ABSTRACT
In recent years, there has been a noticeable increase in online self-help treatments and peer-support programs for eating disorders. The possibility of easily accessing them anytime makes these programs an important support tool and an influencing source for increasing motivation to change. The aim of this work is to describe the #How can we help you? project, its initial feedback received from users, and its future directions. Researchers and clinicians developed an Instagram profile (Dicci Come Aiutarti) based on psychoeducation, aimed at orienting those suffering from a self-reported eating disorder towards clinical care, providing information about eating concerns and related constructs, and increasing motivation for treatment and illness awareness. The contents shared are based on narratives about people who had recovered from an eating disorder, importance and ability to change, and nutrition management. We have provided an overview of the needs of the Instagram profile users, a description of the main interactions recorded since the profile was opened, and examples of the unmet needs shared by users in direct messages. Future directions of the project concern the definition and formalization of the type of support provided by developing a psychoeducational and integrated program and also, the formulation of a research protocol able to assess the usability, effectiveness, and satisfaction of the Instagram profile.
ABSTRACT
We study the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 on the monthly savings of self-help groups (SHGs) in India, and the role of SHGs in mitigating the economic effects of the lockdown. Administrative data suggest that monthly savings of SHGs declined by 66% between March and July of 2020, with larger declines in areas with more stringent lockdowns. Survey data revealed that SHG and non-SHG households had similar consumption and income losses during the lockdown. Households with SHG members and those that received assistance from SHGs in procuring ration or accessing community kitchens reported significantly higher food security, however. © 2023 Agricultural & Applied Economics Association.
ABSTRACT
La crisis del COVID-19 ha puesto de manifiesto la importancia de los recursos de apoyo social y la necesidad de crear y/o ampliar las redes sociales que proporcionen el apoyo necesario. Esto ha sido evidente ya que muchas personas perdieron sus fuentes de apoyo en las situaciones más necesitadas, incluido el apoyo público proporcionado por instituciones formales. Si bien aún no se ha evaluado la magnitud general del impacto social, se han planteado muchas preguntas, como resultado de esta crisis, sobre la mejora de los sistemas de apoyo existentes y el uso de otros posibles recursos sociales. Este ensayo tiene como objetivo arrojar luz sobre el papel de los grupos de autoayuda (también llamados grupos de autodesarrollo o crecimiento personal) como un recurso importante de apoyo social y resiliencia. Evidentemente, estos grupos han proporcionado un espacio para que las personas se conecten entre sí, compartan información útil, se brinden apoyo emocional e instrumental mutuo y desarrollen capacidad y resiliencia entre sus miembros. Esto ha sido más evidente durante la crisis de COVID-19, ya que las plataformas de autoayuda y ayuda mutua en línea desempeñaron un papel de apoyo clave cuando se restringió el movimiento. Argumentamos que los grupos de autoayuda representan un recurso social importante, no solo como un amortiguador contra las crisis, sino también como una herramienta para el cambio social y la mejora de la calidad de vida.Alternate :The COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the importance of social support resources and the need to create and/or expand social networks that provide the necessary support. This has been evident as many people lost their sources of support in the most needed situations, including public support provided by formal institutions. Although the overall magnitude of the social impact is yet to be evaluated, many questions have been raised, as a result of this crisis, about improving the existing systems of support and using other possible social resources. This essay aims to shed light on the role of self-help groups (also called self-development or personal growth groups) as a significant resource of social support and resilience. Evidently, these groups have provided a space for people to connect with each other, to share useful information, to mutually give emotional and instrumental support, and to build capacity and resilience among its members. This has been more evident during the COVID-19 crisis as online self-help and mutual aid platforms played a key supportive role when movement was restricted. We argue that self-help groups represent an important social resource, not only as a buffer against crises, but also as tool for social change and improving quality of life.
