Differences in Distress and Utilization of Mental Health Services between 2005 and 2018: a Potential Trend?

This study examined possible differences in self-reported psychological distress and need of treatment in two samples of well-educated adults, which were obtained from two larger studies that were conducted separately in 2005 and 2018. Psychological distress and need for treatment were reported using the Langner Symptom Survey, a psychometrically robust measure of nonspecific distress that provides validated cutoff scores for those in need of receiving mental healthcare services. Treatment utilization was examined through self-report in which respondents indicated whether they had never received treatment, previously received treatment, or were currently receiving treatment. Results suggested that a larger percentage of respondents from the 2018 sample reported current counseling (11.8%) compared to the 2005 sample (4.0%), and they were almost twice as likely to be classified as distressed and in need for treatment than their 2005 counterparts (51.9% compared to 33.2% in 2005; odds ratio = 2.17, 95% CI: 1.59-2.97). Implications for these findings are discussed at length.