title: Population level of unmet need for mental healthcare in Europe.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The high prevalence of mental disorders has fuelled controversy about the need for mental health services.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To estimate unmet need for mental healthcare at the population level in Europe.
  
  
  METHODS
  As part of the European Study of Epidemiology of Mental Disorders (ESEMeD) project, a cross-sectional survey was conducted of representative samples of the adult general population of Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands and Spain (n=8796). Mental disorders were assessed with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview 3.0. Individuals with a 12-month mental disorder that was disabling or that had led to use of services in the previous 12 months were considered in need of care.
  
  
  RESULTS
  About six per cent of the sample was defined as being in need of mental healthcare. Nearly half (48%) of these participants reported no formal healthcare use. In contrast, only 8% of the people with diabetes had reported no use of services for their physical condition. In total, 3.1% of the adult population had an unmet need for mental healthcare. About 13% of visits to formal health services were made by individuals without any mental morbidity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a high unmet need for mental care in Europe, which may not be eliminated simply by reallocating existing healthcare resources.
authors.affiliation: Health Services Research Unit, Institut Municipal d'Investigació Mèdica, Carrer del Doctor Aiguader, 88 E-08003 Barcelona, Spain. jalonso@imim.es
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.forename: Miquel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Codony
authors.forename: Viviane
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kovess
authors.forename: Matthias C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Angermeyer
authors.forename: Steven J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.forename: Josep M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Haro
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Girolamo
authors.forename: Ron
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: De Graaf
authors.forename: Koen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Demyttenaere
authors.forename: Gemma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vilagut
authors.forename: Josué
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Almansa
authors.forename: Jean Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Lépine
authors.forename: Traolach S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Brugha
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales