Department of Government, Sociology, Social Work and

[1]

NEWSLETTERIssue 1 JUNE 2021

What’s inside?p.2 - Reflections on COVID-19COVID-19 has affected 41.5million people and caused

more than 1.1 million deaths globally....

p.4 - Women & Covid-19 As a woman, wife and mother, I am filled with gratitude

that my family and friends have not been adversely

affected by COVID-19.

p.6 -Working from Home, The Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated the psychoso-

cial and emotional impacts of working abroad, with the

numerous safety protocols implemented to prevent the

spread of the virus. ....

p.3 - Writing to Heal Expressive writing or keeping a journal has both physical and

emotional benefits (Lepore & Smyth, 2002)...

p.5 - Self-Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Barbados detected its first case of COVID-19 on

March 17th 2020. ...

p.7 - COVID-19:Solidarity, Never InequalityAs the world responds to the public health crisis brought on by the

COVID-19 corona virus...

p.8 - Stress & Female Reproductive Health According to WHO and UNFPA (2009), “rates of depression in

women of reproductive age are expected to increase in developing

countries.”

GREETINGS!

The UWI, the premier tertiary institution in the Caribbean, providing education services

for close to seventy years is deeply embedded in Caribbean societies, serving communities in every country in the region. As regional Governments battle to deploy public health resources to the frontline of COVID-19 containment, The UWI is offering its extensive services to provide psychosocial support to the region. As Caribbean families deal with the 24-hour lockdowns in over ten countries, quarantine and isolation requirements, limited and restricted social engagement and the loss of routines, there is a critical need for psychosocial support and coping mechanisms generally but in particular for the most vulnerable in our societies.

The UWI, is well poised, in collaboration with local Ministries responsible for social services and Health, to deploy its internal professional resource to provide psychosocial support services.

Dr. Wendy Grenade (Head of Department)Overview of Project - UWICares

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UWICares PROJECT

Dr. Debra Joseph - Chair

GENDER AND MEDIA COMMITTEE

Mrs. Joan Cuffie - Gender Lead

Dr. Yvonne Weekes - Media Lead

OTHER MEMBERS

Dr. Jaqueline Benn

Dr. Lisa Jaggernauth

Ms. April Louis

Dr. Catherine Trotman

DESIGN & LAYOUT

Shammal JordanEmail: [email protected]: 246 242 4616

The Vision: Creation of a core group of experts who teach, practice and research in the fields of Social Work, Psychology and other supporting disciplines found on The UWI Campuses to facilitate psychosocial intervention in times of crisis and to support local Ministries with same.

The Mission: To ensure that the Campus community and Local Ministries are provided with the measures to access:

ºº Psychosocial support.

ºº Methods for psychosocial intervention

ºº Counselling for families with members in isolation or mandatory quarantine facilities

ºº Bereavement counselling to families experiencing loss in the midst of COVID-19.

ºº A call-centre that will engender well-being checks on the elderly, vulnerable persons in volatile or crisis situations exacerbated by the lockdown.

ºº Recommended strategies to Social Care Agencies on modalities used in post crisis adaption for enhanced social functioning and restoration of livelihoods.

ºº A model of care that can assist throughout the region.

I sincerely hope that the activities emanating from this project can find its way to the hearts of individuals to bring some measure of comfort during these challenging times of COVID-19.

Department of Government, Sociology, Social Work and Psychology

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COVID-19 has affected 41.5million people and caused more than 1.1 million deaths globally. Apart from the morbidity and mortality rates, the pandemic has also had

an impact on every aspect of our lives, including the social,

economic and political (WHO, 2020).

MASKS ON OR ‘MASKS’ OFF? THAT IS THE QUESTION

During the Coronavirus outbreak there was the advent of

several protocols, namely, social distancing, hand washing

and the wearing of a masks. This has become part of the daily

routine. Personally, I felt the mask took away my smile, that

is, even though I smiled with the mask, no one saw and there

was that loss of connection. What became prominent were the

eyes. There is a saying that the ‘eyes are the windows to the

soul’. This I found was true. The mask can hide the mouth and

lips but I discovered you can still smile through your eyes and

the funny thing is that individuals recognised this. You cannot

pretend as it comes from within. Now, we wear physical masks,

whereas sometime in the past, many with their smiles exposed

may have worn invisible ‘masks’ hoping that no one sees what

is really hidden inside.

Debra D. Joseph Chair (Lecturer- Social Work)

Reflections onCOVID-19

Lesson: What is on the inside almost always finds its way to the surface via the eyes. Work on the inside, make it better and it will shine through your eyes. You can make a connection wearing a physical mask.

