title: Pathways to mental health care in Bangladesh, India, Japan, Mongolia, and Nepal.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  As mental health systems are still developing in many Asian countries, knowledge of the pathways to mental health care (MHC) in this region would be very important.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To clarify the pathways to MHC in 5 Asian countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 50 new subjects attending each institution were interviewed. Pathway diagrams, the patterns and duration of care seeking, and the previous treatment were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four major pathways were direct access, referrals from private practitioners, referrals from general hospitals, and referrals from native or religious healers. General practitioners did not play a pivotal role in any of the areas, whereas native or religious healers had an important place in all areas except for Yokohama, Japan. Family members had a significant impact on the decision to seek MHC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Studies of pathways to MHC in Asian countries are feasible and can provide data of interest in the organization of care.
authors.affiliation: Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan Japan Young Psychiatrists Organization (JYPO), Tokyo, Japan hashinao@vega.ocn.ne.jp.
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.affiliation: Japan Young Psychiatrists Organization (JYPO), Tokyo, Japan National Cancer Center East, Kashiwa, Japan.
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fujisawa
authors.affiliation: Mental Hospital, Pabna, Bangladesh South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, Association of Young Psychiatrists and Trainees Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Noor Ahmed
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Giasuddin
authors.affiliation: South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, Association of Young Psychiatrists and Trainees Mumbai, India Christian Medical College, Vellore, India.
authors.forename: Basanth Kumar
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Kenchaiah
authors.affiliation: Mongolian National Mental Health Center, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
authors.forename: Altanzul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Narmandakh
authors.affiliation: Mongolian National Mental Health Center, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
authors.forename: Khongorzul
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dugerragchaa
authors.affiliation: South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, Association of Young Psychiatrists and Trainees Mumbai, India Norvic International Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal.
authors.forename: Sharad Man
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Tamrakar
authors.affiliation: South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, Association of Young Psychiatrists and Trainees Mumbai, India Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal.
authors.forename: Shailendra Raj
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Adhikari
authors.affiliation: Association for the Improvement of Mental Health Programs, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Norman
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sartorius
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001208:Asia; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; 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; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors