuality. In addition, the heteronormative-based approach to LGBT health has rendered the unique needs and experiences of sexual and gender minorities invisible within mainstream health data, systems and policies. Increasing evidence suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic has worsened health disparities and this is likely a consequence of existing challenges related to structural violence that persisted prior to its emergence. Given the current structure of South Africa's health system, this chapter examines structural violence in the context of healthcare and draws on in-depth interviews conducted with 12 LGBT students at a university in South Africa. The findings highlight the importance of raising awareness on the spectrum of sexual orientation and gender identity, applying an intersectional lens to the health system to address health inequities and gearing healthcare programs to provide services for all. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Understanding the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on social determinants of health of racial and ethnic minorities using natural language processing and machine learning

The COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to a sharp increase in health disparities among racial and ethnic US minority communities. This study aims to understand the social determinants of health issues of racial/ethnic US minority populations before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, this study establishes the extent to which Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) and Gibbs Sampling Dirichlet Multinomial Mixture (GSDMM)-based topic modeling determines social determinants of health (SDOH) categories, and how adequately custom named-entity recognition (NER) detects key SDOH factors from a Reddit corpus. Moreover, we performed an inductive thematic discourse analysis on the Reddit corpus and High Density-Based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise (HDBSCAN)-based clustering on the thematic discourse results. We collected race/ethnicity-related data from five subreddits representing five highly populated cities in the US from March to December 2019 (prior to the pandemic) and from March to December 2020 (during the pandemic). Our study identified 35 SDOH-related topics, 22 themes, and revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic significantly exacerbated SDOH issues of racial/ethnic US minority communities. On average, conversations about the Social and Community Context (SCC) category of SDOH had the highest percent increase (358%) from the pre-pandemic period to the pandemic period across all locations and population groups. Some of the SCC issues were racism, protests, arrests, immigration, police brutality, hate crime, white supremacy, and discrimination. The dissertation offers automatic ways to glean SDOH-related information from social media. Furthermore, the knowledge gained from this study will empower researchers, governments, and policymakers to design interventions to shift racial and ethnic disparities toward more equitable outcomes. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Documents on Democracy

In a country where every ninth person is suffering food shortage, a country where more than one million civilians have fled their homes and villages and have nowhere to live, a country where everyone has lost a family member or a friend to hunger, exposure, war, landmines, arbitrary killings, or the COVID pandemic the military did their utmost to exacerbate, we are all the victims of the military's crimes. There appears to be a parallel trend of an increased number and length of imprisonments occurring through criminal justice processes, suggesting that the focus of deprivation of liberty has shifted towards imprisonment, on purported grounds of counter-terrorism and counter-"extremism." The systems of arbitrary detention and related patterns of abuse in VETC and other detention facilities come against the backdrop of broader discrimination against members of Uyghur and other predominantly Muslim minorities based on perceived security threats emanating from individual members of these groups. The Government holds the primary duty to ensure that all laws and policies are brought into compliance with international human rights law and to promptly investigate any allegations of human rights violations, to ensure accountability for perpetrators and to provide redress to victims.

The Syndemic of Inequity and COVID-19 in Virtual Care.

The critical intersections of structural inequities and vulnerabilities of marginalized populations, particularly those engaging the social gradient of minority ethnic communities, are revealed in the syndemic approach to COVID-19. Although proposals for cultural interventions to improve virtual care provide relevant measures, they may not address the root cause of the disparate impacts of a pandemic on population subgroups. The common misperception of equality as synonymous with equity further impedes the efficacy of digital health in quality-of-care initiatives, as it systemically fails to acknowledge the disparate realities of marginalized populations, while intending to benefit all. This commentary suggests that an alignment of the health care system with Canada's pluralist principles would support a paradigm shift in transforming virtual care into an equitable standard as envisioned by Pham and colleagues in their paper, "The Future of Virtual Care for Older Ethnic Adults Beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic."

