Supporting recovery in rural Indiana: From mobile to virtual

Many consumers, both youth and adults, are not accessing appropriate substance use treatment, necessitating the need for mobile response interventions. Choices Coordinated Care Solutions has developed a mobile response model that builds on Systems of Care values to engage consumers in intensive care coordination utilizing the evidence-based Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment approach and core values of wraparound. The choices emergency response team (CERT) model is an integrated, coordinated service delivery approach, relying on the skills and experience of its qualified staff to work with consumers in order to effectively identify the inherent strengths that all people have and to use those strengths to design innovative, trauma-informed approaches to treatment. A strong relationship with a broad network of stakeholders throughout the state and southeast Indiana serves as a foundation for the implementation of mobile response. These relationships with local resources empower consumers in their recovery journey. The evolution of the CERT model to strategically integrate technology, especially with incarcerated or justice-involved consumers, became an essential asset during the COVID-19 epidemic in 2020. The necessity of virtual consumer engagement has created opportunities for these recovery communities that may endure even after the pandemic is resolved. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved) Impact Statement Crises related to substance use create significant burdens on individuals, families, and communities. Mobile response facilitates access to substance use treatments. This article describes key components of an emergency response model and how technology played an essential role in engaging consumers during the pandemic. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Toward reciprocity in healing: Introduction to the special issue

The article presents an introduction to the special issue on reciprocity. The notion of reciprocity was the primary confluence theme. The word reciprocal comes from the Latin, reciprocus, meaning to move backward and forward. Reciprocity is easy enough to understand as a concept, but it is challenging to manifest. We are habitually human-focused, continuously concerned with ourselves, and too commonly unaware of ourselves as a profoundly impactful part of nature. As a consequence, we end up forgetting the other half of the equation, the back-and forth- ing required for all of us to be healthy. Confluence participants were encouraged to submit articles to this special issue of Ecopsychology, but the invitation for submissions went out more broadly to anyone inspired by the confluence themes. In the interval between the confluence and publication of this special issue, the world was turned upside down by the novel coronavirus. This pandemic and the isolation, reflection, and quarantines it has spawned made the fundamental human need to connect with the natural world even more self-evident, becoming the subject of numerous mainstream news stories and highlighting the value of Nature for human health. However, in the midst of widespread panic, it has created a context in which recognition of the healing value of nature was markedly one-sided, lacking in any impulse toward reciprocity. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Psychological outcomes after hospitalization for COVID-19: Data from a multidisciplinary follow-up screening program for recovered patients

Patients who are hospitalized for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) face an extremely stressful experience that might challenge their mental health. The study aims to describe the psychological condition of recovered patients, focusing on anxiety and depression symptoms, as well as post-traumatic stress. All the recovered COVID-19 patients who accessed to a multi- disciplinary follow-up screening program scheduled within two months after their hospital discharge were included. As far as the psychological assessment, patients completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Impact of Event Scale-Revised for post-traumatic stress. Socio-demographic and clinical data (days of hospitalization, intensity of received care, and number of supportive sessions with the hospital psychologist after the hospitalization) were collected. Descriptive, correlation and regression analyses were conducted. The sample includes 261 patients (68.2% men), aged between 23 and 90 (mean=58.9 st. dev=13.3). High numbers of patients reported anxiety (28%) and depression symptoms (17%), as well as post-traumatic stress (36.4%). Impaired outcomes were associated with female gender, while patient's age was found to be negatively correlated with anxiety symptoms. 13.8% of patients underwent a psychological visit and 6.1% of them were taken in charge for psychological support. Few months after hospital discharge, individuals recovered by COVID-19 reported negative consequences on their mental health. Understanding the impact that COVID-19 and hospitalization have on recovered patients may provide in- sights about how to develop an effective psychological intervention to help them deal with such psychological distress and prevent further psychopathological effects. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Virtual storytelling in a time of pandemic: building bridges across social distance

