TY - JOUR
T1 - Seeking help for mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic
T2 - A longitudinal analysis of adults’ experiences with digital technologies and services
AU - Parsons, Christine E.
AU - Purves, Kirstin L.
AU - Davies, Molly R.
AU - Mundy, Jessica
AU - Bristow, Shannon
AU - Eley, Thalia C.
AU - Breen, Gerome
AU - Hirsch, Colette R.
AU - Young, Katherine S.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
Copyright: © 2023 Parsons et al.
PY - 2023/12/1
Y1 - 2023/12/1
N2 - The COVID-19 pandemic brought about dramatic changes in how patients access healthcare from its outset. Lockdown restrictions and remote working led to a proliferation of digital technologies and services, which also impacted mental health provisions. Against the backdrop of new and changing support services, along with an unprecedented emphasis on mental health, relatively little is known about how adults sought out and received support for their mental health during this period. With a sample of 27,574 adults assessed longitudinally online over 12 months of the pandemic in the UK, we analysed reports of help-seeking for mental health, as well as sources of treatment or support and the perceived helpfulness of treatments received. We observed that the proportions of participants who reported seeking help remained relatively consistent throughout the 12-month period (ranging from 12.6% to 17.0%). Online talking therapies were among the most frequently sought sources (15.3%), whereas online self-guided treatments were among the least frequently sought sources (5%). Telephone lines, both NHS and non–governmental, had marked treatment ‘gaps’. These treatment gaps, where individuals sought treatment but did not receive it, were especially evident for men and older adults. Our findings underscore online talking therapies as being a widely-sought and helpful source of mental health support. This is important given the current global need for accessible treatment options.
AB - The COVID-19 pandemic brought about dramatic changes in how patients access healthcare from its outset. Lockdown restrictions and remote working led to a proliferation of digital technologies and services, which also impacted mental health provisions. Against the backdrop of new and changing support services, along with an unprecedented emphasis on mental health, relatively little is known about how adults sought out and received support for their mental health during this period. With a sample of 27,574 adults assessed longitudinally online over 12 months of the pandemic in the UK, we analysed reports of help-seeking for mental health, as well as sources of treatment or support and the perceived helpfulness of treatments received. We observed that the proportions of participants who reported seeking help remained relatively consistent throughout the 12-month period (ranging from 12.6% to 17.0%). Online talking therapies were among the most frequently sought sources (15.3%), whereas online self-guided treatments were among the least frequently sought sources (5%). Telephone lines, both NHS and non–governmental, had marked treatment ‘gaps’. These treatment gaps, where individuals sought treatment but did not receive it, were especially evident for men and older adults. Our findings underscore online talking therapies as being a widely-sought and helpful source of mental health support. This is important given the current global need for accessible treatment options.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85201941769&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1371/journal.pdig.0000402
DO - 10.1371/journal.pdig.0000402
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85201941769
SN - 2767-3170
VL - 2
JO - PLOS digital health
JF - PLOS digital health
IS - 12
M1 - e0000402
ER -