IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v19y2022i6p3252-d767945.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

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
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/6/3252/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/6/3252/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    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.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Melanie Koeger & Hannah Schillok & Stephan Voss & Michaela Coenen & Christina Merkel & Caroline Jung-Sievers & On behalf of the COSMO Study Team, 2022. "Alcohol Use of German Adults during Different Pandemic Phases: Repeated Cross-Sectional Analyses in the COVID-19 Snapshot Monitoring Study (COSMO)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-17, May.
    2. Hui-Wen Tseng & Ching-Shu Tsai & Yu-Min Chen & Ray C. Hsiao & Fan-Hao Chou & Cheng-Fang Yen, 2021. "Poor Mental Health in Caregivers of Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Its Relationships with Caregivers’ Difficulties in Managing the Children’s Behaviors and Worsened Psychol," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-16, September.
    3. Célia Landmann Szwarcwald & Deborah Carvalho Malta & Marilisa Berti de Azevedo Barros & Paulo Roberto Borges de Souza Júnior & Dália Romero & Wanessa da Silva de Almeida & Giseli Nogueira Damacena & A, 2021. "Associations of Sociodemographic Factors and Health Behaviors with the Emotional Well-Being of Adolescents during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Brazil," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-13, June.
    4. Margarida Frade dos Santos & Celeste Simões & Anabela Caetano Santos & Paula Lebre & Ilaria Grazzani, 2022. "Does Online Implementation Make a Difference in the Effects of a Mental Health Curriculum at Schools?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-18, December.
    5. Francesco Demaria & Stefano Vicari, 2023. "Adolescent Distress: Is There a Vaccine? Social and Cultural Considerations during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-11, January.
    6. Eleonora Marzilli & Luca Cerniglia & Renata Tambelli & Elena Trombini & Leonardo De Pascalis & Alessandra Babore & Carmen Trumello & Silvia Cimino, 2021. "The COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Impact on Families’ Mental Health: The Role Played by Parenting Stress, Parents’ Past Trauma, and Resilience," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-15, October.
    7. Daniel Acosta & Yui Fujii & Diana Joyce-Beaulieu & K. D. Jacobs & Anthony T. Maurelli & Eric J. Nelson & Sarah L. McKune, 2021. "Psychosocial Health of K-12 Students Engaged in Emergency Remote Education and In-Person Schooling: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-21, August.
    8. Luigi Aldieri, 2023. "Il ruolo degli aspetti non monetari per la determinazione della situazione di benessere: Un’analisi regionale in Italia," Regional Economy, , vol. 7(Q2), pages 47088-47088.
    9. Julio Torales & Iván Barrios & Juan Edgar Tullo-Gómez & Osvaldo Melgarejo & Nora Gómez & Viviana Riego & Rodrigo Navarro & Oscar García & Pamela Figueredo & José Almirón-Santacruz & Tomás Caych, 2023. "Suicides among Children and Adolescents in Paraguay: An 18-year National Exploratory Study (2004–2022)," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 69(7), pages 1649-1657, November.
    10. Andi Muhammad Tri Sakti & Siti Zaiton Mohd Ajis & Arina Anis Azlan & Hyung Joon Kim & Elizabeth Wong & Emma Mohamad, 2022. "Impact of COVID-19 on School Populations and Associated Factors: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-17, March.
    11. Panagis Galiatsatos & Vanya Jones & Jacqueline Bryan & Meghan Brown & Olivia Banks & Brittany Martin & Megan Collins & Catherine Ling & Mindi B. Levin & Audrey Johnson & Alicia Wilson & Annette Anders, 2023. "The Health Education and Training (HEAT) Corps: A Medical–Community Collaboration Response during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-8, January.
    12. Ákos Levente Tóth & Zsuzsanna Kívés & Etelka Szovák & Réka Kresák & Sára Jeges & Bendegúz Kertai & Imre Zoltán Pelyva, 2022. "Sense of Coherence and Self-Rated Aggression of Adolescents during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic, with a Focus on the Effects of Animal Assisted Activities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-13, December.
    13. Fang-Yi Tsai & Hannah Schillok & Michaela Coenen & Christina Merkel & Caroline Jung-Sievers & on behalf of the COSMO Study Group, 2022. "The Well-Being of the German Adult Population Measured with the WHO-5 over Different Phases of the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Analysis within the COVID-19 Snapshot Monitoring Study (COSMO)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-27, March.
    14. Katharina Werner & Ludger Woessmann, 2021. "The Legacy of Covid-19 in Education," CESifo Working Paper Series 9358, CESifo.
    15. Ana Paula Oliveira & Joana Rita Nobre & Henrique Luis & Luis Soares Luis & Lara Guedes Pinho & Núria Albacar-Riobóo & Carlos Sequeira, 2022. "Social Media Use and Its Association with Mental Health and Internet Addiction among Portuguese Higher Education Students during COVID-19 Confinement," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-13, December.
    16. Ke Wang & Panpan Liu & Junyi Zhang & Jinping Zhong & Xianfei Luo & Jingxiu Huang & Yunxiang Zheng, 2023. "Effects of Digital Game-Based Learning on Students’ Cyber Wellness Literacy, Learning Motivations, and Engagement," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-16, March.
    17. Markus Stracke & Miriam Heinzl & Anne Dorothee Müller & Kristin Gilbert & Anne Amalie Elgaard Thorup & Jean Lillian Paul & Hanna Christiansen, 2023. "Mental Health Is a Family Affair—Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on the Associations between Mental Health Problems in Parents and Children during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-18, March.
    18. Genevieve Graaf & Katherine Kitchens & Millie Sweeney & Kathleen C. Thomas, 2024. "Behavioral Health Services Outcomes That Matter Most to Caregivers of Children, Youth, and Young Adults with Mental Health Needs," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(2), pages 1-16, February.
    19. Orit Shapiro & Rachel Nissanholtz Gannot & Gizell Green & Avi Zigdon & Moti Zwilling & Ariela Giladi & Lilach Ben-Meir & Marques Adilson & Sharon Barak & Yossi Harel-Fisch & Riki Tesler, 2022. "Risk Behaviors, Family Support, and Emotional Health among Adolescents during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Israel," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-13, March.
    20. Hexiao Ding & Ziruo Xu & Wangjing Hu & Yannan Guo & Cailing Wang & Sicheng Li & Zhengyang Hui & Jing Wang & Xinran Peng & Wei Xia, 2023. "Changes of stressful life events, coping strategies and mental health among youths in the pre- and post-coronavirus 2019 pandemic era: A cross-sectional study," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 69(8), pages 2018-2030, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:6:p:3252-:d:767945. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.