Impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and state of war on the availability and quality of mental health services

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Aim: To investigate the relationship between the COVID-19 pandemic and the conditions of state of war in Ukraine on the availability and quality of services in the field of mental health and to improve further research in this direction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and Methods: Bibliographic, epidemiological, sociological, statistical methods were used in the research. The sociological survey covered 315 respondents in Kyiv region and 206 respondents in Kyiv. The quality and availability of mental health care for patients in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing state of war were assessed on a scale from 1 to 7 points. The correlational analysis was performed by the use of Spearman's, Kendall's, gamma rank correlation coefficients. RESULTS: Results: Respondents in the Kyiv region, evaluating the quality of psychiatric care for patients in the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic, gave an average rating of 4,0±1,2 points, accessibility - 4,2±1,2 points, and in the city of Kyiv 4,2±1,3 and 4,2±1,3 points. In the conditions of state of war, the average assessment of changes in the quality of psychiatric care in the Kyiv region was 4,6±1,4 points, and availability was 4,9±1,4 points, while in Kyiv it was 4,8±1,5 and 4,8±1,4 points. Correlational analysis proved the presence of a strong direct correlation between assessments of changes in the quality of psychiatric care for patients in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and during state of war. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: Preparing for pandemics and public health crises is critical to ensuring access to mental health care and requires a comprehensive approach.