Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health Services in Italy
Author Information
Author(s): Petrelli Alessio, Ventura Martina, Ciampichini Roberta, Di Napoli Anteo, Fano Valeria, Napoli Christian, Pacifici Martina, Rosini Claudio, Silvestri Caterina, Voller Fabio, Zucchi Alberto, Aragona Massimiliano
Primary Institution: National Institute for Health, Migration and Poverty, Italy
Hypothesis
How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect access to mental health services and socioeconomic inequalities in Italy?
Conclusion
The COVID-19 pandemic increased socioeconomic inequalities in mental health access in Italy.
Supporting Evidence
- 5,159,363 subjects were enrolled in the cohort from 2018 to 2021.
- Significant drop in mental health service access was observed at the outbreak of the pandemic.
- Adjusted incidence rate ratios showed higher access probability for females and residents in deprived areas.
- COVID-19 had a greater impact on the most deprived areas of residence.
Takeaway
The COVID-19 pandemic made it harder for people, especially those in need, to get mental health help in Italy.
Methodology
A population-based longitudinal open cohort study was conducted in three large centers in Italy, analyzing access to mental health services before and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Potential Biases
Potential misclassification of mental health service access due to the inclusion of individuals without mental disorders.
Limitations
The study lacked individual psychiatric diagnoses for some databases and relied on area-based socioeconomic indicators.
Participant Demographics
The cohort included 5,159,363 residents aged ≥10 years, with a median age of 50 years, 52% female, and 8.7% immigrants from high migratory pressure countries.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.83
Confidence Interval
(0.79-0.87)
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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