Suicide and Telehealth Treatments: A PRISMA Scoping Review.

BACKGROUND: This PRISMA scoping review explored worldwide research on the delivery of suicide-specific interventions through an exclusive telehealth modality. Research over telehealth modalities with suicidal individuals highlights the importance of facilitating participants' access to treatments despite location and circumstances (e.g., rural, expenses related to appointments, etc.). AIM: The review sought evidence of outcomes of trials or projects in which both the patient and therapist attended sessions conjointly and openly discussed suicide over a telehealth modality (e.g., phone, zoom). METHOD: To explore this topic the authors searched for research trials and quality improvement projects using Ovid Medline, Ovid Embase, Ovid PsycINFO, EBSCO Social Services Abstracts, and Web of Science on 3/3/2021. RESULTS: Nine different articles were included that each spanned distinct treatments, with eight being research studies and one being a quality improvement project. LIMITATIONS: Publications featuring ongoing or upcoming research in which complete study results were not available did not meet inclusion criteria for this review. CONCLUSION: Several important research gaps were identified. While this approach has been largely understudied, exclusive telehealth delivery of suicide-specific interventions has great potential for the prevention of suicidality, especially in the era of COVID-19 and beyond.

An open trial of VA CONNECT: Caring for Our Nation's Needs Electronically during the COVID-19 Transition.

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted emotional well-being due to safety concerns, grief, employment impacts, and social interaction limitations. Face-to-face mental health treatment restrictions were especially impactful to veterans who often gain social enrichment from Veterans Health Administration (VHA) care. We present results from a novel group-based telehealth intervention, VA Caring for Our Nation's Needs Electronically during the COVID-19 Transition (VA CONNECT), which integrates skills training and social support to develop a COVID-19 Safety & Resilience Plan. Veterans (n â€‹= â€‹29) experiencing COVID-related stress participated in an open trial of this 10-session, manualized group VHA telehealth intervention. We examined whether COVID-19-related stress, adjustment disorder symptoms, and loneliness decreased, and coping strategy use increased after participation in VA CONNECT. Between baseline and two-month follow-up, participants reported a significant reduction in perceived stress and adjustment disorder symptoms, and an increase in planning coping skills use. Significant changes were not observed in loneliness or other specific coping strategies. Findings may support the utility of VA CONNECT as an intervention for pandemic-related stress and improving certain coping skills. Future research should explore group-based telehealth interventions like VA CONNECT with other populations within and outside of the VA, which have value during major disruptions to face-to-face mental healthcare access.

International PRISMA scoping review to understand mental health interventions for depression in COVID-19 patients.

Preliminary research indicates that the COVID-19 illness affects the mental well-being of patients. This scoping review, thus, aims to examine the current state of research into mental health treatments for depression symptoms in COVID-19 patients. Select databases were searched on 7/1/2021. Full-text articles involved (1) mental health treatment (2) suicide and/or depression outcomes, (3) a quasi-experimental research trial, and (4) a primary analysis. 11 articles were included in this review. The studies spanned 5 countries, and demonstrated immediate positive effects of mental health treatments and tele-health as a treatment modality for depression in COVID-19 patients. 6 studies were randomized controlled trials. Various treatments were administered, including cognitive behavior therapy, mindfulness, and muscle relaxation. Most interventions were conducted in in-patient units and focused on acute symptoms. There were limitations in the design and description of methodology in many studies, which affects the generalizability and replicability of positive findings. Only two studies included a post-intervention follow-up and one study assessed suicide risk. Thus, this review found there is a pressing need for more research in the area, with greater rigor in study methodology, and for treatments targeting long-term symptoms and suicidality, and outpatient services.

No Community Left Behind: A Call for Action During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

COVID-19 has affected many people worldwide. Beyond the physical symptoms brought on by this virus, it has adversely affected those without the illness through isolation, social distancing, and changes in job and housing security. Clinicians are trying to address the mental health needs of millions of strained Americans with and without COVID-19 and are operating without a systematic strategy. Informed by the authors' experiences during the pandemic, this Open Forum attempts to answer two questions: What are the specific considerations in working with economically compromised Hispanic/Latino and Black/African American populations with mental illness? How can mental health providers and researchers best help?

Feasibility and acceptability of VA CONNECT: Caring for our nation's needs electronically during the COVID-19 transition.

COVID-19 has transformed day-to-day functioning and exacerbated mental health concerns. The current study examines preliminary feasibility and acceptability of a VA CONNECT - a novel 10-session, manualized telehealth group intervention integrating skills training and social support to develop a Safety & Resilience Plan for Veterans experiencing COVID-related stress. Data from the first 20 participants support the intervention's feasibility and acceptability. Strengths, limitations, and suggestions for improvement of the intervention are noted. Collaboration with other VA researchers would aid in protocol dissemination and evaluation of VA CONNECT's utility for reducing COVID-19-related stress, loneliness, and mental health symptoms.