Optimising Wellbeing during Self-isolation (OWLS)
Lead Research Organisation:
University of York
Department Name: Health Science
Abstract
People with severe mental health problems are at increased risk of being affected by COVID-19 and the pandemic restrictions. This is because they are more likely to live in impoverished circumstances and are less likely to be able to access the internet. Many people with mental health problems have physical health problems also which may mean they are in a group that needs to isolate for long periods of time.
In this project we want to look at how people with mental health problems are affected by the current pandemic. We want to know whether people are able to access health services when they need to. Whether they are able to use the internet to access services
and contact friends and if they are feeling lonely. Finally have they made any changes to reduce the risk of COVID-19 such as stopping smoking.
The project involves completing questionnaires and taking part in interviews. We will invite people who took part in the Health and Wellbeing Survey and said they were interested in taking part in future research.
The results of the study will be used to make recommendations about how best to support people with severe mental illness during a pandemic.
In this project we want to look at how people with mental health problems are affected by the current pandemic. We want to know whether people are able to access health services when they need to. Whether they are able to use the internet to access services
and contact friends and if they are feeling lonely. Finally have they made any changes to reduce the risk of COVID-19 such as stopping smoking.
The project involves completing questionnaires and taking part in interviews. We will invite people who took part in the Health and Wellbeing Survey and said they were interested in taking part in future research.
The results of the study will be used to make recommendations about how best to support people with severe mental illness during a pandemic.
Technical Summary
People with severe mental ill health (SMI) experience some of the most profound health inequalities of any sector of society and are at greater risk of being affected by COVID-19 and the pandemic restrictions. Many have long term physical health problems, putting them in a vulnerable group that must isolate for long periods of time. We are uniquely positioned to be able to study this, since we have assembled a research-ready cohort of
people with SMI (n=10,000) who are able to participate in COVID-19 research. This responds to the funding brief where the NIHR seeks proposals which 'take advantage of existing COVID-19 platform studies, cohorts and other longitudinal population studies'.
The OWLS study explores how people with SMI experience the pandemic restrictions and their social consequences. Participants will be followed up for 12 months to explore their ability to access primary care and mental health services, whether they are digitally connected and how they utilise digital media, whether they experience feelings of isolation and loneliness and how they have modified their health-related behaviour to reduce the
risk of COVID-19.
This mixed methods project involves a series of quantitative survey's and qualitative interviews. We will use a sampling framework to contact participants from the cohort and invite them to take part in the survey's. A sub-section of whom will be invited to take part in a qualitative interview. Data will be analysed and recommendations made to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 and the impact of the pandemic on this vulnerable population.
people with SMI (n=10,000) who are able to participate in COVID-19 research. This responds to the funding brief where the NIHR seeks proposals which 'take advantage of existing COVID-19 platform studies, cohorts and other longitudinal population studies'.
The OWLS study explores how people with SMI experience the pandemic restrictions and their social consequences. Participants will be followed up for 12 months to explore their ability to access primary care and mental health services, whether they are digitally connected and how they utilise digital media, whether they experience feelings of isolation and loneliness and how they have modified their health-related behaviour to reduce the
risk of COVID-19.
This mixed methods project involves a series of quantitative survey's and qualitative interviews. We will use a sampling framework to contact participants from the cohort and invite them to take part in the survey's. A sub-section of whom will be invited to take part in a qualitative interview. Data will be analysed and recommendations made to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 and the impact of the pandemic on this vulnerable population.
