Public mental health services under strain from adolescent referrals during pandemic
Referrals to Queensland’s public mental health services for 12 to 18 year olds have surged by more than 20 per cent in the past three months, alarming new figures show.
QLD News
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Queensland’s public mental health services have seen a “huge” surge in demand from adolescents during the coronavirus pandemic.
New figures obtained by The Sunday Mail show referrals for 12 to 18-year-olds to public mental health services in the state have jumped by more than 20 per cent in the past three months compared to the same quarter in 2019.
Queensland Mental Health Commissioner Ivan Frkovic said the spike from 5621 referrals for 12 to 18 year olds in the first quarter of the 2019-2020 financial year to 6787 between July and September this year reflected the enormous affect the pandemic has had on young people.
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He said non-government mental health services, including Headspace, ReachOut and Kids Helpline had also seen a significant increase in demand.
“Across the board, services are struggling,” Mr Frkovic said.
He said the pandemic had negatively influenced many aspects of teenage life, with social disruption, home schooling and worries about upcoming exams and plans for the future.
Aty the same time, the unprecedented health crisis has hit family dynamics, creating economic stress and financial hardships as people have lost their jobs.
Young people have also had school formals, significant birthday celebrations and sporting events disrupted.
Social interactions with peers and ties with supportive adults, such as grandparents, teachers and sports coaches – important lifelines for some adolescents in volatile home environments – have been heavily reduced in line with public health directives.
While flu presentations at the state’s public hospitals have slumped during the unprecedented health crisis, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists’ Queensland branch chair Brett Emmerson said emergency departments were seeing a spike in mental health patients.
He said both ends of the age spectrum had been particularly hit hard.
“There are three groups that have been especially impacted by COVID – people with eating disorders, adolescents and the elderly,” Professor Emmerson said.
As the pandemic continues, Mr Frkovic will meet with representatives from Kids Helpline and the Queensland Family and Child Commission this week to discuss how children and adolescents can be better supported moving forward.
He said the long-term implications were impossible to gauge, speculating the big rise in demand for mental health services may be a result of increased help-seeking behaviour.
“There are some positives,” he said. “I would say it’s less stigmatising to be able to access support during this time than it was say, before the pandemic,” Mr Frkovic said.
For help, call 1800 551 800 or access online services at kidshelpline.com.au
Lifeline: 13 11 14
Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467
Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636 or beyondblue.org.au
