Category: Well-Being

Covid 19

Current awareness updates

Fairer foundations: How has the pandemic affected young people’s mental health? Infographic
The Health Foundation; 2021.

[This infographic highlights the unequal mental health effects of the pandemic among young people. Young people’s lives have been significantly impacted by the pandemic – disrupted schooling, lost employment and not being able to see friends. But the effects of the crisis have not been the same for everyone, including a divergence of mental health experiences.]

Coronavirus and depression in adults, Great Britain: January to March 2021.
Office for National Statistics (ONS); 2021.

[Analysis of the proportion of the British adult population experiencing some form of depression in early 2021, by age, sex and other characteristics. Includes comparisons with 2020 and pre-pandemic estimates.]

Care pathway and prioritization of rapid testing for COVID-19 in UK hospitals: a qualitative evaluation.[Abstract]
Hicks T. BMC Health Services Research 2021;21(1):532.

[This study sought to understand the care pathways in place in UK NHS hospitals during the first wave (March-July 2020) for identification of patients with COVID-19 and to learn lessons to inform optimal testing strategies within the COVID-19 National Diagnostic Research and Evaluation Platform (CONDOR). During the winter months, priority for provision of rapid testing at admission should be given to hospitals with limited access to laboratory services and single room availability.]

Adult social care and COVID-19 after the first wave: assessing the policy response in England: Our analysis of the national government policy response for social care between June 2020 and March 2021.
The Health Foundation; 2021.

[In this briefing, the Health Foundation analyse policies to support adult social care during the height of the second wave of the pandemic in January and February 2021, and in the months leading up to it. We provide a narrative summary of central government policies related to adult social care in different areas, such as policies on testing and support for the workforce. We also provide a summary of the latest publicly available data on the impacts of COVID-19 on adult social care.]


Happy to help: the welfare effects of a nationwide micro-volunteering programme.
London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE); 2021.

[This paper estimates the wellbeing benefits from volunteering for England’s NHS Volunteer Responders programme, which was set up in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. It found that active volunteers report significantly higher life satisfaction, feelings of worthwhileness, social connectedness, and belonging to their local communities. A social welfare analysis shows that the benefits of the programme were at least 140 times greater than its costs.]


Coronavirus Act report: May 2021.
Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC); 2021.

[The seventh two-monthly report on which powers in the Coronavirus Act 2020 are currently active.]


Vivaldi study: results.
Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC); 2021.

[Results for the Vivaldi study for antibody and cellular immune responses to coronavirus (COVID-19) in approximately 340 care homes.]

Deaths involving COVID-19 in the care sector, England and Wales: deaths registered between week ending 20 March 2020 and week ending 2 April 2021.
Office for National Statistics (ONS); 2021.

[Provisional figures on deaths involving the coronavirus (COVID-19), an investigation into wave 1 versus wave 2 within the care sector, in England and Wales.]

Covid 19 and female health and care

Workforce Survey Update

Source: The King’s Fund Health and Policy Alert

This report presents the findings of a survey commissioned by the network to find out how the impact of the pandemic on women working across health and care changed as the crisis progressed. It finds that since summer 2020, the impact of the pandemic on the female workforce has demonstrably worsened and more women are reporting an even greater negative impact on their physical and emotional wellbeing.

For more information click here.

Public Health

Current Awareness Updates

Reduced drinking and harm reduction in the treatment of alcohol use disorders.
Bischof. Drugs and Alcohol Today 2020;21(1):31-44.
(The purpose of this paper is to give an overview of the scientific evidence for reduced drinking in alcohol use disorders.)

Inequalities in oral health in England.
Public Health England (PHE); 2021.

(The report describes the current picture of oral health inequalities and oral health service inequalities in England by socioeconomic position, geographic area, protected characteristics and vulnerable (disadvantaged) groups. Information in the report may be used to inform the equality impact assessment of proposed public health interventions and to inform the commissioning of services.)

Alcohol and drugs evidence reviews and inquiries.
Public Health England (PHE); 2021.

(Reports and reviews relating to substance misuse. Policy makers, commissioners and service providers can use the evidence presented in these reviews and reports when deciding how best to implement policies and interventions relating to drugs and alcohol.)

Case study synthesis: community hubs and green space.
What Works Centre for Wellbeing; 2021.

(This review of practice-based case studies plugs some gaps in the evidence on how community hubs and green spaces can enhance wellbeing in a place. The case study evidence provides important and rich detail on these projects and activities, and how they are delivered, which will provide policy-makers and practitioners with tangible illustrations to refer to in the design and modification of interventions.)

