In a recent study published in JAMA Network Open , researchers investigate the association between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic-related school disruptions and youth mental health emergencies in Italy. Study: COVID-19 Pandemic School Disruptions and Acute Mental Health in Children and Adolescents. Image Credit: shisu_ka / Shutterstock.
com How did the pandemic affect psychiatric care? Previous research suggests that school days are associated with increased visits to psychiatric emergency departments (ED), especially for self-harm and aggression. When schools were closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, a significant reduction in pediatric ED visits was observed; however, visits for psychiatric emergencies did not decline to the same degree. Understanding the relationship between the transition back to in-person schooling and mental health is crucial, considering the rising rates of youth mental health crises and suicide in recent years.
About the study The current study's researchers analyzed changes in the number and types of visits to psychiatric EDs in Italy as schools reopened after prolonged closures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Other factors, such as social restrictions and the socioeconomic status, age, and sex of the patients, were also considered in this analysis. The current cross-sectional and observational study involved the analysis of hospital records of ED visits by adolescents and children between zero and 17 years of age from the beginning of 201.