The grit of mental health professionals: Initial conceptualization and measurement

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused additional strain and disruption to an already strained mental health workforce. Life disruption, compassion fatigue, and traumatic stress are contributing to record levels of burnout. Efforts are needed to improve retention and the well-being of mental health providers, yet little is known about the personal traits that contribute to compassion satisfaction during difficult times. Professional grit is an emerging concept that has broad applicability and makes a potentially unique contribution to the experiences of professionals in the context of COVID-19. Our paper describes perceptions of professional grit and its association with compassion fatigue and traumatic stress. A small exploratory study was used to analyze results from an online survey of mental health workers (N = 31). Measures included compassion fatigue, secondary traumatic stress, and grit, along with open-ended questions to explore perceived contributors to grit. Results confirmed the added stress mental health professionals are working under and 29% met the cut-off for significant traumatic stress symptoms. Participants' responses were coded and a primary theme and contributor to professional grit is coping, inclusive of adaptation, self-care, perseverance, and professional and personal support. Further, participants identifying the coping skills of self-care, adaptation, and perseverance scored higher on a measure of professional grit. Our study also suggests that grit and suffering are not mutually exclusive, such that many of our participants reported components of professional grit and also reported posttraumatic stress and compassion fatigue symptoms. More extensive studies on the function of professional grit and services to improve coping skills are needed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Therapists' insights on resiliency and growth among parentally bereaved children

Youth who experience premature death of a parent are positioned to experience an increase of concerning vulnerabilities than non-bereaved counterparts and the rate of parentally bereaved children has been elevated due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualitative strength-and U.S.-based investigations that examine present day parentally bereaved children are scarce and no identified studies consider professional insights of mental health clinicians that work with parentally bereaved youth in the country. In this study a qualitative phenomenological research design was used to obtain participant's experiences and insights on resiliency and posttraumatic growth (PTG). Licensed mental health professionals participated in semi-structured interviews and had three to 12 years of experience working with children bereaved by parental death. A deductive approach using predetermined resiliency and PTG theory-based categories was used to analyze the data. Five positive themes of resiliency, five hindering influences on resiliency, and three themes of PTG were concluded. Clinical implications support current research on resiliency and childhood grief. Major implications include grief literacy among the child's system and the role of the family. Implications of PTG include the five domains used to measure PTG, connection to peers and adults, grief education, and acknowledgement of the death. Additional implications suggested that the COVID-19 pandemic yields both positive and hindering influences on parentally bereaved child. Future research should consider the preliminary notions that arose from this study. These include research on disenfranchised grief and caregiver bereaved youth during the current health pandemic. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Unsolicited Sexts and Unwanted Requests for Sexts: Reflecting on the Online Sexual Harassment of Youth

The purpose of this qualitative study was to obtain youth perspectives on consensual and non-consensual sexting. We began this study on young people's (12–19) sexting practices in a large urban center. Before the study was put on pause due to COVID-19 physical distancing measures, we conducted 12 focus groups with 62 participants (47 girls, 15 boys). A key finding was that many girls had received unsolicited sexts (e.g., "dick pics”) or unwanted requests for sexts. Analysis revealed four interconnected themes: (1) unsolicited sexts;(2) unwanted requests for sexts;(3) complexity associated with saying "no”;and (4) general lack of adult support. Using our findings from before COVID-19, we discuss the potential impact of COVID-19 on teens' sexting experiences and outline the ways in which social workers and other mental health practitioners can support adolescents and their parents in navigating this new context of sexting during and beyond the global pandemic.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on psychological service provision, mental health practitioners, and patients in long-term care settings: Results from a rapid response survey

