An action plan to address the mental health impact of COVID-19 on communities: Five effective strategies.

Abstract

The 2019 coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted the physical and mental health of individuals and communities worldwide. While research is being conducted in real-time to address the unique impacts of COVID-19, this moment is also an opportunity to learn from previous infectious disease outbreaks. The goal of this paper is to review the literature on previous infectious disease outbreaks to better understand and identify effective interventions that may help mitigate the psychological impact and collective trauma on a given community. Five strategies are recommended for developing a plan of action:(1) engage and partner with community leaders and community-based organizations; (2) establish (and reestablish) community support networks including self-help groups; (3) conduct community outreach, education, and training on the signs and symptoms of mental health issues, how to access mental health resources, and effective supportive and coping skills; (4) deploy Community Health Workers to access, engage, and educate community members; and (5) use a community capacity-building and community empowerment-oriented approach. When implemented together, these strategies have been shown to help communities reduce the mental health impact and heal from the collective trauma of an infectious disease outbreak and increase the collective efficacy of a community, resulting in increased resiliency and preparedness for future outbreaks. Impact StatementThis paper describes five strategies public mental health systems can use to reduce trauma experienced by a community related to the COVID-19 pandemic and increase community resilience. The strategies are based on literature from previous infectious disease outbreaks and include partnering with a community, engaging community leaders and lay health workers, educating, connecting, and guiding community members to support their mental health by using a community empowerment approach.

Understanding Trustful Relationships between Community Health Workers and Vulnerable Citizens during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Realist Evaluation

“…As confirmed by other lines of evidence, CHWs can be effectively engaged to provide psychosocial support at the community level [ 12 , 14 ]. Engaging them during times of crisis can also be cost-saving as they have already been demonstrated to be a less expensive alternative compared to other health professionals, and little extra effort is needed to recruit or engage them as many of them are already employed [ 14 ].…”

“…Trust, essential in all patient–provider–health system relationships, is more fragile in such communities [ 24 ]. Patients who have unstable lives often receive poorer care; in turn, poor quality care may cause patients to lose trust in their local facility and become reluctant to seek care in the future [ 12 ]. CHWs, responsible for bringing people (back) into care, must repair that trust.…”

“…As well as for chronic conditions [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ], as in acute situations, like infectious disease outbreaks, the use of CHWs has shown to be effective [ 7 , 8 ]. During the recent COVID-19 pandemic, CHWs have demonstrated their valuable role in supporting public health efforts [ 9 , 10 , 11 ] by providing health education and outreach to community members and by promoting culturally appropriate preventive behaviors, contact tracing, and data collection, limiting the disease’s spread, and in addressing mental health issues [ 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ].…”

Responding to individuals and communities after disasters and other traumatic events: An introduction.

“…We begin with the work of Tayyib (2022) who provides the reader with five evidence informed action steps that can be taken by communities who wish to mitigate the psychological impact of Editor's Note. This is an introduction to the special issue "Responding to Individuals and Communities After Disasters and Other Traumatic Events."…”

“…The paper itself also includes lessons learned and summarizes preliminary findings of two efforts immediately taken by the collaborative to provide outreach to community members; extend the reach of downstream service delivery personnel; and reduce emotional distress and improve well-being. Mapping neatly onto the types of actions proposed by Tayyib (2022), these efforts included training yoga instructors to deliver a Mind-Body Yoga Program and training counselors and paraprofessional in Skills for Psychological Recovery.…”