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Mental Health and Access to Information in Times of COVID-19: The Role of Social Work

Author

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  • Ana C. Romea

    (Faculty of Communication and Social Sciences, San Jorge University, Villanueva de Gállego, 50830 Zaragoza, Spain)

  • Diana Valero

    (Department of Psychology and Sociology, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain)

  • Carmen Elboj

    (Department of Psychology and Sociology, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain)

  • Patricia Melgar

    (Department of Pedagogy, University of Girona, 17004 Girona, Spain)

Abstract

The confinements and limited social interactions that have derived from COVID-19 have aggravated the situation of people with previous pathologies. As a result, access to health and its rehabilitation or support resources has been limited and redirected toward online care. People with mental health problems have considerably suffered during the pandemic because, for many of them, accessing different information resources through telematic means proved to be a great difficulty in their everyday lives. This exploratory research work aims to establish which elements have successfully facilitated access to online information for people with mental health problems. This is especially urgent in times of COVID-19 when misinformation has significantly harmed this group. To do so, we followed the communicative methodology and held interviews with two professionals and nine users who participated in the case study. The main results show that, in developing digital communicative competencies in accessing information with this group, individualization of care to overcome barriers, the link with social workers as references of truthful information, and the importance of emotional work and interactions are critical elements.

Suggested Citation

  • Ana C. Romea & Diana Valero & Carmen Elboj & Patricia Melgar, 2022. "Mental Health and Access to Information in Times of COVID-19: The Role of Social Work," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(8), pages 1-12, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:8:p:4483-:d:789329
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Alexander Seifert & Shelia R Cotten & Bo Xie & Deborah Carr, 2021. "A Double Burden of Exclusion? Digital and Social Exclusion of Older Adults in Times of COVID-19 [Attitudes towards and limitations to ICT use in assisted and independent living communities: Finding," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 76(3), pages 99-103.
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    1. Lidia Puigvert & Marta Soler-Gallart & Ana Vidu, 2022. "From Bystanders to Upstanders: Supporters and Key Informants for Victims of Gender Violence," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-14, July.
    2. Ariadna Munté-Pascual & Gisela Redondo-Sama & Irene De Vicente & Virginia Matulic, 2022. "You Are Not Alone : The (In)Visible Homeless and the Role of Social Workers and Related Professionals," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-10, August.
    3. Andreea Nistor & Eduard Zadobrischi, 2022. "The Influence of Fake News on Social Media: Analysis and Verification of Web Content during the COVID-19 Pandemic by Advanced Machine Learning Methods and Natural Language Processing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-24, August.
    4. Hilary Pui-Yee Ho & Agnes Yuen-Kwan Lai & Ricky Yu-Kwong Kwok & Tai-On Kwok & Edward Chow & Teresa Yip & Wai-Yan Tang & Kam-Wing Leung & Eliza Lam & Kam-Yin Lam & Terry Shuk-Yin Tsui & Wai-Fong Lok & , 2022. "Use of Information and Communications Technology in Family Services and Its Perceived Benefits amid the COVID-19 Pandemic in Hong Kong—Jockey Club SMART Family-Link Project," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-14, November.

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