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Relationship between Environmental Conditions and Utilisation of Community-Based Mental Health Care: A Comparative Study before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy

Author

Listed:
  • Eleonora Prina

    (Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Science, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy)

  • Federico Tedeschi

    (Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Science, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy)

  • Antonio Lasalvia

    (Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Science, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy)

  • Damiano Salazzari

    (Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Science, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy)

  • Sara Latini

    (Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Science, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy)

  • Laura Rabbi

    (Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Science, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy)

  • Federica Marando

    (European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), 21027 Ispra, Italy)

  • Elaine van Rijn

    (European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), 21027 Ispra, Italy)

  • Jan Wollgast

    (European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), 21027 Ispra, Italy)

  • Enrico Pisoni

    (European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), 21027 Ispra, Italy)

  • Bertrand Bessagnet

    (European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), 21027 Ispra, Italy)

  • Maxime Beauchamp

    (European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), 21027 Ispra, Italy)

  • Francesco Amaddeo

    (Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Science, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy)

Abstract

(1) Background: Lower socioeconomic status increases psychiatric service use, exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic by environmental stressors like air pollution and limited green spaces. This study aims to assess the influence of sociodemographic and environmental factors on mental health service utilisation. (2) Methods: This retrospective study uses an administrative database focusing on community mental health services in Northeast Italy. Spatial and temporal analyses were used to address space–time dependencies. (3) Results: Findings showed that sociodemographic factors like living in rented apartments and lower education levels predicted higher mental health service use. Environmental factors, such as elevated NO 2 levels and, before the pandemic, lower solar radiation and tree cover, correlated with increased service utilisation. COVID-19 reduced most of the pre-existing differences associated with these factors across census blocks with a different composition of sociodemographic and environmental factors. (4) Conclusions: These findings contribute to a better understanding of the impact of the environment on public mental health.

Suggested Citation

  • Eleonora Prina & Federico Tedeschi & Antonio Lasalvia & Damiano Salazzari & Sara Latini & Laura Rabbi & Federica Marando & Elaine van Rijn & Jan Wollgast & Enrico Pisoni & Bertrand Bessagnet & Maxime , 2024. "Relationship between Environmental Conditions and Utilisation of Community-Based Mental Health Care: A Comparative Study before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(6), pages 1-15, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:21:y:2024:i:6:p:661-:d:1399584
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Gill Hubbard & Chantal den Daas & Marie Johnston & Peter Murchie & Catharine Ward Thompson & Diane Dixon, 2021. "Are Rurality, Area Deprivation, Access to Outside Space, and Green Space Associated with Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic? A Cross Sectional Study (CHARIS-E)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-17, April.
    2. Antonio Lasalvia & Luca Bodini & Francesco Amaddeo & Stefano Porru & Angela Carta & Ranieri Poli & Chiara Bonetto, 2021. "The Sustained Psychological Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Health Care Workers One Year after the Outbreak—A Repeated Cross-Sectional Survey in a Tertiary Hospital of North-East Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-21, December.
    3. Wei-Lun Tsai & Melissa R. McHale & Viniece Jennings & Oriol Marquet & J. Aaron Hipp & Yu-Fai Leung & Myron F. Floyd, 2018. "Relationships between Characteristics of Urban Green Land Cover and Mental Health in U.S. Metropolitan Areas," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-12, February.
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