Population level of unmet need for mental healthcare in Europe.
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.
Alonso
Jordi
J
Health Services Research Unit, Institut Municipal d'Investigació Mèdica, Carrer del Doctor Aiguader, 88 E-08003 Barcelona, Spain. jalonso@imim.es
Codony
Miquel
M
Kovess
Viviane
V
Angermeyer
Matthias C
MC
Katz
Steven J
SJ
Haro
Josep M
JM
De Girolamo
Giovanni
G
De Graaf
Ron
R
Demyttenaere
Koen
K
Vilagut
Gemma
G
Almansa
Josué
J
Lépine
Jean Pierre
JP
Brugha
Traolach S
TS
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