SciComm Acts as The Solution to Mental Health Problems during Pandemic

article by Claudyne Li

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The COVID-19 pandemic caused a health crisis that was rapidly spreading throughout the world. Efforts to develop pharmacological interventions for COVID-19 prevention and treatment are still ongoing and have not yet produced the right solution. Meanwhile, the health crisis also impacts large-scale behavioral changes with a significant psychological burden on humans. The impact is not only an economic crisis but also a mental health crisis experienced by the community. The condition of people who are more often at home now will certainly cause the free time to watch television, browse social networks, the internet, or get information through close relatives. The delivery of messages through the process of communication is influenced by emotional and spiritual intelligence (Masturi and Utami, 2018:107). Poor communication results in a low level of emotional and spiritual intelligence, such as mental illness (like fear, boredom, anxiety, depression, or even suicidal behavior). This shows that communication is closely related to a person's psychological condition. Therefore, it is very important to convey appropriate information and communication to prevent hoax news while maintaining the mental health of the community.

Individuals who take a rational approach to health problems and consultations from various sources of information are generally better at deciding which information can be trusted. Health-related behavior is influenced by various structural, social, and psychological factors. Communication strategies can influence all of these factors, and communication strategies and communication science perspectives are relevant across structural, public, and self-stigma (Committee on the Science of Changing Behavioral Health Social Norms et al., 2016: 53). At present, the whole world is in chaos due to the identification and spread of COVID-19. Thousands of articles published in the mass media have a big impact every day. Thus, people with low levels of information literacy risk failing to access the right information. This is due to the fact that misleading and/or speculative information is being circulated online and offline through mass media and social networking platforms. While scientists are trying to publicize their breakthroughs in science, more attention needs to be paid to the aspect of scientific communication that includes public information.

Science communication provides the basis for understanding the effects of message features, content, and platforms on four aspects which are combined into one, such as cognitive, affective, persuasive, and behavior. All of these aspects depend on the characteristics of the audience, the media, the source of the message, and the specific content used in the message. According to Burns et al. (2003:191), science communication (SciCom) may be defined as the use of appropriate skills, media, activities, and dialogue to produce one or more of the following personal responses to science that are sequentially processed into awareness, enjoyment or other affective responses, interest, opinions, and understanding. Dissemination of information around a pandemic encourages facts about the importance of effective scientific communication. COVID-19 has caused an increase in conspiracy theories, false news, and misinformation. According to conspiracy theories, the virus outbreak was the result of a biological warfare rather than natural occurrence (Millett and Snyder (2017) in Abaido and Takshe (2020:123)). Conspiracy theories emerged shortly after the first news of COVID-19 and continued. Some are concerned about the origin of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, for example, that it is a bioweapon created by China to trigger war on America or vice versa. Others focus on prevention and cure. No wonder that conspiracy theories have developed at this time. Someone will be more interested in conspiracy theories when feeling frustrated or even depressed. Thus, conspiracy theories can become more attractive because COVID-19 spreads, and many people isolate themselves. It should be noted that conspiracy theories be detrimental to social peace and harmony, as they can not only influence people's health choices but can also instigate xenophobia in societies, triggering violent social behavior (Adam and Moodley (2013) in Abaido and Takshe (2020:123)). Providing factual information to people before exposure to conspiracy theories can reduce conspiracy theory beliefs, and this strategy might work in an effort to combat conspiracy theories relevant to the current pandemic. However, because some people tend to consume information in a like-minded 'echo-chambers', battling conspiracy theories remains a challenge (Bavel et al., 2020:464).

False news and misinformation about COVID-19 have spread widely on social media, with potentially dangerous consequences. Developing research uses social science to understand and fight the spread of false news. One approach is to eliminate prejudice using fact-checking and correction (Bavel et al., 2020: 464). Fact-checking has been done on several sites, one of which is the site factcheck.org. UNICEF has also implemented fact-checking by publishing verified content. Accurate information about what most people do is likely to help, for example, what most people do is constructive (such as promoting mental health). Social norms or perceived habits will be effective for those close to them as well as with whom the information is shared. Social media can strengthen the spread of both harmful and beneficial behaviors and this effect can spread through networks between individuals.

