Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40702488›Full record

ArticleInternational journal of mental health systems2025

Using the service needs index to quantify complexity and identify treatment needs across youth mental health service populations: an observational study.

William Capon, Ian B Hickie, Mathew Varidel, Jacob J Crouse, Sebastian Rosenberg, Gina Dimitropoulos, Haley M LaMonica, Elizabeth M Scott, Frank Iorfino

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In one paragraph

Article in International journal of mental health systems, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Observational
4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

William CaponBrain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia. william.capon@sydney.edu.au.
Ian B HickieBrain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Mathew VaridelBrain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Jacob J CrouseBrain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Sebastian RosenbergBrain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Gina DimitropoulosMathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Haley M LaMonicaBrain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Elizabeth M ScottBrain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Frank IorfinoBrain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.

Funding

Australian Government Research Training Program N/ABill and Patricia Richie Foundation N/AMedical Research Future Fund MRFAI000097National Health and Medical Research Council 2008197National Health and Medical Research Council 511921National Health and Medical Research Council GNT2018157
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDigital technologies can facilitate comprehensive mental health assessment of an individual's treatment needs, while also enabling data aggregation and analysis at the population or service level. The Service Needs Index (made up of clinical, psychosocial, and comorbidity components) collectively expresses a concise metric for the type, range, and complexity of young people's treatment needs. This study aimed to examine variation in the Service Needs Index across service settings and assess its potential to inform population-level mental health planning.

methodsUsing data from 1611 young people, we examined the Service Needs Index (made up of Clinical, Psychosocial, and Comorbidity subscores) across four mental health service populations (headspace Camperdown, urban headspaces, regional headspaces, and Mind Plasticity [a private practice in Sydney, Australia]). ANCOVA and pairwise comparisons were conducted controlling for age and sex. Bayesian logistic regression was used to examine the association between index scores and the odds of exceeding the Kessler-10 threshold for moderate psychological distress (K-10 ≥ 25).

resultsThere was significant variability in Service Needs Index scores (and subscores) between the four service populations. The private practice (Mind Plasticity) and regional headspaces had greater complexity than urban headspace services and headspace Camperdown. Complexity was driven by different patterns: Mind Plasticity had relatively higher clinical and comorbidity needs, while regional headspace services had higher clinical and psychosocial needs. Higher index scores were associated with increased odds of scoring in the moderate psychological distress range, with the Service Needs Index requiring the smallest score increase (6.1 units) to double the odds of scoring 25 or above on the K-10 (OR = 2.0).

conclusionsThe differences across service groups provide examples on how indices may shape policy and system-level decision-making in headspace services and other Primary Health Networks. The Service Needs Index measures complexity and could inform system-level decision-making by providing insights into trends, resource allocation, and the efficacy of interventions across broader groups.

Indexed as

Complex mental healthDigital technologiesMental health servicesTransdiagnostic assessmentTreatment needsYouth mental health

Identifiers

PMID40702488
PMCPMC12285102

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.