Negative Mental Health Consequences Research Articles

The association between childhood trauma and adulthood depression

Aim: Child maltreatment has negative long-term consequences for mental health, including an increased risk of depression. However, this phenomenon has not been adequately studied, especially in southeastern Turkey. In this study, the presence of childhood trauma was investigated in patients with depression. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between November 2019 and December 2019 in the psychiatry clinic of a university hospital located in the southeast region of Turkey. A total of 160 people, 80 of whom were patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and 80 of whom were healthy controls, were included in the study. The data for the study were collected using the Sociodemographic Characteristics Questionnaire prepared by the researchers, the childhood trauma questionnaire (CTQ-28), and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Results: The scores of patients with MDD in both sub-dimensions and total scores were found to be statistically significantly higher than the healthy control group (p<0.001). There was no significant correlation between the scores of the patient group on the BDI and CTQ-28 scales. Conclusion: It was found that exposure to childhood traumas is associated with depression in adulthood. As a result, childhood trauma in individuals with depression should be investigated because it will serve as guidance in terms of etiopathogenesis and treatment. How to cite this article: Mercan İ, Kılıçaslan F, Gökçeoğlu S, Cansız A. The association between childhood trauma and adulthood depression. J Med Dent Invest 2023; 4: e230359. https://doi.org/10.5577/jomdi.e230359

Collective loneliness: The impact of the social network on loneliness and depression during the coronavirus pandemic in older Europeans.

We examined the impact of the social network before the coronavirus pandemic on loneliness and depressed mood during the pandemic in older European individuals, and how these relationships differ between different European countries. Data of N=19,999 persons (age: M=69.18years; 51% female) from the pan-European longitudinal survey of health, ageing and retirement in Europe, interviewed between October 2019 and March 2020 (Wave 8) and between June and August 2020 (Corona Questionnaire 1), were used. To test the models we employed path analyses, controlling for age, gender, education, and occupational status. Models were also run separately in collectivistic (Romania, Slovenia, Croatia, and Greece) and individualistic (Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, and France) country groups. A larger social network before the pandemic reduced the probability of an increase in loneliness and depression. The negative association between social network size and increase in loneliness was stronger in collectivist countries than in individualist ones. Moreover, an increase in loneliness increased the probability of feeling depressed. It appears that pre-pandemic social networks served as a buffer to negative mental health consequences of the pandemic in older Europeans. In fact, this association was stronger in collectivist than for individualist countries. While this underscores the importance of social connectedness, it also stresses the vulnerability of socially isolated individuals regarding loneliness and depression. Future work should thus focus on supporting social networks in older adults.

Feasibility and Acceptability of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Self-Testing for Men of Middle-to-Upper Socioeconomic Status in Botswana: A Pilot Study at 4 Worksites in the Financial Sector.

Although Botswana has made great progress in expanding human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing, men are less likely to be tested for HIV and test at a later stage compared with women. For Botswana to increase HIV testing coverage among men, HIV self-testing (HIVST) may be a promising supplement to standard, healthcare facility-based HIV testing. We conducted a pilot test of the feasibility and acceptability of HIVST for men of middle-to-upper socioeconomic status in Botswana. Thirty-five men were recruited through 4 workplaces (banking sector). Wellness officers emailed all potentially eligible male employees about the opportunity to participate. Men were surveyed at baseline and follow-up on basic sociodemographic characteristics, HIV testing history, HIV stigma, use of the HIVST kit (at follow-up), and confirmatory testing and linkage to care if a preliminary positive result is obtained (at follow-up). All 35 men used the kit. The proportion who agreed with the statement that getting tested for HIV helps people feel better increased significantly from 80.7% at baseline to 100% at follow-up. In open-ended questions, men described the advantages of HIVST, including improved privacy and convenience, lowered HIV stigma, and enhanced control over testing. Concerns about HIVST included potential negative mental health consequences owing to not receiving pretest and posttest counseling, and not linking to care after a reactive result. Results suggest that an intervention in which HIVST is discrete, private, and under men's control can help overcome stigma around HIV testing, resulting in a greater number of men tested.

Debate: Social media content moderation may do more harm than good for youth mental health.

