JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

The transition from psychiatric inpatient care to community settings is associated with heightened vulnerability and increased risk of adverse mental health outcomes. Understanding age-related differences in mental health status at discharge may inform the targeting of post-discharge interventions and potentially improve longer-term outcomes.

Objective:

This study examined associations between age and baseline demographic, clinical, and mental health characteristics among participants enrolled in the Text4Support program following discharge from psychiatric inpatient care.

Methods:

Baseline data from 1,106 participants discharged from inpatient psychiatric units across Alberta, Canada, were analyzed. Participants were grouped by age (18–25 years, 26–40 years, and >40 years). Mental health outcomes were assessed using validated self-report measures. Chi-square tests and one-way ANOVA or Welch’s ANOVA were used to examine age-related differences in categorized and continuous outcomes, respectively.

Results:

Significant age-related differences were observed across several mental health outcomes. Younger participants (18–25 years) reported higher levels of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation, along with lower resilience and recovery scores, compared with participants aged >40 years. Differences in quality of life were also observed, with younger adults reporting greater anxiety/depression and participants aged >40 years reporting more mobility-related problems.

Conclusions:

Marked age-related disparities in mental health status were evident at the point of psychiatric discharge, with younger adults demonstrating greater vulnerability. These findings underscore the importance of age-informed risk stratification and tailored transitional care strategies following inpatient psychiatric treatment and suggest that different strategies may be required depending upon age.