The GGD Amsterdam has investigated how Amsterdam residents with a serious mental illness (EPA) and their loved ones are doing. The researchers focused on three key points: personal and social recovery, the care framework and the care needs and support from and needs of loved ones. The differences between neighborhoods, housing types and developments over time were examined for each outcome. This is reported by GGD Amsterdam.
Amsterdam has between 10,500 and 13,000 adults with an EPA, such as a psychotic disorder, severe depression or schizophrenia. They need long-term care and often have problems in multiple areas of their lives. In recent years, help for them has increasingly been provided on an outpatient basis, i.e. more at home or in the neighborhood.
Often lonely
The study among almost seven hundred Amsterdam residents with an EPA and thirty loved ones shows that this group of psychological patients still often feels lonely and suffers from stigma and discrimination. They are relatively often victims of a crime or crime and experience unsafe feelings at home and in their neighborhood.
Substance use
They also have many physical complaints and a high use of nicotine, alcohol or cannabis.
Because the number of beds in mental health care (GGZ) has been reduced and there are staff shortages, this can lead to risks for the continuity of care. There is also a higher risk of escalation.
Customization
The researchers argue for more customization and more attention to the health of loved ones of people with an EPA. This must be done from mental health care, but also from primary care, the social domain, the municipality of Amsterdam and other emergency services.
By: National Healthcare Guide / Johanne Levinsky