Due to the rapid spread of COVID-19 in long-term care (LTC) settings and the subsequent mandatory visitor restrictions that were put in place, the provision of behavioral health services in LTC settings was impacted. To examine the pandemic's effect on the provision of psychological services in this setting and its impact on clinicians and their patients, we surveyed 126 licensed mental health clinicians working in LTC settings during the pandemic. The sample consisted of psychologists, social workers, and psychiatry mid-level practitioners from 31 states who had provided mental health care services in LTC settings during the initial 7 months after the COVID-19 pandemic was declared a national emergency. This exploratory study revealed that the pandemic significantly impacted the availability and use of mental health services in LTC settings. Although there was a reported increase in the use of telehealth services compared to prepandemic frequency, it was noted that LTC residents went long periods of time without access to mental health services. Government-imposed visitor restrictions and pandemic-related restrictions were perceived as negatively impacting the emotional well-being, loneliness, and quality of life of LTC residents. Perceived factors contributing to the financial and emotional impact of COVID-19 on clinicians were explored, and it was noted that more than half of the sample reported experiencing burnout and nearly one third of surveyed clinicians believed they had experienced trauma by providing mental health services in LTC settings during the COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding this impact has implications for providing mental health services during the current and future pandemics.

Factors influencing burnout rates among mental health professionals

The responsibility of mental health providers to care for the sick and their families throughout the COVID-19 pandemic placed mental health providers at a considerably higher risk for burnout than the general population. Despite the increasing burnout rates among mental health providers during the pandemic, no scholars have yet examined how the COVID-19 pandemic affected burnout among mental health providers. Therefore, the purpose of this quantitative, correlational survey study was to examine the factors that contributed to burnout among psychologists during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Maslach's theory of burnout was used as the theoretical framework to explore whether factors specific to the pandemic, as measured by the Pandemic Experiences and Perceptions Survey (PEPS), influenced the experience of burnout, as measured by the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Health Services Survey (MBI-HSS), among clinical psychologists practicing during the COVID-19 pandemic. To answer this research question, 137 psychologists completed the MBI-HSS and the PEPS. Participants were screened and recruited through the online platform SurveyMonkey, which is also the platform where data were collected. The results revealed the variables of disruption, risk perception, and impact on work life areas significantly predicted the burnout scores. The findings may create positive social change for clinicians in dealing with future pandemics. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Understanding mental health professionals' perspective of therapeutic alliance in working with unaccompanied children: A Grounded theory approach

The number and trends of unaccompanied children immigrating to the U.S. has drastically changed throughout the years and many are placed in shelters while they remain in the custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). Unaccompanied children subject to traumatic experiences in their country of origin or throughout their journey present with high levels of adverse mental health. Despite this, there is limited literature exploring the mental health concerns of unaccompanied children or the experiences of mental health professionals serving unaccompanied children specifically unaccompanied children in ORR care. This study aimed to understand the perception of mental health professionals of establishing therapeutic alliance with unaccompanied immigrant children in an ORR shelter. Grounded theory methods were utilized to identify elements vital to the process of building therapeutic alliance with unaccompanied immigrant children. In this qualitative study data was drawn for 6 participants providing mental health services to unaccompanied immigrant children in ORR shelters in South Texas. The pressing elements identified were, policy impacts treatment, boundaries, limitations due to setting, cultural competency, creating a safe environment and impacts of COVID-19. Understanding how these elements present themselves and how to address them in the process of developing therapeutic alliance is crucial. Future research should include a specific focus on building therapeutic alliance in other ORR settings. More work can be done to educate communities and other mental health professionals about the efforts and practices necessary in building therapeutic alliance with unaccompanied immigrant children and addressing their unique needs. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

"Viral time capsule: A global photo-elicitation study of child and adolescent mental health professionals during COVID-19": Correction

