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

ABSTRACT

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.