Coping with COVID podcast

In this episode, Helen is joined by Carys, who has just graduated in medicine and has been shielding during COVID-19. She talks about the challenges of shielding and how she adapted her expectations, the things that have helped her to cope and what she’s gained from something that initially felt negative and restrictive.

If you’d like to get in touch with us, our email address is [email protected]

Suzi is joined by Professor Pauline Slade, a clinical psychologist and researcher at the University of Liverpool. Suzi and Pauline discuss the challenges for students managing and processing distressing experiences while working during Covid (and more generally). Pauline provides information and reassurance about what initial responses to trauma can look like, and advice for those worried about post traumatic stress disorder as to how to manage symptoms, and when and where to seek support.

Some useful links for those seeking more information:

https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mental-health/problems-disorders/post-traumatic-stress-disorder

https://www.bps.org.uk/what-psychology/dealing-trauma

https://www.getselfhelp.co.uk/ptsd.htm

Helen is joined by Imogen, who has just graduated in medicine. She talks about her experience of working as a sub-FY1 in the NHS, feeling anxious about catching COVID-19, and what it was like when that actually happened.

If you’re a medical, nursing, physician associate or AHP student, and you’d like to talk on the podcast about your experiences of working or studying during the COVID-19 pandemic, please get in touch with us. Contact us at: [email protected]

If you need support, here are a few of our recommendations:

School of Medicine Wellbeing Team (for medical students at the University of Liverpool) [email protected]

University of Liverpool Student Support Services (for nursing, allied health and other students at the University of Liverpool) https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/studentsupport/

Employee Assistance Programme (for staff at the University of Liverpool) https://staff.liverpool.ac.uk/our-workplace-and-community/support-and-development/employee-assistance-programme/)

NHS Staff Support Line https://people.nhs.uk/help/

Samaritans free phoneline: 116 123 [email protected] www.samaritans.org

Papyrus 0800 068 41 41 https://papyrus-uk.org/

In this episode, Helen is joined by Hannah, a 3rd year student nurse. Hannah talks about how she felt well-supported by her family, friends, lecturers, and colleagues while working in the NHS during COVID-19.

Student nurses at the University of Liverpool have played an active role in caring for patients during the pandemic. The interviews with Hannah (this episode), Megan (episode 11) and Duncan (episode 5) give an insight into their experiences and show how this cohort of students have risen to the challenge.

If you’d like to get in touch with us, our email address is [email protected]

Information on the Bachelor of Nursing degree at the University of Liverpool is available here: https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/nursing-bn-hons/overview/

Suzi is joined by Dr Paula Byrne, the lead for PSM on the medical degree at the University of Liverpool. In this episode they discuss the concept of ‘feeling terrified’, in part inspired by an email we received from a student who is nervous about going back in to hospitals in September. In the episode Paula discusses why feeling terrified can be a normal response, and how to manage those feelings.

Below are links to some useful resources that Paula mentions during the episode:

• https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/overcome-fear-anxiety

• https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/ways-relieve-stress/

• https://www.therapistaid.com/therapy-worksheet/decatastrophizing (this website has a worksheet to work through on catastrophizing)

• https://oce-ovid-com.liverpool.idm.oclc.org/article/00002800-202007000-00010/HTML watching nature documentaries can help…

• https://link-springer-com.liverpool.idm.oclc.org/article/10.1007/s11469-020-00330-z other students feel the same.

• https://eds-b-ebscohost-com.liverpool.idm.oclc.org/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=6&sid=9cf27856-a040-459a-b3e7-290bf22deb8f%40sessionmgr101 unpicking infodemics

In this episode Helen talks to Shantanu, a second year medical student who founded the Be Free campaign. He has recently been given The Diana Award for his work promoting positive mental health and reducing stigma around mental health problems. You can find more information on the Be Free campaign on their website: https://www.befreecampaign.org/

https://news.liverpool.ac.uk/2020/07/01/student-receives-award-in-memory-of-princess-diana/

This episode is especially for medical students revising for exams postponed by COVID-19 (but it may be useful to other students too!). Chris Huntley talks to Helen about evidence-based strategies you can use to study effectively, stay motivated, and look after your mental wellbeing while revising.

Medical students at the University of Liverpool can access support from:

• Your Academic Advisor

• School of Medicine Wellbeing Team [email protected]

• University of Liverpool Student Support Services https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/studentsupport/

These are the resources Helen recommended:

Weinstein, Sumeracki & Caviglioli (2018) Understanding How We Learn: A Visual Guide. Routledge (E-book available from the library. For the TL;DR go to page 146)

The Learning Scientists website https://www.learningscientists.org/

Here is a link to Henry Roediger III profile, including his lab and research:

http://psychnet.wustl.edu/memory/people/henry-l-roediger-iii/

The Dunlosky paper here is a really good summary:

https://journals.sagepub.com/stoken/rbtfl/Z10jaVH/60XQM/full

The following is a website dedicated to retrieval practice, including useful resources for teachers and students:

https://www.retrievalpractice.org

Here are the references regarding test anxiety prevalence (note – there are no ‘proper’ prevalence studies, mainly because test anxiety lacks diagnostic status):

