New and continuing physician-based outpatient mental health care among children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario, Canada: a population-based study.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To assess physician-based mental health care utilization during the COVID-19 pandemic among children and adolescents new to care and those already engaged with mental health services, and to evaluate differences by sociodemographic factors.

Study design

We performed a population-based repeated cross-sectional study using linked health and administrative databases in Ontario, Canada among all children and adolescents 3-17 years. We examined outpatient visit rates per 1,000 population for mental health concerns for those new to care (no physician-based mental healthcare for ≥1 year) and those with continuing care needs (any physician-based mental healthcare <1 year) following onset of the pandemic.

Results

Among ~2.5 million children and adolescents (48.7% fem

SUBMITTER: Toulany A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10657868 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature