Collaborative mental health treatment: current practices among mental health providers in Norway

Figures & data

Table 1. Background characteristics of respondents (N = 201).

Sample characteristics	Percentage	Number per characteristic
Gender
Female	84.1	169
Male	15.9	32
Age
26–33	19.4	39
34–41	20.9	42
42–49	29.9	60
50–57	18.4	37
58–65	10.4	21
66–73	1.0	2
Level of education
Bachelor’s degree	3.0	6
Bachelor’s degree with continuing education^a	30.8	62
Master’s degree	10.9	22
PhD degree	6.5	13
Professional study^b	48.3	97
Job position
Clinical Psychologist^c	30.3	61
Clinical Psychologist Specialist	18.4	37
Nurse	12.9	26
Social educator^d	2.5	5
Social Worker	15.9	32
Junior Medical Doctor	1.5	3
Psychiatrist	9.5	19
Other Health/Therapy Personnel with a higher education	6.0	12
Other	4.8	10
Area of service
Specialised Mental Health Clinics	61.2	123
Specialised Drug Addiction and Treatment Clinics	6.0	12
Municipal Mental Health Services	26.4	53
Other	6.5	13

^a In the Norwegian context, the term continuing education refers to training, courses and studies taken in addition to a bachelor’s degree.

^b Professional studies are integrated study programs that lead to specific professional titles, such as jurists, medical doctors, and clinical psychologists.

^c In Norway, a 6-year higher-level professional degree with integrated theory, supervision and clinical practice is required to become a Clinical Psychologist (cand.psychol.). To become a Clinical Psychologist Specialist, an additional specialisation period of at least five years of relevant clinical work under supervision, relevant courses, and written academic work is required.

^d A three-year bachelor’s degree is needed to obtain authorisation as a Social Educator in Norway. The profession qualifies for work in a broad range of public health care, such as mental healthcare, substance addiction treatment, schools/kindergartens and elderly care.

Figure 1. Analysis of frequency of contact initiation by external service providers (N = 201).

Figure 2. Crosstabulation of when external service providers initiate contact with mental health professionals regarding the patient, compared to area of service (N = 201).

Figure 3. Crosstabulation of when mental health professionals’ initiate contact with external service providers compared to area of service (N = 201).

Figure 4. Preferred contact with external service providers (N = 196).

Table 2. Means and Standard deviations for preferred contact with externals service providers and background variables.

Variable	M	SD	N
Gender
Male	3.13	1.38	31
Female	2.81	0.99	165
Profession
Nurse	3.12	1.36	25
Clinical Psychologist Specialist	3.11	1.10	35
Psychiatrist	2.94	.899	17
Clinical Psychologist	2.90	.91	60
Junior Medical Doctor	2.67	1.15	3
Social Worker	2.66	0.93	32
Health nurse	2.00	1.00	32
Area of service
Specialised Mental Health Clinics	3.03	0.98	118
Specialised Drug Addiction and Treatment Clinics	2.67	1.15	12
Municipal Mental Health Services	2.51	1.06	53

Note: M = mean; SD = standard deviation; N = sample size; scale range 1–7, (meeting, first week, first month, within three months, within 6 months, at discharge, not necessary), higher mean values indicate preferences for later contact.

Table 3. Summary of multiple linear regression analyses for variables predicting perceived psychosocial and socioeconomic readiness for discharge (N = 201).

	Perceived psychosocial and socioeconomic readiness for discharge
Variable	B	SE B	β
Age	−.111	.077	−.100
Gender (f)	.186	.280	.047
Frequent contact with Child Welfare Services	−.418	.273	−.108
Frequent contact with Social Services	.425	.216	.145*
Frequent contact with Primary physician	.188	.219	.061
Frequent contact with volunteer services	−.571	.343	−.117
Great variation in initiated contact	−.294	.224	−.117
Early contact from external service providers	.251	.204	.088
R^2	.053
F	2.399

Note. *p < 0.05.

Data availability statement

For access to the data please contact the corresponding author.