• Naveh-Benjamin, M., Lavi, H., McKeachie, W. J., & Lin, Y. G. (1997). Individual differences in students' retention of knowledge and conceptual structures learned in University and High school courses: The case of test anxiety. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 11(6), 507-526. doi:10.1002/(sici)1099-0720(199712)11:6<507::Aid-acp482>3.0.Co;2-g

• Neuderth, S., Jabs, B., & Schmidtke, A. (2009). Strategies for reducing test anxiety and optimizing exam preparation in German university students: a prevention-oriented pilot project of the University of Wurzburg. Journal of Neural Transmission, 116(6), 785-790. doi:10.1007/s00702-008-0123-7

• Tsegay, L., Shumet, S., Damene, W., Gebreegziabhier, G., & Ayano, G. (2019). Prevalence and determinants of test anxiety among medical students in Addis Ababa Ethiopia. BMC Medical Education, 19(1), 423. doi:10.1186/s12909-019-1859-5

In this episode, Helen is joined by Megan, a 3rd year student nurse. She talks about her expectations and experiences of working in the NHS during COVID-19, and what's helped her to cope.

If you’re a nursing, medical, physician associate or AHP student, and you’d like to talk on the podcast about your experiences of working or studying during the COVID-19 pandemic, please get in touch with us. Contact us at: [email protected]

If you need support, here are a few of our recommendations:

University of Liverpool Student Support Services (for nursing, AHP and other students at the University of Liverpool) https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/studentsupport/

School of Medicine Wellbeing Team (for medical students at the University of Liverpool) [email protected]

Employee Assistance Programme (for staff at the University of Liverpool) https://staff.liverpool.ac.uk/our-workplace-and-community/support-and-development/employee-assistance-programme/)

NHS Staff Support Line https://people.nhs.uk/help/

Samaritans free phoneline: 116 123 [email protected] http://www.samaritans.org

Papyrus 0800 068 41 41 https://papyrus-uk.org/

In this episode, Suzi talks to Professor Kate Bennett, an expert in grief and bereavement research. They discuss what it’s been like to experience a bereavement during the pandemic, and offer advice for both those who have experienced loss recently, and those who know people who have and want to offer support.

If you want to take part in Kate’s research on bereavement during COVID-19, the link is here: https://livpsych.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6yXOqN3qFN6sioJ

Kate recommends some papers:

Bennett, K. M. & Soulsby, L. K. (2012). Wellbeing in bereavement and widowhood. Illness, Crisis and Loss

Bennett, K. M. Gibbons, K. & Mackenzie-Smith, S. (2010). Loss and restoration in later Life: An examination of the Dual Process Model of coping with bereavement. Omega: Journal of Death and Dying

Carr, D., House, J. S., Wortman, C., Nesse, R., & Kessler, R. C. (2001). Psychological adjustment to sudden and anticipated spousal loss among older widowed persons. Journals of Gerontology Series B-Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences

Professor Bennett’s publications: https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/~kmb/pubs.html

Some charities that offer support:

Cruse: https://www.cruse.org.uk

Age UK: https://www.ageuk.org.uk

Samaritans: https://www.samaritans.org

This episode revisits strategies to recharge your mental health: Medical and Nursing students share the things they’ve been doing during lockdown to look after their mental wellbeing.

Listen to Episode 1 for more information on the ‘coping reservoir’ model, based on this publication:

Dunn, L.B, Iglewicz, M.D. & Moutier, C. (2008). A Conceptual Model of Medical Student Well-Being: Promoting Resilience and Preventing Burnout. Academic Psychiatry, 32(1), 44-53. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18270280/

The comments about Velcro, Teflon, and paying attention to positive experiences were from this book:

Hanson, R. Resilient: Find your inner strength. Rider, 2018.

Based on the following publications:

Lyubomirsky, S., Sheldon, K. M. & Schkade, D. (2005). Pursuing Happiness: The Architecture of Sustainable Change. Review of General Psychology, 9(2), 111–131. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2018-70034-003

Rozin, P. & Royzman, E. B. (2001). Negativity bias, negativity dominance, and contagion. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 5(4), 296–320. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2001-09004-002

If you need support, here are a few of our recommendations:

University of Liverpool Student Support Services (for nursing, allied health and other students at the University of Liverpool) https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/studentsupport/

School of Medicine Wellbeing Team (for medical students at the University of Liverpool) [email protected]

Employee Assistance Programme (for staff at the University of Liverpool) https://staff.liverpool.ac.uk/our-workplace-and-community/support-and-development/employee-assistance-programme/)

NHS Staff Support Line https://people.nhs.uk/help/

Samaritans free phoneline: 116 123 [email protected] www.samaritans.org