Most social media platforms censor and moderate content related to mental illness to protect users from harm, though this may be at the expense of potential positive outcomes for youth mental health. Current evidence does not offer strong support for the relationship between censoring mental health content and preventing harm. In fact, existing moderation strategies can perpetuate negative consequences for mental health by creating isolated and polarized communities where at-risk youth remain exposed to harmful content, such as pro-eating disorder communities that use lexical variants to evade censorship. Social media censorship of content related to mental illness can also silence positive discourse about mental health, create barriers to accessing online support and resources, and hinder research efforts on youth well-being. Social media content about mental health can have important positive impacts on youth mental health by facilitating help-seeking, depicting positive coping strategies, and promoting a sense of belonging for struggling youth, but these benefits are minimized under existing moderation and censorship practices. This article presents a call to action for evidence-based social media policies and for practitioners to consider the clinical implications of social media engagement when connecting with young patients.

Childhood Exposure to Firearm Violence in Chicago and Its Impact on Mental Health

ObjectiveTo describe how often Chicago children are exposed to firearm violence, the types of exposure, and the parent-reported impact of these exposures on child mental health symptoms. MethodsData were collected in May-July 2022 using the Voices of Child Health in Chicago Parent Panel Survey, administered to parents with children aged 2–17 years from all 77 Chicago neighborhoods. Firearm violence exposure was characterized as indirect (hearing gunshots or knowing someone who was shot) or direct (witnessing a shooting, being threatened with a firearm, being shot at but not injured, or being shot and injured). Parents indicated if children in their household had any of the following mental health symptoms associated with firearm violence exposure: fear, anxiety, sadness, isolation, difficulty concentrating, difficulty in school, or aggression. Chi-squared tests and multivariable logistic regression models were used for statistical analysis. ResultsResponses were received from 989 Chicago parents. More than one third (37%) of children were exposed to firearm violence with an indirect exposure prevalence of 32% and a direct exposure prevalence of 10%. Mental health symptoms associated with firearm violence exposure were reported for 20% of children. Mental health symptoms were reported for 7% of children without firearm violence exposure compared to 31% with indirect exposure (aOR 6.2, 95% CI: 3.7, 10.6) and 68% with direct exposure (aOR 36.1, 95% CI: 16.6, 78.6) ConclusionsChicago children with indirect and direct exposure to firearm violence had more parent-reported mental health symptoms than unexposed children. Trauma informed care approaches to mitigate the negative mental health effects of both direct and indirect firearm violence exposure are critical.

Remove the condom and you remove consent: Why the U.S. should adopt Australia's initiative as a guide to criminalize stealthing

AbstractStealthing, or non‐consensual condom removal, has become a dark reality for many people, posing risks such as unwanted pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and negative mental health effects. Although stealthing has received prior media coverage, it continues to fly under the legal radar in all but one U.S. jurisdiction. With blogs listing their top 10 tips on stealthing, and memes making light of the issue, it is imperative that the U.S. take action to criminalize stealthing. While the rest of the world amends their laws to include stealthing, the U.S. remains one step behind.

The Influence of Athletes’ Psychological Needs on Motivation, Burnout, and Well-Being: A Test of Self-Determination Theory

Sport provides a significant role in the lives of athletes; however, both positive and negative mental health effects may occur from sporting experiences, including burnout and/or well-being. A cross-sectional survey was conducted including 685 athletes (Mage = 23.39, SD = 6.22, 71% = male), testing multiple, complementary, self-determination theory hypotheses linked to well-being, and burnout. A multistage modeling approach encompassing confirmatory factor and path analysis was utilized, with results showing significant variance explained for well-being (R2 = .30) and burnout (R2 = .35). Several direct effects were found in line with self-determination theory, including between; needs-support and needs-satisfaction (β = 0.48), and needs-control and needs-frustration (β = 0.44); needs-satisfaction and motivational orientation (β = 0.25); needs-satisfaction and well-being (β = 0.37), and needs frustration and burnout (β = 0.25); and motivational orientation and burnout (β = −0.27), and motivational orientation and well-being (β = 0.18). Indirect effects were found for well-being and burnout via coach needs-support, needs-satisfaction, and motivational orientation in sequence (β = 0.24 and β = −0.22, respectively), in addition to burnout via coach needs-control, needs frustration, and motivational orientation in sequence (β = −0.12). To conclude, coach-based, sporting mental health interventions that promote the utilization of needs-supportive behaviors, while also highlighting the need to minimize needs-controlling behaviors, are recommended for the prevention of burnout and the promotion of well-being in athletes.

