Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #111314

Nakia C. Brown, PhD, Community Prevention and Treatment Research, The MayaTech Corporation, 2751 Buford Highway, NE, Suite 202, Atlanta, GA 30324-5456, 404-264-2644, nbrown@mayatech.com and Cassandra Arroyo, PhD, Social Epidemiology Research Division, Morehouse School of Medicine, 720 Westview Drive, SW, NCPC-315, Atlanta, GA 30310-1495.

Stigma associated with mental illness may be more detrimental to an individual than the illness itself. The goal of this study was to estimate the prevalence of mental health treatment (MHT) and examine stigma as a barrier to MHT in a community sample. Data on 34,468 respondents age 18 years and older was taken from the 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Respondents answered questions about past-year MHT. Adjusted odds ratio (OR) for significant predictors of past-year MHT (e.g., inpatient, outpatient, or prescribed medication) were calculated. Of the entire sample, approximately 14% of respondents reported receiving MHT in the past-year. Race, gender, age, insurance status, and past-year major depressive episode were significantly associated with past-year MHT in the sample. Approximately 7% of respondents reported unmet past-year mental health need. To assess stigma as a barrier to MHT, the sample was then limited to respondents reporting unmet mental health need and no past-year MHT (N=2,474). Adjusted OR's were calculated to determine predictors of past-year MHT and stigma as a barrier to treatment, independently. Age was a significant predictor of stigma as a barrier to past-year MHT. Respondents age 18 to 25 years old were most likely to report mental health stigma as a reason for past-year unmet mental health need. It is highly likely that those in need of MHT neither perceive a need nor seek treatment. Further research is needed to assess perceived need and treatment barriers in order to increase MHT utilization and efficacy.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to identify the impact of mental illness stigma and past-year major depressive episode on mental health treatment utilization and perceived unmet mental health need.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.