Mental health problems among hotline callers during the early stage of COVID-19 pandemic

PeerJ

article

Jing An¹  Yi Yin¹  Liting Zhao¹  Yongsheng Tong¹  Nancy H. Liu⁴ 

[1] Beijing Huilongguan Hospital;Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School;WHO Collaborating Center for Research and Training in Suicide Prevention;Department of Psychology, University of California

关键词: COVID-19 Pandemic;    Hotline;    Mental health;   

DOI  :  10.7717/peerj.13419

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Inra

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundThe study aims to explore the mental health of the hotline callers during the COVID-19 pandemic in China.MethodsCallers (N = 10,490) from the Beijing Psychological Support Hotline from January 21st to June 30th in 2019 and 2020 were enrolled and divided into two groups (during (2020) and before (2019) COVID-19 pandemic). The severity of depressive symptoms, psychological distress, hopefulness, and suicidal ideation (SI) was assessed. Demographic characteristics and major concerns were also collected. Mann-Whitney U and chi-square test were used to compare the differences in mental health conditions and major concerns between two years and between different age groups. The multivariable logistic regression was used to explore whether mental health conditions were associated with pandemic and demographic factors.ResultsResults from multivariable logistic regression analysis indicated that the change in suicidal ideation (OR = 1.52, 95% CI: 1.21–1.92) was significantly different across age groups. Callers during the pandemic reported a higher level of hopefulness (OR = 1.13, 95% CI [1.03–1.24]), a lower level of depressive symptoms (OR = 0.81, 95% CI [0.74–0.89]) and psychological distress (OR = 0.89, 95% CI [0.81–0.98]), and were less likely to report SI (OR = 0.69, 95% CI [0.61–0.77]) compared with callers before the pandemic.ConclusionsCompared with callers before the pandemic, hotline callers during the early stage of COVID-19 pandemic did not present significant mental health problems. Younger callers during the pandemic were more vulnerable for the presence of suicidal ideation. Hotline-based crisis interventions might provide specific psychological support to cope with troubles during the pandemic.

【 授权许可】

CC BY