A pilot study of gender minority stress, allostatic load, and sleep in transgender and gender expansive adolescents and young adults

Transgender and gender expansive adolescents and young adults (AYA) experience a high burden of mental and physical health sequelae, which is linked to gender minority stress. Few reports have examined gender minority AYA sleep health, which may lie at a unique intersection of developmental and social risk. Little is known about the role of gender minority stress or protective factors on sleep health. A sample of 40 transgender and gender expansive AYA, ages 12-24 years old, engaged in gender-affirming medical care at an urban medical center completed study surveys, which captured information on multiple dimensions of sleep health and behaviors, gender minority stress, parental support, and other demographic information. Health data was also extracted from participant's EMR. Gender minority stress (gender victimization and nonaffirmation), parental support, and allostatic load (AL), as measures by retrospective EMR-reported biomarkers, were examined as predictors of sleep health domains. Exploratory analyses testing the relationship between sleep, AL, and gender minority stress were also performed. Contrary to extant literature, the majority of participants reported good sleep quality. Results showed that other areas of participants' sleep health were comparable to population rates reported in the literature. Findings should be considered within the context of national changes in sleep patterns and behaviors that occurred during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, which overlapped with study enrollment. Parental support and gender victimization was not associated with sleep health. Gender nonaffirmation was found to be associated with sleep quality, however this relationship was attenuated when controlling for depressive symptoms and age. Weekday sleep latency was also associated with AL. Exploratory analyses examining the contribution of gender minority stress and AL yielded mixed results. Despite mixed findings, this report extends the current body of knowledge on sleep health among gender minority AYA. This is the first investigation of gender minority stress and protective factors as well as AL in relation to sleep health among gender minority AYA. Findings contribute to biocultural research efforts aimed at promoting health equity among transgender and gender expansive youth as well as highlight areas of future investigation. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Primary care behavioral health in the time of COVID-19

People are commonly receiving mental health treatment from primary care providers rather than from behavioral health providers. To address this issue, the healthcare system has begun to integrate behavioral health providers into primary care clinics, known as integrated primary care (IPC). Research suggests that IPC can lead to a number of benefits, including increased likelihood of patients receiving the appropriate standard of care, as well as reduction in healthcare costs due to medical cost offset. While IPC is a promising method of healthcare delivery, additional research is needed to optimize this system. Additionally, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has drastically impacted the mental and physical health needs of the United States population, especially for low income and racial and ethnic minority populations. However, there is little research on how this has impacted the presenting problems seen in IPC, or how IPC utilization may have been impacted. This study will examine patient characteristics and IPC utilization of two clinics serving a low income and racial and ethnic minority population and assess how patient and provider characteristics are impacting the process of IPC. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Latino-Targeted Misinformation and the Power of Factual Corrections

Do individual, interpersonal, or institutional factors condition the effects of misinformation on beliefs? Can interventions such as fact checks stem the tide of the "infodemic” within marginalized communities? We explore the sudden flood of misinformation and disinformation targeting Latinos during the 2020 election and global COVID-19 pandemic to answer these questions. In a preregistered experiment, we find that exposure to misinformation can decrease factual accuracy, and neither trust in nor consumption of media, including ethnic media, serves as a buffer against these misinformation effects. However, fact checks eliminate the effects of misinformation on false beliefs without "backfiring” and reducing accuracy. Fact checks improve factual accuracy among subgroups varying in levels of political knowledge, trust, and acculturation. These findings provide crucial support for recent investments into fact checking by Latino-oriented media outlets and address gaps within the literature over whether such interventions are also effective within marginalized groups.

A pioneering effort to give voices to indigenous psychology in Southeast Asia

For this special issue, eight manuscripts were accepted. The contributions showcase a range of indigenous psychological concepts and practices in the Southeast Asia (SEA) region. These include the Filipino values of "kapwa" (shared identity) and Indonesian values of "Mangan ora mangan sing penting kumpul" and "Dalihan Na Tolu" (both referring to the importance of kinship) in relation to one's preferred sources of social supports, Filipino coping strategies of "diskarte" (resourcefulness) and "bayanihan" (mutual, collective support) in managing mental health challenges, the "Sikolohiyang Pilipino" (Filipino Psychology) movement in the Philippines, the "kiasu" mindset (fear of losing out), and traditional Chinese healing practices of "dang-ki" (consultations with a divine deity) in Singapore. The contributions all address sustainable development goals in SEA communities, such as mental health challenges and practices in Indonesia, the Philippines and Singapore;the marginalization of ethnic minority groups;effects of postcolonialism in the Philippines and Malaysia;and issues of urbanization, deforestation, and climate change in Malaysia. Some assessed specifically the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on SEA populations' well-being, including comparisons of COVID-19 stigma and quality of life in Indonesia and the Philippines, the associated factors of self-harm and suicide ideation among Chinese Indonesians, and the mental health challenges faced and coping strategies utilized by doctors working in rural areas in the Philippines. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Perceived social support as a protective factor against psychological distress in the context of COVID-19-related stress and sexual minority status in Nigeria

