1. A survey of mental health professionals in a paediatric hospital during COVID-19
- Author
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Isobel Heyman, Zoe Berger, Mandy Bryon, Brian C. F. Ching, Matteo Catanzano, Sophie Bennett, Holan Liang, Anna E. Coughtrey, Roz Shafran, Kate Fifield, Suzanne Gray, and Emma Hewson
- Subjects
2019-20 coronavirus outbreak ,medicine.medical_specialty ,mental health professionals ,Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) ,Adolescent ,Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) ,paediatrics ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Surveys and Questionnaires ,medicine ,Humans ,030212 general & internal medicine ,Child ,business.industry ,SARS-CoV-2 ,Special Issue: Covid-19 ,Physical health ,COVID-19 ,General Medicine ,questionnaires ,Hospitals, Pediatric ,Mental health ,030227 psychiatry ,Adolescence ,Psychiatry and Mental health ,Clinical Psychology ,Mental Health ,Family medicine ,Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health ,business ,chronic illness - Abstract
Background There is little understanding of the mental health impact for young people with long-term physical health conditions and mental health professionals’ experiences of supporting them during COVID-19. This service evaluation aimed to conduct a survey of the psychological services provided by mental health professionals in a paediatric hospital in relation to COVID-19. Method Clinical psychologists and assistant psychologists ( n = 76) across the hospital were asked to complete a survey, asking about their perceptions of COVID-19’s impact on patients and families and experiences of providing support during COVID-19. Open-ended survey questions were analysed qualitatively using framework analysis. Results Respondents described perceived impacts on patients and families around social isolation, school closure, family relationships, physical health, mental health, treatments and social support. Respondents’ experiences of providing mental health support during COVID-19 highlighted themes around providing remote/virtual support, workload and facilitators and barriers to their work. Conclusions Mental health professionals surveyed reported a complex mental health landscape in young people with long-term physical health conditions and their families during COVID-19. Service-wide involvement is needed to facilitate changes to support vital adaptations to remote/virtual working. Research on the mental health of young people with long-term physical health conditions and staff experiences of providing support is warranted.
- Published
- 2021