Analysis of the Calls Received during the COVID-19 Lockdown by the Mental Health Crisis Helpline Operated by the Professional College of Psychology of Aragon

Monreal-Bartolomé, A. ; López-Del-hoyo, Y. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Cabrera-Gil, I. ; Aguilar-Latorre, A. ; Puebla-Guedea, M. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Boira, S. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Lanero, J.

Resumen: COVID-19 has had a direct impact on the physical and mental health of millions of people worldwide. Therefore, a Mental Health Crisis Helpline (MHCH) was set up and offered free of charge by the Professional College of Psychology of Aragon (COPPA) during the lockdown period. This research aims to study the reasons for the calls, to describe the population segments that used it, and to analyse the possible relationships between the variables studied. A total of 1411 calls were answered and 598 were registered. The main reasons for the calls were: anxiety symptoms, concern for a relative, previous mental health problems, conflicts, and depressive symptoms. Significantly more men called for anxiety symptoms (60.8% vs. 49.5%) versus more women calling regarding a chronic physical illness (3.5% vs. 0.7%), concern about a relative (22.7% vs. 12.4%), care guidelines (6% vs. 1.3%), and bereavement (6.2% vs. 2%). Calls regarding conflict increased slightly as the lockdown period progressed (p < 0.001; r = 0.15), in contrast with calls regarding previous psychological conditions and anxiety symptoms (p = 0.035; r = -0.09; p = 0.005; r = -0.12). These results highlight the intensive use of the MHCH, confirming the need for the implementation of specific psychological care resources in times of crisis. © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19052901

Año: 2022

Publicado en: International journal of environmental research and public health 19, 5 (2022), 2901 [12 pp.]
ISSN: 1661-7827

Factor impacto CITESCORE: 5.4 - Medicine (Q2) - Environmental Science (Q2)

Factor impacto SCIMAGO: 0.828 - Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis (Q2) - Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health (Q2) - Pollution (Q2)

Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EUR/ISCII-ERDF/A way to make Europe

Tipo y forma: Artículo (Versión definitiva)

Área (Departamento): Área Psicología Básica (Dpto. Psicología y Sociología)
Área (Departamento): Área Psicolog.Evolut.Educac (Dpto. Psicología y Sociología)
Área (Departamento): Área Trabajo Social y Serv.Soc (Dpto. Psicología y Sociología)