Reports an error in "Viral time capsule: A global photo-elicitation study of child and adolescent mental health professionals during COVID-19" by Olivia D. Herrington, Ashley Clayton, Laelia Benoit, Cecil Prins-Aardema, Madeline DiGiovanni, Indigo Weller and Andres Martin (Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, 2021[Feb][2], Vol 15[5]). The authors identified errors in affiliation and in the conclusion section. The affiliations now appear correctly in this record. In the conclusion, the first sentence should read, "Photoelicitation provided a disarming and efficient means to learn about individual, regional, and global similarities and differences regarding the professionals charged with addressing the mental health needs of children and adolescents during 4 early months of the COVID-19 global pandemic". The original article has been updated. (The following of the original article appeared in record 2021-14596-001). Objective: To examine, through photo-elicitation, the personal and professional impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health professionals working with children and adolescents around the globe. Methods: We invited the submission of images collected about the pandemic between May and August 2020. We encouraged participants to yoke personal reflections or voice memos to their images. Using snowball sampling, we began with two invitations, including one to the graduates of a mentorship program continuously hosted since 2004 by the International Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions (IACAPAP). We analyzed de-identified images and anonymized transcripts through iterative coding using thematic analysis informed by rich picture analysis and aided by NVivo software. Results: We collected submissions from child and adolescent mental health professionals (n = 134) working in 54 countries spread across the five continents. We identified four overarching domains with component themes that revealed both the commonality and the uniqueness of the pandemic experience around the globe: (1) Place (adjusting to emptiness and stillness;shifting timeframes;blending of spaces);(2) Person (disruption to life rhythms;emotional toll;positives of the pandemic);(3) Profession (changing practices;outreach efforts;guild pride-and guilt);and (4) Purpose (from pandemic to syndemic;from lamenting to embracing;planning toward a better tomorrow). Conclusions: Photo-elicitation provided a disarming and efficient means to learn about individual, regional, and global similarities and differences regarding the professionals charged with addressing the mental health needs of children and adolescents around the globe. These findings may help inform practice changes in post-pandemic times. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

International Survey on the Use of Emerging Technologies Among Forensic and Correctional Mental Health Professionals

Although the global diffusion of e-mental health has increased in recent years, research on the use of technologies in criminal justice settings is limited. To bridge this knowledge gap, we conducted an international online survey (N = 555) of forensic and correctional mental health professionals from Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States, and 20 additional countries. Telecommunication technologies and mental health platforms had the highest numbers of users, the broadest scope, and the largest increase in use due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. In contrast, the use of social media and advanced technologies was lower, narrower in scope, and remained the same or decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Respondents' age, professional discipline, country, and clinical setting significantly predicted total technology use in clinical practice. The study findings provide an overview of the current patterns of technology use and point to opportunities for research and development.

Staff experiences of adapted work practices within RISE-CAMHS, during the Covid-19 pandemic – A mixed methods service evaluation

The Covid-19 pandemic has led to changes in work practices for all mental health professionals. This study explored the experiences of staff working within Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in Coventry and Warwickshire, during the outbreak.

A journey to compassion: A service user perspective

With the spread of Covid-19 and the corresponding lockdown, mental health problems in the UK are rising exponentially (The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 2020). So it has become more important than ever to consider and discuss our mental health. Mental health difficulties can happen to anyone from any background. It is like any other illness requiring steps to be taken to attain recovery. We generally hear the viewpoint of mental health professionals who share their experiences of therapy and promote their idea of wellbeing, but the service user voice is often unheard. This paper outlines the author's experiences of mental health problems and treatments. He will then discuss CFT and emphasise the importance of the therapeutic relationship between psychologist and client.

Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices and Perceived Barriers among Mental Health Professionals in Sudanese Psychiatric Hospitals regarding COVID-19 Outbreak

Objectives: To assess mental health professionals (MHPs) knowledge, attitude and practice in Sudanese psychiatric facilitates. Methods: A cross-sectional self-administered questionnaire targeting the whole population of MHPs which is 141, was conducted at three psychiatric facilities in Khartoum state, Sudan. 89 agreed to participate consisting of psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and nurses. Results: 70.8% of MHP's in this study had adequate knowledge of COVID-19 symptomatology, transmission, management, and preventive measures. 44.9% were not willing to take the COVID-19 vaccine. Good practices like maintaining quarantine during outbreak and wearing a medical mask were observed. The significant difference found in Spearman's correlation was between knowledge and attitude which was a negative correlation. Findings showed that MHPs (37.1%, N=33) had positive Practice, (57.3%, N=51) had positive attitude regarding COVID-19. MHPs perceived that lack of an official specialized in infection control, overcrowding in psychiatric patients' rooms, and Lack of policy procedures of infection control practice were the major barriers to infection control. Conclusion: This study found that MHPs in Sudan have good knowledge, and suggest a special need to scale up facilities' infection control materials to meet the required good practice.

