Effectiveness of Community-Based Outreach Interventions for Individuals Living with Mental Ill-Health in Australia: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Objective. Mental ill-health is a common occurrence globally and represents a significant burden of disease. In Australia, the development and improvement of programs that connect individuals earlier in their mental ill-health journey is a national health priority. However, there are current informational gaps on community-based initiatives and their associated mental health outcomes. This review aimed to systematically identify, assess, and analyse studies reporting on community-based outreach interventions for individuals experiencing mental ill-health. Method. A systematic review of the literature was conducted across 6 electronic databases and Google Scholar on 01 November 2021 and 12 June 2022. The National Health and Medical Research Council Evidence Hierarchy was used to assess study quality, and the PAGER framework was used to synthesise and analyse the results of included studies. Results. Eighty-three studies met the inclusion criteria; 51% (n = 42 studies) incorporated digital technology, and 49% (n = 41 studies) involved nonclinical light-touch interventions. Individuals with severe mental ill-health were likely to benefit from targeted interventions, and individuals with mild to moderate symptoms of mental ill-health were likely to benefit from interventions involving high levels of engagement from participants. Conclusion. Results from this review provide an understanding of patterns related to the effectiveness of community-based outreach interventions. Knowledge from this review will inform the implementation of targeted strategies to enhance the proactive provision of mental health services in the community. Standardised outcome measures are needed to strengthen the evidence base for community-based outreach interventions, by enabling researchers and service providers to explore which type of intervention and with what intensity is best suited for participants with varying levels of mental ill-health.