TY - JOUR
AU - McNicholas, Fiona
AU - Kelleher, Ian
AU - Hedderman, Elma
AU - Lynch, Fionnuala
AU - Healy, Elaine
AU - Thornton, Therese
AU - Barry, Edwina
AU - Kelly, Lisa
AU - McDonald, James E.
AU - 
AU - Kavanagh, Glenda
AU - Migone, Maria
PY - 2021
DA - May
TI - Referral patterns for specialist child and adolescent mental health services in the Republic of Ireland during the COVID-19 pandemic compared with 2019 and 2018
JO - BJPsych Open
VL - 7
IS - 3
DO - https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2021.48
AB - BackgroundCountries worldwide are experiencing a third wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Government-imposed restrictive measures continue with undetermined effects on physical and mental health.AimsTo compare child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) referrals over 11 months (January–November) in 2020, 2019 and 2018 and examine any impact the different phases of the COVID-19 restrictions might have on referral rates.MethodMonthly CAMHS Health Service Executive data were examined, covering a catchment population of 260 560 or 12.7% of all youth (age group 0–18 years) in Ireland. The total number of urgent and routine referrals, appointments offered, rates of non-attendances and discharge outcome are presented.ResultsThere was a significant drop in referrals in 2020, compared with prior years (χ2= 10.3, d.f. = 2,P= 0.006). Referrals in 2020 dropped from March to May by 11% and from June to August by 10.3%. From September, both routine and urgent referrals increased by 50% compared with previous years (2018/2019), with the highest increase in November 2020 (180%). Clinic activity also increased from September, with double the number of out-patient appointments offered, compared with previous years (χ2= 5171.72, d.f. = 3,P&lt; 0.001) and lower (6.6%) rates of non-attendance (χ2= 868.35, d.f. = 3,P&lt; 0.001).ConclusionsIn 2020, following an initial decline, referrals to CAMHS increased consistently from September. Such unprecedented increase in referrals places further strain on services that are already underresourced and underfunded, with the likelihood of increased waiting lists post COVID-19. It is envisaged that once the pandemic is over, resources will be even more constrained, and CAMHS will be urgently in need of additional ring-fenced funding.
PB - Cambridge University Press
UR - https://www.research.ed.ac.uk/en/publications/09296f31-176f-4a9e-8172-23b60807b94f
KW - Coronavirus (COVID-19)
KW - Children, young people and families
KW - Mental health and wellbeing
ER