A population-wide study has shown that pediatric mental health visits increased during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario, Canada.

Beginning in July 2020, visits to mental health services were constantly 6% to 15% above the expected levels, based on previous years, and were sustained as of February last year (adjusted relative rate [aRR] 1.15), noted researchers. Adolescent girls had the largest increase in physician-based mental health visits (aRR 1.26). 

The rates of visits dropped rapidly to below expected levels in April 2020 (aRR 0.81), followed by an increase to above expected level (aRR, 1.07) by July 2020. Virtual care was at its peak during April 2020, accounting for 90% of mental health care visits (5.3 visits per 1,000 population). This declined to 86.9% in May and 80.2% in June, and settled at about 70% in the latter months.

The findings are published in JAMA Pediatrics… (Medpage Today & JAMA Pediatrics)