Publications
Lorimer B
(2023)
Factors associated with low fruit and vegetable consumption among people with severe mental ill health
in Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
Newbronner E
(2021)
Exploring Access to Mental Health and Primary Care Services for People With Severe Mental Illness During the COVID-19 Restrictions.
in Frontiers in psychiatry
Peckham E
(2021)
A Year Into the Pandemic: The Diversity of Experience Amongst People With Severe Mental Ill Health.
in Frontiers in psychiatry
Peckham E
(2023)
Health-risk behaviours among people with severe mental ill health: understanding modifiable risk in the Closing the Gap Health Study.
in The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science
| Title | OWLS infographic |
| Description | An infographic to depict the results of the OWLS study |
| Type Of Art | Image |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Impact | The infographic was disseminated to study participants, mental health trusts and other interested stakeholders. It was very well received and participants sent cards and letters to thank us for sending the infographic. It was also commended on twitter by interested stakeholders which created greater reach for the results of our research. It also created a sense of community with the participants who felt their contribution to the research had been valued. |
| Description | Submission to House of Lords Covid Committee on Digital Technology |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Description | Improving health and reducing health inequalities for people with severe mental illness: the 'Closing the Gap' Network+ |
| Amount | £1,022,359 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | ES/S004459/1 |
| Organisation | Economic and Social Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 12/2018 |
| End | 11/2023 |
| Title | Optimising Wellbeing in Self-Isolation, 2020 |
| Description | This data was collected to explore the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the pandemic restrictions on people with severe mental ill health. The data was collected between July 2020 and December 2020. Participants were asked about their use of and ability to access health services during the pandemic, their physical and mental health, loneliness and social isolation, digital connectivity, health related behaviours (e.g, smoking , physical activity etc) and employment. People with severe mental ill health experience a mortality gap of between 15 and 20 years compared to the general population and it is possible that the COVID-19 pandemic will lead to worse inequalities for vulnerable groups, people with severe mental ill health are one such group. The aim of this project therefore was to explore and effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and pandemic restrictions on people with severe mental ill health, in terms of access to health services, their physical and mental health, health risk behaviours, loneliness and social isolation and digital connectivity. Participants completed questions in the the following domains, health and wellbeing, service use, everyday habits, social support, use of internet and digital services and employment. Participants were sampled with a range of demographics and contacted by telephone and invited to take part in the study. Participants were offered the option of completing the survey over the phone with a researcher, online or hard copy which they completed and returned in the post. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | None as yet. |
| Title | Optimising Wellbeing in Self-Isolation, 2020-2021 |
| Description | This data was collected to explore the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the pandemic restrictions on people with severe mental ill health. Two sets of data have been collected, the first between July 2020 and December 2020 and the second between January 2021 and March 2021. Participants were asked about their use of and ability to access health services during the pandemic, their physical and mental health, loneliness and social isolation, digital connectivity, health related behaviours (e.g, smoking , physical activity etc) and employment. People with severe mental ill health experience a mortality gap of between 15 and 20 years compared to the general population and it is possible that the COVID-19 pandemic will lead to worse inequalities for vulnerable groups, people with severe mental ill health are one such group. The aim of this project therefore was to explore and effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and pandemic restrictions on people with severe mental ill health, in terms of access to health services, their physical and mental health, health risk behaviours, loneliness and social isolation and digital connectivity. Participants completed questions in the the following domains, health and wellbeing, service use, everyday habits, social support, use of internet and digital services and employment. Participants were sampled with a range of demographics and contacted by telephone and invited to take part in the study. Participants were offered the option of completing the survey over the phone with a researcher, online or hard copy which they completed and returned in the post. Participants who consented to take part in future surveys we recontacted and invited to take part in the second survey. This study explore the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the pandemic restrictions on people with severe mental ill health. People with severe mental ill health experience a mortality gap of between 15 and 20 years compared to the general population and it is possible that the COVID-19 pandemic will lead to worse inequalities for vulnerable groups, people with severe mental ill health are one such group. The aim of this project therefore was to explore and effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and pandemic restrictions on people with severe mental ill health, in terms of access to health services, their physical and mental health, health risk behaviours, loneliness and social isolation and digital connectivity. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | None as yet. |
| URL | https://beta.ukdataservice.ac.uk/datacatalogue/studies/study?id=855374 |
| Description | Collaboration with Good Things Foundation |
| Organisation | Good Things Foundation |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We have shared our results with Good Things Foundation. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Good Things Foundation have supported us in the dissemination of our results and also helped us to understand how to research the digital divide. |