Start Early: Providing Trauma-Informed, Systems-Focused Professional Development in Early Childhood Development and Learning Contexts

Adverse and traumatic childhood experiences can have profound negative health and mental health consequences across the lifespan. Prevention and early intervention strategies to mitigate such impacts and foster resilience are essential, yet extant approaches often do not consider the systemic nature of trauma exposure, particularly among communities most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and historic disinvestment. Addressing the impacts of trauma early in life is critical in order to mitigate their long-term effects on child development. The current project worked with a community Head Start/Early Head Start partner to adapt, deliver, and conduct a formative evaluation of Trauma-Informed Programs and Practices in Schools-Early Childhood (TIPPS-EC), a systems-focused professional development approach to creating and maintaining trauma-informed early childhood development and learning contexts serving children ages 0-5 years and their families. Training materials were designed to highlight community and systemic sources of trauma exposures; acknowledge teacher stress and burnout; and present research-based information on trauma exposure, how effects may manifest, and the impacts of trauma exposures on very young children and the adults in their lives. Data were collected to evaluate participants' responses to TIPPS-EC and solicit their input regarding implementing systems-focused, trauma-informed approaches in EC settings (n = 56 Head Start/Early Head Start professionals). Participants were satisfied with TIPPS-EC and endorsed greater knowledge of trauma-informed approaches and systemic trauma after the professional development sessions. Participants made multiple suggestions for next steps for implementing systemic approaches in EC settings. TIPPS-EC presents a framework for understanding systemic trauma exposures as they manifest in EC contexts, and for identifying systems-level strategies that can support EC professionals to help mitigate the impacts of trauma on the children and families they serve. Implications for addressing stress, burnout, and trauma impacts specifically in EC educational settings are discussed.

Effects of childhood trauma on sleep quality and stress-related variables in adulthood: evidence from two multilevel studies

Childhood trauma has been found to have serious negative consequences for mental and physical health. However, the precise mechanisms through which trauma influences health outcomes are unclear. Childhood trauma-related disruptions to sleep in adulthood represent an important potential mechanism. Two 7-day multilevel studies investigated the effects of childhood trauma on daily sleep outcomes and stress-related variables and whether the effects of trauma on sleep outcomes were mediated through these stress-related variables (or vice versa). Participants completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire before a 7-day online daily diary study. Measures of daily stress, perseverative cognition, and sleep were completed daily. Multi-level modelling found that higher levels of childhood neglect were associated with poorer daily sleep quality, shorter sleep duration, longer sleep onset latency, and higher daily stress and rumination levels. Higher childhood abuse was associated with shorter sleep duration, greater morning tiredness, and higher levels of daily stress, rumination, and worry. Childhood trauma was found also to have bidirectional, indirect effects on sleep quality and morning tiredness through daily stress-related variables. The current findings suggest that interventions aimed at mitigating the negative effects of childhood trauma should also incorporate components that target modifiable risk factors, such as sleep, stress, worry, and rumination.

Prevalence of COVID-19 fear and its association with quality of life and network structure among Chinese mental health professionals after ending China's dynamic zero-COVID policy: a national survey.