Gender-based violence experiences among Palestinian women during the COVID-19 pandemic: mental health professionals' perceptions and concerns.

BACKGROUND: In a geopolitically at-risk environment, such as Palestine, gender-based violence (GBV) is still a crucial problem rooted in discriminatory laws and traditional habits exacerbated by the ongoing Israeli military occupation. Moreover, the lack of updated data makes it difficult to grasp the magnitude of the phenomenon entirely; the purpose of the current study was to explore mental health professionals' perceptions and concerns on GBV among Palestinian women during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Participants in the study were 30 Mental Health Professionals (MHP) selected using convenience and snowball sampling techniques from among MHP in northern West Bank, Palestine. RESULTS: A thematic content analysis revealed seven main themes of GBV during the pandemic. Palestinian MHP reported that the increased number of GBV cases among women during the COVID-19, quarantine, physical distancing measures, and closure of non-essential services significantly heightened the risks of GBV among Palestinian women. Moreover, Palestinian women involved with or married to older men or married at a very young age were at risk of GBV more than others. Results of qualitative analysis also showed that Israeli occupation and the political violence characterizing the area for decades (including restriction of movement, house demolitions, separation of family members, etc.) have also exacerbated and increased GBV in the occupied Palestinian territories. CONCLUSIONS: Improving intervention skills and supervision services among Palestinian MHP to help women who face GBV is recommended. Moreover, additional research should be conducted to explore the risk and potential factors of GBV, agency, and coping strategies to deal with GBV.

PSYCHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF ONLINE COUNSELLING PLATFORMS OFFERING MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT

Over the years, the domain of psychological therapy and counselling has significantly expanded and established different forums to provide mental health services. The use of virtual therapy for providing mental support to individuals has drastically increased by professionals over the internet through emails, chatting over voice, audio platforms or chat rooms. The world was exposed to certain triggers initiated due to the unprecedented crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic, yet therapy applications have helped alleviate mental health challenges and maximize benefits towards the psychological wellbeing of the society. However, evaluation of its efficiency in actually helping people during a crisis is important. The present study aims to (a) Evaluate online counselling services and its effectiveness in providing the necessary emotional support during the pandemic and (b) Understand perspective of trained experts and members on e-therapy platforms. Initially, the study carefully reviewed existing literature on virtual therapy. An online survey was designed to garner the opinions of over 100 mental health professionals about online counselling services. The results reported, about 72% of the experts would consider shifting to virtual platforms during difficult situations for their clients. This paper is particularly useful for mental health professionals evaluating the shift to online platforms for their clients. In the future, researchers could develop technology to enhance the process of e-therapy for the clients and the experts. © 2021 IEEE.

Guest editorial: indigenous knowledge systems and mental health

The contributions focus mainly on three themes: mental health support experienced by black and minority ethnic (BME) groups in different contexts and responses to a range of challenges;traditional healing and mental health;and relationships between traditional practice and mainstream mental health services. [...]the articles in this themed Issue highlight the importance of continuing to explore how different knowledge systems can contribute to developing contemporary responses to mental ill health that reflect global advances in understanding. In the light of wider agendas relating to decolonisation we hope that this collection of articles will encourage western-oriented mental health professionals to learn about other knowledge systems and context-specific approaches that promote the mental health of individuals and communities in other parts of the world.

