The investigation of stress in resource-dependent communities: the effect of rapid socioeconomic changes on mental health service use.
Drawing on census data and psychiatric hospital records, this paper examines the impact of rapid socioeconomic change on the mental health of residents in Northwestern Ontario resource-dependent communities. This research investigates whether residents in economically growing and declining communities experience more mental distress and use more psychiatric services than people in stable communities. Findings show socio-demographic change is associated with significant differences in psychiatric hospital utilization between different types of communities, with bust communities illustrating the highest rates (5.5/1,000). Furthermore, acute stress symptoms are reported much more frequently in bust and boom communities than in stable communities. Results of multiple regression analysis indicate that decreasing household income level also contributes to increasing rates of mental health service utilization.
Park
J
J
Northern Health Human Resources Research Unit, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.
Nelson
C H
CH
D000328:Adult; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000191:economics / Q000209:etiology*; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009864:Ontario; D011203:Poverty / Q000191:economics; D011584:Psychology / Q000191:economics; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications*