Datawerkplaats is a platform that provides an overview of health data at the district level. It is an initiative by GGD Drenthe, focusing on the proactive management of mental health among residents in the provinces of Drenthe, preferably before actual care is required. Policymakers in areas such as youth care or local municipalities can gain a comprehensive understanding of mental health issues in the province and, if necessary, respond to them earlier. A swifter and more effective response to mental health problems is what Datawerkplaats is diligently striving for.
Datwerkplaats is a project of several regional cooperation partners, including the Rob Giel Research Centre (RGOc), mental health institutions, Lifelines, VNN, municipalities and the UMCG.
Frederike Jörg, programme leader at the Rob Giel Research Centre and senior researcher at the UMCG, was involved early on in providing input. For instance, she considered how data could be collected at the individual level in addition to the neighborhood level, creating an even more precise picture. Here, the UMCG's experience proves invaluable. Frederike is, in fact, actively engaged in Mindlines: a UMCG cohort within psychiatric care. Mindlines comprises three subcohorts: MOPHAR (mood disorders), PHAMOUS (psychotic disorders) and ROM-GPS (geriatric psychiatry). Mindlines contains a big amount of healthcare data with a specific focus on mental disorders, aligning well with the objectives of Data Workshop.
Cohort studies like Mindlines often involve large groups of patients with similar clinical profiles. This extensive data collection contributes to the investigation of disease causes, the effects of treatments, and/or the impact of specific risk factors.
Ilona Oude Nijhuis, Technical Consultant and Programme Manager and working at GGD Drenthe, explains that some discoveries have already been made with the help of Datawerkplaats. ''By 2023, we have gained a better understanding of the mental health of different target groups. With national parties, we have pinpointed areas of concern for Drenthe and are turning them into (regional) action. In addition, we bring insights for regional tables - such as waiting list issues and a link to national sources (e.g. Vektis and Lifelines).''
The project has the ambition to develop further and to explore the possibility of setting up a joint infrastructure. For now, the platform has been launched in Drenthe, but the desire is to eventually involve all three northern provinces.
