Alfred Health, Child and Youth Mental Health Service, 999 Nepean Hwy, Moorabbin, VIC, 3189, Australia.
Psychiatr Q. 2021 Sep;92(3):1259-1270. doi: 10.1007/s11126-021-09909-8. Epub 2021 Mar 22.
The COVID pandemic required significant changes in the provision of youth mental health services during the period of lockdown/stay at home orders. Things which were identified as changing significantly during this period included: service via telehealth; working from home, split teams (to reduce infection risk), and social (physical) distancing. An online survey of clinicians was conducted involving both closed and open ended questions. Service staff identified significant benefits from the changes to the way services were delivered as well as some impediments and challenges. Advantages in the new way of working revolved around the flexibility of the virtual service, with appointments online enabling families to more easily overcome issues of transport, work commitments, childcare and disruption to routines and timing. The online platforms also enabled some family members to participate who otherwise might not have been able to come to appointments in person. Disadvantages included where there were issues with availability and access to appropriate technology or private spaces, or when the young person was very young, very unwell, unstable, isolated or at higher risk. This study suggests that telehealth and flexible working arrangements have become an essential new element in the clinicians' toolkit to be offered either alone or as a supplement to in person interventions.
新冠疫情大流行要求在封锁/居家令期间对青年心理健康服务的提供方式进行重大改变。在这一时期，被确定发生重大变化的包括：通过远程医疗提供服务；在家工作、分组工作（以降低感染风险）和保持社交距离。对临床医生进行了一项在线调查，其中包括封闭式和开放式问题。服务人员认为服务提供方式的改变带来了显著的好处，同时也存在一些障碍和挑战。新工作方式的优势在于虚拟服务的灵活性，在线预约使家庭更容易克服交通、工作承诺、儿童保育以及日常生活和时间安排的中断等问题。在线平台还使一些本来无法亲自前来预约的家庭成员能够参与其中。缺点包括在可用性和获得适当技术或私人空间方面存在问题，或者当年轻人非常年幼、病情非常严重、不稳定、孤立或处于更高风险时。这项研究表明，远程医疗和灵活的工作安排已经成为临床医生工具包中的一个重要新元素，可以单独使用，也可以作为面对面干预的补充。