China recorded a massive COVID-19 pandemic wave after ending its Dynamic Zero-COVID Policy on January 8, 2023. As a result, mental health professionals (MHPs) experienced negative mental health consequences, including an increased level of fear related to COVID-19. This study aimed to explore the prevalence and correlates of COVID-19 fear among MHPs following the end of the Policy, and its association with quality of life (QoL) from a network analysis perspective. A cross-sectional national study was conducted across China. The correlates of COVID-19 fear were examined using both univariate and multivariate analyses. An analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was conducted to determine the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and QoL. Central symptoms were identified using network analysis through the "Expected Influence" of the network model while specific symptoms directly correlated with QoL were identified through the "flow function." A total of 10,647 Chinese MHPs were included. The overall prevalence of COVID-19 fear (FCV-19S total score ≥ 16) was 60.8% (95% CI = 59.9-61.8%). The binary logistic regression analysis found that MHPs with fear of COVID-19 were more likely to be married (OR = 1.198; p < 0.001) and having COVID-19 infection (OR = 1.235; p = 0.005) and quarantine experience (OR = 1.189; p < 0.001). Having better economic status (good vs. poor: OR = 0.479; p < 0.001; fair vs. poor: OR = 0.646; p < 0.001) and health status (good vs. poor: OR = 0.410; p < 0.001; fair vs. poor: OR = 0.617; p < 0.001) were significantly associated with a lower risk of COVID-19 fear. The ANCOVA showed that MHPs with fear of COVID-19 had lower QoL [F = 228.0, p < 0.001]. "Palpitation when thinking about COVID-19" was the most central symptom in the COVID-19 fear network model, while "Uncomfortable thinking about COVID-19" had the strongest negative association with QoL (average edge weight = -0.048). This study found a high prevalence of COVID-19 fear among Chinese MHPs following the end of China's Dynamic Zero-COVID Policy. Developing effective prevention and intervention measures that target the central symptoms as well as symptoms correlated with QoL in our network structure would be important to address COVID-19 fear and improve QoL.

Using energy psychology to remediate emotional wounds rooted in childhood trauma: preliminary clinical guidelines.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood, such as violence, abuse, severe neglect, or mental health problems in caregivers. The negative physical and mental health consequences of severe or multiple ACEs provide a major challenge for the health care community. Psychotherapies that utilize a mind-body approach in treating ACE-related conditions are seen by their proponents as having advantages for bringing healing and restoration compared with talk, introspective, interpersonal, and exposure therapies that do not intervene at the body level, as famously encapsulated by Bessel van der Kolk's observation that "the body keeps the score." A mind-body approach whose use has been rapidly increasing in clinical settings as well as on a self-help basis is called "energy psychology." Energy psychology combines conventional therapeutic techniques such as cognitive restructuring and psychological exposure with the stimulation of acupuncture points (acupoints) by tapping on them. A review of the development, efficacy, and plausible mechanisms of energy psychology is presented, and several strengths are enumerated, such as how integrating acupoint tapping into conventional exposure methods enhances the speed and power of outcomes. The impact of energy psychology protocols on the three brain networks most centrally involved with ACEs is also examined. Finally, recommendations are offered for using an energy psychology approach at each stage of therapy with individuals who have endured severe or multiple ACES, from establishing a therapeutic alliance to assessment to treatment to follow-up.

Algorithms to improve the EMIAS system to optimize the routing of adolescents with atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis is a systemic, chronic, relapsing, inflammatory disease affecting mainly the skin. In recent decades, the incidence of atopic dermatitis has been steadily increasing. The burden of atopic dermatitis in adolescents is particularly severe because they are in a transitional and vulnerable growth phase with associated biological, cognitive, social, and emotional transformations.&#x0D; Early and correct diagnosis of atopic dermatitis, as well as the identification of adolescents with an uncontrolled course of the disease, will provide an opportunity to select/change therapy, which can lead to remission, preventing the negative effects of the disease. A number of studies have shown that the negative mental health effects of atopic dermatitis on adolescents include an increased risk for depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and behavior disorders, sleep disturbances, and suicidal ideation.&#x0D; EMIAS is a unified medical information and analytical system, which was created to improve the availability and quality of medical services provided by Moscow public health institutions. The introduction of EMIAS has led to improvements in the healthcare system.&#x0D; The article proposes validated and simple tools, the integration of which into the EMIAS system, will facilitate the verification of diagnosis and personalized (based on recommendations at the population level) management of adolescents with atopic dermatitis in the outpatient phase by pediatrician and allergist.

