COVID-19 disrupted or halted critical mental health services in 93% of the 130 countries surveyed by the World Health Organization, which warned that the pandemic is increasing demand for care while access remains limited. The survey, conducted from June to August 2020, provides global data on how the pandemic affected mental, neurological and substance-use services.
Countries reported interruptions to services for vulnerable groups, including children and adolescents in 72% of surveyed countries, older adults in 70%, and women seeking antenatal or postnatal care in 61%. Counseling and psychotherapy were disrupted in 67% of countries, while 65% reported interruptions to critical harm-reduction services and 45% to opioid agonist treatment for opioid dependence.
Emergency interventions were affected in 35% of countries, and 30% reported reduced access to medicines for mental, neurological and substance-use disorders. School and workplace mental health services were at least partially disrupted in 78% and 75% of countries, respectively.
The WHO said bereavement, isolation, loss of income and fear can trigger mental health conditions or worsen existing ones. It also noted that people may experience increased alcohol and drug use, insomnia and anxiety, while COVID-19 can lead to neurological and mental complications. People with pre-existing mental, neurological or substance-use disorders may also be more vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe outcomes.
Many countries turned to remote care: 70% reported adopting telemedicine or teletherapy to address interruptions to in-person services. Uptake differed by income level, however. More than 80% of high-income countries reported using these approaches, compared with fewer than half of low-income countries.
Although 89% of countries said mental health and psychosocial support was included in their national COVID-19 response plans, only 17% reported having full additional funding for those activities. The WHO also noted that, before the pandemic, countries spent less than 2% of their national health budgets on mental health, while mental health received less than 1% of international health aid.
The survey was released ahead of the WHO’s Big Event for Mental Health, scheduled for 10 October 2020. The organization urged countries to protect mental health services and include resources for them in pandemic response and recovery plans.
Sources: WHO News.