Understanding mental health conditions and key coping strategies utilized during major lockdowns in the Caribbean based on Google trends searches
The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted countries to implement extended Shelter in Place Orders (SIPOs) to restrict population movement and mitigate community spread. While these lockdown measures may be effective in containing the virus, they can substantially impact the population's well-being, po...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Heliyon |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023070512 |
| _version_ | 1797646610779340800 |
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| author | Richard Ramsawak Preeya Mohan Gerard Hutchinson |
| author_facet | Richard Ramsawak Preeya Mohan Gerard Hutchinson |
| author_sort | Richard Ramsawak |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted countries to implement extended Shelter in Place Orders (SIPOs) to restrict population movement and mitigate community spread. While these lockdown measures may be effective in containing the virus, they can substantially impact the population's well-being, potentially undermining their overall welfare. This study investigates whether major lockdowns implemented in the Caribbean produced differential changes in mental health among key English-Speaking Caribbean countries. More importantly, unlike past studies, we examine key coping strategies persons utilize during major lockdowns. Finally, this paper utilizes a novel near real-time high-frequency data source in Google Trends data analytics to assess mental health patterns and coping strategies among major Caribbean countries. Based on the results of difference-in-difference and event study models, we find positive and significant increases in searches for fear, depression, and suicide during key lockdown periods, which suggest negative mental health effects. Regarding coping strategies, searches for Zoom, learning, books, exercise, prayer, religion, and meditation increased, together with searches for addiction and marijuana. These results indicate the types of programs health administrators and policymakers can implement during lockdown periods to help local mental health communities, particularly among island communities. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T15:05:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bbc030a55d134e76b7eb711828b39d0a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2405-8440 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T15:05:03Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Heliyon |
| spelling | doaj.art-bbc030a55d134e76b7eb711828b39d0a2023-10-30T06:05:20ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402023-10-01910e19843Understanding mental health conditions and key coping strategies utilized during major lockdowns in the Caribbean based on Google trends searchesRichard Ramsawak0Preeya Mohan1Gerard Hutchinson2The Business School, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology – HCMC, Viet Nam; Corresponding author.Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies, University of the West Indies, St Augustine Trinidad and TobagoFaculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Mt Hope, Trinidad and TobagoThe COVID-19 pandemic has prompted countries to implement extended Shelter in Place Orders (SIPOs) to restrict population movement and mitigate community spread. While these lockdown measures may be effective in containing the virus, they can substantially impact the population's well-being, potentially undermining their overall welfare. This study investigates whether major lockdowns implemented in the Caribbean produced differential changes in mental health among key English-Speaking Caribbean countries. More importantly, unlike past studies, we examine key coping strategies persons utilize during major lockdowns. Finally, this paper utilizes a novel near real-time high-frequency data source in Google Trends data analytics to assess mental health patterns and coping strategies among major Caribbean countries. Based on the results of difference-in-difference and event study models, we find positive and significant increases in searches for fear, depression, and suicide during key lockdown periods, which suggest negative mental health effects. Regarding coping strategies, searches for Zoom, learning, books, exercise, prayer, religion, and meditation increased, together with searches for addiction and marijuana. These results indicate the types of programs health administrators and policymakers can implement during lockdown periods to help local mental health communities, particularly among island communities.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023070512COVID-19Mental distressCoping and English-speaking Caribbean |
| spellingShingle | Richard Ramsawak Preeya Mohan Gerard Hutchinson Understanding mental health conditions and key coping strategies utilized during major lockdowns in the Caribbean based on Google trends searches Heliyon COVID-19 Mental distress Coping and English-speaking Caribbean |
| title | Understanding mental health conditions and key coping strategies utilized during major lockdowns in the Caribbean based on Google trends searches |
| title_full | Understanding mental health conditions and key coping strategies utilized during major lockdowns in the Caribbean based on Google trends searches |
| title_fullStr | Understanding mental health conditions and key coping strategies utilized during major lockdowns in the Caribbean based on Google trends searches |
| title_full_unstemmed | Understanding mental health conditions and key coping strategies utilized during major lockdowns in the Caribbean based on Google trends searches |
| title_short | Understanding mental health conditions and key coping strategies utilized during major lockdowns in the Caribbean based on Google trends searches |
| title_sort | understanding mental health conditions and key coping strategies utilized during major lockdowns in the caribbean based on google trends searches |
| topic | COVID-19 Mental distress Coping and English-speaking Caribbean |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023070512 |
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