Experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic on child and adolescent psychiatric wards: multi-methods investigation

Holland, Josephine; Da-Silva-Ellimah, Morenike; Roe, James; Morriss, Richard; Sayal, Kapil

Abstract

Background
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) inpatient beds are unevenly spread throughout England. Where demand outstrips bed availability, young people may be admitted at-distance or to adult psychiatric wards. The COVID-19 pandemic added pressures to already overstretched services. Understanding experiences during this period is vital to inform strategies for future emergencies.

Aims
To investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on admissions to local, at-distance or adult psychiatric units from the perspectives of young people, parents/carers, and healthcare professionals.

Method
Multi-methods data were collected February 2021-September 2022 as part of the Far Away from Home research programme. A 13-month national surveillance study collected information about admissions to general adolescent units >50 miles from home, out-of-region or to adult psychiatric units. Free-text data from respondents (n=51) were analysed using content analysis. Interviews with young people (n=30), parents/carers (n=21) and healthcare professionals (n=68) were analysed using thematic analysis.

Results
Restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic impacted young people’s contact with others; the requirement to self-isolate on admission and following overnight leave felt distressing and visiting was limited. This disincentivised overnight leave, leading to some discharges being delayed whilst others felt rushed and high risk. COVID-19 also accelerated the introduction of virtual meetings, enabling community teams and families to be more involved in therapies, meetings and decision-making.

Conclusions
Restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic were often negatively perceived. However, the increased use of technology was felt to be positive, widening inclusion and mitigating some negative effects of distance on admissions.

Citation

Holland, J., Da-Silva-Ellimah, M., Roe, J., Morriss, R., & Sayal, K. (2024). Experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic on child and adolescent psychiatric wards: multi-methods investigation. BJPsych Open, 10(6), Article e197. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2024.783

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 20, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Nov 6, 2024
• Publication Date: Nov 6, 2024
• Deposit Date: Sep 9, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 9, 2024
• Journal: BJPsych Open
• Electronic ISSN: 2056-4724
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 10
• Issue: 6
• Article Number: e197
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2024.783
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/39444953
• Publisher URL: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/bjpsych-open/article/experiences-of-the-covid19-pandemic-on-child-and-adolescent-psychiatric-wards-multimethods-investigation/716F20BB99074E6B9FAAC2B3F5D9309F