The impact of viral epidemics and pandemics on acute mental health service use: an integrative review

Bowman, Craig T.; Branjerdporn, Grace; Turner, Kathryn; Kamara, Memunatu; Tyagi, Nischal; Reyes, Neil Josen Delos; Stapelberg, Nicolas J. C.

doi:10.1080/17437199.2021.1886864

Cited by 13 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 106 publications

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“…The heightened level of COVID-related concern and distress in the community may have motivated people to seek support online given the significant disruptions to face-to-face mental health service provision during the COVID-19 pandemic ( Jayawardana and Gannon, 2021 ). Indeed there have been widespread reports across the globe of reductions in the number of face-to-face or in-person mental health consultations, including outpatient appointments, hospital admissions, and emergency department attendances (e.g., Bowman et al, 2021 ; Dragovic et al, 2020 ; Garriga et al, 2020 ; Tromans et al, 2020 ). The heightened media exposure of the DMHS in this study, coupled with the waiving of course fees in the THIS WAY UP service, may have also contributed to increased service use during the COVID period.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A tale of two countries: Increased uptake of digital mental health services during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia and New Zealand

Mahoney¹,

Elders²,

Li³

et al. 2021

Internet Interventions

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Background Digital mental health services (DMHS) provide highly accessible psychological supports and interventions that can supplement existing mental health services. Concerns about the mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic have been widespread and provide a unique impetus to examine the utility and responsivity of DMHS. This study examined the service utilisation and user characteristics of two DMHS (THIS WAY UP and Just a Thought) in Australia and New Zealand before and during the early pandemic period in these countries (March to June 2020). Methods Service use indices (website visits, course registrations and prescriptions, clinician registrations) were compared across different time periods before (12, 6 and 3 months) and during the pandemic in Australia and New Zealand. The demographic and clinical characteristics of course registrants (anxiety and depression symptom severity and psychological distress) were also compared across the pre- and during-COVID periods. Results Comparing pre-COVID to during-COVID time periods, we observed substantial increases across all service use indices in both DMHS (increases of >100% on the majority of service use indices). For example, in the 3 months prior to the pandemic, 2806 people registered for a THIS WAY UP course and 1907 people registered for a Just a Thought course, whereas 21,872 and 5442 registered for a THIS WAY UP and Just a Thought course, respectively, during the first 3 months of the COVID pandemic. Slight differences in the demographic and clinical profiles of course registrants were found between pre- and during-COVID time periods, with limited evidence of elevated anxiety and depression symptom severity in the COVID period. Conclusions Following the outbreak of COVID-19 in Australia and New Zealand, the volume of users accessing DMHS increased yet the demographic and clinical characteristics of course registrants remained stable. Results underscore how nimble and scalable DMHS can be during periods of high demand.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A tale of two countries: Increased uptake of digital mental health services during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia and New Zealand

Mahoney¹,

Elders²,

Li³

et al. 2021

Internet Interventions

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Bowman and colleagues reviewed responses in epidemics and pandemics similar to COVID-19. Recommendations as suggested from the review included such ideas as pivoting to non-contact (telephone or telehealth) screening, assessment, and treatment where possible; or implementing home-based interventions, allowing people to self-isolate while still receiving treatment (Bowman et al, 2021 ).…”

Section: How a Minnesota Act Team And Others Adjusted To The Pandemicmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Having schizophrenia spectrum diagnosis was found to be the second most potent risk factor, with age being the greatest risk factor (Nemani et al, 2021 ). The SMI population may be more at risk for acquiring infection due to various potential reasons such as not being able to fully understand the health risks and recommendations (e.g., due to decreasing cognitive ability and/or cognitive impairment), limited awareness of self‐care and hygiene measures, using medication continuously, and difficulties with screening and/or stay-at-home orders (Bowman et al, 2021 ; Shinn & Viron, 2020 ; Sukut & Ayhan Balik, 2020 ; Thomson et al, 2020 ; Zhang et al, 2020 ).…”

Section: How a Minnesota Act Team And Others Adjusted To The Pandemicmentioning

confidence: 99%

Further Adaptations and Reflections by an Assertive Community Treatment Team to Serve Clients with Severe Mental Illness During COVID-19

Couser

Taylor-Desir

Lewis³

et al. 2021

Community Ment Health J

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In September of 2020, Guan and colleagues wrote about their experience of an Assertive Community Psychiatry Program responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. We describe our own experience as an Assertive Community Treatment team in Minnesota responding to challenges of effectively and safely delivering service to clients. As the pandemic has progressed since last year, so has the literature, and updated references are highlighted. Common threads are woven between our experience, the experience of Guan and colleagues, and others to suggest the beginnings of a template to adapt services to a new post-pandemic world.

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“…The involvement of the Indigenous; culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD); and peer workforce in the staff interventional response to COVID-19 was a noted gap in the literature we reviewed. These groups should be considered as important stakeholders in the development and implementation of staff support initiatives ( 87 ). This would also ensure that healthcare workers who identify under these groups have access to the supports available.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interventional Response of Hospital and Health Services to the Mental Health Effects of Viral Outbreaks on Health Professionals

et al. 2022

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The aim of this integrative review was to examine the impact of past viral epidemics on staff mental health interventional responses, with a specific focus on healthcare provider response in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Following PRISMA methodology, databases were searched for relevant articles. A total of 55 articles with a range of methodologies (e.g., commentary papers, cohort studies, qualitative studies) were included to ensure broad coverage of this rapidly emerging research area. The literature showed that many healthcare providers implemented a variety of wellbeing initiatives to support their staff during a viral outbreak. Most of these interventions, however, were not formally evaluated. Interventions included leadership/team support; online psychoeducational resources and updated information on the pandemic; respite spaces; peer support outreach; staff resilience training; telephone hotline support; staff support groups; and individual counseling. Staff were generally supportive of the initiatives offered by hospital and health services, with certain interventions being more appreciated (e.g., staff respite areas). Rapid, locally, and culturally appropriate workplace-based responses may counter the negative mental health impact on staff; but a stepped response is required for a smaller number of staff at risk of mental illness, or those with pre-existing mental illness.Systematic Review Registration: Unique Identifier: CRD42020222761.

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The impact of viral epidemics and pandemics on acute mental health service use: an integrative review

Cited by 13 publications

References 106 publications

A tale of two countries: Increased uptake of digital mental health services during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia and New Zealand

A tale of two countries: Increased uptake of digital mental health services during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia and New Zealand

Further Adaptations and Reflections by an Assertive Community Treatment Team to Serve Clients with Severe Mental Illness During COVID-19

Interventional Response of Hospital and Health Services to the Mental Health Effects of Viral Outbreaks on Health Professionals

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