Composition of foods integrated dataset (CoFID).
Public Health England (PHE); 2021.

(McCance and Widdowson’s ‘composition of foods integrated dataset’ on the nutrient content of the UK food supply. Public Health England (PHE) is responsible for maintaining up-to-date data on the nutrient content of the UK food supply in order to support the National Diet and Nutrition Survey, and funds nutrient analysis of foods commonly consumed in the UK.)

Preventing and reducing drug-related harm.
Public Health England (PHE); 2021.

(Information and resources to support commissioners, service providers and others to reduce harm and prevent deaths related to substance misuse.)

Reducing harm due to alcohol: success stories from 3 countries.
World Health Organization (WHO); 2021.

(The WHO-recommended “best buys” for alcohol policy can easily help countries to reduce health harms related to alcohol consumption. Experience from Lithuania, Scotland and the Russian Federation shows how effective they can be when countries choose to implement them.)

Changing the perfect picture: an inquiry into body image.
House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee; 2021.

(This inquiry sought to determine which groups were most at risk of developing poor body image, the factors driving its increased prevalence, and the impact of poor body image on the lives of those affected by it. It considers the impact body dissatisfaction can have on physical and mental health and its relationship with advertising in traditional and social media. It also considers the role the government should play through health, education or digital policy interventions.)

Meet the Author

Thank you to our authors

Thank you to all of the authors who kindly gave up their time to answer our questions and offer words of wisdom and comfort to our valuable and brave front line staff. Their words have been interesting, inspiring and poignant and have also raised a few smiles during a difficult winter.

If you missed any of the posts you can catch up on them here

Thank you Jason Beresford, Vera Waters, Katie Fforde, Neil White, Catherine Jones, Milly Johnson, Debbie Johnson, Charlie Connolly, Laura Kemp and Araminta Hall for taking part in this project. We wish you all great success with your future writing projects.

We have a selection of books by these authors on display in the library. See the collection in our catalogue here. Please email us with any requests: academic.library@lscft.nhs.uk

Public Health

Current Awareness

Use of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine: JCVI statement.
Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC); 2021.
[Statement from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) on the use of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.]

COVID-19 vaccines and vaccine administration.
Gordon C. British Journal of Nursing 2021;30(6):344-349.
[This article provides an overview of current COVID-19 vaccines available within the UK, including their mode of action, storage and handling. It outlines the recommendations on priority groups for vaccination and provides insight into the training recommendations for vaccinators.]


How will the public mood shape care after the pandemic?
[The Health Foundation is hosting a webinar exploring what the public thought of care during the COVID-19 pandemic and what this means for future care – being held 15th April 11:45am]

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on child health and the provision of Care in Paediatric Emergency Departments: a qualitative study of frontline emergency care staff.
Conlon C. BMC Health Services Research 2021;21(1):279.
[This qualitative study utilized insight from multidisciplinary frontline staff to understand 1) the changes in paediatric emergency healthcare utilization during COVID-19 2) the experiences of working within the restructured health system.]

A connected recovery: Findings of the APPG on Loneliness Inquiry.
All-Party Parliamentary Group on Loneliness; 2021.

[This inquiry makes the case for a ‘connected recovery’ from the pandemic. It explored four crucial policy areas, including: translating national policy into local action through local authorities; community infrastructure (including housing, transport and public spaces); how to adequately fund the voluntary and community sector upon which social prescribing depends; and designing and implementing ways to test the implications of government policies on loneliness.]

National Centre for Creative Health.
National Centre for Creative Health; 2021.

[The NCCH will advance good practice and research, inform policy and promote collaboration, helping foster the conditions for creative health to be integral to health and social care and wider systems. It was formed in response to the Creative Health report, the result of a two-year inquiry led by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Arts, Health and Wellbeing.]

Public Health

Current Awareness Updates

Preventing suicide in England: fifth progress report of the cross-government outcomes strategy to save lives Department of Health and Social Care; 27th March 2021

(This report details the steps taken to reduce deaths by suicide since 2019. It sets out the data and evidence on suicide and self-harm; the progress made against existing commitments designed to prevent suicides and self-harm; and further actions for the government and its agencies, particularly in the context of Covid-19.)

The cost of smoking to the social care system ASH; March 2021

(This report finds that on average smokers in England need care when they are 63, 10 years sooner than non-smokers. It estimates that £1.2 billion a year is spent on people who have care needs as a result of smoking. It calls for more comprehensive tobacco control strategies in order to ease the pressure on the social care system.)

