270303 Mental health counseling and young injectors: Correlates of mental health care utilization in a high-risk population in San Francisco, CA

Wednesday, October 31, 2012 : 1:30 PM - 1:50 PM

Alya Briceno, MPH , Dept. of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Paula Lum, MD, MPH , Dept. of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Sandra Larios, PhD, MPH , Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Jennifer Evans, MS , Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Judith Hahn, PhD , Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Kimberly Page, PhD, MPH , Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Background: Mental health disorders are prevalent in drug users, including depression and anxiety disorders, but less data is available with respect to young injection drug users (IDU), a hard-to-reach population that has limited access to health care. We examined self-reported mental health disorders and associated mental-health service utilization in a sample of young IDU in San Francisco. Methods: The UFO Study is a prospective study of young IDU (<30 years) in San Francisco, CA, assessing risk for HCV, and other health outcomes. Participants were asked if they had ever been diagnosed by a provider with a mental health disorder and whether they had recently received mental health counseling. Results: Among 212 young IDU (median age 25.5 years), 168 subjects (79%) reported a previous mental health diagnosis: 66% depression, 56% anxiety, 33% post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). About half of those with a previous diagnosis of depression (44%) and anxiety (49.5%), and 58.9% of those with a previous diagnosis for PTSD, reported recent counseling. Participants who reported a previous diagnosis were significantly more likely to report recent mental health counseling compared to those who did not. Conclusion: A high proportion of young IDU were previously diagnosed with a mental health issue, however, approximately half accessed counseling. Understanding the differences between those who access mental health care and those who do not will assist in targeted and timely interventions. To address the gap in research, the UFO Study has begun to systematically measure the prevalence of mental health disorders among young IDU.

Learning Areas:
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Epidemiology
Public health or related education
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
To discuss correlates of mental health counseling utilization among young injection drug users in San Francisco, CA.

Keywords: Access and Services, Drug Injectors

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been a project director of multiple federally funded grants focusing on the epidemiology of acute hepatitis C, HIV and behavioral studies. Drug use in youth and young adults, injection drug use and associated health outcomes, are among some of my interests.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.