PMH60 - A COST-UTILITY ANALYSIS OF A MENTAL HEALTH PROMOTION PROGRAM IN SOCIAL ECONOMY COMPANIES IN FLANDERS

Abstract

A mental health promotion program consisting of two group sessions was carried out in social economy companies, which demonstrated a significant impact on suicidal thoughts, although this was not the main objective of the program. This study aims to conduct a cost-utility analysis of this mental health promotion program as compared to usual care in Flemish social economy companies from a societal perspective over a lifetime horizon. A gender-dependent Markov model simulated quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) and costs associated with the intervention and comparator and their impact on suicidal thoughts. Transition probabilities and utility values for six health states related to an individual’s suicidal process were derived from Flemish data sources and literature. The percentage of individuals with suicidal thoughts was derived from a cluster randomized controlled trial. Costs included direct medical costs and costs of productivity loss based on the friction cost method. One-way, scenario and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were conducted. A decrease of suicidal thoughts (-8.33 % in men; -8.11% in women) is predicted to lead to incremental QALYs (0.227 and 0.819 per 1,000 women and men, respectively) and decreased costs per 1,000 women (16,870 €) as well as per 1,000 men (57,300 €). Given that no intervention costs were available, the scenario analysis estimated that the intervention in women is allowed to cost 16 € per individual to be a dominant intervention, and 25 € to be a cost-effective intervention at a threshold value of 35,000 € per QALY. In men, the intervention is allowed to cost 57 € per individual to be a dominant intervention, and 86 € to be a cost-effective intervention. This cost-utility analysis showed that a mental health promotion program in Flemish social economy companies saved costs and increased health benefits.