scholarly journals A multicenter study of short-term changes in mental health emergency services use during lockdown in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario during the COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Dainton ◽  
Simon Donato-Woodger ◽  
Charlene H. Chu
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Emergency Services ◽  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
Mental Health Crisis ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Police Responses ◽  
Ed Visits ◽  
Mental Health Diagnoses ◽  
Services Use

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown measures have led to increasing mental health concerns in the general population. We aimed to assess the short-term impact of the pandemic lockdown on mental health emergency services use in the Kitchener-Waterloo region of Ontario, Canada. Methods We conducted an observational study during the 6-month period between March 5 and September 5, 2020 using National Ambulatory Care Reporting System metadata from mental health visits to three regional Emergency Departments (ED); mental health and substance related police calls; and calls to a regional mental health crisis telephone line, comparing volumes during the pandemic lockdown with the same period in 2019. Quasi-Poisson regressions were used to determine significant differences between numbers of each visit or call type during the lockdown period versus the previous year. Significant changes in ED visits, mental health diagnoses, police responses, and calls to the crisis line from March 5 to September 5, 2020 were examined using changepoint analyses. Results Involuntary admissions, substance related visits, mood related visits, situational crisis visits, and self-harm related mental health visits to the EDs were significantly reduced during the lockdown period compared to the year before. Psychosis-related and alcohol-related visits were not significantly reduced. Among police calls, suicide attempts were significantly decreased during the period of lockdown, but intoxication, assault, and domestic disputes were not significantly different. Mental health crisis telephone calls were significantly decreased during the lockdown period. There was a significant increase in weekly mental health diagnoses starting in the week of July 12 – July 18. There was a significant increase in crisis calls starting in the week of May 31 – June 6, the same week that many guidelines, such as gathering restrictions, were eased. There was a significant increase in weekly police responses starting in the week of June 14 – June 20. Conclusions Contrary to our hypothesis, the decrease in most types of mental health ED visits, mental health and substance-related police calls, and mental health crisis calls largely mirrored the overall decline in emergency services usage during the lockdown period. This finding is unexpected in the context of increased attention to acutely deteriorating mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

scholarly journals A multicenter study of short-term changes in mental health emergency services use during lockdown in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario during the COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Dainton ◽  
Simon Donato-Woodger ◽  
Charlene H. Chu
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Emergency Services ◽  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
Mental Health Crisis ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Police Responses ◽  
Ed Visits ◽  
Mental Health Diagnoses ◽  
Services Use

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown measures have led to increasing mental health concerns in the general population. We aimed to assess the short-term impact of the pandemic lockdown on mental health emergency services use in the Kitchener-Waterloo region of Ontario, Canada. Methods We conducted an observational study during the 6-month period between March 5 and September 5, 2020 using National Ambulatory Care Reporting System metadata from mental health visits to three regional Emergency Departments (ED); mental health and substance related police calls; and calls to a regional mental health crisis telephone line, comparing volumes during the pandemic lockdown with the same period in 2019. Quasi-Poisson regressions were used to determine significant differences between numbers of each visit or call type during the lockdown period versus the previous year. Significant changes in ED visits, mental health diagnoses, police responses, and calls to the crisis line from March 5 to September 5, 2020 were examined using changepoint analyses. Results Involuntary admissions, substance related visits, mood related visits, situational crisis visits, and self-harm related mental health visits to the EDs were significantly reduced during the lockdown period compared to the year before. Psychosis-related and alcohol-related visits were not significantly reduced. Among police calls, suicide attempts were significantly decreased during the period of lockdown, but intoxication, assault, and domestic disputes were not significantly different. Mental health crisis telephone calls were significantly decreased during the lockdown period. There was a significant increase in weekly mental health diagnoses starting in the week of July 12 – July 18. There was a significant increase in crisis calls starting in the week of May 31 – June 6, the same week that many guidelines, such as gathering restrictions, were eased. There was a significant increase in weekly police responses starting in the week of June 14 – June 20. Conclusions Contrary to our hypothesis, the decrease in most types of mental health ED visits, mental health and substance-related police calls, and mental health crisis calls largely mirrored the overall decline in emergency services usage during the lockdown period. This finding is unexpected in the context of increased attention to acutely deteriorating mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

scholarly journals A Multicenter Study of Short-Term Changes in Mental Health Emergency Services Use During Lockdown in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Dainton ◽  
Simon Donato-Woodger ◽  
Charlene Chu
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Emergency Services ◽  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
Mental Health Crisis ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Waterloo Region ◽  
Self Harm ◽  
Ed Visits ◽  
Services Use

