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The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health Care of Children and Adolescents in Switzerland: Results of a Survey among Mental Health Care Professionals after One Year of COVID-19

Author

Listed:
  • Anna Maria Werling

    (Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, University of Zurich, 8032 Zurich, Switzerland)

  • Susanne Walitza

    (Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, University of Zurich, 8032 Zurich, Switzerland
    Swiss Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, 3008 Bern, Switzerland
    Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland)

  • Stephan Eliez

    (Swiss Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, 3008 Bern, Switzerland
    Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland)

  • Renate Drechsler

    (Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, University of Zurich, 8032 Zurich, Switzerland)

Abstract

Background: To assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on treatment demand and supply in children and adolescents with mental disorders during the first year of the pandemic from the perspective of child and adolescent psychiatrists and psychologists in Switzerland. Methods: The survey was conducted anonymously, in German or French and online in April/May 2021. Mental health professionals working in child and adolescent psychiatry, psychotherapy services or independent practices were contacted by email. Results: N = 454 professionals completed the survey (176 child and adolescent psychiatrists and 276 psychologists). After an initial period of decreased demand during the lockdown in spring 2020, requests for treatment increased, considerably exceeding the demand pre-pandemic and reaching a peak in January/February/March 2021. The vast majority of professionals (78.2%) estimated that there was currently too little supply during the pandemic, which differed from the evaluation of the pre-pandemic situation (37%). A total of 65% of participants indicated that waiting time until the initiation of treatment increased during the pandemic, 41% reported their current workload to be somewhat higher and 44.5% much higher. Conclusions: For the first pandemic year, youth mental health professionals reported a large increase in the treatment demand and waiting time and a worrisome overload of treatment services.

Suggested Citation

  • Anna Maria Werling & Susanne Walitza & Stephan Eliez & Renate Drechsler, 2022. "The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health Care of Children and Adolescents in Switzerland: Results of a Survey among Mental Health Care Professionals after One Year of COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-14, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:6:p:3252-:d:767945
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Meichun Mohler-Kuo & Shota Dzemaili & Simon Foster & Laura Werlen & Susanne Walitza, 2021. "Stress and Mental Health among Children/Adolescents, Their Parents, and Young Adults during the First COVID-19 Lockdown in Switzerland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-17, April.
    2. Lawrence A. Palinkas & Jessenia De Leon & Erika Salinas & Sonali Chu & Katharine Hunter & Timothy M. Marshall & Eric Tadehara & Christopher M. Strnad & Jonathan Purtle & Sarah McCue Horwitz & Mary M. , 2021. "Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Child and Adolescent Mental Health Policy and Practice Implementation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-21, September.
    3. Salima Meherali & Neelam Punjani & Samantha Louie-Poon & Komal Abdul Rahim & Jai K. Das & Rehana A. Salam & Zohra S. Lassi, 2021. "Mental Health of Children and Adolescents Amidst COVID-19 and Past Pandemics: A Rapid Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-16, March.
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