Sexual minority individuals report higher COVID-19-related stress that may mediate higher psychological distress. However, this relationship and the role of social support have not been investigated in low/middle-income settings like Nigeria. Our study tested independent associations of psychological distress with sexual orientation, COVID-19-related stress, and perceived social support and whether perceived social support moderated these relationships. In an online survey, 966 Nigerians (21.7% sexual minority, n = 210) were assessed for sexual orientation, COVID-19-related stress, and perceived social support, and psychological distress. Sexual minority status was associated with higher COVD-19-related stress (r = .13, 95% CI [0.06, 0.19]), perceived social support (r = .07, [0.01, 0.13]), and psychological distress (r = .09, [0.02, 0.17]). Furthermore, we demonstrated two moderation effects: psychological distress was highest among sexual minority participants with low perceived social support and lowest among heterosexual participants with high perceived social support (beta = 0.09, [0.02, 0.16]). Among sexual minorities, the association between COVID-19-related stress and psychological distress was strongest and weakest among those with low and high perceived social support, respectively, but this effect was absent among heterosexual participants (beta = -0.14, [-0.21, -0.06]). Our finding suggests social support as a protective mechanism against adverse health outcomes among heterosexual and sexual minority individuals in Nigeria. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved) Impact Statement We collected data from Nigerian heterosexual and sexual minority (gay, lesbian, and bisexual) men and women using an online survey to investigate the associations between sexual orientation, COVID-19-related stress, and psychological stress;and how these relationships varied by perceived social support. We found that perceived social support reduced the impact of COVID-19-related stress in the whole sample (including heterosexual and sexual minority participants). Furthermore, higher levels of perceived social support weakened the association between sexual orientation and psychological distress. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

The language of suppression: Muslims, migrant workers, and India's response to COVID-19

When a society faces a moment of crisis, its language can mirror, expose, and reinforce societal chaos and fault lines. As India came to terms with COVID-19, the coronavirus' impacts on different populations exposed and widened India's deep social, economic, and religious divides. This article studies the language of India's response to COVID-19 surrounding three major events that occurred in the early months of the pandemic: the janta curfew, the Tablighi Jamaat incident, and the migrant worker crisis. Through an analysis of media reports, speeches made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and representations on social media, we see how forms of linguistic trickery—silence, presuppositions, accommodations, othering, dog whistling, and povertyism—were used to suppress, harm, and marginalize two minority groups: Muslims and migrant workers. This article demonstrates how those in power use language to reflect, shape, and reinforce meaning, social hierarchies, and marginalization in a time of crisis. (Linguistic trickery, othering, silence, presupposition, accommodation, dog whistling, povertyism)

Frequency of human papilomavirus and associated factors in gypsy and quilombola women : Human papillomavirus in gypsy and quilombola women.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection in the general population is widely known, however, there are still few studies related to this infection in minority groups, Thus, the objective is to analyze the frequency of human papillomavirus and associated factors in quilombola and gypsy women. METHODS: Cross-sectional research with 145 quilombola and gypsy women from Caxias, Maranhão. Two Pap smear collections were performed and a questionnaire with 46 questions was applied between January, 2020 and March, 2021. Descriptive analysis and Odds Ratio with 95% confidence interval were performed. The research was approved by the ethics committee. RESULTS: There were 09 cases of atypia. The frequency of human papillomavirus was 41.37%, with a higher risk in quilombolas 55 (91.70%). Multiple infections were prevalent (53%) with high-risk genotypes 21 (35%). Types 16 and 18 together accounted for 42.85% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of human papillomavirus infection was higher than those recorded in the Northeast and Brazil, and therefore type 16 predominated. Due to limitations, the virus lineages and sublineages were not evaluated. Quilombola women had a higher rate of infection than gypsies.

