Perceived need for mental health treatment in a nationally representative Canadian sample.
OBJECTIVE
The optimal method of determining how many people in the general population need help for emotional problems remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the prevalence and correlates of self-perceived need for mental health services (that is, help seeking and perceived need) in a large, population-based sample.


METHODS
Data came from the Canadian Community Health Survey 1.2 (n = 36,816, respondent age 15 years and over, and response rate 77%). Respondents were asked whether they had sought help in the past year from any professional for emotional problems and whether they felt they needed help for emotional symptoms but had not sought treatment. The Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) was used to make DSM-IV mental disorder diagnoses.


RESULTS
The past-year prevalences of help seeking and perceived need were 8.7% and 2.9%, respectively. After adjusting for the presence of DSM-IV disorders assessed in the survey, sociodemographic factors, illness severity, social supports, and the presence of physical health conditions were associated with help seeking and perceived need. Independent of DSM diagnoses, sociodemographics, and social supports, perceived need and help seeking were associated with increased levels of distress, disability, and suicidal ideation and attempts.


CONCLUSIONS
This study illustrates that, in addition to the presence of a DSM diagnosis, the respondent's self-perceived need for mental health treatment is important in the assessment of need for mental health services in the community.
Sareen
Jitender
J
Department of Psychiatry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg. sareen@cc.umanitoba.ca
Cox
Brian J
BJ
Afifi
Tracie O
TO
Clara
Ian
I
Yu
Bo Nancy
BN
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003710:Demography; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D012944:Social Support; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data