L. Peppou, Greece
University Mental Health, Neurosciences and Precision Medicine Research Institute “Costas Stefanis” (UMHRI) Unit of Social Psychiatry & Psychosocial CarePresenter of 4 Presentations
EPP0342 - The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on paramedics’ mental health in Greece.
ABSTRACT
Introduction
Converging evidence substantiates a negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of frontline workers. Nonetheless, there is paucity of research on paramedics.
Objectives
To estimate the prevalence of stress, anxiety and depression in frontline paramedics in the Athens region, Greece, and to investigate the coping skills that are associated with less favourable mental health outcomes
Methods
A total of 100 ambulance paramedics participated in the study. The online questionnaire encompassed the DASS-21 for assessing mental health outcomes and the Brief-COPE for measuring coping skills. Information about socio-demographic characteristics and personal/relatives’ vulnerability to COVID-19 was also gleaned.
Results
The prevalence for moderate to severe cases was found to be 7.2% for stress, 9.4% for anxiety and 11.3% for depression. Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that men demonstrated significantly higher stress [B = -2.28, 95%CI = -3.88 - -0.68] and depression compared to women [B = -1.69, 95%CI = -3.19 - -0.19]. Similarly, the use of denial was found to be associated with higher stress [B = 0.69, 95%CI = 0.11 -1.37] and anxiety [B= 0.55, 95%CI = 0.13 – 0.98]. Moreover, emotional support was linked to heightened anxiety [B= 0.71, 95%CI = 0.36 – 1.06] and self-distraction to depression [B = 0.60, 95%CI = 0.16 – 1.04]. Personal or relatives’ vulnerability to COVID-19 did not impinge on mental health outcomes.
Conclusions
Healthcare initiatives should be tailored at the mental health needs of frontline paramedics, especially men. Psychosocial interventions should target maladaptive coping, especially the use of denial.
EPP0732 - Prevalence and risk factors of compulsory admissions in Athens region: are there any differences between psychiatric and general hospitals?
ABSTRACT
Introduction
Introduction: Concerns have been raised about Europe facing a reinstitutionalization process. Thus, research and policy interest in prevalence and determinants of involuntary hospitalizations has recently rekindled. In Greece, heightened rates of compulsory admissions have been partly ascribed to the incomplete psychiatric reform. Psychiatric hospitals remain the mainstay of inpatient care, as opposed to the more community-oriented psychiatric departments of general hospitals.
Objectives
Objectives: To investigate differences between a psychiatric and a general hospital with respect to rates and determinants of involuntary hospitalizations in Athens.
Methods
Methods: All admissions in one psychiatric and one general hospital between May – September 2020 were considered. Information about patients’ socio-demographic characteristics and mental health status was garnered through clinical records and patient and physician interviews. Symptom severity was assessed with the Health of Nations Outcome Scale and diagnosis was assigned in accordance with the ICD-10 criteria.
Results
Results: A total of 600 admissions were analysed. In the general hospital, 52.5% of admissions were involuntary, as opposed to 63.1% in the psychiatric hospital (OR = 0.65, 95%CI = 0.43 – 0.97). In the general hospital, the sole risk factor for compulsory admission was aggression (OR= 3.23, 95%CI = 1.24-8.4). Interestingly, in the psychiatric hospital, sex, age, nationality, education, diagnosis and the severity of symptoms tapped by HoNOS were not found to predict involuntary status.
Conclusions
Conclusions: In psychiatric hospitals, no patient subgroups appear to be at elevated risk of civil detention. Therefore, further research is warranted as to what drives the decision there.
O061 - “Young people are not invincible”: What drives young people’s health behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic in Greece?
ABSTRACT
Introduction
The illusion of invulnerability has been linked to lower perceived risk and increased engagement in risky behaviors among youth. Therefore, it has been purported to influence young people’s poor adherence to public health measures aiming to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. Concomitantly, beliefs about the virus and mental health may also shape public health behaviours.
Objectives
To investigate the role of beliefs, perceived invincibility and mental health status in explaining frequency of hand-washing and hours outside the house among youth in Greece
Methods
A total of 1.899 students, aged between 18-29 years old, were recruited from the main universities of the country. An online questionnaire entailing: (i) popular beliefs about COVID-19, (ii) the DASS-21, (iii) the Adolescent Invincibility Tool and (iv) queries about health behaviours, was distributed during the lockdown period.
Results
Most participants reported washing their hands rarely/never within a day (78.6%) and spending 2-6 hours outside the house (68.1%). Handwashing was largely influenced by mental health [OR = 0.94, 95%CI= 0.91 – 0.98 for stress; OR = 0.96, 95%CI = 0.93-0.99 for anxiety and OR = 1.05, 95%CI= 1.02-1.08 for depression]; while hours outside the house by perceptions that the virus is out of control [OR=0.76, 95%CI = 0.61-0.95], manufactured [OR=1.21, 95%CI = 1.53, 95%CI =1.21 – 1.93] and airborne [OR= 0.78, 95%CI = 0.64-0.95].
Conclusions
Addressing stress and anxiety as well as health education interventions should be prioritized to foster young people’s adherence to public health measures amid the pandemic.
O143 - Prejudice against and desired social distance from refugees, people with mental illness and patients with COVID-19 in Athens.
ABSTRACT
Introduction
Stigma is omnipresent in human societies, both globally and historically; while it is also discerned in other primates. On these grounds, it has been suggested to be the product of natural selection and therefore to protect against threats to effective group functioning. Nonetheless, in contemporary society, stigma raises fundamental ethical concerns, while it actually impinges on public health
Objectives
To explore prejudicial attitudes and desired social distance from recovered COVID-19 patients, people with mental illness and refugees in Athens region.
Methods
A convenience sample of 360 residents of Athens region participated in the study, after being recruited from social media. The questionnaire was distributed online and encompassed: i) the Prejudicial Attitudes Survey, (ii) the Social Distance scale, (iii) the Interpersonal Reactivity Index and information about respondents’ socio-demographic characteristics and personal experience with the three population subgroups. The stigma measures were included three times, one for each out-group.
Results
Repeated ANOVA revealed that negative attitudes were predominantly expressed for refugees. On the contrary, positive attitudes were predominantly expressed for people with mental illness. Interestingly, desired social distance was greater from people with mental illness (mean = 32.37) compared to refugees (mean = 25.47) and recovered COVID-19 patients (mean = 24.17).
Conclusions
Stigma towards people with mental illness and refugees is still prevalent in Greece. Anti-stigma efforts should target prejudices in the case of refugees and social distance in the case of mental illness. To date, no stigma attached to COVID-19 has been discerned in the country