EXPRESIONES LITERARIAS SOBRE LA PANDEMIA POR COVID-19: IRRUPCIONES DE LA OTREDAD EN "THE WUHAN I KNOW" (LAURA GAO) Y "YOU CLAP FOR ME NOW" (DARREN SMITH)

The crisis uncovered profound changes in human and social interactions, among them, the processes of oppression and segregation towards immigrants and ethnic minorities were accentuated. Based on the relationship between otherness/pandemic, this paper proposes the analysis of two texts: "You Clap for Me Now", a poem by Darren Smith, and "The Wuhan I know", a graphic memoir by Laura Gao. Sin embargo, encontramos antecedentes que analizan este género desde su estatuto como representación social y simbólica de las epidemias. En el mismo sentido, Cynthia Davis (2002), en "Contagion as Metaphor", señala la textura simbólica de la literatura de epidemias: plagas, virus y pestes se enriquecen de significados y se convierten en construcciones textuales metafóricas de un estado de crisis social.

The "IslamoCovid" response: British Muslim mobilization(s) at the intersection of COVID-19 and Islamophobia

One of the negative developments of the COVID-19 pandemic is the manner by which ethnic, racial, and religious minorities have been negatively impacted by COVID-19. In Great Britain, British Muslims have been adversely affected by this label as they have been disproportionately affected by the virus and stigmatized as super-spreaders by mainstream political parties and right-wing organizations. In response, British Muslims are actively mobilizing in civil society to challenge the super-spreader narrative while emphasizing the centrality of their Islamic faith in protecting their community - and the British public - from COVID-19. In this paper, we elaborate on three frameworks that explicate the British Muslim community's response to COVID-19 and its accompanying Islamophobic frames: The emphasis on the individual's responsibility to God, family, and self;the commitment of the British Muslim community to the society and the State;and the reframing of COVID-19 best health practices as Islamic in orientation. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Culturally Competent Policy Practice in Minority Communities during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Contextual and Structural Perspective

Minority communities have borne a disproportionate burden of health, social and economic consequences during the pandemic. By engaging in policy-shaping processes, social workers can contribute to the development of beneficial policies for minority communities. When working in cross-cultural environments with majorities and minorities, social workers must develop cultural competence to be effective in policy practice. Despite the importance associated with cultural competence in policy practice (CCPP), little empirical evidence exists regarding what is required of social workers in order to engage in culturally competent policy change during the pandemic. In the present study, we address this lacuna through the theoretical framework of culturally competent policy practice. Drawing on twenty-one in-depth interviews, which were conducted at two time points during the pandemic with social workers who work with ultra-Orthodox minority communities in Israel, we demonstrate that CCPP involves the combination of two perspectives—contextual and structural. These include identifying and analysing social problems from a local and global perspective, reshaping the problem through self-awareness and critical awareness of power relations, and applying cultural competence skills that reflect the unique characteristics of the communities. This article discusses the strengths and limitations of CCPP, especially when implemented in changing social and political situations.

La inclusión digital en el ecosistema de TikTok: análisis del hashtag #Cosas que me dicen