Managing persistent physical symptoms when being social and active is the norm: a qualitative study among young people in Denmark

BackgroundAn increasing number of young people in Western countries report persistent physical symptoms (PPS). PPS may disturb everyday activities and they may have negative consequences for later adult mental and physical health. Still little is known about how young people handle PPS in their everyday lives. This study examines how young people with PPS attempt to manage their symptoms while staying engaged in their daily activities and what is at stake in these attempts.MethodsThis qualitative study involved semi-structured interviews with 11 young people with PPS. Photo-elicitation was used to capture the participants’ experiences as they occurred in their everyday lives. The data material was analysed using a thematic analysis approach, as well as theory on subjectivity and social acceleration.ResultsThe participants employed alleviating measures and tried to find patterns between their activities and the severity of their symptoms in order to adjust their activity level. Decisions not to participate in social activities were accompanied by feelings of missing out. The participants’ attempts at adjusting their activity level was challenged by norms of being social and active, and they experienced difficulty prioritizing their activities and explaining their symptoms to others.ConclusionPPS shaped the participants’ sense of how to act towards their bodies and social relationships in interaction with societal norms. The participants’ subject formation and symptom experiences should thus be seen as a biosocial process.

Women’s Help-Seeking in China and Papua New Guinea: Factors That Impact Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence

Victimization due to men’s intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration against women has many negative physical and mental health effects that can last for generations. Understanding how women seek help in response to abuse, and from whom, can help to inform intervention and prevention efforts. This study sought to understand the help-seeking behavior of women who have experienced IPV in two under-researched countries in Asia and the Pacific, China, and Papua New Guinea (PNG). Based on data from the United Nations Multi-Country Study on Men and Violence, this study used a series of logistic regression models to examine what factors increased women’s likelihood of seeking help from family members and what factors increased the likelihood of a positive reaction in response to help-seeking. More than three quarters of the sample never disclosed their abuse. Those who sought help most frequently went to their female family members or female in-laws. Women were more likely to seek help if they had been severely injured, were experiencing multiple forms of IPV, were experiencing suicidal ideation, held fewer beliefs about traditional gender norms or if they had not witnessed IPV between their own parents. A positive response upon disclosure was contingent on the severity of injuries and women’s knowledge of violence against women legislation and public service campaigns. These findings help to bridge the gap in knowledge about help-seeking behavior from informal supports and the role that community education on IPV could have in ensuring that victims of IPV are supported by family when disclosing partner violence.

Perceived Stress and Coping Strategies among Medical Undergraduates in Pakistan

Background: Stress is very common and alarming problem among medical students now days. There are so many outcomes related to chronic stress like certain negative mental and physical health consequences can occur due to long standing stress. Objective: This study explores possible outcomes of the condition of stress among the medical students and their coping strategies. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Settings: All five years of medical students of Jinnah Medical and Dental College, Karachi Pakistan. Duration: This study duration was 1st January’21 to 31st December’21. Methods: This study constitutes total of 264 students whom actively get engaged in the study. As well this purposeful sample covered senior students who had already fulfilled various clinical rotations in tertiary care hospital. Among the participants semi structured interviews were conducted, in which many structured questionnaire was utilized. Results: The study revealed that about 264 out of 300 students 300 (88%) was filled in the questionnaire. Out of 264 students, 150 were females and 114 were males. Ninety-four percent of the male share physiological and emotional stress. The entire senior under graduate students belongs form fourth and a final year of Jinnah Medical and Dental College feels more stress which exceeds approximately 95%and 98% respectively. Mood swings, poor concentration and loss of temper perceived as common symptoms. Powerful stress during the academics and exams. Coping mechanisms include sports, music or hanging out with friends. Conclusion: It has been observed by the study that although student life is very much exciting and fruitful but it can also be very much affected by environmental conditions and several others challenges by others, because of its transitional duration. Apart from it there are so many challenges which the students can face practically. So there is need to consider not only the education and knowledge of medical students as well as their professional training but there is need to evaluate and enhance their quality of life during the whole tenure (in between and after medical school years for their upbringings in professional life and career growth. It has been concluded that Medical students are those pupils whom always trying and still struggling for the achievement of their goals by certain healthy and justified fruitful and healthy stress coping strategies. In this regard the substantial need for the implementation of stress management programs in order to stimulates the students’ coping capabilities.

