Wellbeing of CAMHS staff and changes in working practices during the COVID‐19 pandemic

Abstract

Introduction The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has necessitated significant changes in working practices across healthcare services. The current study aimed to assess the wellbeing of health professionals and quantify the adaptations to working practices in a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) during the pandemic. Method The study was conducted in a UK CAMH team six weeks into lockdown measures. All clinicians were invited to complete a survey eliciting their experiences of working practices during the pandemic, degree of worry about the virus and mental wellbeing. Results Clinicians had significantly lower levels of mental wellbeing during the pandemic than population normative data, to the extent that some clinicians were classified as at heightened risk of depression. A significant shift to remote working, reduction in face‐to‐face appointments, and decrease in clinicians' perceived ability to undertake clinical tasks was observed. Themes emerging from clinicians' experiences of working during the pandemic include being supported within the team, providing a service, working adaptations, and working as a team. A further theme highlights the needs of clinicians to complete their clinical role effectively. Conclusion CAMHS clinicians require additional support, training, and guidance during a pandemic to promote mental wellbeing and effectiveness in completing clinical tasks.

The Effects of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in Well-Being and Perceived Stress in Adolescents with Low Academic Performance During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…It has been found that adolescents and young people are more apt to the pandemic threat due to social isolation, insecurity in parental employment, and increased parental discomfort. If we increase the mental health services for these people in the form of social education services, they will definitely be less harmed (12). All of the above should be considered for adolescents who have experienced academic failure in the Corona pandemic.…”

‘Space to hide’: experiences of remote provision across child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS)

“…According to one study exploring practitioners' experiences of remote consultations across one East of England CAMHS, the pivot to remote provision did not adversely affect rapport, safeguarding, or risk assessment [12]. Conversely, Bentham and colleagues found that clinicians lacked the training and guidance to maximise the effectiveness in completing their role [15]. As telephone calls were the predominant format of appointments, clinicians felt less able to examine vital forms of non-verbal communication [15] which were considered instrumental in assessing and engaging people experiencing difficulties.…”

“…Conversely, Bentham and colleagues found that clinicians lacked the training and guidance to maximise the effectiveness in completing their role [15]. As telephone calls were the predominant format of appointments, clinicians felt less able to examine vital forms of non-verbal communication [15] which were considered instrumental in assessing and engaging people experiencing difficulties. Healthcare professionals often rely on forms of non-verbal communication to form clinical impressions and maintain engagement [15].…”

“…As telephone calls were the predominant format of appointments, clinicians felt less able to examine vital forms of non-verbal communication [15] which were considered instrumental in assessing and engaging people experiencing difficulties. Healthcare professionals often rely on forms of non-verbal communication to form clinical impressions and maintain engagement [15]. As research in this area has predominantly focused on the perspectives of practitioners and clinicians, it is important to explore young people's and parents/carers' perspectives of remote provision, especially as future delivery models should be designed and commissioned with young people's voices in mind.…”

“You cannot pour from an empty cup!”: child well-being service providers’ and policymakers’ professional supervision, coping and well-being during COVID-19

“…A larger UK-based study with 51 child and adolescent mental health services staff elicited their perceptions of their ability to undertake their duties while adapting their practice, their relationship with their teams and their well-being six weeks into the lockdown measures (Bentham et al , 2021). The questionnaire response data indicated lower-than-normal well-being scores, including heightened risk of depression as well as COVID-19-related worry.…”