Distance and the use of mental health services.
The inverse relationship between distance from mental health services and their use has been noted over many decades and on several continents. Although many factors--diagnostic, socioeconomic, and nosocomial--may modify this correlation, its persistence is remarkable. As other barriers to use are diminished, distance remains a mutable variable for planning more effective use of many health care services.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000639:trends; D003155:Community Mental Health Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006783:Hospitals, State / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011640:Public Policy; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012106:Research; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014195:Travel; D014481:United States