BACKGROUND: In addition to clinical and service factors, planners need to take account of the influence of demographic variables, especially ethnicity, on access to mental health care. METHOD: Estimated prevalence rates were calculated from epidemiological surveys undertaken in three settings: psychiatric services, primary care and the general population. Associations between demographic factors and service use were examined using the 'pathways to care' model. RESULTS: Considerable differences in access to mental health care were found, particularly according to ethnicity. The major impediment to Asians accessing care occurred at the interface between primary and secondary care, whereas the most striking feature for Blacks was the poor level of case recognition by GPs. CONCLUSIONS: In order to improve the uptake of mental health care, new initiatives should target those who are most likely to be unwell but least likely to access services. Purchasers and providers need to address differential patterns of use when developing and reviewing services.
BACKGROUND: In addition to clinical and service factors, planners need to take account of the influence of demographic variables, especially ethnicity, on access to mental health care. METHOD: Estimated prevalence rates were calculated from epidemiological surveys undertaken in three settings: psychiatric services, primary care and the general population. Associations between demographic factors and service use were examined using the 'pathways to care' model. RESULTS: Considerable differences in access to mental health care were found, particularly according to ethnicity. The major impediment to Asians accessing care occurred at the interface between primary and secondary care, whereas the most striking feature for Blacks was the poor level of case recognition by GPs. CONCLUSIONS: In order to improve the uptake of mental health care, new initiatives should target those who are most likely to be unwell but least likely to access services. Purchasers and providers need to address differential patterns of use when developing and reviewing services.
Authors: A R Stiffman; C Striley; V E Horvath; E Hadley-Ives; M Polgar; D Elze; R Pescarino Journal: J Behav Health Serv Res Date: 2001-05 Impact factor: 1.505
Authors: Scott Weich; Laura Griffith; Martin Commander; Hannah Bradby; S P Sashidharan; Sarah Pemberton; Rubina Jasani; Kamaldeep Singh Bhui Journal: Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol Date: 2010-11-03 Impact factor: 4.328
Authors: Bri K Ghods; Debra L Roter; Daniel E Ford; Susan Larson; Jose J Arbelaez; Lisa A Cooper Journal: J Gen Intern Med Date: 2008-02-09 Impact factor: 5.128
Authors: Stuart A Green; Emmi Honeybourne; Sylvia R Chalkley; Alan J Poots; Thomas Woodcock; Geraint Price; Derek Bell; John Green Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2015-05-20 Impact factor: 2.692