The confinement caused by Covid-19 has accelerated the expansion of social networks such as TikTok (Tamara, 2020), which is experiencing profound growth among younger users. The centennials in this network focus mainly on the production and dissemination of tutorials, vídeo selfies, choreographies or humorous videos designed to entertain their followers (Suárez-Álvarez and García-Jiménez, 2021). However, the platform can also be used to give a voice to minorities, report situations of inequality or claim the rights of certain groups (Sánchez-Castillo and Mercado-Sáez, 2021). To this end, the network launched the hashtag #ThingsTheyTellMe;an inclusive initiative to promote the fight against inequality and discrimination against people. This hashtag invites citizens to denounce the exclusion they have suffered at certain times in their lives. The aim of the study is to identify the issues addressed in the publications and to find out the evaluations issued by a group of experts on these issues. The methodology consists of two different qualitative techniques: content analysis and a focus group. A content analysis sheet and a semi-structured questionnaire were prepared, both of which were developed in-house. After analysing a total of 200 videos and learning about the perceptions of three PhDs in communication and three PhDs in education, it was observed that the prosumers of this network have reported situations of rejection based on place of birth, gender, physical appearance, sexual orientation, profession, family composition, beliefs or hobbies. In conclusion, the diversity of issues addressed shows that TikTok represents an ideal showcase for combating inequalities, but it is necessary to develop other complementary actions, in the communication and educational sphere, to generate lasting positive change over time.Alternate abstract:El confinamiento provocado por el Covid-19 ha acelerado la expansión de redes sociales como TikTok (Tamara-Quiroz, 2020), que está experimentado un profundo crecimiento entre los usuarios más jóvenes. Los centennials de esta red se centran principalmente en la producción y difusión de tutoriales, videoselfies, coreografías o vídeos en tono humorísticos diseñados para entretener a sus seguidores (Suárez-Álvarez y García-Jiménez, 2021). Sin embargo, la plataforma también puede ser empleada para dar voz a las minorías, denunciar situaciones de desigualdad o reivindicar los derechos de determinados colectivos (Sánchez-Castillo y Mercado-Sáez, 2021). Con este propósito, la red puso en marcha el hashtag #Cosas que me dicen;una iniciativa inclusiva para fomentar la lucha contra la desigualdad y la discriminación que sufren las personas. Este hashtag invita a los ciudadanos a denunciar la exclusión que han sufrido en determinados momentos de sus vidas. El objetivo del estudio es identificar las temáticas abordadas entre las publicaciones y conocer las valoraciones emitidas por un grupo de expertos sobre estas. La metodología se compone de dos técnicas cualitativas diferentes: el análisis de contenido y un focus group. Se preparó una ficha de análisis de contenido y un cuestionario semiestructurado, ambos de elaboración propia. Tras analizar un total de 200 vídeos y conocer las percepciones de tres doctores en comunicación y tres doctores en educación, se observa que los prosumidores de esta red han denunciado situaciones de rechazo originadas por el lugar de nacimiento, el género, el aspecto físico, la orientación sexual, la profesión, la composición de sus familias, las creencias o las aficiones. A modo de conclusión, la diversidad de temas tratados muestra que TikTok representa un escaparate idóneo para luchar contra las desigualdades, pero es necesario desarrollar otras acciones complementarias, en el ámbito comunicativo y educacional, que permitan generar un cambio positivo perdurable en el tiempo.

Black women in white academe: a qualitative analysis of heightened inclusion tax

This article explores how existing issues of systemic racism in academia were heightened for Black women faculty during COVID-19 which coincided with high-profile killings of Black people in 2020. Several theories of cultural taxation have created space to discuss the nuanced experiences of marginalized groups in white spaces. In reflecting on academia, this article highlights "the inclusion tax” – the various labours exerted to be included in white spaces and resist and/or adhere to white social norms. While the 2020 pandemics reveal the deeply entrenched nature of systemic racism, they did not create the inequities Black women faced but worsened and exposed them. Using data from an exploratory, online open-ended survey of sixteen (n = 16) Black women faculty, we demonstrate how the inclusion tax heightened during that time. We argue that the inclusion tax negatively impacts Black women, adding significant invisible labour that further perpetuates racial and gender inequality.

Why ethnic minority groups' online-startups are booming in China's tight cultural ecosystem?

