scholarly journals Gendering Neighbourhood Marginalization Metrics in Mental Health Services Research: A Cross-Sectional Exploration of a Rural and Small Urban Population

Author(s):  
Neeru Gupta ◽  
Dan Lawson Crouse ◽  
Ismael Foroughi ◽  
Thalia Nikolaidou

Background: Little is known about the extent to which socioenvironmental characteristics may influence mental health outcomes in smaller population centres or differently among women and men. This study used a gender-based analysis approach to explore individual- and neighbourhood-level sex differences in mental health service use in a context of uniquely smaller urban and rural settlements. Methods: This cross-sectional analysis leveraged multiple person-based administrative health datasets linked with geospatial datasets among the population aged 1 and over in the province of New Brunswick, Canada. We used multinomial logistic regression to examine associations between neighbourhood characteristics with risk of service contacts for mood and anxiety disorders in 2015/2016, characterizing the areal measures among all residents (gender neutral) and by males and females separately (gender specific), and controlling for age group. Results: Among the province’s 707,575 eligible residents, 10.7% (females: 14.0%; males: 7.3%) used mental health services in the year of observation. In models adjusted for gender-neutral neighbourhood characteristics, service contacts were significantly more likely among persons residing in the most materially deprived areas compared with the least (OR = 1.09 [95% CI: 1.05–1.12]); when stratified by individuals’ sex, the risk pattern held for females (OR = 1.13 [95% CI: 1.09–1.17]) but not males (OR = 1.00 [95% CI: 0.96–1.05]). Residence in the most female-specific materially deprived neighbourhoods was independently associated with higher risk of mental health service use among individual females (OR = 1.08 [95% CI: 1.02–1.14]) but not among males (OR = 1.02 [95% CI: 0.95–1.10]). Conclusion: These findings emphasize that research needs to better integrate sex and gender in contextual measures aiming to inform community interventions and neighbourhood designs, notably in small urban and rural settings, to reduce socioeconomic inequalities in the burden of mental disorders.

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 466-466
Author(s):  
Kelly Trevino ◽  
Peter Martin ◽  
John Leonard

Abstract Indolent lymphomas are incurable but slow-growing cancers, resulting in a large number of older adults living with these diseases. Patients typically live with their illness for years with the knowledge that disease progression is likely. Yet, little is known about psychological distress in this population. This study examined rates of and the relationship between distress and mental health service use in older and younger adults with indolent lymphomas. Adult patients diagnosed with an indolent lymphoma (e.g., follicular lymphoma, marginal zone lymphoma) within the past six months completed self-report surveys of distress (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; HADS) and mental health service use since the cancer diagnosis (yes/no). Descriptive statistics, t-tests, and chi-square analyses were used to examine study questions. The sample (n=84) included 35 patients 65 years or older. Across the entire sample, 21.4% screened positive for distress on the HADS; 58.8% of these patients did not receive mental health services. Older adults reported lower distress levels than younger adults (17.1% v. 24.5%; p=.038). Among younger adults, 50% of distressed patients received mental health services; only 20% of distressed older adults received mental health services. Distress was associated with mental health service use in younger adults (p=.004) but not in older adults (p=.17). Older adults with indolent lymphomas have higher levels of untreated distress than younger adults. Research on the mechanisms underlying these age differences (e.g., stigma toward mental health services, ageism) would inform interventions to increase rates of mental health service use and reduce care disparities due to age.


2019 ◽  
Vol 134 (2) ◽  
pp. 180-188
Author(s):  
Héctor E. Alcalá ◽  
Rajesh Balkrishnan

Objective: Much of the research on the effects of childhood adversity on mental health has focused on adults. The objective of our study was to examine the individual and cumulative effect of childhood adversity on mental health service use among children. Methods: We used data from the 2011-2012 National Survey of Children’s Health (n = 79 834) to determine the use of mental health services in the past 12 months among children aged 2-17. The independent variables of interest were experiencing any 1 of 9 adverse family experiences (AFEs). We used logistic regression models to determine if each AFE was associated with mental health service use. We also examined AFEs as a continuous measure, representing the number of AFEs (ranging from 0 to 9) that summed them individually, and we examined age-by-AFE and age-by-need interaction terms. We adjusted all models for confounders. Results: Compared with not experiencing an AFE, experiencing all AFEs was associated with higher odds of mental health service use. Neighborhood violence was associated with the greatest increase in odds of mental health service use (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.35; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.00-2.77). When measured as a continuous scale, each additional AFE was associated with higher odds of mental health service use (aOR = 1.33; 95% CI, 1.28-1.37). The effect of AFEs on mental health service use decreased with age. Conclusions: The observed association between AFEs and use of mental health services may be attributable to more severe or poorly managed mental illness among these children. Efforts are needed to increase access to and quality of mental health care among children affected by AFEs.


