TY - JOUR
T1 - A nationwide study of COVID-19 impact on mental health-related presentations among children and adolescents to primary care practices in Australia
AU - John, James Rufus
AU - Khan, Jahidur Rahman
AU - Lin, Ping I.
AU - Jonnagaddala, Jitendra
AU - Hu, Nan
AU - Belcher, Josephine
AU - Liaw, Siaw Teng
AU - Lingam, Raghu
AU - Eapen, Valsamma
PY - 2023/8
Y1 - 2023/8
N2 - This study explored the impacts of COVID-19 on the mental health (MH)-related visits to general practices (GPs) among children and young people (CYP) up to 18 years of age in Australia. This study analysed national-level data captured by the NPS MedicineWise program on monthly CYP MH-related visits per 10,000 visits to GPs from January 2014 to September 2021. We considered the pre-COVID-19 period (January 2014–February 2020) and the COVID-19 period (March 2020–September 2021). We used a Bayesian structural time series (BSTS) model to estimate the impact of COVID-19 on MH-related GP visits per 10,000 visits. A total of 103,813 out of 7,690,874 visits to GP (i.e., about 135 per 10,000 visits) were related to MH during study period. The BSTS model showed a significant increase in the overall MH-related visits during COVID-19 period (33%, 95% Credible Interval (Crl) 8.5%–56%), particularly, visits related to depressive disorders (61%, 95% Crl 29%–91%). The greatest increase was observed among females (39%, 95% Crl 12%–64%) and those living in socioeconomically least disadvantaged areas (36%, 95% Crl 1.2–71%). Our findings highlight the need for resources to be directed towards at-risk CYP to improve MH outcomes and reduce health system burden.
AB - This study explored the impacts of COVID-19 on the mental health (MH)-related visits to general practices (GPs) among children and young people (CYP) up to 18 years of age in Australia. This study analysed national-level data captured by the NPS MedicineWise program on monthly CYP MH-related visits per 10,000 visits to GPs from January 2014 to September 2021. We considered the pre-COVID-19 period (January 2014–February 2020) and the COVID-19 period (March 2020–September 2021). We used a Bayesian structural time series (BSTS) model to estimate the impact of COVID-19 on MH-related GP visits per 10,000 visits. A total of 103,813 out of 7,690,874 visits to GP (i.e., about 135 per 10,000 visits) were related to MH during study period. The BSTS model showed a significant increase in the overall MH-related visits during COVID-19 period (33%, 95% Credible Interval (Crl) 8.5%–56%), particularly, visits related to depressive disorders (61%, 95% Crl 29%–91%). The greatest increase was observed among females (39%, 95% Crl 12%–64%) and those living in socioeconomically least disadvantaged areas (36%, 95% Crl 1.2–71%). Our findings highlight the need for resources to be directed towards at-risk CYP to improve MH outcomes and reduce health system burden.
KW - COVID-19
KW - Mental health
KW - Paediatric health service
KW - Primary care
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85165112352&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115332
DO - 10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115332
M3 - Article
C2 - 37453310
AN - SCOPUS:85165112352
SN - 0165-1781
VL - 326
JO - Psychiatry Research
JF - Psychiatry Research
M1 - 115332
ER -