SOLITUDE VERSUS LONELINESS

Presently, I am working in a different place to where I was born, as such, my main support system is back where I refer to as home. In order to adapt and manage, I learnt to become comfortable with solitude. I learnt to keep my own company. In so doing, I became my best friend. I discovered so many ways to build a relationship with my inner self. I did many things that gave me such intrinsic value. I did ballroom dancing, painting, walks on the beach and the watching of sunsets. This gave me such satisfaction. I designated a day in the week to go out and have breakfast by myself and at times I sit in coffee shops and read. I listened to audio books for self-improvement and listened to music of different genres. I am particularly fond of the romantic songs about love. Love can be the panacea for life ills. Did I ever feel lonely? Yes, at times, but the solitude won every time! By the time COVID descended upon us, I was comfortable with self and solitude. There was stress because of the unknown. My wish: It will be well worth it if I can go home to visit my family and friends during this time.

The world paused, and in so doing, gave me the permission to ‘pause’ although I worked.

Lesson: Self-development can make you stronger and kinder to self. It helps one to get in touch with their inner being and provides great coping skills for living. It minimises loneliness and it can give you the resilience and permission to simply exist.

Melissa Webb

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According to DeSalvo (2000), certain types of writing particularly those which combine

description and emotion can help us resolve fear, anxiety, and distress which one may experience while resolving

emotional issues. Expressive writing or keeping a journal has both physical and emotional benefits (Lepore & Smyth, 2002). Here is just one of thirty-two poems written during the lockdown period.

Yvonne Weekes - (Lecturer: Theatre & Arts Education)

and for nearly three months not a word

Not a sound

days rolled into one another

not a loud music coming from ‘cross Gilbert plantation

not a “psss sexy thing” as you walk pass a building site

dem just standing like dem done, just laying waste …

not a phone call of empty promises

asking, “I could pass by you”?

“You want have a drink wid me?”

Not a sign of life, everything bruk down, just so

Cars pan street barely moving

No revelers ain’t bussing

Ain’t partying

Ain’t liming

Not a man ain’t hollering for you on the road

Not a man ain’t blowing you a dry kiss.

Not even one man nah check for you

Curfew done stop all o dat.

Everything just still

Except for the single lines

Winding around food shops

Cause we need bread and fish

For de holy days dat coming.

it was like the end of love,

romance and all you had for company

was you Bible open on the same page,

telephone buzzing and phone WhatsApping

the next case, the next death, the news coming at you

in the bed dank and empty, radiation quietly roaring

killing you just as much as the damn virus.

What kind of silence was this, at all?

and some of us could hear we own lives

echoing in the silence and emptiness.

Yvonne Weekes (2020)

Writing to Heal

Isolation

References: DeSalvo, L. (2000). Writing as a way of healing. Boston: Beacon.

Lepor, S. & Smyth, J. M. (2002). The writing cure: How expressive writing promotes health and emotional well-being. Washington DC: American Psychological Association.

Melissa Webb


As a woman, wife and mother, I am filled with gratitude that my family and friends have not

been adversely affected by COVID-19.

Unlike some mothers who have children

studying or residing overseas where the

pandemic was spiking, my anxiety level

was significantly reduced by my ability to

bring our daughter home from the USA

before the shutdown in March, 2020.

However, as I stepped out of my personal

comfort zone and reflected on women

across the world and specifically, those in

the Caribbean Region, I was consumed

with the agonies that many women

would be experiencing and how some of

their challenges and problems would be

intensified by this pandemic.

According to the UN Secretary-General,

Antonio Guterres (April, 2020), “The

pandemic is deepening pre-existing

inequalities, exposing vulnerabilities in

social, political and economic systems

which are in turn amplifying the impacts

of the pandemic… Across every sphere,

from health to the economy, security

to social protection, the impacts of

COVID-19 are exacerbated for women

and girls simply by virtue of their sex.”

Joan Cuffie (Lecturer- Psychology)Women and Covid-19

Within the Caribbean, a substantial number of women are engaged in entrepreneurial activities and work in the informal sector and service industries, which were severely affected by the pandemic. As a result,

women lost their jobs and could not conduct their businesses for months because of the shut-downs, losing much needed income and their ability to meet their financial commitments to their families, especially in those families where women are the main or only breadwinner. Additionally, as a direct result of the shut-down, women now experience increased childcare and household responsibilities as they are managing their children’s education as schools are fully or partially closed, and taking care of elderly relatives who may now be residing with them. But the shut-down has also placed more women at risk for gender-based violence as they are in households with their abusers on a full-time basis.

