Gender differences in general and specialty outpatient mental health service use for depression

BMC Psychiatry

Research Article

Sarah Gagné¹  Michel Préville¹  Helen-Maria Vasiliadis¹ 

[1] Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbooke, Canada;Charles Lemoyne Research Centre, 150, place Charles-LeMoyne, Bureau 200, J4K 0A8, Longueuil, (Québec), Canada;

关键词: Gender;    Mental health service use;    Depression;   

DOI  :  10.1186/1471-244X-14-135

 received in 2014-01-22, accepted in 2014-05-02,  发布年份 2014

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundThis study ascertained gender-specific determinants of outpatient mental health (MH) service use for depression to highlight any gender disparities in barriers to care and explain how depressed men and women in need of care might differ in their help-seeking behaviour.MethodsData used in this study came from the Canadian Community Health Survey on Mental Health and Well Being, cycle 1.2 (CCHS 1.2) conducted by Statistics Canada in 2002 (N = 36,984). The sample was limited to respondents filling criteria for a probable major depression in the 12 months prior to the interview (n = 1743). Gender-specific multivariate logistic regression analyses were carried out.ResultsThe results showed that 54.3% of respondents meeting criteria for major depression had consulted for mental health reasons in the year prior to interview. When looking at type of outpatient mental health service use, males were more likely to consult a general practitioner and a mental health specialist in the past year as opposed to females. However, females were more likely to consult a general practitioner only as opposed to no service use than males. Gender specific differences in determinants associated with outpatient service use included for males, lower adjusted household income, and for females, a younger age, the presence of social support, self-reported availability barriers, the presence of self-reported suicidal thoughts or attempt and a poorer self- perceived mental health.ConclusionsContinued efforts to promote access to mental health care are needed for men and women affected by depression, and this, to target specific vulnerable populations and increase utilization rates.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Gagné et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2014