Re-Engagement into Care: The Role of Social Support on Service Use for Recurrent Episodes of Mental Health Distress Among Primary Care Patients

Re-Engagement into Care: The Role of Social Support on Service Use for Recurrent Episodes of Mental Health Distress Among Primary Care Patients

The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research, January 2017

28097630

Marissa C. Hansen, Dahlia Fuentes, Maria P. Aranda

Given high rates of relapse of depression, understanding mechanisms that provide long-term benefits and optimal outcomes for depressed individuals is crucial. The current study examines social support as a relevant component in service use to manage mental health needs for individuals with recurrent depression over a 5-year period. Conducting a secondary data analysis from a randomized clinical trial titled Partners in Care, the study examines direct and moderating effects over two time points of reported 12-month social support on service use for mental health needs at 57-months for an adult sample (n = 991). Direct effects were supported for demographic and need variables. Increased social support at 12-months positively moderated the relationship between health impairment and service use at 57-months. Findings inform and extend the understanding of social support as an important mechanism to care to integrate into the treatment experience, encouraging service use to manage recurrent depressive episodes.