COVID-19 and Pediatric Mental Health Hospitalizations

Jahidur Rahman Khan, Nan Hu, Ping I. Lin, Valsamma Eapen, Natasha Nassar, James John, Jackie Curtis, Maugan Rimmer, Fenton O’Leary, Barb Vernon, Raghu Lingam

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Citations (Scopus)
2 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To analyze Australian national data to examine the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on mental health-related hospital presentations among children and adolescents during the pandemic period with restrictions, and the period after the restrictions eased. 

METHODS: We analyzed the monthly mental health-related inpatient admissions and emergency department (ED) attendances data from 6 large pediatric hospitals across Australia, using the Bayesian structural time series models. The COVID-19 restriction period was from March 2020 to December 2021 and the COVID-19 restriction-eased period from January to June 2022. 

RESULTS: A total of 130 801 mental health-related hospital admissions (54 907) and ED attendances (75 894) were analyzed. During the COVID-19 restriction period, there was a significant increase in inpatient admissions related to deliberate self-harm behaviors (82%, 95% credible interval [CrI], 7%–160%) and ED attendances related to overall mental health disorders (15%, 95% CrI, 1.1%–30%) and eating disorders (76%, 95% CrI, 36%–115%). The increase was higher among females and those living in the least socioeconomically disadvantaged areas, suggesting a widening gap between mental health-related presentations by sex and socioeconomic status. After the restrictions eased, there were slight declines in mental health-related hospital presentations; however, the numbers remained higher than the pre–COVID-19 levels. 

CONCLUSIONS: The increase in mental health-related hospital presentations during the COVID-19 period calls for additional support for pediatric mental health care, particularly for eating disorders and deliberate self-harm among female adolescents. It is important to monitor pediatric mental health service use as we enter “COVID-19 normal” period.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere2022058948
Number of pages9
JournalPediatrics (English Edition)
Volume151
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 May 2023

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'COVID-19 and Pediatric Mental Health Hospitalizations'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this