Child, adolescent, and parent mental health in general population during a year of COVID-19 pandemic in belgium: a cross-sectional study

Background: This study aims to evaluate the mental health status of children, adolescents and their parents during the first year of COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium. Method(s): Analysis compared results before and during the second national lockdown, which started on November 2nd 2020. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted between May 2020 and April 2021. Result(s): Two hundred and eighteen adults and 273 children fully completed the survey. Almost one in five children (17.9%) presented moderate-to-severe scores of depression. Adolescents presented a higher level of depression than children (p = 0.007). The rate of moderate-to-severe depression scores (10.8% to 21%, p = 0.007) and internalized symptoms increased during the second lockdown (p < 0.001). Parents' depression (p < 0.001) and anxiety (p = 0.027) levels also increased during the second lockdown. Logistic regression showed that the use of psychotropic medication in parents and parents' depression scores were risk factors for children to have worse depression scores. Conclusion(s): The second lockdown appears to worsen the effects of the pandemic on children's and parents' mental health. There is a need to implement specific interventions targeting both children/adolescents and their parents to support them during lockdown periods and improve mental health outcomes.Copyright © 2022, The Author(s).

The impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on youth mental health.

COVID-19 pandemic deeply affected young adults' mental health, partially because of both forced social isolation measures and loneliness. An increase in anxious and depressive symptoms and psychotropic drug use was established during this period. It seems essential to evaluate the potential protective factors, such as resilience, in order to detect vulnerable individuals. This prospective longitudinal study was carried out in a two-phase survey: the first one during lockdown in spring 2020 (T1) and the second one in summer 2020 (T2), when restrictive measures were slackened. The main outcomes were the resilience scale for adults (RSA), the loneliness scale, mental health care needs (MHCN) before and after lockdown and social contacts. Participants were divided into three groups according to their MHCN. 5% of the participants experienced an increase in MHCN at T1, including the start of a psychotropic treatment. Differences in mean RSA scores (total score and Perception of self score) were statistically significant between groups at T1. The difference of loneliness scores was decreased between T1and T2, in particular in youth with MHCN. The COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictive measures represent a negative impact on youth mental health, particularly among vulnerable individuals. Resilience and social contact with peers are protective factors that need to be taken into account.Copyright © 2021 Association des Medecins anciens etudiats de l'Universite libre de Bruxelles (A.M.U.B.). All rights reserved.

What are the interactions between child and adolescent mental health and psychiatry?

Child psychiatry is a medical specialty with a solid neurobiological, psychosocial, cultural, and developmental basis. It focuses on the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental disorders, but also the prevention of complications and relapse. Mental health, according to the WHO, aims to improve each person's overall well-being, personal accomplishment, and contribution to society. It is therefore not only a health and medical issue, but also a societal issue in general. Given the predictions of increased demand for mental health services, in particular during the coronavirus crisis, it is important to update the definition of these concepts. It is also important to situate the different levels of intervention in Belgium and to clarify the interactions between the multiple partners working in child and adolescent mental health, the purpose here being to preserve and support the specificity of child psychiatry. Copyright © 2021 John Libbey Eurotext. La pédopsychiatrie est une spécialité médicale avec un solide ancrage neurobiologique, psychosocial, culturel et développemental. Son mandat réside dans l'évaluation, le diagnostic et le trajet de soins des troubles mentaux, mais aussi dans la prévention de leurs complications et récidives. La santé mentale, selon l'OMS, vise l'amélioration du bien-être global, de l'accomplissement personnel et de la contribution à la société de tout un chacun. Elle n'est donc pas uniquement du ressort de la santé et du médical, mais également de la société dans sa globalité. Au vu des prédictions d'une augmentation des demandes, notamment en ces temps de crise liée au coronavirus, il est primordial de remettre à jour la définition de ces concepts. Il importe aussi de situer les différents niveaux d'intervention organisés en Belgique et de clarifier leurs interactions entre les multiples partenaires oeuvrant dans la santé mentale de l'enfant et de l'adolescent, l'objectif ici étant de préserver et soutenir la spécificité de la pédopsychiatrie. © 2021 John Libbey Eurotext. All rights reserved.