Mental Health–Related Emergency Department Visits in Adolescents Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Multicentric Retrospective Study

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this study was to compare pre/post-COVID-19 changes in mental health–related emergency department visits among adolescents. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of all mental health–related emergency department visits in two large tertiary pediatric hospital centers between January 2018 and December 2020. We described monthly pre/post-COVID-19 changes in frequency and proportion of mental health visits as well as changes in hospitalization rates for eating disorders, suicidality, substance use, and other mental health conditions. Results We found an increase in the proportion of mental health–related emergency department visits during the months of July–December 2020 ( p < .01). There was a 62% increase in eating disorder visits between 2018–2019 and 2020 ( p < .01). No pre pandemic/postpandemic changes were found in the proportion of visits resulting in hospitalization for any of the four diagnostic categories. Conclusions Our study suggests significant impacts of COVID-19 on adolescent mental health and a need for further longitudinal research work in this area.

Comparison of Self-harm or Overdose Among Adolescents and Young Adults Before vs During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Ontario

“… 15 Among 2 large tertiary pediatric hospitals in Quebec, Canada, a study conducted between January 2018 and December 2020 observed no prepandemic vs pandemic changes in ED visits for substance use or suicide. 16 In a single-center study 17 from Philadelphia during that same era, comprising 5 to 24-year-olds, the mean number of monthly ED mental health visits significantly fell during the COVID-19 pandemic, even though the proportion of all ED visits for a mental health condition increased from 4.0% to 5.7%. Similar findings were seen in a cross-sectional study of all ED visits within 27 US pediatric hospitals during the pandemic (March to August 2020) vs the prepandemic period.…”

Sustainable Developmental Goals interrupted: Overcoming challenges to global child and adolescent health

“…Well before COVID-19, poor mental health was fast emerging as a major non-communicable disease of relevance to children and adolescents, with far-reaching and long-term consequences, including those related to bullying and exposure to other forms of violence. Exacerbating that trajectory is the differentiated context of the pandemic [ 17 ], and, therefore, a better understanding of contributors to mental and socioemotional health issues is imperative at the present time. Several studies in this Special Issue illuminate the current challenges in this area, as well as inform future strategies to combat psychosocial and mental health issues going forward.…”

Communicating With and Supporting Youth Diagnosed With COVID-19: A Trauma-Informed Care Approach

“…COVID-19 has also brought increased exposure to potentially traumatic events for adolescents such as a COVID-19 diagnosis, hospitalization or death of a close family member or friend, loss of important life events, economic challenges, and/or increased exposures to abuse or violence in their home or community. Mental health challenges (e.g., depression) for adolescents have increased since the start of the pandemic [ 2 ].…”