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The most effective collaborative efforts are based on communication science and informed by behavior theory. Technological and mathematical knowledge played a key role in generating high-profile contemporary examples of science communication. Holliman (2005:7) mentions that one of the key issues that links these examples is that they have all be the subject of a considerable number of communications in a wide range of contexts, e.g within (in the form of journal articles) and outside (in the form of news media reporting) scientific community. Science communication related to each example was produced by a number of social actors, including scientists and representatives of scientific institutions, professional media, non-governmental organizations, and community members. For example, the broadcasting of the latest news COVID-19 in Indonesia which is informed every day by a doctor as well as an influencer. As such, these examples represent interesting opportunities to investigate how science is communicated both inside and outside the community with a focus, especially on the role of scientists and scientific institutions.

In science communication, researchers have explored a number of messaging approaches, including providing information in an evidence-based way that enhances understanding and action. Several studies have found that, whether the recipient is motivated to think carefully or not, sources that are considered credible are more persuasive. The source's credibility comes from the assumption of how trustworthy and expert the communicator is. Credibility is defined as a set of communicant perceptions about the nature of the communicator (Masturi and Utami, 2018:116). Trusted voices have been proven to make public health messages more effective in changing behavior during epidemics.

Some messaging approaches may be effective, including emphasizing benefits to the recipient, with a focus on protecting others (for example, washing hands or wearing masks to protect parents and the elderly) in accordance with the recipient's moral values. Which message works best depends on the motivation of the audience. In addition to finding effective messages for attitude change, this is also linked to problems driving behavior change. This happens when people feel confident about their attitude. This method of increasing certainty can be useful in the new normal era especially to help people feel confident about their new attitude and make them feel that their new attitude is a 'moral' to have. It might be useful to identify which messages are most successful in encouraging individual actions needed to fight the spread of the virus while providing mental support to other individuals.

Another preventive approach involves subtle impulses that encourage people to consider accuracy. At present, almost all humans have consumed information from social media. Social platforms can encourage users to provide accuracy, for example by periodically asking these users to assess the accuracy of their news. Fighting false news (hoaxes) about COVID-19 around the world effectively requires the support of governments and media developing and testing interventions. Coordinated efforts between individuals, communities, and governments are needed to stop the spread of disease by sending 'strong signals' of cooperation and a framework that is in line.

A good science communication campaign increases public knowledge about the truth of information related to mental health and also changes behavior towards people with mental disorders. Science communication will identify which norms and public behavior should be targeted, compile messages that must be remembered so that they have a lasting impact, and facilitate the selection of platforms or the best source of messages. Therefore, science-based communication can reduce the stigma of negative beliefs and behaviors that have an impact on mental health and strengthen people's positive attitudes. (CL)

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References

• Abaido, G. M. dan Takshe, A. A. 2020. COVID-19: Virus or Viral Conspiracy Theories? American Journal of Biomedical Science & Research 8(2): 122-124.

• Bavel, J.J.V., Baicker, K., Boggio, P.S. 2020. Using social and behavioural science to support COVID-19 pandemic response. Nat Hum Behav.

• Burns, T. W., O’Connor, D. J., dan Stocklmayer, S. M. 2003. Science communication: a contemporary definition. Public Understand. Sci. 12(2): 183-202.

• Committee on the Science of Changing Behavioral Health Social Norms, Board on Behavioral, Cognitive, and Sensory Sciences, dan Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education. 2016. Ending Discrimination Against People with Mental and Substance Use Disorders: The Evidence for Stigma Change. National Academies Press. Washington, DC.

• Holliman, Richard. 2005. An introduction to communicating science. The Open University. UK.

• Masturi, A. dan Utami, D. A. 2018. Kecerdasan Komunikasi dan Kesehatan Mental. Jurnal Kajian Dakwah dan Kemasyarakatan 22(2): 107-122.