Children and young people’s consultation rates for psychosocial problems between 2016 and 2021 in the Netherlands

Abstract

Background Worldwide, there are concerns about declining mental health of children and young people (CYP). Objectives To examine trends in GP consultation rates for psychosocial problems and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods We performed a population-based cohort study using electronic GP records of CYP (0–24 years) living in the Rotterdam metropolitan area between 2016 and 2021. We calculated monthly consultation rates for psychosocial problems, stratified by age group and sex. We used negative binomial models to model the pre-COVID-19 trend, and estimate expected rates post-COVID-19 onset. We modelled the effect of COVID-19 infection rate and school closure on consultation rates per sex and age group. Results The cohort increased from 64801 to 92093 CYP between January 2016 and December 2021. Median age was 12.5 years and 49.3% was female. Monthly consultation rates increased from 2,443 to 4,542 consultations per 100,000 patient months over the six years. This trend (RR 1.009, 95%CI 1.008–1.011) started well before the COVID-19 pandemic. Consultation rates of adolescent girls and young women increased most strongly. Between March and May 2020, there was a temporary reduction in consultation rates, whereupon these returned to expected levels. COVID-19 infection rate and school closures showed small but significant associations with consultation rates for psychosocial problems but this did not affect the overall trend. Although consultation rates for psychosocial problems increased, this increment was stable over the entire study period. Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic did not significantly increase consultation rates for psychosocial problems in CYP. The consultation rates increased, especially in adolescent girls and young women.