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SUMMARY:Remote volunteering via smartphone to address patients' loneliness
  and social isolation and volunteers stigma
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260609T093000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260609T103000
DTSTAMP:20260527T025525Z
UID:5deedb35-cc38-f111-88b4-7ced8d99a758
CREATED:20260415T130842Z
DESCRIPTION:People with psychosis often present social withdrawal and isol
 ation\, critical risk factors for poor physical and mental health\, preven
 ting engagement with treatment and impeding recovery. Research shows that 
 people with psychosis frequently face stigma and discrimination from the g
 eneral public\, highlighting social contacts as the best way to reduce sti
 gma. In mental health care\, volunteers willingly donate their free time\,
  unpaid\, to provide company for patients. With remote volunteering potent
 ially a large number of volunteers could provide support\, but research ev
 idence is needed. \n\nObjectives: To investigate the feasibility and accep
 tability of remote volunteer support for people with psychosis to reduce p
 atients' social isolation and stigma among volunteers. \n\nMethods: A feas
 ibility trial was conducted with patients with psychosis and volunteers to
  elicit their views and experiences of communicating with their match over
  the smart-phone (through texts\, WhatsApp messages\, e-mails\, audio\, or
  video calls). Interviews were audio-recorded\, transcribed and analysed t
 hrough thematic analysis. \n\nResults: Thirty four participants were match
 ed and completed the follow-up assessment. Many adhered to the advised com
 munication frequency of at least once/week. Most used audio calls or messa
 ged\; some opted for video calls and only one pair used e-mails. Communica
 tion topics included personal background\, daily routines and shared inter
 ests. Some participants shared more personal information\, others kept con
 versations superficial. \n\nConclusion: Both patients and volunteers enjoy
 ed communication with their match and were pleased with the relationships 
 formed. This suggests remote volunteer support could be a feasible and acc
 eptable method to reduce patient's loneliness and social isolation and dec
 rease stigma among volunteers. \n\nhttps://zoom.us/j/94572787318?pwd=yQZc0
 eWXLehppqdtcdhbak2QTPy4V0.1\n	\nMeeting ID: 945 7278 7318\nPasscode: 75162
 9
LAST-MODIFIED:20260415T130940Z
LOCATION:Department of Psychiatry - Seminar Room\, Seminar Room Department
  of Psychiatry Headington Oxford Oxfordshire OX3 7JX United Kingdom
SPEAKER:Dr Mariana Pinto da Costa (King's College London)
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