M03 – Supporting Children and Adolescents’ Mental Health in the Context of Pandemic and Confinement: A Scoping Review of Repercussions, Interventions and Ethical Challenges

Summary

Background: Children and adolescents living in families economically affected by the pandemic are more susceptible to experience negative mental health repercussions. This scoping review aimed to identify and synthesize relevant interventions and recommendations to better support children and adolescents’ mental health during the pandemic, while identifying ethical challenges. Description of the population sampled: Documents were included in this review based on 5 criteria: (1) addressing mental health or mental well-being; and (2) related to SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV-1 or influenza disease outbreaks; (3) targeting children and adolescents’ mental health; (4) applicable to the Canadian context; (5) published between 1990-2020; and (6) in English or French. Study Design: A rapid scoping review methodology was used to address our research question. Searches in Medline, CINAHL, and PsycInfo databases as well as Google and Governmental and Professional Associations’ websites were performed. Procedures and Measures Used to Collect the Data: Data were extracted to an Excel table, collated and summarized using numerical summaries and interpretive analyses. Data extraction and analysis were oriented by our review questions, following a pragmatic approach. It involved the use of a critical appraisal tools from the Joanna Briggs Institute. Key Results and conclusions: A total of 100 articles were included. All of the interventions are based on telehealth, whereas the recommendations pertain to technology use, daily routines, and child-caregiver relationship. Various types of telehealth interventions, such as telepractice and self-directed online programs, were implemented within diverse healthcare contexts. A key ethical challenge that arises due to the pandemic is equitable service access. Families’ varying socio-economic status and residing in rural and remote communities can be a limiting factor to accessing remote services.