Waiting for Help: Timely Access to Psychological Support for Young Adults Exposed to Parental Substance Misuse

TL;DR

This study shows that immediate access to psychological support for young adults with parental substance misuse improves short-term mental health and has lasting effects, highlighting the importance of timely treatment in resource-limited settings.

Contribution

It provides causal evidence that eliminating waiting times enhances mental health outcomes and demonstrates the long-term benefits of prompt psychological support.

Findings

Immediate access improves short-term psychological health.

Gains persist three to four years post-intervention.

Limited effects on broader health and labor outcomes.

Abstract

Access to mental health care is often rationed through waiting lists, yet there is limited causal evidence on the consequences of delayed access. We study whether eliminating waiting time for psychological support improves outcomes for young adults who grew up with parental substance misuse. Using a randomized waitlist-controlled trial in Denmark combined with survey and administrative data, we find that immediate access leads to sizable short-run improvements in psychological health. These gains persist three to four years after randomization, even after both groups have received the intervention. By contrast, we find limited evidence of large average effects on broader health or labor market outcomes. Our results highligth the importance of treatment timing in capacity-constrained settings.