Patterns of mental health services and mood disorder disability pensions: a standard comparison of Finland’s three largest hospital districts
Abstract Introduction Mental disorders are one of the most common and disabling health conditions worldwide. There is however no consensus on the best practice of system level mental health services (MHS) provision, in order to prevent e.g. mood disorder disability pensions (DPs). We analyzed the MH...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-11-01
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| Series: | BMC Psychiatry |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-05342-2 |
| _version_ | 1827709133274480640 |
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| author | Tino Karolaakso Reija Autio Petra Suontausta Helena Leppänen Kimmo Suokas Päivi Rissanen Martti T. Tuomisto Sami Pirkola |
| author_facet | Tino Karolaakso Reija Autio Petra Suontausta Helena Leppänen Kimmo Suokas Päivi Rissanen Martti T. Tuomisto Sami Pirkola |
| author_sort | Tino Karolaakso |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Introduction Mental disorders are one of the most common and disabling health conditions worldwide. There is however no consensus on the best practice of system level mental health services (MHS) provision, in order to prevent e.g. mood disorder disability pensions (DPs). We analyzed the MHS provision between Finland’s three largest hospital districts Helsinki and Uusimaa (HUS), Southwest Finland and Pirkanmaa, with known differences in mood disorder DP risk but presumably equal rates of mood disorder prevalence. Methods We used public MHS data analyzed with the standardized DEscription and Evaluation of Services and DirectoriEs for Long Term Care (DESDE-LTC) mapping tool, focusing on all MHS, outpatient care provision, local services without and with gatekeeping, and centralized services. We also collected demographic data based on the European Socio-Demographic Schedule (ESDS). As a novel approach, the Gini-Simpson Diversity Index (GSDI) was calculated for the districts. Results Evident differences were observed regarding the districts’ MHS factors. As the hospital district with lower DP risk, HUS was characterized by the highest level of regional socioeconomic prosperity as well as high service richness and diversity. With a nationally average DP risk, Southwest Finland had the highest number of MHS personnel in full-time equivalents (FTE) per 100 000 inhabitants. Pirkanmaa, with a higher DP risk, had overall the lowest service richness and the lowest FTE of the three districts in all MHS, outpatient care and local services with gatekeeping. Conclusions Our findings indicate that greater richness and diversity of MHS, especially in outpatient and community-based settings, may serve as indicators of a balanced, high-quality service system that is more effective in preventing mood disorder DP and meeting the different needs of the population. In addition, the need for sufficient resourcing in all MHS and outpatient services is indicated. We suggest using diversity indices to complement the measuring and reporting of regional service variation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:16:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dc63ebc580ec4109a1b69987264d8309 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-244X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:16:41Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-dc63ebc580ec4109a1b69987264d83092023-11-20T10:29:05ZengBMCBMC Psychiatry1471-244X2023-11-0123111210.1186/s12888-023-05342-2Patterns of mental health services and mood disorder disability pensions: a standard comparison of Finland’s three largest hospital districtsTino Karolaakso0Reija Autio1Petra Suontausta2Helena Leppänen3Kimmo Suokas4Päivi Rissanen5Martti T. Tuomisto6Sami Pirkola7Faculty of Social Sciences (Psychology), Tampere UniversityFaculty of Social Sciences (Unit of Health Sciences), Tampere UniversityFaculty of Social Sciences (Unit of Health Sciences), Tampere UniversityFaculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere UniversityFaculty of Social Sciences (Unit of Health Sciences), Tampere UniversityFaculty of Social Sciences (Unit of Health Sciences), Tampere UniversityFaculty of Social Sciences (Psychology), Tampere UniversityFaculty of Social Sciences (Unit of Health Sciences), Tampere UniversityAbstract Introduction Mental disorders are one of the most common and disabling health conditions worldwide. There is however no consensus on the best practice of system level mental health services (MHS) provision, in order to prevent e.g. mood disorder disability pensions (DPs). We analyzed the MHS provision between Finland’s three largest hospital districts Helsinki and Uusimaa (HUS), Southwest Finland and Pirkanmaa, with known differences in mood disorder DP risk but presumably equal rates of mood disorder prevalence. Methods We used public MHS data analyzed with the standardized DEscription and Evaluation of Services and DirectoriEs for Long Term Care (DESDE-LTC) mapping tool, focusing on all MHS, outpatient care provision, local services without and with gatekeeping, and centralized services. We also collected demographic data based on the European Socio-Demographic Schedule (ESDS). As a novel approach, the Gini-Simpson Diversity Index (GSDI) was calculated for the districts. Results Evident differences were observed regarding the districts’ MHS factors. As the hospital district with lower DP risk, HUS was characterized by the highest level of regional socioeconomic prosperity as well as high service richness and diversity. With a nationally average DP risk, Southwest Finland had the highest number of MHS personnel in full-time equivalents (FTE) per 100 000 inhabitants. Pirkanmaa, with a higher DP risk, had overall the lowest service richness and the lowest FTE of the three districts in all MHS, outpatient care and local services with gatekeeping. Conclusions Our findings indicate that greater richness and diversity of MHS, especially in outpatient and community-based settings, may serve as indicators of a balanced, high-quality service system that is more effective in preventing mood disorder DP and meeting the different needs of the population. In addition, the need for sufficient resourcing in all MHS and outpatient services is indicated. We suggest using diversity indices to complement the measuring and reporting of regional service variation.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-05342-2Mental health servicesOutpatient careDisability pensionsMood disordersService diversityDESDE-LTC |
| spellingShingle | Tino Karolaakso Reija Autio Petra Suontausta Helena Leppänen Kimmo Suokas Päivi Rissanen Martti T. Tuomisto Sami Pirkola Patterns of mental health services and mood disorder disability pensions: a standard comparison of Finland’s three largest hospital districts BMC Psychiatry Mental health services Outpatient care Disability pensions Mood disorders Service diversity DESDE-LTC |
| title | Patterns of mental health services and mood disorder disability pensions: a standard comparison of Finland’s three largest hospital districts |
| title_full | Patterns of mental health services and mood disorder disability pensions: a standard comparison of Finland’s three largest hospital districts |
| title_fullStr | Patterns of mental health services and mood disorder disability pensions: a standard comparison of Finland’s three largest hospital districts |
| title_full_unstemmed | Patterns of mental health services and mood disorder disability pensions: a standard comparison of Finland’s three largest hospital districts |
| title_short | Patterns of mental health services and mood disorder disability pensions: a standard comparison of Finland’s three largest hospital districts |
| title_sort | patterns of mental health services and mood disorder disability pensions a standard comparison of finland s three largest hospital districts |
| topic | Mental health services Outpatient care Disability pensions Mood disorders Service diversity DESDE-LTC |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-05342-2 |
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