# Association Between Patient Sociodemographic and Clinical Characteristics and Acute Mental Health Service Utilization Within One Year Following Enrollment in the Rapid Access and Stabilization Program in Nova Scotia

## TL;DR

This study examines how sociodemographic and clinical factors relate to acute mental health service use after enrolling in a new psychiatric program in Nova Scotia.

## Contribution

The study evaluates the impact of a new mental health program on acute service utilization and explores associated factors.

## Key findings

- High rates of anxiety and depression were observed, but acute service use remained low after program enrollment.
- Education level and housing status were initially linked to emergency service use but lost significance after correction for multiple comparisons.
- The program shows potential in reducing reliance on crisis services despite high symptom severity.

## Abstract

Background/Objectives: The Rapid Access and Stabilization Program (RASP), launched in Nova Scotia in April 2023, aims to improve timely psychiatric care, reduce reliance on emergency services, and provide early intervention. This study describes the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of the RASP participants and examines their association with acute service use. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study used self-reported surveys and administrative data from 738 RASP participants. Descriptive statistics summarized key sociodemographic and clinical variables. Associations between these characteristics and acute service use (emergency department visits, inpatient admissions, and mobile crisis calls) were examined using chi-square and Fisher’s Exact tests. Bonferroni correction was applied for multiple comparisons. Results: The sample was predominantly female (65.2%) and aged 20–40 years (38.4%). Despite high rates of severe anxiety (53.9%) and depression (36.0%), acute service use was low: emergency department visits (7.2%), mobile crisis calls (1.0%), and inpatient admissions (0.8%). Preliminary analyses showed that education level and housing status were associated with ED visits and inpatient admissions. However, these associations did not remain statistically significant after Bonferroni correction. Conclusions: Although mental health symptom severity was high, acute mental health service use remained low after RASP enrollment, indicating the program’s potential in reducing reliance on crisis services. No participant characteristics were significantly associated with acute service use after adjustment, underscoring the complexity of predicting utilization and the need for robust multivariable models. Continued investment in rapid access programs may be essential to improving timely mental health care and supporting early intervention strategies.