[Preventing chronicity in mental health: being present earlier within the network]

Despite the increase in treatment options, mental illness is still too often evolving into chronic serious mental illness.
AIM: To describe concrete interventions aimed at the life structure and early detection within and outside mental health care to prevent chronicity in mental health.
METHOD: According to a quadrant, evidence-based interventions to prevent chronicity are proposed. These interventions can focus on the life structure of the patient and on early identification and intervention. They can take place both inside and outside mental health care.
RESULTS: Important interventions within mental health care include complete and repeated diagnostics, including staging, profiling and somatic screening, Mental health care must also focus on early detection and early treatment for all mental illnesses and apply concrete interventions such as IPS, lifestyle interventions, shared decision-making and low threshold anti-stigma actions. Outside of mental health services, mental health first aid (MHFA), housing first, alcohol prevention and mental gymnastics can be used.
CONCLUSION: Preventing chronicity requires an integrated cross-sectoral approach and a gatekeeper approach with active and responsive mental health care. Tijdschrift voor Psychiatrie 63(2021)2, 142-149.