Changes in psychiatric admissions in the first year of COVID-19 in Ontario, Canada
Abstract Background Several studies showed strong evidence that the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted mental health service use, with changes in emergency department visits, and psychiatric hospital admissions. It is not clear, however, whether the pandemic caused an increase or decrease in use of service...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2025-06-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Mental Health Systems |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13033-025-00674-w |
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| author | Gustavo S. Betini Dorothy Yu Edgardo Perez Jitender Sareen Christopher M. Perlman John P. Hirdes |
| author_facet | Gustavo S. Betini Dorothy Yu Edgardo Perez Jitender Sareen Christopher M. Perlman John P. Hirdes |
| author_sort | Gustavo S. Betini |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Several studies showed strong evidence that the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted mental health service use, with changes in emergency department visits, and psychiatric hospital admissions. It is not clear, however, whether the pandemic caused an increase or decrease in use of services for people with different diagnoses and symptoms. Methods We used data from all individuals admitted to psychiatric units in Ontario, Canada (259,620 individuals) from January 1st 2015 to December 31st, 2020 and compared the number of admissions, length of stay, symptoms, and clinical characteristics of this population in 2020 to the average of those who were admitted between 2015 and 2019. Results Total number of admissions declined sharply (44%) during the first lockdown period but returned to pre-pandemic levels within about 2 months. This trend, however, was not observed for all types of mental health problems. Admissions for symptoms such as risk of harm to others and addictions were consistently higher after the first wave in May 2020 compared to the same month in the previous 5 years, while symptoms such as social withdrawal, and depression were consistently lower. Conclusion Taken together, these results suggest that the impact of the pandemic on the use of mental health services were symptom-specific, which is likely a result of the heterogeneity of mental health problems within this population. This variation in the changes in psychiatry admissions for patients with different clinical profiles should be considered when preparing for future service interruptions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-80a6d2f5345e4b3e823a969e3e36c932 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1752-4458 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Mental Health Systems |
| spelling | doaj-art-80a6d2f5345e4b3e823a969e3e36c9322025-08-20T02:31:03ZengBMCInternational Journal of Mental Health Systems1752-44582025-06-011911810.1186/s13033-025-00674-wChanges in psychiatric admissions in the first year of COVID-19 in Ontario, CanadaGustavo S. Betini0Dorothy Yu1Edgardo Perez2Jitender Sareen3Christopher M. Perlman4John P. Hirdes5School of Public Health Sciences, University of WaterlooDepartment of Psychiatry, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of ManitobaFaculty of Medicine, University of OttawaDepartment of Psychiatry, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of ManitobaSchool of Public Health Sciences, University of WaterlooSchool of Public Health Sciences, University of WaterlooAbstract Background Several studies showed strong evidence that the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted mental health service use, with changes in emergency department visits, and psychiatric hospital admissions. It is not clear, however, whether the pandemic caused an increase or decrease in use of services for people with different diagnoses and symptoms. Methods We used data from all individuals admitted to psychiatric units in Ontario, Canada (259,620 individuals) from January 1st 2015 to December 31st, 2020 and compared the number of admissions, length of stay, symptoms, and clinical characteristics of this population in 2020 to the average of those who were admitted between 2015 and 2019. Results Total number of admissions declined sharply (44%) during the first lockdown period but returned to pre-pandemic levels within about 2 months. This trend, however, was not observed for all types of mental health problems. Admissions for symptoms such as risk of harm to others and addictions were consistently higher after the first wave in May 2020 compared to the same month in the previous 5 years, while symptoms such as social withdrawal, and depression were consistently lower. Conclusion Taken together, these results suggest that the impact of the pandemic on the use of mental health services were symptom-specific, which is likely a result of the heterogeneity of mental health problems within this population. This variation in the changes in psychiatry admissions for patients with different clinical profiles should be considered when preparing for future service interruptions.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13033-025-00674-wMental health servicesPandemicPsychiatric symptomsInvoluntary admissionSubstance useInterRAI |
| spellingShingle | Gustavo S. Betini Dorothy Yu Edgardo Perez Jitender Sareen Christopher M. Perlman John P. Hirdes Changes in psychiatric admissions in the first year of COVID-19 in Ontario, Canada International Journal of Mental Health Systems Mental health services Pandemic Psychiatric symptoms Involuntary admission Substance use InterRAI |
| title | Changes in psychiatric admissions in the first year of COVID-19 in Ontario, Canada |
| title_full | Changes in psychiatric admissions in the first year of COVID-19 in Ontario, Canada |
| title_fullStr | Changes in psychiatric admissions in the first year of COVID-19 in Ontario, Canada |
| title_full_unstemmed | Changes in psychiatric admissions in the first year of COVID-19 in Ontario, Canada |
| title_short | Changes in psychiatric admissions in the first year of COVID-19 in Ontario, Canada |
| title_sort | changes in psychiatric admissions in the first year of covid 19 in ontario canada |
| topic | Mental health services Pandemic Psychiatric symptoms Involuntary admission Substance use InterRAI |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13033-025-00674-w |
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