Burden of mental health problems: quality of life and cost-of-illness in youth consulting Dutch walk-in youth health centres

Abstract

Background

Little is known about the burden of (sub-threshold) mental health problems in youth.

Aim

To examine the burden of mental health problems in terms of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and cost-of-illness, for first visitors of the Dutch youth walk-in centres (@ease).

Method

A bottom-up, prevalence-based burden of disease study from a societal perspective. HRQoL was assessed through the EuroQoL (EQ-5D-5L), and cost-of-illness via items about truancy and health care utilization.

Results

Participants (N = 80) showed a decreased HRQoL compared to the general population of Dutch youth. In the three months prior to their 1st attendance, participants skipped on average 4.11 days of school and had 1.03 health care visits, leading to total costs of €512.64 per person. Females had significantly higher health care costs and lower HRQoL. Health care use was lower in those not speaking the Dutch language. Living alone was a significant predictor of truancy (costs), and therefore total costs.

Conclusions

Mental health problems in youth consulting @ease have a considerable impact on the individual’s HRQoL, and an economic impact on society, yet almost 75% is not receiving care. A lack of interventions in this critical period in life may have major lifelong consequences.

Keywords:

• Youth mental health
• mental health problems
• young people
• burden of disease
• cost-of-illness
• quality of life
• early detection

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the participants, volunteers and staff of @ease, and direct stakeholders and partners, especially those who free up time within their organization or support @ease financially.

Disclosure statement

All authors, apart from the last author, were involved in the @ease Foundation, either as staff, volunteer, management and/or advisory board member.