Preparing for the COVID-19 paediatric mental health crisis: A focus on youth reactions to caretaker death

Exploring the Impact of Bereavement During the COVID-19 Pandemic on Children and Young People: A Scoping Review

Experiencing bereavement as a child or young person (CYP) can have long-lasting effects. The societal and environmental burdens of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic exacerbated the experience of loss and grief for many CYP, who were unable to access their usual the support networks. However, it is still unclear what is currently known and not known about the experiences of CYP bereaved during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. This review used the framework of Arksey and O'Malley and included five stages: (1) identifying the research question; (2) identifying relevant studies; (3) study selection; (4) charting the data; (5) collating, summarizing, and reporting the results. The methodological quality of the included studies was also assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme tool. The PRISMA framework was used for reporting the results. The electronic databases Medline, PsychINFO, CINAHL, and PubMed were searched for relevant articles. A total of three papers meeting the inclusion criteria were included in this review and two main themes identified: (1) support (which included sub-themes; social isolation and the impact on support; support from family and friends; wider support networks); (2) Emotional impact of bereavement during a pandemic. Access to support networks is crucial for CYP to understand and process their emotions relating to their bereavement experience. The pandemic meant that many usual support networks such as family and friends were inaccessible to CYP, who struggled to deal with their experience of grief during this time. Schools are a valuable support mechanism and can help CYP understand their emotions through open discussions about their bereavement. The limited empirical evidence currently available in this area of research demonstrates an important need to further understanding of the long-term impacts of dealing with pandemic-related loss in childhood.

Educator Perspectives on Grief-Sensitive Training During the COVID-19 Pandemic in US Public Schools

BACKGROUND

Grief and loss are common experiences for children and adolescents, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Educators feel unprepared to support grieving students due to lack of training. We studied educator experiences receiving grief-sensitive training as part of the grief-sensitive schools initiative (GSSI), which provides grief-sensitive training, online video-based and print resources, and a financial grant to schools and school districts for use in supporting grieving students.

METHODS

Fourteen New York and Florida educators who received GSSI training participated in small focus groups or semi-structured interviews on their experiences receiving GSSI training and supporting grieving students during the pandemic. Transcripts were analyzed using grounded-theory analysis.

RESULTS

Emergent themes included increased confidence engaging grieving students, the desire for recurring trainings, the value of receiving training from an expert on pediatric grief and loss and the opportunity to ask questions, the need for grief-sensitive training to reflect the cultural diversity of school communities, the unique losses experienced by students during the pandemic, and compassion fatigue and burnout in educators.

IMPLICATIONS FOR SCHOOL HEALTH POLICY, PRACTICE, AND EQUITY

Policymakers should recognize the effects of grief on students' learning and development and collaborate with educators to develop resources.

CONCLUSIONS

Educators found GSSI training useful in supporting grieving students, particularly during the pandemic.

Predictors and Correlates of Positive Urine Drug Screening in a Retrospective Cohort Analysis of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Inpatients Throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Youth substance use is associated with significant psychological, neurological, and medical complications. Risk factors for substance use among children and adolescents in the general population include peer and/or parental substance use, certain psychiatric illnesses (eg, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, depression), and history of maltreatment. Co-occurring substance use and psychiatric illness have been associated with increased suicidality, but few prior studies have characterized substance use among child/adolescent inpatients. As such, it remains unclear how substance use contributing to acute psychiatric presentations has changed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

This is a retrospective cohort study of 816 unique child/adolescent psychiatry inpatients with urine drug screening (UDS) results from a diverse urban setting. Charts of patients hospitalized between June 1, 2018 and November 30, 2021 were reviewed for sociodemographic characteristics, indication for admission, psychiatric history, hospital course, treatment plan, and discharge diagnosis. Differences in sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, such as age, race, and diagnoses, between patients with and without positive UDS were explored throughout various periods of the COVID-19 pandemic. Descriptive and comparative statistics were performed, as well as a logistic regression model to identify the predictors of positive UDS.

RESULTS

Of the study sample, 18% had a positive UDS. Older age, diagnosis of impulsive or behavioral disorder, and a history of violence were found to be predictors of positive UDS. Asian/South Asian or Hispanic/LatinX race and history of a developmental or intellectual disability were found to be negative predictors. The frequency of positive UDS in this population did not change based on COVID-19.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

Multiple factors may predispose children and adolescents to substance use. Though no impact of COVID-19 was found in this sample, longer-term studies are needed.

SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE

This study identifies independent predictors of active substance use in the child and adolescent psychiatric inpatient population.

Losing a Close Friend or Family Member Due to COVID-19 and Mental Health among LGBTQ Youth

This study examines the association between having lost a close friend or family member to COVID-19 and mental health outcomes among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ) youth. Data come from 33,993 respondents in the United States, ages 13 to 24, who completed an online survey of LGBTQ youth mental health. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the adjusted odds of recent anxiety, depression, considering, or attempting suicide in the past year based on whether or not the youth reported having lost a close friend or family member to COVID-19. Among the full sample, experiences of COVID-19 loss were associated with recent anxiety (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.29, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.20-1.40), recent depression (aOR = 1.23, 95% CI [1.15, 1.32]), seriously considering suicide in the past year (aOR = 1.22, 95% CI (1.14, 1.30)), and attempting suicide in the past year (aOR = 1.55, 95% CI (1.41, 1.69)). These findings highlight the urgent need for investment in low-barrier, affirming mental health services for LGBTQ youth who have experienced COVID-19 loss to support their grief, overall mental health, and healthy development.

DAILY LIFE OF FAMILIES AND COVID-19: IN THE LIGHT OF THE COMPREHENSIVE SOCIOLOGY OF MICHEL MAFFESOLI

ABSTRACT Objective to understand the changes that occurred in family daily life faced with illness and/or death of a family member by Covid-19. Method exploratory, analytical, qualitative study, rooted in The Comprehensive Sociology and Daily Life of Michel Maffesoli. Data were collected between September and October 2021 in the municipalities of Maringá, Colorado, Mandaguaçu and Floriano district. Participants were 19 families with at least one family member who became ill and/or died by Covid-19. The sampling was by the non-probabilistic Snowball technique. The in-depth technique was used to explore the daily lives of families. The content of the speeches was organized through thematic analysis. The interpretative synthesis was constructed and discussed from the theoretical framework. Results a category called "Familial daily life after illness and/or loss by Covid-19", emerged from the convergence between the reference which was divided into two subcategories: "Changes in daily life and family functioning" and "Changes after the loss of a loved one". Thus, in the analysis, it was found that the changes in family daily life were permeated by obstacles that were caused by financial and physical limitations or the absence of the element (key person) that once gave solidity to the family unit. Conclusion the daily life of families was profoundly modified, changes negatively affected socio-family relationships, from the most banal aspects of daily life to the more complex ones. This study contributes to the nursing practice and its understanding of an effective practice and supports the development of programs for the surviving families of Covid-19.

QUOTIDIANO FAMILIAL DIANTE DO ADOECIMENTO POR COVID-19: À LUZ DA SOCIOLOGIA COMPREENSIVA DE MICHEL MAFFESOLI

RESUMO Objetivo apreender as mudanças ocorridas no quotidiano familial diante do adoecimento e/ou morte de um membro familiar por Covid-19. Método estudo exploratório, analítico, qualitativo, ancorado na Sociologia Compreensiva e do Quotidiano de Michel Maffesoli. A coleta de dados ocorreu entre setembro e outubro de 2021, nos municípios de Maringá, Colorado, Mandaguaçu e no Distrito de Floriano. Participaram 19 famílias que tiveram ao menos um familiar que adoeceu e/ou faleceu por Covid-19. A amostragem foi por meio da técnica não probabilística Snowball. Utilizou-se a técnica em profundidade para explorar o quotidiano das famílias. Organizou-se o conteúdo das falas por meio da análise temática. As sínteses interpretativas foram construídas e discutidas a partir do referencial teórico. Resultados da convergência entre o referencial e os depoimentos emergiu uma categoria denominada “Quotidiano familial após o adoecimento e/ou perda por Covid-19,” dividida em duas subcategorias: “Mudanças no quotidiano e funcionamento familiar” e “Mudanças após a perda de um ente querido”. Assim, na análise, constatou-se que as mudanças no quotidiano familial foram permeadas por obstáculos que se configuraram por limitações financeiras, físicas ou a ausência do elemento (pessoa-chave) que, outrora, conferia solidez à unidade familiar. Conclusão o quotidiano familial foi profundamente modificado, as transformações incidiram negativamente sobre as relações sociofamiliares, desde os aspectos mais banais do cotidiano até os mais complexos. Este estudo contribui para o saber-fazer do enfermeiro na compreensão de uma prática efetiva, apoiando o desenvolvimento de programas de apoio às famílias sobreviventes da Covid-19.