We must show concern and care for our women because when women are affected, children and families are also affected!


Barbados detected its first case of COVID-19 on March 17th 2020. As cases rose a public health

emergency was declared, and a two-week national curfew was put into effect. Barbadians have reacted to the pandemic in a relatively mature manner. Residents are wearing masks in public, limiting gatherings, and adhering to physical distancing rules. Testing is accessible, and protocols are in place for persons entering the country. As a result, the infection rate is low and Barbados is considered a moderate risk country (CDC, 2020).

However, we are not immune to COVID-

19’s attending mental health issues.

Experiencing a pandemic carries a

significant psychological toll, even

for those who have not been infected

(Taylor et al, 2020). Common signs of

psychological distress include: insomnia,

anhedonia, anxiety, irritability and anger,

difficulty relaxing, stomach issues,

memory loss, confusion, difficulty

concentrating, indecisiveness and feeling

overwhelmed. It is important, therefore,

for us to focus on prioritising our mental

health. In order to do this, we can:

Engage in self-care. Eat healthily, drink water, get exercise and rest.

UNPLUG. We use screens for work, for leisure, and to connect with our loved ones. Unfortunately, screen time is associated with poor posture, back pain, eye strain, headaches, and disrupted sleep. Take time each day to unplug,

Catherine Trotman (Lecturer-Psychology)

Self-Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic

making sure to avoid all screens for at least an hour before bedtime.

ENFORCE BOUNDARIES. When working from home, the boundaries between work and leisure often blur, increasing the risk of burnout. To combat this, designate an area of your home for work and set working hours – do not answer phone calls, check emails or engage in work-related activities outside of this time.

CONNECT. Take time out to engage in meaningful interaction with friends and family. Talk to your loved ones about your worries, and allow them to discuss their feelings with you.

These tips can help to moderate the psychological effects of COVID-19. However, if you are concerned about your mental health, please contact a professional for help.

ReferencesTaylor, S., Landry, C. A., Paluszek, M. M., Fergus, T. A., McKay, D., & Asmundson, G. (2020). COVID stress syndrome: Concept, structure, and correlates. Depression and anxiety, 37(8), 706–714.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, October 30). COVID-19 in Barbados. Retrieved from https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/covid-2/coronavirus-barbados

Melissa Webb


The Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated the psychosocial and emotional impacts of working

abroad, with the numerous safety protocols implemented to prevent the spread of the virus. While the social distancing protocols have distanced us from those physically close to us, the other protocols such as lockdowns, travel restrictions and the closing or borders, have further reduced our connections to our loved ones abroad to wireless communication. In the Caribbean, for example, the airline which provided the widest reach of inter-regional flights shut down its operations for months, leaving many people dependant on expensive and irregular chartered flights. The inability to physically visit home, has been compounded by the fear of the virus itself.

We live everyday with the reality, that anyone close to us may contract the COVID-19 virus and may not only have to endure its most severe symptoms but may also have to face death. We also live with the reality, that in the event of death or severe sickness, we may not be able to visit our loved ones due to logistical reasons beyond our control. This ongoing precarious situation, causes worry, fear and feelings of helplessness that makes us vulnerable to developing anxiety disorder, depression or also trigger already existing mental illnesses and conditions. Yet, we must still be productive under the new business arrangements of working from home, which comes with its own issues of fatigue and overwork as we seek to balance our professional and personal lives in the same physical locations. The layered mental impacts of this pandemic may also manifest physically, with issues such as high-blood

Working from Home, Away from HomeApril Louis (Temporary Research Assistant)

pressure, insulin resistance, chronic fatigue, headaches and even digestive issues which may arise as side-effects of stress. I implore everyone reading this to seek mental and psychosocial assistance in this ongoing situation of heightened and continuous stress. A mental health specialist can assist you in selecting

healthy coping mechanisms that will give you relief in the shortrun and more effective results in the longrun. My mantra during this time has been “whenever there is life, there is hope,” it is a gentle reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always a silver lining.

One Way to SupportMENTAL HEALTH-ECOTHERAPY

WHAT IS ECOTHERAPY?Ecotherapy is a formal type of therapeutic treatment which involves doing outdoor activities in nature. There isn't one single definition of ecotherapy, but it's often used to describe a regular, structured activity that:

Is led by trained professionals (sometimes therapists), who are there to support you

Focuses on doing an activity, rather than on your health

Takes place in a green environment

Is related to exploring and appreciating the natural world

Involves spending time with other people, although you can always choose to interact at your own pace

© Mind. This information is published in full at mind.org.uk


Melissa Webb Melissa Webb

As the world responds to the public health crisis brought on by the COVID-19 coronavirus, women

and men of all races and nationalities are called upon to safeguard the wellness of their society. In recent months, under life threatening conditions, we witnessed countries enact legislation and called upon retired professionals and technocrats from divergent sectors to establish national, community and individual social protection measures against the spread of the virus.

