TY - JOUR
AU - D. K. Y. Leung
AU - S. M. Y. Wong
AU - A. K. Y. Shum
AU - W. C. Chan
AU - G. H. Y. Wong
AU - T. Y. S. Lum
A1 - 
AB - OBJECTIVES: To examine waiting time and mental health outcomes following a hospital-community service-bridging mechanism among older adults with mild-to-moderately-severe depressive symptoms. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study (November 2023-June 2025) evaluated a mechanism linking public hospitals with JoyAge, a community-based stepped-care program for late-life depression. Healthcare professionals referred older adults in outpatient care with suspected depressive symptoms to JoyAge, where social workers confirmed eligibility. Primary outcomes included referral-to-assessment waiting time and depressive symptoms. Secondary outcomes included anxiety, loneliness, and health-related quality of life. RESULTS: Of 239 referrals, 159 (median age 73; 75% females) enrolled in JoyAge. Median waiting time was 1 week, significantly shorter than the 40-week median for psychiatric outpatient services reported in public records (p < 0.001). Among those discharged, 93% achieved a clinically meaningful reduction in depressive symptoms, with significant improvements in secondary outcomes (ps < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The service-bridging mechanism was associated with improved access and outcomes.
AD - Department of Social Work (DKYL), The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. Electronic address: dkyleung@cuhk.edu.hk.; Department of Social Work and Social Administration (SMYW, AKYS), The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.; Department of Psychiatry (WCC), The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.; School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences (GHYW), University of Reading, United Kingdom.; Department of Social Work and Social Administration (SMYW, AKYS), The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Sau Po Centre on Ageing (TYSL), The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
AN - 41484043
BT - Am J Geriatr Psychiatry
C5 - Healthcare Disparities
DA - Dec 13
DO - 10.1016/j.jagp.2025.12.006
DP - NLM
ET - 20251213
JF - Am J Geriatr Psychiatry
LA - eng
N2 - OBJECTIVES: To examine waiting time and mental health outcomes following a hospital-community service-bridging mechanism among older adults with mild-to-moderately-severe depressive symptoms. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study (November 2023-June 2025) evaluated a mechanism linking public hospitals with JoyAge, a community-based stepped-care program for late-life depression. Healthcare professionals referred older adults in outpatient care with suspected depressive symptoms to JoyAge, where social workers confirmed eligibility. Primary outcomes included referral-to-assessment waiting time and depressive symptoms. Secondary outcomes included anxiety, loneliness, and health-related quality of life. RESULTS: Of 239 referrals, 159 (median age 73; 75% females) enrolled in JoyAge. Median waiting time was 1 week, significantly shorter than the 40-week median for psychiatric outpatient services reported in public records (p < 0.001). Among those discharged, 93% achieved a clinically meaningful reduction in depressive symptoms, with significant improvements in secondary outcomes (ps < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The service-bridging mechanism was associated with improved access and outcomes.
PY - 2025
SN - 1064-7481
ST - Can Hospital-Community Integration Facilitate Timely Access to Mental Health Service and Improve Mental Health Outcomes in Older Adults? An Observational Analysis
T1 - Can Hospital-Community Integration Facilitate Timely Access to Mental Health Service and Improve Mental Health Outcomes in Older Adults? An Observational Analysis
T2 - Am J Geriatr Psychiatry
TI - Can Hospital-Community Integration Facilitate Timely Access to Mental Health Service and Improve Mental Health Outcomes in Older Adults? An Observational Analysis
U1 - Healthcare Disparities
U3 - 10.1016/j.jagp.2025.12.006
VO - 1064-7481
Y1 - 2025
ER -