Mental health impact of virus can be severe
The mental health impacts of Covid-19 may linger after the pandemic is over according to new research.
It found some patients hospitalised due to the virus are likely to suffer from anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder months or years after they leave hospital.
The risks may be higher for the general public as well. Widespread job losses, media overload and the isolating effects of social distancing may lead to an increase in mental health problems, experts warn.
About 15% of patients hospitalised with SARS or MERS, two coronaviruses closely related to the one that causes Covid-19, suffered from depression or anxiety up to three years after they left the hospital, according to a new study in the journal The Lancet Psychiatry.
“However, most people don’t suffer a mental illness, even after being in [intensive care], and the majority of people returned to work,” said University College London psychiatrist and study co-author Jonathan Rogers.
Free online music class aims to build community
A free online webinar will give participants the chance to explore the challenges and benefits of making and sharing music online, with a focus on community building.
The online class will run from 10.30 am-12 noon on June 11. Organisers say: “We hope to inspire best practice and build confidence in the sector to explore online community building in music projects…”
Several people will offer case studies including Sarah Jones who’ll speak about ‘Delivering the National Youth Folk Ensemble Residential Online’, run by the English Folk Dance and Song Society.
Abigail D’Amore from West Midlands Music’s Big Play 2020 will focus on: ‘Creating community and celebration through online sharing of music performances and experiences.’
Clare Cressey from Live Music Now Wales Cymru will look at supporting youth mental health through online music project ‘Soundtrack’.
Through the case studies and discussion, they aim to identify common issues and explore solutions, look at functions and benefits of platforms and software which enable people to build communities online and more.
Registration here.
Children with cancer not at higher risk from Covid-19
Children and teens with cancer are not at a higher risk of being affected by Covid-19 than children without cancer, according to a study in JAMA Oncology.
Recent studies have found that adults with cancer and Covid-19 have a higher rate of death, while paediatric cancer patients appear not to be at similar risk. They are neither more like to acquire Covid-19 nor to develop severe illness if they catch it.
“We are encouraged by these latest findings that kids with cancer are not more endangered by Covid-19 and their symptoms are mild like in healthy children,” senior study author Andrew Kung, MD, PhD, chair of MSK Kids at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City said.