Women like men constituted the frontline of public health care to provide urgent services to families and individuals infected and affected by the virus, amidst caring for themselves, and their own children and families. Although this is first-rate on matters of solidarity, there should be no distraction that women are more likely than men to suffer harsher economic consequences as a result of the pandemic. Let us recall that pre-existing employment conditions located women at an economic disadvantage well before the onset of COVID-19. Now, with this public

Lisa Jaggernauth (Lecturer-Social Work)

COVID-19: Solidarity,Never Inequality

health crisis, poverty among women is exacerbated. In the gender index gap for Barbados, Pasquali (2020) found that women were at a 19% disadvantage as far as economic participation and opportunity were concerned. Women’s estimated income was 30% lower than men. My contention is that the pre-existing conditions of economic inequality are likely to widen as countries grapple with structural unemployment, adjustments to new ways of social engagement and conducting business.

The consequences of COVID-19 on the social and economic landscape could also produce ebbing effects on the strides made in gender equality over the last decade. It is likely that men and women will confront new realities that are differently experienced, and these differences must remain a central focus for policy and decision makers in any country’s recovery efforts. Attention to job security for women, and disparities in wages remain paramount areas for adjudication. Restorative efforts must seek to build on the achievements in gender equality with attention to uniformity in wages across diversified occupations, equal opportunities for employment, health care including protection of women during pregnancy, women entrepreneurship and education. In essence, the needs of women and mothers must not go unmet as we battle COVID-19.

Reference:Pasquali, Marina (2020). Barbados Gross National Income per Capita 2010-2019.

https://www.statista.com/statistics/1068575/gross-national-income-per-capita-barbados/.


According to WHO and UNFPA (2009), “rates of depression in women of reproductive age are

expected to increase in developing countries”. It was predicted that by 2020 “unipolar major depression” will be one of the leading reasons for loss of years due to illness (termed as DALY-disability-adjusted life years). However, such predictions were made in the absence of any knowledge of a global pandemic that would cause job losses, an increase in incidences of domestic violence, economic recessions, and an abrupt change in the way we live life as we know it.

These factors lead to added stress, anxiety, frustration and worry, all of which are emotional responses managed by our body’s hormonal processes. One of these hormones, cortisol, a key player in the body’s ‘flight or fight’ response, negatively impacts female reproductive functions. Consistently high levels of cortisol in the body suppress the secretion of hormones that are necessary for ovulation and menstruation. This can lead to irregular menstruation and ovulation.

Stress and Female Reproductive HealthBy the St. Lucia, Endometriosis, PCOS and Adenomyosis Support Group

Suppose you already suffer from reproductive illnesses or disorders. In that case, it is very likely that, even excluding any external factors, you may already be dealing with psychological issues such as stress, depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation and even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). For example, in a 2013 survey, 50% of women with fibroids reported feeling helpless as they seemed unable to control their symptoms and their quality of life (Ghant et al., 2014). In addition, higher levels of stress due to irregular cycles, infertility and acne can cause women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) to suffer from anxiety and depression (Himelein and Thatcher, 2006).

Maintaining a healthy mental state is, therefore, key to maintaining healthy reproductive function and vice versa. Both of which are important in preserving your overall health. Stay on top of your reproductive health by doing the following:

ºº Monitor the length, regularity, and flow of your menstrual cycle

ºº Monitor any changes to your mental health (moderate or severe feelings of depression, anxiety, stress, memory loss or absentmindedness)

ºº Monitor your physical health (moderate/severe weight gain/loss, fatigue, cravings, nausea, bloating, headaches)

ºº Examine cervical mucus for any changes in colour or scent

ºº Carry out monthly breast examsMelissa Webb

RESOURCESEutelmed- UNICEFCaring.eutelmed.comAccess Code: UNICEF-ECA

https://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/health-emergencies/coronavirus-covid-19/training-courses

https://www.who.int/health-cluster/news-and-events/news/COVID19-Resources/en/

https://www.thelancet.com/coronavirus

WHO.org

CDC.org

Barbados Crisis Hotline Contact phone number: 429-9999.

https://www.thenationalcouncil.org/covid19/

https://www.who.int/health-topics/vio-lence-against-women#tab=tab_1

Documents

Department of Government, Sociology, Social Work and