Rapid report: Early demand, profiles and concerns of mental health users during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Journal
Internet interventions
ISSN: 2214-7829
Titre abrégé: Internet Interv
Pays: Netherlands
ID NLM: 101631612
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Sep 2020
Sep 2020
Historique:
received:
19
04
2020
revised:
08
05
2020
accepted:
12
05
2020
entrez:
16
6
2020
pubmed:
17
6
2020
medline:
17
6
2020
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Trends in contact with a high volume national digital mental health service (DMHS), the MindSpot Clinic, provide a unique opportunity to assess the mental health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Three methods were used to assess changes in responses to COVID-19. First, website visits and call centre traffic were compared across two time periods: the "comparison period" (1 to 28 September 2019), and during the early weeks of the "COVID-19 pandemic" (19 March to 15 April 2020). Second, demographic and symptom data were compared across all patients who started an assessment during the comparison (n = 1650) and the COVID-19 period (n = 1668). Third, responses to questions about the impact of COVID-19 introduced to the assessment from 19 March 2020, and reports from treating therapists were examined. There was an 89% increase in website visits and a 90% increase in telephone calls to the clinic in the early COVID-19 period compared to the comparison period. There was a higher proportion of females in the COVID-19 sample (76.9% vs. 72.9%), and a lower proportion reported being in employment (52.8% vs. 60.8%). There was a small but significant increase in the severity of anxiety symptoms, and an increase in the number of people reporting recent onset of anxiety and depression. However, there were no differences between groups in severity of symptoms of distress or depression. Most people (94%) reported concern about the impact of COVID-19, and 88% reported making changes in lifestyle. Older adults had higher levels of concern about COVID-19. Therapists reported that patients were concerned about how to access testing, manage quarantine, financial security and the effect of social isolation. COVID-19 has resulted in a significant increase in contact with an established DMHS, but we have not yet detected increases in baseline symptom severity. With the prospect of prolonged restriction of movement, DMHS such as MindSpot could play an important role in both providing clinical services and monitoring the mental health of the population.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Trends in contact with a high volume national digital mental health service (DMHS), the MindSpot Clinic, provide a unique opportunity to assess the mental health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
METHODS
METHODS
Three methods were used to assess changes in responses to COVID-19. First, website visits and call centre traffic were compared across two time periods: the "comparison period" (1 to 28 September 2019), and during the early weeks of the "COVID-19 pandemic" (19 March to 15 April 2020). Second, demographic and symptom data were compared across all patients who started an assessment during the comparison (n = 1650) and the COVID-19 period (n = 1668). Third, responses to questions about the impact of COVID-19 introduced to the assessment from 19 March 2020, and reports from treating therapists were examined.
RESULTS
RESULTS
There was an 89% increase in website visits and a 90% increase in telephone calls to the clinic in the early COVID-19 period compared to the comparison period. There was a higher proportion of females in the COVID-19 sample (76.9% vs. 72.9%), and a lower proportion reported being in employment (52.8% vs. 60.8%). There was a small but significant increase in the severity of anxiety symptoms, and an increase in the number of people reporting recent onset of anxiety and depression. However, there were no differences between groups in severity of symptoms of distress or depression. Most people (94%) reported concern about the impact of COVID-19, and 88% reported making changes in lifestyle. Older adults had higher levels of concern about COVID-19. Therapists reported that patients were concerned about how to access testing, manage quarantine, financial security and the effect of social isolation.
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
COVID-19 has resulted in a significant increase in contact with an established DMHS, but we have not yet detected increases in baseline symptom severity. With the prospect of prolonged restriction of movement, DMHS such as MindSpot could play an important role in both providing clinical services and monitoring the mental health of the population.
Identifiants
pubmed: 32537424
doi: 10.1016/j.invent.2020.100327
pii: S2214-7829(20)30068-3
pii: 100327
pmc: PMC7262525
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Pagination
100327Informations de copyright
© 2020 The Authors.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
The authors have no other potential conflicts of interest to declare.
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