Ingrid Zechmeister-Koss1, Heinz Tüchler2, Melinda Goodyear3, Ingunn Olea Lund4, Jean Lillian Paul5,6. 1. Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Health Technology Assessment, Garnisongasse 7/20, 1090, Vienna, Austria. ingrid.zechmeister@hta.lbg.ac.at. 2. Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Health Technology Assessment, Garnisongasse 7/20, 1090, Vienna, Austria. 3. School of Rural Health, Monash University Melbourne, Wellington, 3800, Clayton, Victoria, Australia. 4. The Norwegian Institute of Public Health, PO Box 222 Skøyen, 0213, Oslo, Norway. 5. Tirol Kliniken GmbH, Mental Health Research Group Programme, The Village, Ludwig Boltzmann Gesellschaft, MedUni Innsbruck, Schöpfstraße 23a, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria. 6. Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Division of Psychiatry I, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstraße 35, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Children who grow up with a parent who has a mental health problem (25%) are at increased risk of developing (health) problems themselves. One approach to reach those children for early intervention supports is through their parents seeking treatment within the adult mental healthcare system. We aimed to gain information on the users of adult mental health services in Tyrol, Austria in order to understand more about the identification of these families to provide support. METHODS: We descriptively analysed administrative claims data from the Tyrolean health insurance. Uptake of mental health services (hospital inpatient and day-care services, rehabilitation, outpatient psychiatrist and psychotherapy services), prescription medication and sick leave in persons aged 19-64 in 2017 were analysed. RESULTS: The vast majority (82%) of an overall number of 49,494 patients were prescribed medication for their mental health issues. Half of them only received medication as their form of treatment. A quarter had contacted an outpatient psychiatrist and 13% received psychotherapy. Five percent were treated in psychiatric inpatient or day-care. The median length of hospital stay was 15 days. More women than men used mental health benefits. CONCLUSIONS: Most parents may be reached via the general practitioner (via drug prescriptions) and low numbers were found accessing services in a psychiatric hospital. The latter may, however, have higher needs for support given their greater acuity of illness. How to get into contact with their children requires thoughtful and sensitive preparation, given the stigmatisation of accessing support for mental health issues. Administrative data are a useful source for planning such early intervention strategies.
BACKGROUND:Children who grow up with a parent who has a mental health problem (25%) are at increased risk of developing (health) problems themselves. One approach to reach those children for early intervention supports is through their parents seeking treatment within the adult mental healthcare system. We aimed to gain information on the users of adult mental health services in Tyrol, Austria in order to understand more about the identification of these families to provide support. METHODS: We descriptively analysed administrative claims data from the Tyrolean health insurance. Uptake of mental health services (hospital inpatient and day-care services, rehabilitation, outpatient psychiatrist and psychotherapy services), prescription medication and sick leave in persons aged 19-64 in 2017 were analysed. RESULTS: The vast majority (82%) of an overall number of 49,494 patients were prescribed medication for their mental health issues. Half of them only received medication as their form of treatment. A quarter had contacted an outpatient psychiatrist and 13% received psychotherapy. Five percent were treated in psychiatric inpatient or day-care. The median length of hospital stay was 15 days. More women than men used mental health benefits. CONCLUSIONS: Most parents may be reached via the general practitioner (via drug prescriptions) and low numbers were found accessing services in a psychiatric hospital. The latter may, however, have higher needs for support given their greater acuity of illness. How to get into contact with their children requires thoughtful and sensitive preparation, given the stigmatisation of accessing support for mental health issues. Administrative data are a useful source for planning such early intervention strategies.
Entities:
Keywords:
Child; Health insurance; Mental health services; Mental illness; Parents
Authors: Melinda Goodyear; Ingrid Zechmeister-Koss; Annette Bauer; Hanna Christiansen; Martina Glatz-Grugger; Jean Lillian Paul Journal: Front Psychiatry Date: 2022-01-31 Impact factor: 4.157