Harnessing Health Systems Data to Optimize Outcomes for Depression in Nova Scotia

Improved access to and delivery of quality mental health care in primary care is a key priority for Nova Scotia Health (NSH). This includes the treatment of depression. Depression is a common health condition for which early intervention may be critical to preventing worsening of symptoms and to minimizing the impacts of depression on daily life. Recently, two key milestones have been achieved to expand access to mental health and addictions services and primary health care in Nova Scotia: implementation of (a) the Central Intake service for mental health and addictions and (b) VirtualCareNS for people registered on the provincial waiting list for a family physician. This project aims to evaluate access, treatment, and coordination of depression care in primary care, and these two new points of entry into the health system, for people seeking help for depression in Nova Scotia. This project focuses on aspects of early depression care (i.e., first contacts with the health system for depression) as this is a time when uncertainty about depression prognosis makes clinical decision-making challenging, but potential for impact on recovery is greatest. Data collected as part of routine clinical care (i.e., anonymized, linked datasets from Health Data Nova Scotia and the NSH Central Intake service) will be analyzed for the purposes of (a) assessing equity in access to depression treatment, (b) understanding early depression treatment practices that optimize outcomes, and (c) identifying depressed patients in greatest clinical need of collaboration between care providers early in their treatment. Results will be used to formulate recommendations for action to optimize depression care, and therefore maximize opportunity for recovery from depression, at Nova Scotia Health.