The COVID-19 pandemic is associated not only with severe damage to the respiratory system but also with mental health concerns. Social isolation has become a necessary safety measure, which has not considered the impact on the psychological and emotional state of many people. Thus, informatics can help identify and evaluate the concern of mental health issues through analysis of large portion of data and provide evidence-based care using electronic health records (EHRs), imaging results, and so further.
The recent public health concern is related to the mental illnesses induced by social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. A literature review by Loades et al. (2020) shows that previously healthy young people face negative outcomes of isolation even more frequently. The results demonstrate that this population category has high rates of depression and is likely to have anxiety during and post-pandemic (Loades et al., 2020). Therefore, mental disorders in young patients must be addressed effectively using information technologies.
Informatics has become a crucial component of medical facilities, which helps provide effective care to patients. Electronic health records (EHRs), brain imaging data, social media, and mood rating scales can be useful in locating evidence (Graham et al., 2019). Technologies can help track the stages of a disorder to identify when the intervention can be the most effective (Graham et al., 2019). Informatics can assist in research as it allows analyzing large portions of data regarding depression and anxiety among children and adolescents, which facilitates defining patterns of morbidity. In the case of improving patient outcomes or initiating preventive measures, it is also possible and desirable to use information technologies, especially in the era when almost everyone is on social media. For example, it would be useful for parents of children with mental disorders to have an opportunity to apply to a doctor online and receive instant answers to bothering questions via Skype or chat. Within the framework of public health intervention, one can introduce an online program to educate populations about healthy activities that prevent mental disorders.
Finally, informatics can be effectively used in addressing mental health issues among children and adolescents. The challenge has become acute during COVID-19 and continues to grow. Information technologies can help locate appropriate evidence on patterns of morbidity. Moreover, it is possible to use them to educate parents to improve patient outcomes for their children. At last, social media can be a platform for public health intervention.
References
Graham, S., Depp, C., Lee, E. E., Nebeker, C., Tu, X., Kim, H.-C., & Jeste, D. V. (2019). Artificial intelligence for mental health and mental illnesses: An overview. Current Psychiatry Reports, 21(11), 1-26. Web.
Loades, M.E., Chatburn, E., Higson-Sweeney, N., Reynolds, S., Shafran, R., Brigden, A., Linney, C., McManus, M.N., Borwick, C., & Crawley, E. (2020). Rapid systematic review: the impact of social isolation and loneliness on the mental health of children and adolescents in the context of COVID-19. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 59(11), 1218-1239. Web.