Relationship between transformational leadership and adult attachment in licensed behavioral health leaders

The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine if and to what extent there is a relationship between transformational leadership and the dimensions of adult attachment (i.e., Anxious and Avoidant) in U.S. licensed behavioral health leaders. The theoretical frameworks of transformational leadership and adult attachment addressed two research questions with corresponding hypotheses. A quantitative methodology and correlational design addressed the following research questions: (1) Is there a statistically significant relationship between transformational leadership and Anxious attachment in U.S. licensed behavioral health leaders? (2) Is there a statistically significant relationship between transformational leadership and Avoidant attachment in U.S. licensed behavioral health leaders? Qualtrics recruited 120 licensed behavioral health leaders to address the research questions. The Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ 5X-Short leader form) and Experiences in Close Relationship Scale-Short form (ECR-S), were used to address the research problem. Results of the Spearman's rank-order correlational analysis indicated a non-significant small, negative association between transformational leadership (M = 2.88, SD = .56, N = 120) and Anxious attachment (M = 2.47 SD = .81, N = 120), rho (119) = -.09, p = .317. and a significant small-to-moderate, negative association between transformational leadership (M = 2.88, SD = .56, N = 120) and Avoidant attachment style leadership (M = 3.89, SD = 1.16, N = 120), rho (119) = -.268, p = .003. The study findings suggest future research within transformational leadership and adult attachment domains, as well as replicating this study, post the COVID-19 pandemic. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Exploring mental health professionals described experiences of burnout and coping strategy uses

Prior to this study it was not known how mental health professionals, who treat trauma, in the U.S., described their experiences of burnout and their use of coping strategies. The purpose was to explore MHPs described experiences of burnout and their use of coping strategies. There were two research questions: How do MHPs, who treat trauma, in the U.S., describe their experience of burnout? And how do MHPs, who treat trauma, in the U.S., describe their use of coping strategies? The job demands-resource model provided the theoretical foundation. Purposeful sampling helped select 18 mental health professionals for participation in the study. Data were gathered through self-report questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis was utilized to analyze data collected in this study. Eight themes arose from the data regarding descriptions of burnout experiences and uses of coping strategies: (1) conditions as described by MHPs that resulted in burnout, (2) burnout as described by MHPs that was induced by COVID, (3) characteristics of burnout as described by MHPs, (4) Staying motivated in the face of burnout as described by MHPs, (5) strategies and tools utilized for coping as described by MHPs, (6) beneficial types of support systems utilized for coping as described by MHPs, (7) utilizing open communication to cope with burnout as described by MHPs, and (8) utilizing education and preparation for coping with burnout as described by MHPs. Results indicated that MHPs face the risk of burnout, through strategies such as education, communication, and self-care plans, this risk could be addressed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

An international survey examining the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on telehealth use among mental health professionals.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 has profoundly affected the work of mental health professionals with many transitioning to telehealth to comply with public health measures. This large international study examined the impact of the pandemic on mental health clinicians' telehealth use. METHODS: This survey study was conducted with mental health professionals, primarily psychiatrists and psychologists, registered with WHO's Global Clinical Practice Network (GCPN). 1206 clinicians from 100 countries completed the telehealth section of the online survey in one of six languages between June 4 and July 7, 2020. Participants were asked about their use, training (i.e., aspects of telehealth addressed), perceptions, and concerns. OUTCOMES: Since the pandemic onset, 1092 (90.5%) clinicians reported to have started or increased their telehealth services. Telephone and videoconferencing were the most common modalities. 592 (49.1%) participants indicated that they had not received any training. Clinicians with no training or training that only addressed a single aspect of telehealth practice were more likely to perceive their services as somewhat ineffective than those with training that addressed two or more aspects. Most clinicians indicated positive perceptions of effectiveness and patient satisfaction. Quality of care compared to in-person services and technical issues were the most common concerns. Findings varied by WHO region, country income level, and profession. INTERPRETATION: Findings suggest a global practice change with providers perceiving telehealth as a viable option for mental health care. Increasing local training opportunities and efforts to address clinical and technological concerns is important for meeting ongoing demands.

Do Online Gambling Products Require Traditional Therapy for Gambling Disorder to Change? Evidence from Focus Group Interviews with Mental Health Professionals Treating Online Gamblers.

