Mental healthcare consultations help professionals, but uptake remains limited

Source: de Nederlandse ggz

General practitioners and staff at municipalities and welfare organisations find it valuable to consult mental healthcare professionals. Consultations often provide practical advice, fresh insights and better ways to support people. Yet the service is not being used to its full potential everywhere, according to research by consultancy HHM commissioned by de Nederlandse ggz.

Valuable support

General practitioners and professionals working with people experiencing psychological difficulties can request accessible advice from mental healthcare professionals. This may happen by telephone, during multidisciplinary discussions or through a specialist who contributes expertise. The aim is to help people receive appropriate support sooner, improve cooperation and avoid unnecessary referrals to specialist services.

The research found that professionals using these consultations feel better equipped to help people. Consultations can also support people in their own communities for longer and, where possible, prevent the need for more intensive care.

Awareness is the main opportunity

Researchers concluded that the primary issue is not the content or quality of the consultation service: its added value is widely recognised. Many professionals, however, are unaware that it exists or do not know how to access it. Awareness is particularly limited among municipal and welfare organisations.

Practical conditions need attention

Use varies substantially by region, and much of the available funding remains unused. Professionals do not always know where to request advice or when a consultation is appropriate rather than another form of collaboration. Differences in organisation, contracting and financing add complexity.

It is also not always clear whether youth-care professionals can seek mental healthcare expertise when a child’s parents are experiencing difficulties. This part of the service may therefore be underused. Addressing these issues requires cooperation between mental healthcare providers, general practitioners, municipalities, health insurers and other partners.

Supporting cooperation on mental health

De Nederlandse ggz welcomed the findings, noting that consultations support closer cooperation between mental healthcare, general practice, municipalities and welfare services. This approach is also consistent with the development of Mental Health Networks, which aim to connect services so people can receive appropriate help sooner.

Acting on the recommendations

The study’s steering group, with representatives including the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS), de Nederlandse ggz, VNG, LHV, InEen, ZN and NZa, will work on the findings. Priorities include increasing awareness, improving access and regional cooperation, and obtaining better evidence about consultation outcomes. The goal is to make mental healthcare expertise easier for professionals throughout the Netherlands to access.

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Original: Read the Dutch article