1998 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 159-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. McCRONE ◽  
G. THORNICROFT ◽  
S. PARKMAN ◽  
D. NATHANIEL-JAMES ◽  
W. OJURONGBE

Background. Increasingly, evaluations of mental health services include an economic component, although often only summary statistics such as the mean or median are reported. Measures of variation are often limited to the standard error or standard deviation, though costs are rarely normally distributed and vary substantially between patients. The aim of this study is to identify factors that can explain variations in the cost of mental health services for epidemiologically representative cases of psychosis.Methods. Cases with ICD-10 diagnoses of functional psychosis were drawn from a sample that included all identified cases of psychosis in two geographically defined sectors in Camberwell, south London. Mental health service use was measured and costed. A predictive model was developed using multiple regression analyses, in which patient characteristics and previous service use indicators were used as predictor variables. Services were measured using the Client Service Receipt Interview.Results. Among the 147 cases included, the amount of cost variation explained by the model was 31·5%. The most significant predictive factor was social functioning, which was highly negatively associated with cost.Conclusions. Current mental health service use can be predicted to a reasonable extent by previous service use and patient characteristics, especially the degree of social disability. Identification of such factors can aid the effective allocation of scarce resources. In particular, subgroups of patients who use most resources can be identified and targeted by mental health services.


2002 ◽  
Vol 20 (23) ◽  
pp. 4581-4590 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Hewitt ◽  
Julia H. Rowland

PURPOSE: Analyses were conducted to obtain national estimates of mental health service use, unmet need for such services, and the prevalence of mental health problems among individuals reporting a cancer history. METHODS: Of a nationally representative sample of 95,615 adults in the United States interviewed as part of the 1998, 1999, and 2000 National Health Interview Survey, 4,878 reported a history of cancer (excluding superficial skin cancer). Analyses assessed whether cancer survivors relative to those without a self-reported history of cancer had increased use of mental health services and had increased reports of unmet need for such services. Analyses were also conducted to ascertain demographic and health characteristics associated with service use and unmet need. RESULTS: Compared with individuals without a cancer history, cancer survivors reported significantly greater contact in the past year with a mental health provider (7.2% v 5.7%). Cancer survivors were more likely to have used mental health services (odds ratio, 1.60 among those without other chronic illnesses and 3.04 among those with other chronic illnesses), and mental health service use was significantly greater among those who were under age 65 and diagnosed at younger ages, were formerly married, or had other comorbid chronic conditions. If all cancer survivors with mental health problems or who needed but could not access mental health services due to cost had received such care, mental health service use would have increased from 7.2% to 11.7%, a 62% increase in use. CONCLUSION: Cancer seems to be one of several chronic illnesses that precipitates the need for and use of mental health services. Improvements are needed in recognizing mental health problems among cancer survivors and reducing barriers to psychosocial service use.


2005 ◽  
Vol 50 (10) ◽  
pp. 652-659 ◽  
Author(s):  
JianLi Wang ◽  
Scott B Patten ◽  
Jeanne VA Williams ◽  
Shawn Currie ◽  
Cynthia A Beck ◽  
...  

Objectives: This study had the following objectives: 1) to estimate the 12-month prevalence of conventional and unconventional mental health service use by individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD) or mania in the past year, and 2) to identify factors associated with the use of conventional mental health services by individuals with MDD or mania in the past year. Methods: We examined data from the Canadian Community Health Survey: Mental Health and Well-Being (CCHS 1.2). Respondents with MDD ( n = 1563) or manic episodes ( n = 393) in the past 12 months were included in this analysis. Results: An estimated 63.9% of respondents with MDD and 59.0% of those with manic episodes reported having used some type of help in the past 12 months; 52.9% of those with MDD and 49.0% of those with manic episodes used conventional mental health services. Approximately 21% of respondents with either MDD or manic episodes used natural health products specifically for emotional, mental health, and drug or alcohol use problems. Respondents who reported comorbid anxiety disorders and long-term medical conditions were more likely to have used conventional mental health services. Conclusions: Relative to previous Canadian literature, our analysis suggests that the frequency of conventional mental health service use among persons with MDD has not increased significantly in the past decade. Further, the rate of conventional mental health service use by persons with manic episodes is unexpectedly low. These findings may reflect the lack of national initiatives targeting mood disorders in Canada. They have important implications for planning future education, promotion, and research efforts.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Katharina Reinhold ◽  
Julia Louise Magaard ◽  
Anna Levke Brütt

