ArticleBMC psychiatry2026
Acute mental health services use: a comparative study of utilization patterns among Nova Scotia's rapid access and stabilization program (RASP) participants and a control group.
Article in BMC psychiatry, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
backgroundTimely access to psychiatric care remains a significant challenge in publicly funded mental health systems. In response, Nova Scotia launched the Rapid Access and Stabilization Program (RASP) to improve access, reduce wait times, and ease the burden on emergency mental health services.
objectivesThis study aimed to evaluate the impact of RASP on mental health service utilization by comparing one-year post-intake outcomes of RASP participants with a matched historical control group.
methodsUsing a controlled post-intake evaluation design approach, the study analyzed individuals enrolled in RASP between April 2023 and April 2024 and a Control group made up of a cohort of patients referred to the mental health and addiction program (MHAP) central intake services by primary health providers (PHP). Key outcomes included psychiatric inpatient admissions, Emergency Department (ED) visits, and mobile crisis service use. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and the post-intake health services utilization variables were compared between RASP and the control group using an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) after adjusting for baseline characteristics and potential confounders.
resultsRASP participants were slightly younger than controls (Mean age: 40.2 vs. 42.60 years). Although the RASP group showed lower mean utilization of several acute mental health services including the mean number of inpatient admissions (0.01 vs. 0.02), mean inpatient length of stay (0.25 days vs. 0.45 days), and mean number of mobile crisis calls (0.01 vs. 0.04) as well as proportion of unique patients admitted to psychiatric Inpatient units post-intake (0.07 vs. 1.60), differences were not statistically significant.
conclusionWhile findings did not reach statistical significance, trends suggest that RASP may help reduce acute service utilization. The control group showed nearly double the proportion of unique patients admitted to psychiatric inpatient units’ post-intake, the mean number of inpatient admissions and mean length of stay, and four times the mean number of crises calls. Further research with larger samples and extended follow-up is recommended to fully assess RASP’s effectiveness and inform future policy. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.
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