This community psychology project consisted of two virtual storytelling groups gathered to examine the impact of storytelling during a global pandemic. It used the public narrative methodology of Marshall Ganz placed within the context of community mental health. Each storytelling group met weekly for 8 weeks. The Sunday group had seven members drawn from Desert Palm UCC, a mid-sized Protestant Christian congregation located in Tempe, Arizona. The Monday group had four members from Desert Palm UCC and two participants from a housing program called I-Help. I-Help is a transitional housing program run by the Tempe Community Action Agency, a nonprofit social service organization connected to the City of Tempe. Desert Palm UCC has a long history of support and engagement with the I-Help program. The research project was intended to explore the impact of storytelling carried out virtually (on Zoom) during a time of social distancing that was a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Five factors related to personal recovery and included in the I-Help community mental health recovery program were employed to help organize the material thematically. The acronym for the five factors is CHIME, which stands for connectedness, hope, identity, meaning, and empowerment. In the final session participants were invited to reflect on whether the stories they shared had any common themes, and whether they resonated thematically with any of the CHIME components. Participants identified several common themes, including connectedness. Several participants reported feeling more connected to other group members as a result of the storytelling experience. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Nursing home in the COVID-19 outbreak: Challenge, recovery, and resiliency

This reprinted chapter originally appeared in Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 2020, 63[6-7], 646-650. (The following of the original article appeared in record 2021-00510-019.) The pandemic has further exposed the lack of experience and resources for NHs to respond to Public Health Emergencies (PHE). In fact, during other outbreaks of infectious disease including SARS in 2003, H1N1 influenza virus in 2009, H7N9 bird flu in 2013, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in 2015, Ebola in 2018, and COVID-19 in 2020, densely populated settlements of older individuals at not only NHs but also long-term care institutions such as skilled nursing and assisted living institutions, have always been the most vulnerable. At this stage, it is time for us to seriously reflect on how to ensure that NHs can respond to and survive disasters, stress, or changes of the environment, that is, how to enhance our resilience to future health threats. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Re-integrating older adults who have recovered from the novel coronavirus into society in the context of stigmatization: Lessons for health and social actors in Ghana

This reprinted chapter originally appeared in Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 2020, 63[6-7], 691-693. (The following of the original article appeared in record 2020-53470-001.) The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to pose health and economic challenges to both developed and developing countries. Compounding these challenges is social stigmatization of recovered patients, especially older adults. Unfortunately, potential policy suggestions aimed at lessening stigmatization among this vulnerable group are missing. In this letter, the authors seek to offer policy recommendations on how to re-integrate older adults who have recovered from the COVID-19 infection into society amid stigmatization. We recommend that health and social actors should develop a comprehensive plan for dealing with stigmatization to ensure a successful and stigma-free re-integration of older adults who have recovered from the COVID-19 infection into society. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Prognostic factors in Covid-19

Since the end of 2019, France, like all other the countries in the world, has been facing an unprecedented epidemiological situation: Covid-19. The most vulnerable people, and in particular the elderly, are particularly affected by this epidemic. Although many patients make a full recovery, several factors lead to a poor prognosis. Various studies have proposed as an objective to identify the prognostic factors for mortality and progression to serious illness for patients diagnosed with Covid-19. Some of these prognostic factors can be further used in decision-making for the management of patients with Covid-19. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved) (French) Depuis la fin de l'annee 2019, la France, de meme que l'ensemble des pays du monde, est confrontee a une situation epidemiologique inedite : la Covid-19. Les personnes les plus vulnerables, et notamment les personnes agees sont particulierement touchees par cette epidemie. Bien que de nombreux patients se retablissent completement, plusieurs facteurs conduisent a un mauvais pronostic. Diverses etudes ont propose comme objectif d'identifier les facteurs pronostiques de mortalite et d'evolution vers une maladie grave pour les patients diagnostiques avec la Covid-19. Certains de ces facteurs pronostiques peuvent etre utilises dans la prise de decision relative a la prise en charge des patients infectes par la Covid-19. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Coaching psychology for mental health: Borderline personality disorder and personal psychological recovery