PurposeAlthough most Chinese ethnic minority groups (EMGs) hold conservative thinking to online-startups, the new entrepreneurial model is booming on live streaming platforms. In China's tight cultural ecosystem, the tight cultural control would lead EMG entrepreneurs to keep conservative thinking and avoid challenging careers. Still, it would be helpful for Chinese Governments to issue systematical entrepreneurial policies and improve online-startup environment for EMGs. To discover the relationships among influencing factors and EMGs' online-startup motivation, this paper aims to draw on the tight and loose cultural theory and the capability-opportunity-motivation-behaviour (COM-B) behaviour changing theory and establishes the research model based on China's tight cultural ecosystem.Design/methodology/approachThrough analysing 617 questionnaires from 37 EMGs based on the partial least squares path modelling and variance-based structural equation modelling method, the study proves that environmental opportunity factors and personal capability factors have positive impacts on EMGs' online-startup motivation and EMGs' conservative thinking negatively moderates the relationship between their online-startup motivation and entrepreneurial development behaviour. In addition to testing the hypotheses, the paper also measures the importance-performance map analysis to explore additional findings of influencing factors and provide suitable suggestions for EMG entrepreneurs and related departments.FindingsRegarding the environmental opportunity unit, both policy support and platform support significantly impact Chinese EMGs' motivation to promote online-startups. For the personal capability unit, a platform using skills positively influences Chinese EMGs to develop online-startups. Meanwhile, EMG cultural knowledge is also necessary for EMG entrepreneurs because abundant cultural resources can be applied to live content and attract online consumers' watching interests. Furthermore, influenced by the tight cultural control, Chinese EMGs tend to hold conservative thinking to new careers and it negatively moderates the relationship between Chinese EMGs' online-startup motivation and their final entrepreneurial behaviours. Finally, Chinese EMGs' online-startup motivation positively affects them to develop online-startups on live streaming platforms.Originality/valueThis study uses the tight and loose cultural theory to analyse the Chinese entrepreneurial environment and discover influencing factors based on the tight cultural ecosystem. Meanwhile, based on the COM-B behaviour changing theory, this paper divides influencing factors into three different units, including the environmental opportunity unit, the personal capability unit and the Tight cultural control unit. Considering the inter-relationships among these units, the research model is established based on the tight cultural ecosystem to discover Chinese EMGs' online-startup motivation.

A Mixed Methods Evaluation of an Integrated Primary and Behavioral Health Training Program for Counseling Students

Behavioral health provider shortages continue to grow in the United States, with the need for related services increasing as the SARS-COVID-19 pandemic persists. The implementation of integrated primary and behavioral healthcare (IPBH) practices represents one viable approach to leverage existing resources and maximize the potential for client outcomes;however, best practices for counselors within an IPBH paradigm remain unclear. We report the findings of a mixed method evaluation of an IPBH training program with 45 (36 females;9 males;Mage = 31.65) professional counseling students who predominately identified with ethnic minority identities (55%), urban residences (66%), and disadvantaged backgrounds (44%). We detected statistically and practically significant changes in self-efficacy (p = .01, d = .55) and interprofessional valuing and socialization (p < .01, d = .76), but mixed findings for variables associated with multicultural competence. Stakeholder interviews and document analysis identified four key facilitators (Financial Support;Facilitated Engagement;Witnessing Collaboration;Holistic Representation of Clients and Client Care) and four barriers (Awareness Raising and Recruitment;Logistics and Coordination;Inconsistent Culture of IPBH;Momentum Maintenance) to program success.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) related discrimination and mental health in five U.S. Southern cities

Evidence is mounting that stigma and discrimination related to coronavirus disease (COVID-19) disproportionately impact racial/ethnic minority groups, and that these experiences can worsen mental health. The present study sought to examine multiple types of COVID-related discrimination and their associations with mental health outcomes among racial/ethnic groups in the U.S. South, a region characterized by high levels of racial polarization and increasingly large numbers of undocumented immigrants. We used the cross-sectional, population-based COVID-19 Southern Cities Study (5/26/20-6/6/20) of n = 1,688 adults in Atlanta-GA, Austin-TX, Dallas-TX, Houston-TX, and New Orleans-LA. Three adapted scales (Everyday Discrimination, Major Discrimination, Heightened Vigilance) assessed self-reported COVID-related discrimination. Mental health outcomes included psychological distress, sleep troubles, physical reactions, and self-rated worsened mental health. Bivariable comparisons and adjusted logistic regression models were conducted. The study found that major discrimination was more common (p < .001) among Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black than non-Hispanic Asian and non-Hispanic White respondents. All racial/ethnic minority groups experienced more everyday discrimination (p = .004) and heightened vigilance due to anticipated discrimination (p < .001) than non-Hispanic White respondents. All discrimination types were associated with all mental health outcomes (Odds Ratio;OR range: 1.63-2.61) except everyday and major discrimination with sleep troubles. Results showing greater COVID-related discrimination for racial/ethnic minority groups confirm that these discrimination experiences are not solely about the infectious disease itself, but also entrenched with persistent racism. Responses to COVID-related discrimination should also consider long-lasting impacts on mental health for racial/ethnic minority groups even after the immediate pandemic ends. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)