Demand for mental health clinicians left patients little choice: study
Australia-wide survey shows 20% of responders believed the pandemic had made it difficult to access counselling and psychological services
One in five Australians believe COVID-19 placed additional pressure on an already overburdened mental health system, with many reporting they has few options over getting the “right” care, a study reveals.
Researchers from the University of Sydney surveyed more than 1000 Australians, primarily women (70%), as part of a study on the mental health impacts of the pandemic.
Overall, 20% of participants said COVID-19 had made it more difficult to access counselling and psychological services.
“Overburdened mental health services and long waitlists during the pandemic meant some participants described feeling they had little choice over which clinician would provide the ‘right’ fit with their care,” the authors reported in PLOS ONE.