Covid-19 mental health and wellbeing recovery action plan Department of Health and Social Care; 31 March 2021

(This action plan sets out an ambitious, cross-government, whole-person approach to promoting positive mental health and supporting people living with mental illness to recover and live well. While this plan sets out what the government will do in the coming year, it is also a call to action for the whole of society, for local communities, families and for individuals, who can take simple steps to look after their own wellbeing and the wellbeing of those around them – and can reach out for support, including from mental health services when necessary.)

The best start for life: a vision for the 1,001 critical days The Early Years Healthy Development Review Report

(This report sets out the findings of the Early Years’ Healthy Development Review, which was asked to review the first 1,001 critical days from pregnancy through to the age of two. The review sets out a vision for best practice across the health system to ensure babies and children can get the best possible start.)

Alcohol-related harm and drinking behaviour Nuffield Trust

(Excessive alcohol consumption can have harmful health consequences in the short term but also in the long term, through conditions such as liver disease, stroke and some cancers. This indicator explores whether alcohol-related harm and drinking behaviour has changed over time.)

Women’s Prize for Fiction 2021

Longlist announced

The Women’s Prize for Fiction is the UK’s most prestigious annual book award celebrating and honouring fiction by women. The Prize celebrates excellence, originality and accessibility in writing by women in English from throughout the world. The 2021 longlist was announced in March, with the winner being announced on the 7th July.

Reading Agency Longlist

Take a look at the list here to find out more about individual books and how you can get involved.

Putting people first

Supporting NHS staff in the aftermath of Covid-19

Source: The King’s Fund Health Management and Policy Alert

Caring for patients and service users during the Covid-19 pandemic has taken an enormous toll on NHS and social care staff. This report, part of the NHS Reset campaign, considers key factors needed for the NHS to provide the most effective environment to retain – and sustain – staff over the weeks and months ahead.

The NHS Confederation report sets out a series of actions needed to protect staff health and wellbeing in the recovery phase of the pandemic, splitting the recovery into 5 aspects:

  • Rest and recovery
  • Health and wellbeing
  • Recognition and reward
  • Improving staff experience
  • Tackling vacancies

To find out more click here.

Lunch and Learn

Mental Health and Wellbeing

Thank-you to everyone who attended our lunch and learn session last week. Our guest speaker Sam Tyrer discussed his own experiences of living with mental health issues and how this influenced his reasons for working for the NHS. He also shared about how he wants his work to influence the outcomes of children and young people and is a fantastic advocate for raising awareness of mental health, the stigma that comes with this and raised some issues that young people are currently facing. Sam shared some really useful guidance for working with young people – or your own children and discussed some useful strategies to apply to cope with your own anxiety or mental health worries.

If you missed the session, you can catch up here: https://nwsis-my.sharepoint.com/:v:/g/personal/katie_roper_lscft_nhs_uk/EepmXm6Rm1FFv4-D18jcKq8Bb_h1962q4ll1CENkJoUoSg (please use your LSCFT email to access.)

We would really appreciate any feedback on these sessions. If you have a few spare minutes we kindly ask you to complete our survey- which should take no longer than 5 minutes to complete:https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/WLHBMSG

You can also follow Sam’s work via his mental health hour: Mental Health Family Hour – YouTube

Our next session will be held in April and will focus on health literacy awareness. We hope to see as many of you there. Please contact katie.roper@lscft.nhs.uk if you would like an invite to this session.

Meet the Author

Araminta Hall

Araminta Hall has worked as a writer, journalist and teacher. Her first novel, Everything & Nothing, was published in 2011 and became a Richard & Judy read that year. Her second, Dot, was published in 2013.

She teaches creative writing at New Writing South in Brighton, where she lives with her husband and three children. She is the great niece of Dodie Smith and great granddaughter of Lawrence Beesley, who survived the Titanic and wrote a bestselling account of the tragedy in the book, The Loss of the SS Titanic.

Her book, Our Kind of Cruelty, was published by Penguin Random House in 2018. It is a deeply unsettling thriller of a love story, in which a secret game between lovers has deadly consequences… This was followed by her latest novel, Imperfect Women, published by Orion in August 2020.

As our featured author, Araminta has kindly answered a few questions for us about books that have entertained and inspired her and her work as an author.

Read the interview here.

For more information about Araminta and her books follow her on Twitter or Instagram.