Previously submitted to: Journal of Medical Internet Research (no longer under consideration since Apr 16, 2020)
Date Submitted: Apr 10, 2020
Warning: This is an author submission that is not peer-reviewed or edited. Preprints - unless they show as "accepted" - should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information.
Rapid Report: Early Demand, Profiles and Concerns of Mental Health Users during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic in late March 2020
ABSTRACT
Background:
Trends in contact with a high volume national digital mental health service (DMHS), the MindSpot Clinic, provide a unique opportunity to assess the mental health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Objective:
To examine trends in contact with a high volume national digital mental health service (DMHS) in order to assess the early mental health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods:
Baseline website and call centre traffic, and demographic and symptom data from a cohort of 500 consecutive users from February 2020 were compared with a matched cohort during the early phase of the pandemic. Responses to questions about the impact of COVID-19 and reports from treating therapists were examined. Demographic information, scores on K10, GAD7, PHQ9 and to questions regarding suicide plans and effect of COVID19 were examined.
Results:
There was a 68% increase in website visits and a 90% increase in telephone calls to the clinic. There was no increase in the severity of symptoms of psychological distress, depression, anxiety or the number reporting suicidal plans. However, the pandemic cohort reported more recent onset of symptoms of anxiety and depression, 96% reported concern about the impact of COVID-19, and 95% reported making changes in lifestyle, with higher levels of concern among older adults. Concerns identified by therapists included how to access testing and manage quarantine, financial security and the impact of social isolation.
Conclusions:
COVID-19 has resulted in a significant increase in contact with an established DMHS. With the prospect of prolonged restriction of movement, DMHS such as MindSpot are in a unique position to both provide clinical services and to monitor the mental health of the population.
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