More severe mental illness is more concentrated in deprived areas.
BACKGROUND
The greater frequency of mental illness in deprived and inner-city populations is well recognised; allocation of funds in the UK health service makes some allowance for this. However, it is not clear whether the differences are similar for all levels of mental health care need.


OBJECTIVE
To study the range in prevalence of mental health problems and care at primary care, general secondary care and forensic care levels.


METHODS
We used mainly descriptive statistics to study evidence available from existing sources--some based on indicators of likely need, some on observed prevalence of treatment.


RESULTS
Among English health authority areas, the most morbid have about twice the prevalence of primary care level mental illness of the least morbid. For secondary care the ratio is between 2.5 and 4 to 1, while for services for mentally disordered offenders it is in excess of 20:1.


CONCLUSIONS
Where needs indices are used for resource allocation, responsible authorities should ensure that they produce ranges reflecting the full compass of services funded. For forensic services the range of morbidity levels may be so great that funding needs to rest at a larger population level than that of health authorities.
Glover
G R
GR
Section of Community Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, London.
Leese
M
M
McCrone
P
P
D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008605:Mental Health Services; D011204:Poverty Areas; D015995:Prevalence; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011330:Prisons; D012044:Regression Analysis