The increase in antidepressant prescriptions during the pandemic-related lockdowns was expected due to these challenging circumstances. Reduced referrals to secondary mental health services occurred as online counselling services were deemed inappropriate by some doctors, and patients were hesitant to seek face-to-face help. Notably, there was a rise in social prescribing referrals, emerging as a valuable resource for psychological support amid heightened mental health strain. Additionally, ethnic minority patients were less likely to receive medical treatments but more likely to be referred to social prescribing services. Despite the inevitable negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, these findings highlight the active role of non-clinical support in a social model of health, addressing unmet needs and reducing barriers to mental health care for certain groups.
Keyphrases
- mental health
- primary care
- healthcare
- end stage renal disease
- newly diagnosed
- ejection fraction
- public health
- major depressive disorder
- mental illness
- peritoneal dialysis
- prognostic factors
- emergency department
- coronavirus disease
- depressive symptoms
- hepatitis c virus
- adverse drug
- sleep quality
- smoking cessation
- patient reported