| Impact | Good Things Foundation have helped us to understand and explore the digital divide people with SMI experience. They have also helped us to disseminate our findings to a wider audience. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Loneliness in the time of Covid: have we got a fuller picture? |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Three UKRI Mental Health Networks join forces to paint the current portrait of loneliness in the UK. Accomplished researchers from the Loneliness and Social Isolation in Mental Health Research Network, the Closing the Gap Network and the MARCH Network come together to impart what they have learnt about loneliness in the UK during the pandemic based on their latest, separate studies. The webinar will include brief presentations and interpretations of survey and interview results referring to the general population and specific demographic groups including people with experience of mental ill-health, with severe mental illness (bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and psychosis) and young people. Also, there will be reflections on the definition and nature of 'loneliness'. Before the end of the webinar, a short Q&A session will be offered to the attendees. The goal is to gain a deeper and wider understanding of 'loneliness' and its consequences in our time which will hopefully lead to better ways of tackling it. The webinar is open to any person who is interested in or/and is affected by loneliness. Attendees asked questions at the end of the webinar and people's awareness of loneliness in people with SMI was raised. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Pan Yorkshire ARC presentation on OWLS |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A meeting of the Yorkshire Applied Research Collaboration where current research was presented to about 30 relevant stakeholders, research, policy and practice. The OWLS study was presented. The presentation was well received and people asked questions about the next steps for the study. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Presentation at launch of West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health Inequalities Alliance |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A presentation was given at the launch of the inequalities alliance about the inequalities people with SMI experience. After the event requests were made for further information and new links made. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Presentation on OWLS to Mental Health Smoking Partnership |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | A talk was given to the mental health smoking partnership to share the results of the OWLS study. The partnership is currently preparing a policy document which these results will feed into. The aim is the results will feed into the next Tobacco Control Plan. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Reference group |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | A reference group met on 5 occasions to work on strategies to address the digital divide that people with mental ill health experience. The referenence group consists of relevant stakeholders from policy, practice and research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Research Sofa |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A video was recorded for the Research Sofa explaining the OWLS study. The Research Sofa is a Youtube channel run but eh Closing the Gap network that aims to share work that is going on to reduce the health gap people with SMI experience. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Severe mental ill health and digital inclusion |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | As part of Digital Leaders week a talk and panel debate was given on digital inclusion in people with SMI. The main outcome of the talk was that people asked questions and awareness of the digital divide in people with SMI was raised. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | The Digital Wall |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This talk was part of York Festival of Ideas. Digital exclusion is not new - but with a nation now reliant on technology for social interaction it is an increasing concern. Disparities in income, age and whether a person has disabilities all affect whether they own or are able to use a computer to access online services. And yet, just when problems these groups already face - debt, employment and housing issues to name but a few - began to worsen during the pandemic, charities had to suspend their face-to-face services. As organisations have moved to using webchat, email and phone contact to support people, many have struggled to access essential services. Using its recent research as a springboard for discussion, Citizens Advice York hosts an online panel exploring the impact of digital exclusion in the city and how it should be tackled. A panel of speakers will discuss their own experiences and research during the COVID-19 pandemic. Speakers include Fiona Derbyshire, CEO of Citizens Advice York; Panos Spanakis, a Research Associate at the University of York specialising in digital inclusion of mental health service users; and Fiona Williams, CEO of Explore York Libraries and Archives. A Q&A will follow with questions sourced from members of the community, as well as from the audience on the day. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Understanding the impact of the pandemic on people with mental ill health |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A blog was written to coincide with UKRI announcing the funding of six mental health projects under the COVID mental health call. The blog discussed the importance of the OWLS study and how people with SMI might be further disadvantaged by the pandemic. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://mrc.ukri.org/news/blog/understanding-the-impact-of-the-pandemic-on-people-with-mental-ill-he... |
| Description | Webinar to explain OWLS study |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A webinar was given to explain the OWLS study and enlist the support of researchers working in mental health trusts to help recruit participants to the OWLS study. Following this 16 mental health trusts agreed to take part in OWLS. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |