Investigation on mental health status and psychological service demands of volunteers during the epidemic

Objective: To comprehend the mental health status and its influencing factors of volunteers during the epidemic. Methods: In March 2020, through the network platform, 384 volunteers who participated in the epidemic prevention and control work in Jinshan District of Shanghai were surveyed by cluster sampling. Perceived stress scale (PSS-10), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD-7) and patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9) were used to evaluate the stress status, anxiety symptoms and depression symptoms of the subjects, and the psychological service demands of the subjects were investigated. Results: Totally 361 valid questionnaires were received with the recovery rate of 94.01%. It was found that 101 people (27.98%) had stress symptoms, 65 people (18.01%) had anxiety symptoms, and 67 people (18.56%) had depression symptoms. Among these, 61 people (16.90%) had two or more types of positive symptoms at the same time. Logistic regression analysis showed that more than 12 hours of volunteer service per week was a risk factor for stress (OR = 2.100, P < 0.05), while the familiarity with COVID-19 epidemic was a risk factor for anxiety (OR = 2.507), depression (OR = 2.674) and high-risk psychological status (OR = 2.742) (P < 0.05). People with stress, anxiety, depression and high-risk mental health status had stronger demands for mental health services (P < 0.05). Conclusions: In the early stage of the epidemic, the mental health of volunteers participating in prevention and control of epidemic in Jinshan District of Shanghai was not bad. However, it is still suggested that we should improve the construction of volunteer service system and pay attention to the physical and mental health of volunteers, establish a reasonable rest system and personal protection and social support system, emphasize the publicity and education of mental health, and provide necessary mental health services for volunteers in serious public health events.

From field to lab

The Crawford Fund has supported a long-running program providing plant pathology and entomology support for smallholder farmers and provincial and district staff in southern Lao PDR. The program has involved over 32 volunteers, mentors and students covering 55 cash crops involved in poverty alleviation. The program has focused on identifying the key pests and diseases while working directly with the farmers to develop appropriate management practices. We endeavour to empower government advisers to work with farmers to alleviate poverty, for example through the production of high value horticulture crops. Activities have included workshops, establishment of small diagnostic laboratories, and the development of pest and disease checklists and extension materials. Benefits also flow to Australia, with volunteers and mentors gaining exposure to pests and diseases not present in Australia, and the opportunity to build professional networks. This case study describes the 'field to lab' approach that has characterised this program and made it successful. Dr Anderson visited Savannakhet and Champasak provinces in February and March 2019 as a volunteer with the Australian Volunteer Program. She worked with local government advisers to visit smallholder farmers and survey the leaf diseases that affect bananas in southern Lao PDR. In-field training for identification of banana leaf diseases was undertaken. Samples were taken to the laboratory for preliminary identification, providing the opportunity for training in specific techniques for working with banana leaf pathogens. Samples were sent to colleagues in internationally recognised laboratories for formal identification, making use of specialised resources not present in Lao PDR. During COVID, ongoing support for the identification of pest and diseases and their management has been through the use of social media such as WhatsApp which link the network of past volunteers, mentors and Lao counterparts.

Knowledge, attitudes and anxiety toward COVID-19 among domestic and overseas Chinese college students.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the knowledge, attitudes and anxiety toward COVID-19 among Chinese college students studying in China and abroad. METHOD: A structured questionnaire, comprised of demographic characteristics, knowledge and attitudes toward COVID-19 and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), was used to collect data for 566 domestic students and 126 students studying abroad. RESULTS: Domestic students were better than students abroad in knowledge of epidemiology and manifestations. Domestic students showed a significant higher enthusiasm for voluntary services than students abroad, including medical science popularization, community services, traffic dispersion, logistics transportation and being volunteers for vaccine trials. The scores (Mean ± SD) of S-AI and T-AI among students abroad were 59.48 ± 8.63 and 54.10 ± 7.20, respectively, which were significantly higher than those of domestic students (39.46 ± 8.16 and 39.25 ± 7.72). CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed a better understanding of knowledge, more positive attitudes and less anxiety toward COVID-19 among domestic students, compared with students studying abroad. In light of this information, more attention and appropriate psychological and social intervention should be paid to college students with anxiety, especially those studying abroad.