Perceived barriers to mental health treatment among individuals with a past-year disorder onset: findings from a Canadian Population Health Survey

Abstract Introduction Scant research has examined mental health treatment utilization and barriers to care in deployed U.S. soldiers. This study aims to assess mental health treatment utilization in deployed soldiers, including providers used and barriers to care. Materials and Methods U.S. Army soldiers (n = 2,412) in a combat environment were surveyed on psychiatric symptoms, mental health help received, sources of care, and perceived barriers to care by Mental Health Advisory teams from 2009 to 2013. Results Of the 25% of soldiers at mental health risk, 37% received mental health help, with 18% receiving help from a provider. Nonprovider sources of care were utilized significantly more frequently than providers. Soldiers at mental health risk reported significantly greater anticipated career-related stigma, organizational barriers to care, self-reliance views, and negative attitudes toward care, yet these constructs did not differ between who did or did not receive help. Soldiers who received help from providers exclusively reported significantly more anticipated career-related stigma and fewer organizational barriers to care than those that received no help. Soldiers who spent no time living outside the forward operating base and soldiers with six or more types of combat exposures were more likely to receive help. Conclusions Prevalence of common psychopathology and receipt of care in a combat environment was similar to previous reports from postdeployment settings. Nonprovider sources of care were more frequently utilized as compared to an in-Garrison report. Findings suggest important differences exist in sources of help and barriers to care in deployed vs. postdeployment environments. The hypothesized barriers to care did not preclude receiving any help, however, less than one-half of soldiers at mental health risk received help. Thus, future research should identify factors that have the greatest influence on help seeking behavior in both deployed and Garrison settings.

Download Full-text

Perceived Barriers to Health Care Access in a Treated Population

The International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine ◽

10.2190/u1d5-8b1d-uw69-u1y4 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 35 (1) ◽

pp. 13-26 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Mark S. Bauer ◽

William O. Williford ◽

Linda McBride ◽

Katherine McBride ◽

Nancy M. Shea

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Care ◽

Vulnerable Populations ◽

Health Care Access ◽

Mental Health Treatment ◽

Perceived Barriers ◽

Health Treatment ◽

Principle Components Analysis ◽

Care Access ◽

Components Analysis

Objective: Health care access may be a significant contributor to health outcome. However, few data exist on perception of barriers by patients in treatment, and attending a clinic visit does not mean that no barriers exist. Understanding barriers for treated populations is particularly important in optimizing care for high vulnerability populations, such as those with mental illness and the elderly. Method: A structured interview, demographic questionnaire, and SF-12 were administered to 324 veterans presenting for primary care or mental health appointments at a Veterans Affairs medical center. Principle components analysis was performed and relationships to vulnerability characteristics were identified. Results: Most interview items showed modest mean levels but high variance. Responses were stable over three to six weeks. As hypothesized, perceived total barriers were greater in participants from several vulnerable populations: those receiving treatment for mental health problems, those with disabilities, and those with worse physical and mental function. Minority participants did not perceive greater barriers. An “inverted-U” relationship with age was found. Principal components analysis assigned 18 items across six clinically meaningful subscales. Participants with mental health treatment perceived greater barriers in three subscales including provider communication. Curvilinear relationships were again seen between subscales and age. Conclusions: Even individuals “in care” perceive barriers. Members of vulnerable populations, particularly those receiving mental health treatment, perceive greater barriers. Data support a multi-dimensional conceptualization of perceived barriers, and different subgroups experience different patterns of barriers.

Download Full-text

Barriers to Mental Health Treatment in the Saudi National Mental Health Survey

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17113877 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (11) ◽

pp. 3877 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Abdulaziz S. Alangari ◽

Sarah S. Knox ◽

Alfgeir L. Kristjansson ◽

Sijin Wen ◽

Kim E. Innes ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Survey ◽

Mental Health Treatment ◽

Service Use ◽

World Health ◽

Health Treatment ◽

Attitudinal Barriers ◽

Perceived Need ◽

Mental Health Survey ◽

National Mental Health

Objectives: To examine barriers to initiation and continuation of treatment among individuals with common mental disorders in the Saudi National Mental Health Survey (SNMHS). Methods: The SNMHS is a community-based epidemiological survey in a nationally representative household sample of respondents aged 15–65 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) 3.0 was used. Predictors of barriers to treatment were analyzed with multivariable logistic regression. Results: Among participants with a 12-month DSM-IV/CIDI disorder (n = 711), 86.1% reported no service use. Of those (n = 597), 50.7% did not think they needed any help (categorized as “low perceived need”) and 49.3% did perceive need. Of those who perceived need (n = 309), the majority (98.9%) reported attitudinal barriers to initiation. In contrast, 10.3% of those with a perceived need reported structural barriers. Respondents who were previously married or indicated below-average income were more likely to believe they needed help. Conclusions: Among people with a diagnosed mental disorder, low perceived need and attitudinal barriers are the primary barriers to mental health treatment in the KSA. The results suggest that addressing poor mental health literacy may be essential factor in reducing the unmet need for mental health treatment in the KSA.

Download Full-text