Award Title: Understanding the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the mental health of children and young people with pre-existing mental health conditions.
Funder: The Academy of Medical Sciences

Abstract: Understanding the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the mental health of children and young people (CYP) with pre-existing psychiatric conditions is crucial to provide preventive and early interventions, plan mental health services, and influence policy makers.

In this cohort study I will investigate how the different aspects of the pandemic, from social distancing restrictions to the effects on family economics and education, interplay with pre-Covid individual and socio-demographic characteristics, at present and as the pandemic evolves, to differentially impact on the mental health of CYP attending Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).

I will use the innovative My-Health-E system to contact the over 4000 families attending CAMHS at South London and Maudsley (SLaM) NHS Foundation Trust with a unique link to the gold standard questionnaire CoRonavIruS health Impact Survey (CRISIS), which we have adapted to the CAMHS clinical population for use in 8 Countries in Europe and Oceania. I will integrate survey data collected every three months with in-depth clinical and service information as extracted from our electronic health records.

Finally, I will innovate the way we bring information technology into clinical practice by nesting individual survey reports into the child’s care records to enable timely clinical follow-up; and by measuring how survey responses impact on care provision and support an efficient service planning.

The data I can gather with this study are pivotal to effectively respond to the current emergency and to plan for any future scenarios.

Lay Abstract: The Covid-19 pandemic has created an unprecedented health crisis. Together with social distancing and lockdown, this has caused many psychological and financial problems for children and their families. Children that already have mental health problems may have found that these have worsened. A family's circumstances and services' reduced ability to provide face to face support may make the situation more difficult.

In Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) we have observed that children and young people with pre-existing mental health problems have been affected in different ways, and to different degrees, and yet at present very little research has been completed. As a result, clinicians do not know which patients are at greatest risk and whether the care they provide meets their needs.

In this study, I will use an innovative online system to contact over 4000 families attending CAMHS at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, and ask parents and young people to complete a survey on how they are coping with the pandemic. I will collect further data at three-month intervals. I will then combine the survey data with clinical and service information to try and understand which factors may cause children and young people to worsen. Finally, I will provide clinicians with a summary of survey answers for each child under their care, to help them provide the right follow-up.

This study will provide a clearer picture of which patients may need more clinical support, and will help clinicians meet their needs.

Research Activity Codes: 2.3 PSYCHOLOGICAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC FACTORS;7.1 INDIVIDUAL CARE NEEDS
Health Categories: INFECTION;MENTAL HEALTH