Recent studies underscore the severity of the mental health challenges children and adolescents face that can lead to high disability. There are numerous unmet needs along the care pathways, although effective early detection and interventions exist. Navigating the mental health services system is often complex for families, due to fragmented or disrupted services.

The Value of Treatment for Brain Disorders (VOT) is a health economics and outcomes research project coordinated by the European Brain Council. The second round (VOT2) on new therapeutic areas (anorexia nervosa, autism spectrum disorder and major depressive disorder) was launched in 2019. This semester will be an important milestone in terms of case study results dissemination. The study looked at early intervention and explored the benefits of improved detection, continuity of care and treatment, and collaborative care patterns (also addressing mental health problems with comorbid medical conditions) on outcomes to patients and costs. Case studies which combine a care pathway analysis followed by an economic evaluation were conducted with the support of Academic Partners, applying empirical evidence from different European countries. 

The European Brain Council (EBC) and the European Psychiatric Association (EPA) will convene a meeting at the upcoming EPA Congress 2022 to address challenges especially from the health economics perspective. Study results from VOT2 case studies on anorexia nervosa, autism spectrum disorder and major depressive disorder, will be showcased. In this symposium, we report the findings of the groups of the Value of Treatment initiative and contextualise these by highlighting the limitations of existing economic models; the gaps in data availability; current research to address these gaps as well as directions for future research that will improve our ability to make the economic case for investment as well as our understanding of the patient experience and journey.