Smartphone addiction and its relation to social phobia in female university students

BackgroundThe problematic smartphone use has emerged with negative mental health consequences. The current study aims to assess the rate of occurrence of smartphone addiction and the relationship between smartphone addiction and social phobia and its severity in a sample of female university students.ResultsOut of 540 female students, 28.7% have severe smartphone addiction with higher number in students of academic faculties; also, 71.86% of the whole sample have social phobia with 22.78%, 21.85%, 16.3%, and 10.93% reported mild, moderate, severe, and very severe social phobia scores respectively. The number of students reporting very severe social phobia in the academic group is higher than that in the practical group; also, the study shows a significant relation between smartphone addiction and social phobia.Conclusion and implicationsThere is a high rate of distribution of social phobia in young adult females, which is accompanied with increased in a high rate of occurrence of smartphone addiction; so, there is a need for raising the public awareness regarding hazards of problematic smartphone use in students and the importance of screening of different psychiatric disorders, as social phobia in such population.

Are Polish Kindergartens Ready for The Outdoors? The State of (Im)maturity of the Polish Educational System and its Selected Members for Outdoor Education

As human beings, we are moving dramatically away from nature, which results in negative consequences for both mental and physical health. Highly developed countries see a special need to restore contact with nature as early as possible (Simonienko 2021, 74). Are Polish kindergartens also ready to provide children with education in nature? This article aims to describe the regulations of the educational law related to outdoor education in Polish kindergartens and to present the offer of educating teachers of early childhood education in the field of outdoor education at universities in Poland. Outdoor education is a term that does not have a clear equivalent in Polish. Depending on the translation and understanding, we can attribute different origins and meanings to it. The article presents terminological inaccuracies regarding outdoor education in Poland. The functioning of the education system is based on the activities performed by teachers, working both with the students and (indirectly) with parents. The last part of the text presents a description of selected attitudes of parents and children attending a forest kindergarten towards outdoor education.

Parental burnout and adolescents’ phubbing: Understanding the role of parental phubbing and adolescents’ psychological distress

Given its negative consequences for children's mental health and academic performance, parental burnout has recently drawn researchers’ attention. However, its effects on children's behavior remain unclear. To fill this gap, this study examined the relationship between parental burnout and adolescents’ phubbing as well as the mediating roles of parental phubbing and adolescents’ psychological distress based on the family system theory. This study included 871 adolescents and their primary caregivers. Results indicated positive correlations between parental burnout, parental phubbing, adolescents’ psychological distress and adolescents’ phubbing. Parental burnout had a direct relationship with adolescents’ phubbing; it also had an indirect relationship with adolescents’ phubbing through the independent mediating roles of parental phubbing and adolescents’ psychological distress as well as the chain-mediating roles of these two factors. The findings contribute to our understanding of how parental burnout is related to adolescents’ phubbing and highlight the importance of attending to parental phubbing and adolescents’ psychological distress in preventing and intervening in adolescents’ phubbing.

Polyvictimization and Adolescent Health and Well-Being in Ethiopia: The Mediating Role of Resilience.

Interpersonal violence is a pervasive experience affecting one billion children and adolescents annually, resulting in adverse health and well-being outcomes. Evidence suggests that polyvictimization, the experience of multiple forms of violence, is associated with more harmful consequences for adolescents than experiencing individual types of violence, although data from low-and middle-income countries are limited. This study analyzed data on over 4100 adolescents from the Gender and Adolescence, Global Evidence Study in Ethiopia to examine the association between polyvictimization and adolescent mental and physical health and the mediating role of resilience using linear regression and path analysis. We hypothesized that adolescents experiencing polyvictimization would experience worse mental and physical health than those experiencing no types or individual types of victimization, and that resilience would mediate these relationships. Half of sampled girls and over half of boys experienced polyvictimization. Among both sexes, polyvictimization was associated with worse mental but not worse physical health. Resilience mediated the association between polyvictimization and mental health among girls only. Strengthening resilience among girls may be an effective avenue for mitigating polyvictimization's negative mental health effects, but additional research and programming for preventing and identifying polyvictimized adolescents and linking them to care is needed.

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, 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.