This study, published in the Journal of Mental Health in 2020, mapped out the social impact of (subclinical) mental struggles, in terms of quality of life and the broader cost to society.
Key data
- Publication: October 22, 2020
- Authors: S.M.J. Leijdesdorff, C.E.M. Huijs, R.M.C. Klaassen, A. Popma, T.A.M.J. van Amelsvoort, S.M.A.A. Evers
- Institutions: Maastricht University, CAPHRI, Amsterdam UMC, Trimbos Institute
- Journal of Mental Health
Summary
Background: Many young people face mental struggles and barriers in regular care. @ease offers a low-threshold alternative through trained peers.
Goal: To map the societal impact of (subclinical) mental health problems in young people visiting @ease for the first time, expressed in health-related quality of life and societal costs.
Method
- Design: Prevalence-based burden of disease study from a societal perspective (bottom-up approach)
- Data collection: January 2018 – May 2019
- Participants: 80 young people (12–25 years) who visited @ease for an initial conversation
- Measurements:
- EQ-5D-5L (quality of life)
- Self-reported school absences (number of days in last 3 months)
- Self-reported healthcare use (GP, mental health care, other healthcare professionals)
- Cost calculation:
- Costs of school absence calculated based on average daily costs per education level (CBS 2018)
- Healthcare costs based on average rates for GP and mental health consultations (NEMESIS-2 and VWS cost price manual)
Results
Quality of life
- The mean EQ-5D-5L utility score among youth was 0.62 (SD 0.21)
- For comparison: the general youth population scores on average between 0.91 and 0.96
- Highest burden on usual activities domains (47.3% had ≥ moderate problems) and anxiety/depression (74.3%)
School absenteeism
- Average of 4.11 days of absence per young person in the last three months
- By comparison, in the general population, only 11–13% of young people miss an hour of school time per month occasionally
Healthcare use
- An average of 1.03 care visits per young person in the past three months
- Girls reported significantly more frequent health care use than boys
Social costs (per young person per quarter)
- Healthcare costs: €103
- Cost of truancy: €402
- Total costs: €512.64 per quarter per young person (€2,050 per year)
- 80% of the costs are caused by truancy
Subgroup differences
- Girls: lower quality of life and higher healthcare costs
- Non-Dutch speaking young people: lower healthcare use
- Young people living alone: more school absences and higher total costs
Conclusion
Young people who visit @ease with (subclinical) mental struggles report a much lower quality of life than others their age. When help comes too late, or not at all, the social cost is high. School absence is the biggest part of that cost. And even though these young people are struggling, about 75% aren’t getting professional support.
The authors conclude: early, low-threshold support, like at @ease, is key. It helps prevent mental struggles from getting worse and protects young people from long-term social harm.
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Want to know everything? Read or download the full publication below. The study was published in 2020 in the Journal of Mental Health.