Global Availability and Uptake of Psychological Services for Caregivers of Children with Food Allergy

Caregivers of children with food allergy (FA) commonly report psychological distress. Prior research in the United States (US) indicates that mental health support is infrequently available, but less is known about global availability. As part of the Global Assessment of Psychological Services for Food Allergy (GAPS) Study, we examined the availability and uptake of psychological services for caregivers of children with FA across Europe, North America, South America, and Australia. Caregivers of children with FA were recruited to complete an online survey, offered in six languages, about access to and uptake of FA-related psychological services. 1348 caregivers from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Portugal, Spain, Canada, the US, Brazil, and Australia completed surveys. 50.6% of caregivers in Spain, 53.3% in France, 60.7% in Germany, 74.9% in Portugal, 81.5% in Canada, 86.2% in the United Kingdom, 87.1% in the United States, 96.6% in Australia, and 97.1% in Brazil reported experiencing FA-related psychological distress. There was variability regarding the frequency of assessment for FA-related psychological distress during their child’s FA appointment (0.01% in Australia to 52.1% in Germany) and the frequency of receiving mental health consultation/therapy for their or their child’s FA-related distress (17.5% in Portugal to 50.0% in the United States). Cost was the most common barrier to seeing a mental health professional everywhere but Brazil, where finding childcare, and Spain, where doctor not providing a referral were most common. FA-related psychological distress is common across countries, but there is variability with respect to access to and uptake of psychological services.