Comparing mental health of francophones in Canada, france, and belgium: 12-month and lifetime rates of mental health service use (part 2).
OBJECTIVE
To compare 12-month and lifetime service use for common mental disorders in 4 francophone subsamples using data from national mental health surveys in Canada, Quebec, France, and Belgium. This is the second article in a 2-part series comparing mental disorders and service use prevalence of French-speaking populations.


METHODS
Comparable World Mental Health-Composite International Diagnostic Interviews (WMH-CIDI) were administered to representative samples of adults (aged 18 years and older) in Canada during 2002 and in France and Belgium from 2001 to 2003. Two groups of francophone adults in Canada, in Quebec (n = 7571) and outside Quebec (n = 500), and respondents in Belgium (n = 389) and France (n = 1436) completed the French version of the population survey. Prevalence rates of common mental health service use were examined for major depressive episodes and specific anxiety disorders (that is, agoraphobia, social phobia, and panic disorder).


RESULTS
Overall, most francophones with mental disorders do not seek treatment. Canadians consulted more mental health professionals than their European counterparts, with the exception of psychiatrists.


CONCLUSIONS
Patterns of service use are similar among francophone populations. Variations that exist may be accounted for by differences in health care resources, health care systems, and health insurance coverage.
Tempier
Raymond
R
Department of Psychiatry, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. raymond.tempier@usask.ca <raymond.tempier@usask.ca>
Vasiliadis
Helen-Maria
HM
Gilbert
Fabien
F
Demyttenaere
Koen
K
Bruffaerts
Ronny
R
Lépine
Jean-Pierre
JP
Gasquet
Isabelle
I
Lepnurm
Marje
M
Lesage
Alain
A
Puchala
Chassidy
C
Mosier
Karen
K
Kovess-Masféty
Viviane
V
D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D001530:Belgium; D002170:Canada; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data