Analysis of the Calls Received during the COVID-19 Lockdown by the Mental Health Crisis Helpline Operated by the Professional College of Psychology of Aragon

Alicia Monreal-Bartolomé, Yolanda López-Del-Hoyo, Itxaso Cabrera-Gil, Alejandra Aguilar-Latorre, Marta Puebla-Guedea, Santiago Boira and Jesús Lanero
Additional contact information
Alicia Monreal-Bartolomé: Primary Care Prevention and Health Promotion Research Network, RedIAPP, 28029 Madrid, Spain
Yolanda López-Del-Hoyo: Primary Care Prevention and Health Promotion Research Network, RedIAPP, 28029 Madrid, Spain
Itxaso Cabrera-Gil: Psychology Research Group of the Professional College of Psychology of Aragon (COPPA), 50001 Zaragoza, Spain
Alejandra Aguilar-Latorre: Primary Care Prevention and Health Promotion Research Network, RedIAPP, 28029 Madrid, Spain
Marta Puebla-Guedea: Primary Care Prevention and Health Promotion Research Network, RedIAPP, 28029 Madrid, Spain
Santiago Boira: Department of Psychology and Sociology, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Jesús Lanero: Faculty of Health Sciences, San Jorge University, Villanueva de Gállego University Campus, 50830 Villanueva de Gállego, Spain

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 5, 1-12

Abstract: COVID-19 has had a direct impact on the physical and mental health of millions of people worldwide. Therefore, a Mental Health Crisis Helpline (MHCH) was set up and offered free of charge by the Professional College of Psychology of Aragon (COPPA) during the lockdown period. This research aims to study the reasons for the calls, to describe the population segments that used it, and to analyse the possible relationships between the variables studied. A total of 1411 calls were answered and 598 were registered. The main reasons for the calls were: anxiety symptoms, concern for a relative, previous mental health problems, conflicts, and depressive symptoms. Significantly more men called for anxiety symptoms (60.8% vs. 49.5%) versus more women calling regarding a chronic physical illness (3.5% vs. 0.7%), concern about a relative (22.7% vs. 12.4%), care guidelines (6% vs. 1.3%), and bereavement (6.2% vs. 2%). Calls regarding conflict increased slightly as the lockdown period progressed ( p < 0.001; r = 0.15), in contrast with calls regarding previous psychological conditions and anxiety symptoms ( p = 0.035; r = −0.09; p = 0.005; r = −0.12). These results highlight the intensive use of the MHCH, confirming the need for the implementation of specific psychological care resources in times of crisis.

Keywords: mental health; COVID-19; crisis helpline; pandemic; psychological distress; psychological impact (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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