Mental Health Service Utilisation Post-Discharge From New Zealand Early Intervention for Psychosis Services Across the Past 5 Years

Mental health service utilisation post discharge is a key measure for understanding outcomes for those using mental health services, particularly in the early intervention for psychosis space. Service utilisation following discharge from New Zealand early intervention for psychosis providers is unknown. Programme for the Integration of Mental Health Data (PRIMHD) data from Te Whatu Ora was used to calculate mental health service utilisation in the year post discharge for those discharged from early psychosis services in 2016 to 2020. 38.2% of the sample did not utilise any secondary or tertiary mental health services in the year post discharge, and only 17.1% of the sample utilised inpatient hospital care during the year post discharge. Length of treatment, number of face-to-face contacts, symptoms, age, and ethnicity predicted who was more likely to utilise mental health services post discharge. Mental health service utilisation post early intervention for psychosis services in New Zealand is similar to rates seen internationally, and services have been consistently meeting these outcomes over the past 5 years.