Development of a Model for Shared Care in the Interface Between General Practice and Mental Health Care

Recent research has underlined that mental health of people with depression and anxiety has deteriorated over the last decades in Denmark as well as internationally, and has reached a degree where it is perceived as a global health challenge. By now, depression is the most common reason for early retirement on health grounds in Denmark. Early intervention in relation to patients with depression and anxiety is essential, as research further shows that many young people with mental health difficulties drop out of education and work. The overall purpose is to develop a shared care intervention in co-production with users, and to increase their recovery by strengthening the support and treatment using a newly developed shared care model. The study is designed as a non-randomized intervention study with a control group. Comparative analyzes will be performed with pre- and post-assessments. Patients will be recruited between August 2022 and February 2023. The patients are referred to outpatient clinics based on their home address. The two outpatient clinics should be comparable in terms of patients' diagnoses and staffing. ward. Mental health status and well-being are the primary outcomes. Self-reported questionnaires will be administered to both groups before and after the intervention. The study will be approved by the Research Ethical Committee of University of Southern Denmark and Region Zealand. The study findings will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at national and international conferences.