Duševno zdravje otrok in mladostnikov v javnozdravstveni krizi


Povzetek

Duševno zdravje otrok in mladostnikov je bilo eno izmed najbolj izpostavljenih področij pandemije covida-19. V prispevku obravnavamo posledice pandemije na podlagi podatkov Nacionalnega inštituta za javno zdravje, natančneje raziskave Z zdravjem povezano vedenje v šolskem obdobju iz leta 2020 med 14- in 18-letniki (n = 3025) ter podatkovnih zbirk s področja zdravil in bolnišničnih obravnav za starostno skupino 0–19 let. Podatki nakazujejo večanje potreb s področja duševnega zdravja v času pandemije. Koriščenje storitev s področja zdravstvenega varstva se je pri mladostnikih, posebej dekletih, večalo že v obdobju pred pandemijo. Predstavljeno stanje je skladno z opažanji iz tujine in zahteva dodatno raziskovanje, kakor tudi ukrepanje na področju varovanja in krepitve duševnega zdravja otrok in mladostnikov.

Abstract

Mental Health of Children and Adolescents during a Public Health Crisis

The mental health of children and adolescents was one of the most highlighted areas of the COVID-19 pandemic. The article discusses the effects of the pandemic based on data from the National Institute of Public Health or, more precisely, from the survey “Health Behaviour in School Aged Children” from 2020, conducted among 14- and 18-year-olds (n = 3025), and based on databases relating to medicines and hospital treatments for the 0–19 age bracket. The data indicate an increase in mental health needs during the pandemic. The use of healthcare services had begun to increase among adolescents, especially girls, even before the pandemic. The situation presented is in line with observations in foreign countries and calls for further research, as well as for taking action to protect and strengthen the mental health of children and adolescents.