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown measures have led to increasing mental health concerns in the general population. We aimed to assess the short-term impact of the pandemic lockdown on mental health emergency services use in the Kitchener-Waterloo region of Ontario, Canada. Methods We conducted an observational study during the 6-month period between March 5 and September 5, 2020 using National Ambulatory Care Reporting System metadata from mental health visits to three regional Emergency Departments (ED); mental health and substance related police calls; and calls to a regional mental health crisis telephone line, comparing volumes during the pandemic lockdown with the same period in 2019. Poisson regressions were used to determine significant differences between numbers of each visit or call type during the lockdown period versus the previous year. Results Involuntary admissions, substance related visits, mood related visits, situational crisis visits, and self-harm related mental health visits to the EDs were significantly reduced during the lockdown period compared to the year before. Psychosis-related and alcohol-related visits were not significantly reduced. Among police calls, suicide attempts were significantly decreased during the period of lockdown, but intoxication, assault, and domestic disputes were not significantly different. Mental health crisis telephone calls were significantly decreased during the lockdown period. Conclusions Contrary to our hypothesis, the decrease in most types of mental health ED visits, mental health and substance-related police calls, and mental health crisis calls largely mirrored the overall decline in emergency services usage during the lockdown period. This finding is unexpected in the context of increased attention to acutely deteriorating mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

scholarly journals Abandonment: Experiences of accessing emergency services during mental health crisis

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Rene Lovelace ◽  
Liam Phelan ◽  
Rosanna Langer ◽  
Moira Ferguson ◽  
Lissa L Gagnon
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Emergency Services ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Major Theme ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Mental Health Crisis ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Mental Health Challenges

Purpose: Emergency departments (ED’s) often serve as the access point to health services for individuals living with mental health challenges, with mental health crisis (MHC) accounting for 15% of all presentations to ED’s in Canada. Consumers’ experiences of emergency mental health services have widely been reported as negative. This research aims to explore the experiences of individuals accessing the ED for MHC. Method: A supra-analysis was conducted using data from four semi-structured interviews collected from a larger study exploring stigma, discrimination and resilience in people experiencing mental health challenges. Supra-analysis aims to explore an aspect of the data from a different theoretical perspective. Transcripts were selected based on a participant history of voluntarily accessing emergency services for MHC. Data analysis was completed using the process of thematic analysis which involved immersion in the data, the development and refinement of codes leading to themes. Findings: A major theme of abandonment was identified in participant interviews with subthemes of; geographic, socioemotional and therapeutic abandonment. Participants reported that the locations of care, lack of social/emotional engagement and lack of health care providers’ (HCP) knowledge led to negative experiences attending ED’s. Participants also reported a lack of desire to access emergency services in the future. Conclusion: Future research is vital to enhance the delivery of emergency services, to reduce the feelings of abandonment experienced by individuals accessing the ED for MHC. Training and education must be provided to HCP’s staffing ED’s that focuses on providing high quality, appropriate emergency services to this vulnerable population.

Taking a holistic approach to acute mental health crisis

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 426-432
Author(s):  
Amy Cook
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Emergency Services ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Health Condition ◽  
Mental Health Crisis ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Emergency Department Overcrowding ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Right

An innovative, collaborative model implemented by a UK ambulance service allows patients presenting with a mental health condition to be promptly assisted by a specialist team comprising a paramedic, mental health nurse and police officer. Initial evidence suggests that greater collaboration between emergency services and mental health trusts benefits patients and services: leading to timely assessments, reductions in patient distress levels, and decreasing emergency department overcrowding while providing substantial savings for the NHS. This article explores existing care pathways for patients experiencing acute mental health crisis. Current research from the UK is discussed, and compared with working practices of paramedics internationally. Through reflection of a case study, common difficulties faced in paramedic practice are identified. A multi-agency response to ensure the right care is provided in the right place at the right time is proposed.

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