title: Predictors of mental health service utilization by people using resources for homeless people in Canada.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study used Pescosolido's network episode model to examine mental health service utilization among impoverished people accessing resources for the homeless in Canada's universal health care setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample consisted of 439 people who met DSM-IV criteria for affective or psychotic disorders who were assessed as part of a larger study of resources for homeless or impoverished people in Montreal and Quebec City. Interviews were organized into the framework of four network episode model concepts: sociodemographic characteristics, illness characteristics, illness history, and social network. These blocks of variables were then analyzed in terms of their accuracy in predicting mental health service utilization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-four percent of the sample were male, the mean+/-SD age was 41+/-12 years, and 36% were homeless at the time of the interview, but nearly half (48%) of the population had been homeless previously. The research shows that each network episode model concept except illness history significantly predicted utilization of mental health services. Female gender, youth, never being homeless (sociodemographic characteristics), presence of antisocial personality disorders within the preceding year, past or current alcohol-related disorders (illness characteristics), hospitalization before the preceding year (illness history), and a larger social support network were related to utilization of mental health services.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the absence of economic barriers to health care, there are other significant barriers to the use of mental health services for people who live in poverty. A better understanding of these factors will help in meeting the service needs of impoverished mentally ill people.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing Sciences, University of Montreal, C.P. 6128 Succ. Centre-Ville, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3C 3J7. jean-pierre. bonin@umontreal.ca
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Bonin
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fournier
authors.forename: Régis
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Blais
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs; D011792:Quebec