Sammendrag
Psychologists in municipal mental health services; how much do they focus on treatment versus public health work? An empirical study in the evaluation of The Norwegian Directorate of Health's grant and model trial
In Norway there has been an increase in the number of psychologists recruited to municipal health services through government grants and a model trial with psychologist either integrated with GPs, mental health unit, health center/school health services, or family centers. This study examines the extent to which municipal psychologists spend their time on individual treatment versus public health work, whether their role varies with which health service they are connected, and whether their role varies from other municipal psychologists. A total of 235 psychologists in Norwegian municipalities participated in the survey: 115 in the four health care models and 120 mainly in the educational and psychological counseling service PPT and the child welfare service. The findings show that the psychologists mainly worked treatment-oriented, while very little time was spent on public health work. The psychologists wanted to work more public health oriented, but at the same time few wanted to reduce time spent on individual treatment. As we expected, psychologists who worked within the health services were more treatment oriented than psychologists in PPT and the child welfare service. There were no differences within the four health care models.
In Norway there has been an increase in the number of psychologists recruited to municipal health services through government grants and a model trial with psychologist either integrated with GPs, mental health unit, health center/school health services, or family centers. This study examines the extent to which municipal psychologists spend their time on individual treatment versus public health work, whether their role varies with which health service they are connected, and whether their role varies from other municipal psychologists. A total of 235 psychologists in Norwegian municipalities participated in the survey: 115 in the four health care models and 120 mainly in the educational and psychological counseling service PPT and the child welfare service. The findings show that the psychologists mainly worked treatment-oriented, while very little time was spent on public health work. The psychologists wanted to work more public health oriented, but at the same time few wanted to reduce time spent on individual treatment. As we expected, psychologists who worked within the health services were more treatment oriented than psychologists in PPT and the child welfare service. There were no differences within the four health care models.