Upward trends in the use of community mental health and social work services in the Netherlands between 1979 and 1995:are particular sociodemographic groups responsible?

Objective: We investigate 1) trends in use of community mental health care (CMHC) and community social work (CSW) by Dutch households in 1979–1995; 2) whether such trends can be explained by long-term relative changes in service use or in sizes of particular household categories. Method: Data was derived from the Facilities Use Surveys, crosssectional population studies recording Dutch household characteristics and service use since 1979. A simulation technique was used to explain trends in service use. Results: Use of CMHC and CSW virtually doubled in recent decades. Such trends are not expla... Mehr ...