Real cost of Covid-19 lockdown: Aussie kids wait nine months as psychiatrists ‘burnt out’

In our series on the real cost of lockdowns, we explore the impact on young Australians struggling with school closures, anxiety, depression and loneliness.

Kids in crisis are waiting up to nine months to see “burnt-out” psychiatrists, as Covid-19 lockdowns trigger a mental health meltdown among distraught children and teenagers.

As crisis help lines report a surge in the number of suicidal adults and children, the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) has warned the nation needs 40 per cent more psychiatrists to deal with demand for professional help.

Pandemic panic has led to a surge in emergency department visits from children who have self-harmed or attempted suicide since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic last year.

Waiting times for new patients have stretched to as long as nine months – and some “exhausted and burnt-out’’ psychiatrists are so busy they have closed their books to new patients.

“We can’t stay in lockdown forever,’’ RANZCP president Associate Professor Vinay Lakra told News Corp Australia.

“There’s been a 25 per cent to 45 per cent increase in emergency department visits from children and adolescents.

“There are more than six-month wait times (for an initial consultation to see a psychiatrist.

“We only have 60 per cent of (the psychiatrists) we need.’’

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists President Associate Professor Vinay Lakra. Picture: Supplied

News Corp Australia today launches a special report Lockdowns: The Real Cost, which explores how lockdowns over the past 18 months have wreaked havoc across the country.

Today we explore the impact it is having on the mental health of our children.

On Monday, we examine the impact the closure of schools is having not only on students and their education, but parents struggling with home schooling and work.

The series will also look at the impact lockdowns are having on businesses, our besieged health system, and the travel industry.

Associate Professor Lakra said the RANZCP was “very worried about the impact of lockdowns’’ on children.

“Some of it is related to school closures – they are not able to be with their peers, and there is uncertainty,’’ he said.

“It is very important for kids to be with family and friends, and to play and be able to go out.

“It is a tight balance in slowing the spread of the virus and looking after our wellbeing.

“At what point does it start to become harmful to people’s health and wellbeing?

“A lot of people will not access health care.’’

Demand for help is overwhelming some psychiatrists, who have described the “exhaustion’’ for doctors and “mega wait times’’ for patients, in a confidential survey by the RANZCP’s NSW branch.

“The emergency department is absolutely heaving,’’ one psychiatrist told the survey.

Another revealed that patients need to wait months to enter the public sub-acute mental health unit in northern NSW – its longest wait ever for admissions.

“The very isolated and more unwell are not coping as they can’t get enough support and triggers all the trauma,’’ one psychiatrist wrote.

“Patient this week rang crisis team … and told they were too busy to speak with her,’’ said another.

RANZCP Victorian Branch chairman Dr Astha Tomar.

Shortages of some antidepressants, unemployment, social isolation, family violence, drug and alcohol use and the closure of sport and gyms were fuelling mental illness.

“Exhausted, burnt out, demoralised … struggling with depressed women with new babies that can’t get support face-to-face (because there are) no mother’s groups … young people unable to see friends and are stuck at home with parents,’’ a psychiatrist wrote.

“Really tired and drained … first time, I feel I might need support,’’ said another.

Kids Helpline, run by yourtown with corporate and government funding, has revealed that calls from distraught children have surged 20 per cent since the start of the pandemic, with ambulances or police called 37 times a week to save suicidal children.

Three times more children have called the hotline in Sydney during the city’s lengthy lockdown this year, compared to the first lockdown last year.

“There is clear evidence that the lockdown is impacting the wellbeing of children and young people,’’ yourtown chief executive Tracy Adams said.

Mission Australia’s survey of 25,000 teenagers aged 15 to 17 has also exposed widespread distress over lockdowns and school closures.

Lifeline recorded its three busiest days in its 57-year history this month, coinciding with lockdowns in NSW, Victoria and Queensland.

Calls to the suicide hotline have surged 20 per cent since the start of the pandemic.

RANZCP Victorian Branch chairman Dr Astha Tomar said the rise in children and teenagers seeking mental health support “is just the beginning of what we are sure will continue to rise long after the worst of the pandemic is over’’.

yourtown chief executive Tracy Adams. Picture: Supplied

RANZCP Queensland branch chairman Professor Brett Emmerson – a psychiatrist who is the executive director of the Queensland Government’s Metro North mental health service in Brisbane, and a member of the Queensland Mental Health Commission – has demanded an extra $700 million a year in state government funding to keep pace with mental health spending interstate.

He said many Queensland parents were desperate to access mental health support for their children, but had to wait nine months or more to see a private psychiatrist.

Professor Emmerson said 30 per cent more children were turning up at emergency departments due to self-harm, suicide attempts or eating disorders since the start of the pandemic.

“The public mental health services in Queensland are struggling,’’ he said.

“Children are being left untreated.

“We’ve seen a bit increase in eating disorders.’’

Professor Emmerson said he had lobbied State Health Minister Yvette D’Ath for more funding for mental health.

“Queensland has the worst resourced mental health system in Australia,’’ he said.

“All they do is cry poor and say they don’t have money, but they’ve got billions of dollars to waste on the Olympics.’’

Professor Emmerson called for the establishment of a 25-bed inpatient unit for complex, high risk patients, and to increase mother-baby inpatient units so new mums with mental health issues can keep their babies with them.

For help please call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800

To donate: www.yourtown.com.au

Originally published as Real cost of Covid-19 lockdown: Aussie kids wait nine months as psychiatrists ‘burnt out’