Funder: Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
Role: Co-Principal Investigator, Nominated Principal Investigator: Dr. Natasha Saunders
Study summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed healthcare, with a rise in virtual visits to minimize COVID-19 transmission. Virtual mental health care has been proposed as a strategy to address the growing gap between patient needs and available mental health care resources, especially in underserviced and rural areas. While the pandemic has accelerated the adoption of virtual care, certain populations face barriers (e.g., limited internet access, language proficiency, and low income), widening existing health inequities. Using Ontario’s administrative and health data systems, we will compare in-person and virtual mental health care visits for children (<18 years) with ongoing and new mental health care needs before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our findings will inform the equitable implementation of virtual mental health care to better meet patient needs, considering the enduring shift towards this modality.