{The perception of mental health professionals of barriers to the delivery of mental health services for the aged in New Brunswick}.
The present survey examines the barriers associated with the delivery of mental health services to the elderly as perceived by mental health professionals.  The sample consisted of 139 professionals of the New Brunswick Mental Health Commission.  The results reveal that the mean percentage of elderly clients in the practice of mental health professionals is low.  The percentage of elderly clients in the practice of mental health professionals was positively correlated with training in gerontology.  The attitudes of the respondents toward the elderly were either positive or neutral rather than negative.  In addition, the results show that the barriers perceived by the professionals to explain the low utilization rates differ in order of importance from those acknowledged by the elderly.  The lack of human resources was identified as the major barrier to the development of specific consultation services to the elderly.  Finally, the implications of these results for the development of mental health consultation services for the elderly are examined.
Université de Moncton, Département de Psychologie.
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P
Bourque
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Blanchard
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005853:Geriatrics; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000600:supply & distribution; D006801:Humans; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000600:supply & distribution; D009509:New Brunswick; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000078329:Workforce