The Psychology Report

COVID-19: Life’s stresses just as important as health and economics

Sarb Johal • Mar 17, 2020

• coronavirus,
• COVID-19,
• finances,
• Mental health,
• problems of living,
• Psychology

When we talk about disasters or a crisis, we often focus on the disruption and stress caused by the index event or occurrence itself. In the case of Covid-19, it’s the health impact of the virus on people and communities. However, secondary stressors are circumstances, events or policies that are indirectly related to or are a consequence of an … Read More

If your comms message is suboptimal, change it

Sarb Johal • Mar 16, 2020

• coronavirus,
• COVID-19,
• Pandemic,
• self isolation,
• stay at home

I wanted to highlight two recent changes in communications messaging from the Ministry of Health in the last few days, because I think they are good examples of what we need to focus on if we want to get the bigger picture of good messaging right in these times of Covid19. The Ministry of Health has changed … Read More

Wellington, we have a problem…

Sarb Johal • Mar 12, 2020

• coronavirus,
• COVID-19,
• Pandemic,
• self isolation,
• transmission,
• WHO

It’s March 12. COVID19 is making its way around Europe. It has established footholds in the USA. Although some countries seem to have been largely successful in containing the spread of the virus, I think with the global declaration of pandemic by the WHO today has finally named the elephant in the room, the world’s worst kept secret. But … Read More

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Why do people criticise emergency services and their decisions following a disaster?

Sarb Johal • Dec 16, 2019

• disaster,
• emergency response,
• police,
• Psychology,
• Risk,
• uncertainy,
• volcano,
• Whakaari,
• White Island

Why have we seen such criticisms of the emergency response and the decision to delay recovery rather than take immediate action? Why do some people think they can make better decisions that the Police and other authorities? To understand this better, we need to think about how and why we might feel the need to make decisions for other … Read More

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How to support after the Whakaari/White Island volcanic eruption

Sarb Johal • Dec 12, 2019

• disaster,
• eruption,
• psychosocial recovery,
• psychosocial support,
• PTSD,
• recovery,
• trauma,
• White Island

As details emerge about what unfolded on Whakaari / White Island two days ago, my thoughts go out to all the families affected by this terrible event. My thoughts are also with the first responders who worked in perilous circumstances to assist and protect those affected. Both local and wider international communities are affected, and will continue … Read More

After Christchurch: Why rituals are important

Sarb Johal • Mar 22, 2019

• Canterbury Earthquakes,
• Christchurch mosque shootings,
• Psychology,
• trauma

Today marks one week since the tragic events of 15 March 2019. As we remember those who were killed and injured, those whose lives were changed forever on that day, I thought I would post a few responses to things that people have been asking me about, either on email, in person or through media requests.   What happens … Read More

After Christchurch: What to do when our protective bubble has burst and why

Sarb Johal • Mar 20, 2019

• Anxiety,
• disaster,
• Psychology,
• Safety

We have a window of time in which we can make profound changes in New Zealand so that nothing like the Christchurch attacks on 15 March 2019 can happen again. But there is a high risk that this window is going to close soon so we need to move quickly. And it will take profound, coherent,  and courageous leadership to … Read More

After Christchurch: what you might be feeling and why

Sarb Johal • Mar 16, 2019

• Christchurch,
• Psychology,
• shooting

Today, I wanted to talk about how some reactions we might be feeling in the next few days as a result of the Christchurch terror attack can feel quite overwhelming and complicated. I wanted to talk about how this can be really uncomfortable, but quite common after large-scale events like this. I’ve recorded this in this video below, but you … Read More

Mental health in public life: Is the experience of politicians and how we make policy intertwined?

Sarb Johal • Sep 03, 2018

• Mental health,
• policy,
• politics

Many societies are experiencing significant increases in those reporting mental health difficulties and illnesses, but face systemic obstacles in helping their communities’ to deal with these problems. The WHO report on Mental health: New Understandings, New Hope identified mental health as possibly posing the most difficult and acute health care challenge of the twenty-first century. The report goes on to … Read More

What is the nocebo effect and why is it important? And what is a systematic review?

Sarb Johal • Aug 27, 2018

• nocebo,
• Psychology

In this Psychology Report, I talk with Rebecca Webster  who is based at King’s College in the University of London, UK.  In this conversation, we focus on Rebecca’s work on a systematic review of the ‘nocebo effect’ – what it is and how it might work.  R Webster: Yeah, so we all know what the placebo effect is, it’s … Read More