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During this period, mental health research is proceeding across UCL. IoMH is continuing its support and will be promoting these initiatives.
UCL Research
UCL have created a dedicated research page into work being undertaken around COVID-19.
In order for UCL to capture all research activities, policy work and industry partnerships, UCL School of Life and Medical Sciences is collating a list centrally. The list will help collate support to promote your work publicly and ensure UCL is aware of activity.
If you would like to be included, please email Sinead Kennedy, Director of Research Planning and Coordination, School of Life and Medical Sciences (sinead.kennedy@ucl.ac.uk) with an outline of the work you're doing.
Mental Health and COVID-19
MHPRU survey: Staff perspective on the impact of COVID-19 on mental health care
The Mental Health Policy Research Unit have released a national survey aimed at helping understand how the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting on mental health services and the people who use these services, and what is being done to manage these impacts, across all sectors.The survey is intended for people who work in mental health care in the UK in any sector or any specialty. Responses will be fed back immediately after the survey is completed to the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England, and to other key stakeholders and the public. You can take part in the survey by clicking the link.
COVID-19 Study
A study led by Dr Daisy Fancourt (UCL Behavioural Science & Health) is looking into the psychological and social effects of Covid-19 in the UK, recruiting a large sample of adults in the UK to help understand the effects of coronavirus and social distancing on individuals.
COVID Trauma Response Working Group
Led by Dr Michael Bloomfield (UCL Psychiatry), the COVID Trauma Response Working Group has been formed to help coordinate trauma-informed responses to the COVID outbreak, including guidance and evidence-based resources for clinicians coordinating psychosocial responses to COVID.
COVID-19 coronavirus and human behaviour
Professor Susan Michie (UCL Psychology & Language Sciences) discusses how best to support and engage citizens in an extended quarantine and stresses the need for clarity from the government on what is and isn’t allowed, as well as what people in the UK would put up with.
IoMH blogs on Mental Health & COVID-19
The impact of COVID-19 on people with severe and complex mental health problems.
Helen Killapsy, Professor of Rehabilitation Psychiatry (UCL Psychiatry) writes for Institute of Mental Health about why concerted action is needed urgently for people living in supported accommodation often staffed by people who are neither NHS or local authority care staff.
The mental health impact of COVID-19: looking forward. Why we need high-quality longitudinal studies.
Dr Daisy Fancourt (UCL Behavioural Science & Health) blogs on the potential effects of long-term social isolation, the covid19 study and a network of international longitudinal studies focused on mental health.
Call the Psychiatrists?
IoMH director, Prof Tony David, writes on whether psychiatrists have particular role to play during the pandemic.
National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery: response to the COVID-19 emergency.
Jennifer A. Foley, Edgar Chan, Natasja Van Harskamp & Lisa Cipolotti from the Department of Neuropsychology, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, UCL Queen Square, have been talking about their response to the COVID-19 emergency.
A PhD student’s experience of the lockdown so far - it’s not all bad!
PhD student, Anne Gaule (UCL PALS) has written about her experience following the lockdown and it's impact on her ability to complete her study of children in schools.
Researching student mental health during the pandemic: a PhD student tries to remain objective
PhD student, Tayla McCloud (UCL Psychiatry) has written about the potential affect of the lockdown on university student mental health and how SENSE Study and You-COPE are tracking this.
When Private Optimism meets Public Despair: People adapt to threats like Covid-19 by maintaining positive and protective biases while reducing negative perceptions and emotions
PhD Student Laura K. Globig and Professor Tali Sharot, (Department of Experimental Psychology, UCL) talk about their study on how people perceived the danger of COVID-19 and how these perceived risks influenced our own well-being and behavior.
Starting a PhD in the middle of a pandemic by Humma Andleeb
PhD student, Humma Andleeb, wrote about her experience starting her PhD in Mental Health Science during the COVID-19 lockdown.Part of a series of blogs written by current PhD students in Mental Health Science.
Suicide and COVID-19: ‘Careless Talk Costs Lives’
In the latest blog by Prof Tony David, he writes about the importance of considerate language when discussing suicide, trends during previous pandemics and promoting the benefits of 'listening'.
Key Publications
Mental Health of Clinical Staff Working in High-Risk Epidemic and Pandemic Health Emergencies: A Rapid Review of the Evidence and Meta-Analysis
The psychological impact of quarantine and how to reduce it: rapid review of the evidence
News Articles
Screen survivors of Covid-19 for PTSD, say mental health experts, The Guardian, 28 June 2020.
Coronavirus affects mental health too – here's what we know, by Tony David, The Guardian, 20 May 2020.
Kindness can work wonders. Especially for the vulnerable, by Prof Peter Fonagy, The Observer, 17 May 2020.
'Urgent studies needed' into mental health impact of coronavirus, The Guardian, 15 April 2020.