Pandemic

Managing mental health as pandemic restrictions ease

UBC psychiatry professor Dr. Steven Taylor (he/him), author of The Psychology of Pandemics: Preparing for the Next Global Outbreak of Infectious Disease, offers advice on how people can manage the complex feelings that come with this next phase of the pandemic.

Mar 10, 2022

Photo: Prasesh Shiwakoti (Lomash) / Unsplash

UBC experts on COVID-19 pandemic

UBC experts are available to comment on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jan 4, 2022

UBC experts on new SARS-CoV-2 variant ‘Omicron’

A heavily mutated variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus—designated “Omicron”—has emerged, with early cases concentrated primarily in South Africa. UBC experts are available to comment.

Nov 26, 2021

Screengrabs of TikToks found by searching the word "health."

UBC scholars call for global research agenda into TikTok’s impacts on public health

TikTok has acquired more than one billion monthly users in just five years, but the influential video-sharing app remains one of the least studied social media platforms around. In this Q&A, UBC researchers Dr. Skye Barbic and UBC research associate Marco Zenone discuss the need for a global research agenda into TikTok’s impact on public health.

Nov 25, 2021

B.C. universities team up to dress UBC grads after storm

The University of British Columbia’s first in-person graduation ceremonies since 2019 have hit an unexpected hurdle and won’t look the same as normal.

Nov 22, 2021

How to ease back-to-school stress for school-age kids

Heading back to school can be stressful for young people even when there’s no global pandemic to worry about, says Dr. Tyler Black, assistant clinical professor at UBC’s department of psychiatry.

Sep 2, 2021

Study highlights pandemic impact on adolescent mental health

Adolescents who were in a good headspace before COVID-19 suffered a decline during the pandemic, whereas those with poor mental health fared better, according to new research.

Jun 28, 2021

Better mental health supports for nurses needed, study finds

Working in the highly charged environment of COVID-19 has had a huge impact on the mental health of nurses, according to a new survey by researchers at UBC and the Institute for Work & Health in Toronto.

Jun 24, 2021

Pandemic underlines need to address physician burnout, study finds

Two out of three Vancouver physicians surveyed in a new UBC study faced burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jun 11, 2021

Debunking COVID-19 myths: As the weather warms, UBC vaccine expert separates fact from fiction

Dr. Anna Blakney, assistant professor in UBC’s School of Biomedical Engineering, Michael Smith Laboratories and vaccine expert, addresses some popular myths about COVID-19.

May 18, 2021

The study shows that a lockdown can, for example, reduce air pollution from traffic and industry but at the same time increase pollution from residential sources such as heating. Credit: Unsplash

COVID-19 lockdowns only reduced air pollution in some parts of the world

When COVID-19 lockdown measures were first introduced last year, schools and shops closed, tourist spots were deserted due to international travel restrictions, and economies slowed down as most people adjusted to life in the confines of their home.

Apr 6, 2021

Previous research has shown that COVID-19 is only slightly more prevalent among healthcare workers than it is among the general population: 0.14 per cent compared to 0.10 per cent.

One in three people avoiding healthcare workers during pandemic

Many people who show support for healthcare workers with nightly noise-making also avoid healthcare workers throughout the day.

Aug 24, 2020

Researchers found that all levels of physical activity declined between nine and 12.6 per cent shortly after physical distancing was introduced, and the trend was reversed only for moderate-to-vigorous physical activity.

Canadians’ physical activity dwindles despite resumption of harder workouts

Canadians’ physical activity declined as expected following declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic, but moderate-to-vigorous physical activity rebounded over the first six weeks of the pandemic. However, lighter and more incidental physical activity did not.

Jul 27, 2020