ABSTRACT
Cashless transactions are common in business sectors and in cities to a large extent. But after the announcement of the demonetization of all Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 banknotes on November 8, 2016 by the Government of India, all the sectors to the maximum extent adopted cashless transactions. SHGs too have adopted this culture by installing mobile apps on their smart phones. During 2015-16, NABARD, through its project Eshakti digitisation of SHGs, has made an attempt to update the SHG bookkeeping on a real time basis to bring transparency and credibility. The project EShakti had the advantage of addressing the problem of book keeping through available technology, knowing the credit history of SHG members, generating grades for SHGs based on their financial and non-financial records and making them available to all important stakeholders. The stakeholders, namely bankers can now take informed decisions on extending credit linkages on the basis of reports generated through EShakti. In this paper, an attempt is made to study the adoption of cashless transactions in SHGs in the Konaseema region.
ABSTRACT
Healthcare providers perform lifesaving work in unusually stressful work environments due to the challenges and related risks of battling the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. The potential personal and professional toll is substantial. This article describes how one healthcare facility benefited from existing peer support resources to address workforce well-being, ensuring that resources were available to support workforce resilience throughout the protracted COVID response. Copyright 2021 by the Missouri State Medical Association.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Long COVID is an emerging public health concern. A growing number of individuals are experiencing prolonged, multifaceted health challenges and accompanying social impacts after COVID-19 infections. Support services in the United Kingdom remain insufficient and fraught with complexity. Responding to persistent gaps in care, patients joined forces in online peer support groups. However, little is known about how these groups impact patients with long COVID and their lived experiences of the condition. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to explore the roles that online peer support groups take on and the impact they have on patients experiencing and recovering from long COVID in the United Kingdom. In doing so, this study aims to identify ways to inform future long COVID care, including online peer support and broader long COVID care structures. METHODS: I conducted 11 semistructured interviews virtually on Zoom in July 2021. Participants had long COVID, were UK-based, and used long COVID online peer support groups. Topics discussed in interviews included what led participants to these groups, experiences within them, and feelings about the roles that the groups took on. I analyzed the results by manually conducting thematic analysis. RESULTS: Long COVID online peer support groups had numerous roles, significantly impacting users. I identified 5 themes and 13 subthemes through thematic analysis. The identified themes were as follows: (1) filling professional care gaps, (2) societal awareness, (3) engagement behavior, (4) diversity, and (5) social connections. Given the void of professional support, those experiencing long COVID gained some benefit from these groups. However, participants emphasized notable concerns about the all-encompassing roles these groups embody and speculated over potential improvements. CONCLUSIONS: If used appropriately, online peer support groups could be immensely beneficial for patient well-being, beyond simply filling gaps in long COVID care. However, it appears many groups take on more than they can manage and become potentially harmful. Through prioritizing patient voices, long COVID care could be restructured to maximize peer support's benefits within broader care structures.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Adult , COVID-19/complications , Humans , Peer Group , Qualitative Research , Self-Help Groups , United Kingdom , Post-Acute COVID-19 SyndromeABSTRACT
In cancers and chronic conditions, peer support (PS) has been shown to improve quality of life (QOL) and provide an important coping mechanism for patients, however there is little evidence for this intervention in Head and Neck cancer (HNC). Peer support allows individuals to come together and share information, encouragement, and experiences. It is delivered in a variety of ways including one-to-one, online, and support groups. There is limited literature regarding the timing, barriers, and types of PS available for individuals with HNC across the United Kingdom (UK). The aim of this project was to survey healthcare professionals with respect to their experience regarding types, timings, and barriers to PS in HNC. The survey was developed based on the literature, feedback and advice from a HNC patient research group and healthcare professionals. It was conducted online and consisted of twelve questions. Eighty-eight individuals responded covering twenty-four of twenty-six cancer alliances across the UK. Three main themes with subthemes were identified: patient barriers (emotional barriers and patient limitations), organisational barriers (administrative problems, limited time and resources and COVID-19), and staff barriers (lack of departmental support, concerns with PS and matching and timing of support). The survey demonstrated the different types of PS available across the UK and the barriers faced when implementing this support. It highlighted the complexity of being able to satisfactorily deliver appropriate and effective PS in HNC and the challenges involved.