Abstract Background Approximately one out of every three people in Germany who meets the diagnostic criteria for major depression has contact with mental health services. Therefore, according to treatment guidelines, two thirds of all individuals with depression are insufficiently treated. In the past, the subjective perspective of people who (do not) make use of mental health services has been neglected. Factors related to the use of health services are described in Andersen’s Behavioral Model of Health Services Use (ABM). The aim of this study is to supplement operationalizations of subjectively perceived and evaluated individual characteristics in the ABM and to evaluate whether the supplemented model can better explain mental health services use in individuals with depression than established operationalizations. Methods A representative telephone study with two measurement points will be conducted. In an explanatory mixed-methods design, qualitative interviews will be added to further interpret the quantitative data. A nationwide sample scoring 5 or more on the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) will be recruited and interviewed via telephone at T0 and 12 months later (T1). Data on established and subjective characteristics as well as mental health service use will be collected. At T1, conducting a diagnostic interview (Composite International Diagnostic Interview, DIA-X-12/M-CIDI) enables the recording of 12-month diagnoses according to DSM-IV-TR criteria. Ideally, n = 768 datasets will be available and analyzed descriptively by means of regression analysis. Up to n = 32 persons who use or do not use depression-specific health services incongruent with their objective or subjective needs will be interviewed (face-to-face) to better explain their behavior. In addition, theories of non-need-based mental health service use are developed within the framework of the grounded theory-based analysis of the qualitative interviews. Discussion The study intends to contribute to the theoretical foundation of health services research and to specify the characteristics described in the ABM. Thus, after completion of the study, a further sophisticated and empirically tested model will be available to explain mental health services. The identified modifiable influencing factors are relevant for the development of strategies to increase mental health service use in line with the objective and subjective needs of individuals with depression.


2015 ◽  
Vol 33 (20) ◽  
pp. 2246-2253 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendy G. Lichtenthal ◽  
Geoffrey W. Corner ◽  
Corinne R. Sweeney ◽  
Lori Wiener ◽  
Kailey E. Roberts ◽  
...  

Purpose To examine bereavement mental health service use, barriers to use, and factors associated with use in parents bereaved by cancer. Patients and Methods A multicenter, cross-sectional study of 120 parents bereaved by cancer between 6 months and 6 years after their loss was performed. Parents completed self-report assessments of mental health service use and barriers, prolonged grief, depression, anxiety, attachment styles, and sense of meaning by phone, in person, or on their own. Results Forty-one percent of bereaved parents were currently using mental health services (talk therapy, psychotropic medication, and/or a support group), most commonly within the first 2 years after their loss. Talk therapy was the most frequently used service, although 36% of parents who discontinued therapy did so because it was not helpful. Forty percent of parents who wanted bereavement support reported they were not receiving services. The most common barriers to service use were that it was too painful to speak about the loss (64%) and too difficult to find help (60%). Factors associated with current mental health service use included more recent loss, prior mental health service use, subclinical/increased depression, insecure attachment styles, and a decreased sense of meaning. Minority parents were more likely to have unmet needs than nonminority parents. Conclusion Parents appear to need, want, and often access bereavement mental health services, which could be offered in oncology settings. However, barriers to service use must be addressed, particularly for those with more debilitating grief symptoms and for minorities. High treatment dropout rates suggest the importance of improving retention, training providers, and developing effective grief interventions.


2017 ◽  
Vol 45 ◽  
pp. 14-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Simon ◽  
K. Budge ◽  
J. Price ◽  
G.M. Goodwin ◽  
J.R. Geddes

AbstractBackground:Remote monitoring of mood disorders may be an effective and low resource option for patient follow-up, but relevant evidence remains very limited. This study explores real-life compliance and health services impacts of mood monitoring among patients with bipolar disorder in the UK.Methods:Patients with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder who were registered users of the True Colours monitoring system for at least 12 months at study assessment were included in this retrospective cohort study (n = 79). Compliance was measured as the proportion of valid depression and mania scale messages received in comparison to their expected numbers over the first 12 months of monitoring. Mental health service use data were extracted from case notes, costed using national unit costs, and compared 12 months before (pre-TC period) and 12 months after (TC period) patients’ engagement with monitoring. Associations with relevant patient factors were investigated in a multiple regression model.Results:Average compliance with monitoring was 82%. Significant increases in the annual use and costs of psychiatrist contacts and total mental health services were shown for patients newly referred to the clinic during the pre-TC period but not for long-term patients of the clinic. Psychiatric medication costs increased significantly between the pre-TC and TC periods (£ 235, P = 0.005) unrelated to patients’ referral status.Conclusions:Remote mood monitoring has good compliance among consenting patients with bipolar disorder. We found no associations between observed changes in mental health service costs and the introduction of monitoring except for the increase in psychiatric medication costs.


Author(s):  
Sonam Shelly ◽  
Emily Lodge ◽  
Carly Heyman ◽  
Felicity Summers ◽  
Amy Young ◽  
...  

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) has been providing support to the Australian Government Department of Health to report on mental health-related data to Australian governments on a frequent basis since April 2020 in the form of COVID-19 mental health services data dashboards. These dashboards feature extensive use of data visualizations which illustrate the change in mental health service use over time as well as comparisons with pre-pandemic levels of service use. Data are included from the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS), Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS/RPBS), Australian Government-funded crisis and support organizations, and key findings from emerging research. Demand for telehealth, crisis and support organizations and online mental health information services, in particular, have increased during the pandemic. The dashboards incorporate both new and existing data sources and represent an innovative way of reporting mental health services data to Australian governments. The reporting has enabled timely, targeted adjustments to mental health service delivery during the pandemic with improved cooperative data sharing arrangements having the potential to yield ongoing benefits.


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