COVID-19 pandemic takes its toll on teens’ mental health
16 Aug 2021
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to an increased burden of mental health problems among adolescents, a new study has found.
Drawing data from two large tertiary paediatric hospitals, the researchers conducted a retrospective analysis of mental health-related emergency department (ED) visits between January 2018 and December 2020. They compared pre- vs post-COVID rates of visit and hospitalization for eating disorders, suicidality, and substance use, among other conditions.
Over almost 3 years of observation, a total of 68,637 visits were reported, of which 10.1 percent (n=6,911) were due to mental health reasons. Mean overall visits dropped from 24,824 in 2018–2019 to 18,988 in 2020. Mental health visits showed the same trend (2,355 in 2018–2019 to 2,201 in 2020).
Monthly analysis revealed that in March, April, and May of 2020, the number of mental health-related ED visits was 40.8 percent to 68.8 percent lower compared to the 2 years prior, with the differences reaching statistical significance (p<0.01). However, mental health visits were 29.7-percent higher in September 2020 vs 2018–2019 rates.
The proportion of mental health visits was also higher between July and December 2020 vs 2018–2019, reaching 17.3 percent in November (p<0.01).
Changes in annual mental health visits could be attributed to eating disorders, which increased by 62 percent in 2020 (p<0.01), and suicidal ideation, which dropped by 9.9 percent in 2020 (p=0.03). Other mental health conditions in general likewise decreased (–9.1 percent; p=0.03).
“Though we did not see an increase in the overall number of mental health-related ED visits, the observed increase in the proportion of mental health-related ED visits aligns with reported increases in prevalence of mood, anxiety, and eating disorder symptoms in the general population,” the researchers said.
“Our study highlights the importance of longitudinally assessing both acute and long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on youth mental health,” they added.