Online gambling has significantly altered the situational and structural characteristics of gambling products, to the extent that online gamblers might be substantially different from traditional offline gamblers. A growing body of literature has identified the evolving features of online gambling and the individuals who engage in it. However, beyond understanding the individual characteristics of this subgroup, relatively less effort has been made to examine whether existing cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) approaches are still entirely relevant for online problem gamblers, or whether changes are needed to adapt according to gambling mode of access. To understand what kind of challenges online gambling poses to mental health professionals dealing with disordered gamblers, four focus groups comprising 28 Spanish participants were carried out. All the treatment providers had ongoing experience with online gamblers undergoing treatment, and included clinical psychologists, mental health social workers, and a medical doctor. The data were examined using thematic analysis. The analysis identified five main themes that characterised online gamblers: (1) being of younger age, (2) lack of conflicts at home and at work/educational centre, rarely presenting violent or aggressive behaviour, (3) gambling disorder only being identified by overdue debt, (4) co-occurring conditions with technology-related abuse rather than other substance-related addictions, and (5) skill-based gambling. The study highlights mental health workers' perceived insecurities about how to best treat online gamblers, and discusses the specific characteristics that CBT for gambling disorder might need to incorporate to adjust for this particular group of gamblers.

The Early Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health Facilities and Psychiatric Professionals.

(1) Background: While in many countries, the psychiatric and mental health sectors had been in crisis for years, the onset of a novel coronavirus pandemic impacted their structures, organizations, and professionals worldwide. (2) Methods: To document the early impacts of the COVID-19 health crisis on psychiatry and mental health sectors, a systematic review of the international literature published in 2020 was conducted in PubMed (MEDLINE), Cairn.info, and SantéPsy (Ascodocpsy) databases. (3) Results: After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 72 articles from scientific journals were selected, including papers documenting the early impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the organization of psychiatric care delivery, work processes in psychiatry and mental health units, and personal experiences of mental health professionals. This review identified the contributions aimed at preventing the onset of mental disorders in the early stages of the health crisis. It lists the organizational changes that have been implemented in the first place to ensure continuity of psychiatric care while reducing the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission. It questions the evolution of the rights and duties of mental health professionals in the first months of the pandemic. (4) Discussion and conclusions: Although this literature review exclusively documented the early impacts of the COVID-19 health crisis, it is of significant interest, as it pictures the unprecedent situation in which psychiatry and mental health care professionals found themselves in the first stages of the pandemic. This work is a preliminary step of a study to be conducted with mental health professionals on an international scale-the Psy-GIPO2C project-based on more than 15 group interviews, 30 individual interviews, and 2000 questionnaires. The final aim of this study is to formulate concrete recommendations for decision-makers to improve work in psychiatry and mental health.

A survey of mental health professionals in a paediatric hospital during COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: There is little understanding of the mental health impact for young people with long-term physical health conditions and mental health professionals' experiences of supporting them during COVID-19. This service evaluation aimed to conduct a survey of the psychological services provided by mental health professionals in a paediatric hospital in relation to COVID-19. METHOD: Clinical psychologists and assistant psychologists (n = 76) across the hospital were asked to complete a survey, asking about their perceptions of COVID-19's impact on patients and families and experiences of providing support during COVID-19. Open-ended survey questions were analysed qualitatively using framework analysis. RESULTS: Respondents described perceived impacts on patients and families around social isolation, school closure, family relationships, physical health, mental health, treatments and social support. Respondents' experiences of providing mental health support during COVID-19 highlighted themes around providing remote/virtual support, workload and facilitators and barriers to their work. CONCLUSIONS: Mental health professionals surveyed reported a complex mental health landscape in young people with long-term physical health conditions and their families during COVID-19. Service-wide involvement is needed to facilitate changes to support vital adaptations to remote/virtual working. Research on the mental health of young people with long-term physical health conditions and staff experiences of providing support is warranted.