Variables Associated With Perceived Unmet Need for Mental Health Care in a Canadian Epidemiologic Catchment Area

Abstract

Mental health services should facilitate access to psychologists or other clinicians to better meet counseling and information needs. They should also take neighborhoods into account when assessing needs and provide more information about mental disorders and the treatments and services offered in disadvantaged areas. Finally, services should be further developed for younger people with addiction, who tend to be stigmatized and avoid using health services.

Who experiences unmet need for mental health services and what other barriers to accessing health care do they face? Findings from Australia and Canada

“…The next step in the analysis was to consider factors associated with unmet need. Characteristics associated with unmet need were considered based on Andersen behavioral model of health services use which is commonly used in the analysis of mental health‐related service needs . This model identifies predisposing, enabling, and health need factors associated with access to care.…”

“…The question set has been used extensively as part of mental health surveys in Australia, Canada, and other countries. [10][11][12][13][14][15][16] In Australia, about 14% of adults perceived a need for services, with about half of people reporting their needs were met 10 in 2007. An estimated 17% of Canadians reported a need for services, and two-thirds reported their needs as met.…”

“…Characteristics associated with unmet need were considered based on Andersen behavioral model of health services use 25 which is commonly used in the analysis of mental health-related service needs. 13,15,16,26 This model identifies predisposing, enabling, and health need factors associated with access to care. For our analysis, we looked at the predisposing factors of age, sex, and immigrant status; enabling factors of income, education, and social support such as living with other adults; and health needs factors including having a diagnosed mental illness, multiple chronic conditions, fair or poor self-rated health, and activity limitations due to health conditions.…”

“…The Perceived Need for Care Questionnaire (PNCQ) was developed in Australia by Meadows et al specifically for mental health services. The question set has been used extensively as part of mental health surveys in Australia, Canada, and other countries . In Australia, about 14% of adults perceived a need for services, with about half of people reporting their needs were met in 2007.…”

Utilisation et enjeux des données clinico-administratives dans le domaine de la santé mentale et de la dépendance

“…Ces raisons expliquent pourquoi les TM et la dépendance ont été priorisés par les instances gouvernementales comme des problèmes sociosanitaires centraux 4, 18 , dont les services doivent être grandement améliorés, afin de mieux répondre aux besoins diversifiés et soutenus de ces populations. Malgré les besoins élevés des personnes ayant des TM, incluant la dépendance, moins d'une personne sur deux (33 % à 46 %) rapporte utiliser les services pour raison de santé mentale (SM) sur une période de 12 mois [19][20][21][22][23][24] , et beaucoup rapportent des besoins non comblés [25][26][27] . Le dispositif de soins demeure toujours fragmenté, et l'accès ainsi que la continuité des services en SM sont à bonifier [28][29][30][31] .…”