Traditionally, coaching psychologists have worked with people who aren't experiencing significant mental distress or have diagnosed mental illness. This book describes an innovative and challenging project of bringing coaching psychology to the lived experience of individuals with a diagnosed mental illness, Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). The authors present a case for why coaching psychology needs to be constructively challenged to broaden its base and be more inclusive and of service to people experiencing BPD in particular. The book describes a coaching interaction involving coaching psychologists and a number of individuals with BPD who had completed a behavioural skills programme (Dialectical Behaviour Therapy;DBT). It explores the epistemological and practice tensions involving the dominance of clinical recovery (elimination of symptoms) in mental health services and personal or psychological recovery (originating in the narratives of people with a diagnosis of mental illness who yearn to live a life worth living). This book, written amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, makes a compelling case for coaching psychologists to engage with the philosophy and practice implications of personal recovery, at both professional and personal levels. It will be vital reading for those engaged in coaching psychology and for the education, training and continuous professional development of coaches, and coaching psychologists. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Maintaining long-term recovery from drugs and alcohol use in sexual minority adults

Introduction: This grounded theory qualitative study examines how sexual minority adults maintain long-term recovery from drugs and/or alcohol. The literature focuses on substance use rates among this population rather than discussing effective methods of treatment regarding the maintenance of long-term recovery from problematic substance use. Methods: Grounded theory and interpretation-focused coding was utilized to analyze data provided by the participants through semi-structured interviews. Journals, memos, debriefing with peers, participants proof- reading their transcripts prior to the coding phase, and NVIVO 12, a qualitative analysis program, were utilized to increase validity and reliability within the study. Results: Nine participants were recruited for saturation to be met in this study. Six categories emerged from the data: Definitions, Maintaining Recovery, Sexual Minority Experiences, Alcoholics Anonymous, Relapse, and Advice. After determining the categories, 16 themes emerged from the data: Sobriety and Recovery, Long-term Recovery, Recovery Meeting Opinions, Motivations, Support System, Recovery Meeting Experiences as a Sexual Minority, Rehabilitation Facility Experiences as a Sexual Minority, Therapy Experiences as a Sexual Minority, Fear as a Sexual Minority, Sponsors/Sponsees, 12 steps, Slips, Cravings, Moderation, Advice to Sexual Minorities, and Advice to Clinicians. There were seven subthemes that emerged within the 16 themes: 1) SMART Recovery;2) The Program of Alcoholics Anonymous;3) Fear of Losing Everything;4) Positive Factors;5) Tools Utilized;6) COVID-19;and 7) Boundaries and Expectations. Discussion: Results suggest that these participants identified main factors that have been effective in maintaining long-term recovery: the program of Alcoholics Anonymous (including sponsorship, working the 12-steps, and fellowship), their support system, a healthy fear of losing everything, and positive factors in their life motivating their sobriety. The Sexual Minority Addiction and Recovery model emerged from the results of this grounded theoretical study. The model encompasses three main components and under each component of the model are sub-factors that influence recovery. The components and sub-factors are: 1) Sexual Minority Status (Risk Factors, Bar Culture, Trauma, and Stigma);2) Addiction (Stigma, Coping, and Isolation);and 3) Recovery (Alcoholics Anonymous, Support System, Healthy Fear, and Positive Motivators). This population suffers based on their sexual orientation status and their history of addiction which makes recovery more difficult to achieve and maintain. This population is underrepresented, mistreated, and stigmatized. Results from this study have implications to help providers more effectively refer, treat, and provide resources to the sexual minority population suffering from addiction. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Can recovery homes reduce COVID-19 infection and mortality?

Those with substance use disorders living in recovery homes might be at-risk for Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) due to close living arrangements and past histories of substance use (as well as comorbid factors such as homelessness, psychiatric comorbidity, and chronic health conditions). This study compared COVID-19 infection and mortality rates for residents of self-help recovery homes versus overall state estimates. Significantly lower rates of infection and mortality were found for residents of recovery homes, and their COVID-19 mortality rates were extremely low. Given the number of people in community settings living in these recovery homes, these findings are important as they suggest that recovery homes might play a critical role in COVID-19 mitigating strategies. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved) Impact Statement For high-risk individuals, supportive housing in community settings represents a promising ecological strategy for reducing COVID-19 infections and mortality. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)