State of mental health services in various training centers in India during the lockdown and COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Background: There is some information from different developed coutries that mental health services have been badly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Little information is available from India. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of lockdown and COVID-19 pandemic on mental health services in India's various training centers. Materials and Methods: In an online survey, information was collected from various training centers of India through E-mail or WhatsApp. Results: Responses were received from 109 institutes. The majority of the responses were received from state-funded government medical colleges and private medical colleges. Since the lockdown and COVID-19 pandemic, brain stimulation treatments have completed stopped. Other, most affected services included electroconvulsive therapy, inpatient services, outpatient services, and psychotherapy services. However, there was an expansion of teleconsultations services because of the lockdown and the COVID-19 pandemic. In three-fourth of the centers mental health services were being provided to the patients with COVID-19 infection. In most of the institutes, mental health professionals were involved at different levels in the COVID-19 responsibilities. These included providing helpline services to the general public, screening people in quarantine for mental health issues, providing clinical care to COVID-19 patients, screening health care workers (HCWs) for mental health issues, and training the HCWs. Conclusion: COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown have led to the collapse of regular mental health services. The present study also shows that mental health professionals are playing a significant role in addressing the prevailing psychiatric morbidity, specifically related to the COVID-19 related issues, and taking care of the HCWs.