Non-utilization of mental health services: A consumers' perspective

Abstract In a prospective cohort study of 102 adults with serious mental illness, 18% of the participants reported using no mental health services throughout the nearly 14˝ months that they were monitored. An analysis by financing condition indicated that HMO enrollees (24.3%) were significantly more likely to report no mental health service use compared to participants enrolled in the FFS condition (12.7%). 17.2% of the individuals in the PMHP reported no mental health service use during the study period.

In an attempt to better understand why such a high percentage of adults receiving SSI because of a severe mental illness were not using mental health services, 83 of these 102 individuals (83%) were asked during the final interview to explain why they “were not currently receiving any treatment for their emotional or psychiatric problems.” A qualitative analysis of the responses was conducted in order to identify primary themes. The question generated 90 different statements that were classified in the analysis into five broad themes. The five categories included: 1) client indicating mental health services were not needed, 2) problems with accessing mental health services, 3) perceptions that previous mental health services were not helpful, 4) challenges experienced by respondents who were using the primary care physician as a mental health provider, and 5) a miscellaneous category.

This presentation will include a detailed qualitative analysis of the subthemes and patterns identified in the responses.