The COVID-19 outbreak and psychiatric hospitals in China: managing challenges through mental health service reform

Abstract

Recently, more than 300 Chinese patients with psychiatric disorders were diagnosed with the 2019 novel coronavirus disease . Possible reasons quoted in the report were the lack of caution regarding the COVID-19 outbreak in January and insufficient supplies of protective gear. We outlined major challenges for patients with psychiatric disorders and mental health professionals during the COVID-19 outbreak, and also discussed how to manage these challenges through further mental health service reform in China.

Are we facing a crashing wave of neuropsychiatric sequelae of COVID-19? Neuropsychiatric symptoms and potential immunologic mechanisms

“…This pandemic is a potential source of direct and vicarious traumatization for everyone (Z. , which is only further emphasized by unsettling case reports of suicide deaths related to fears of contracting or spreading COVID-19 (Goyal et al, 2020;Montemurro, 2020). Therefore, several groups have rightfully called for the development and implementation of mental health screening and intervention programs for both the public and for healthcare workers (Bao et al, 2020;Xiang et al, 2020).…”

The global battle against SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19

“…Xiang et al brought up an issue of high infection rate among health workers in China, mainly due to the lack of experience in handling it in the early stages of the epidemic [8]. On the other hand, more than 300 Chinese patients with psychiatric disorders have been with the SARS-CoV-2 since the outbreak of COVID-19 [9]. Patients, health professionals and the general public are under insurmountable psychological pressure, which may lead to various mental health problems, such as anxiety, fear, depression, and insomnia.…”

“…Patients, health professionals and the general public are under insurmountable psychological pressure, which may lead to various mental health problems, such as anxiety, fear, depression, and insomnia. Emergency psychological teams have been urgently established at regional and national levels and provided mental health services for those in need as part of the overall deployment of the disease control [7,9].…”

Novel Coronavirus and Related Public Health Interventions Are Negatively Impacting Mental Health Services

“…The novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has changed life and healthcare with unprecedented rapidity. In Asia, the early pandemic complicated the delivery of psychiatric care 1 and introduced fear, panic, and grief among the public. 2 In prior disasters mental health systems struggled to deliver care around major disasters even as survivors experienced frequent psychiatric sequelae.…”

“…The relatively lower use of telemedicine in hospital settings suggests that the modality may be either underutilized or ill-served to hospitalized higher risk patients, a group already recognized to be at risk during the pandemic. 1 Practices and perceptions may change as psychiatrists see more patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19). We plan a follow-up survey to assess changes in practice over time.…”