Question

What are the factors that impede access to mental health services for mental health patients?

Answer 1

Ans: Several factors are thought to impede appropriate mental health care seeking,

1. lack of perceived need for treatment

2. Stigma

3. Pessimism regarding the effectiveness of treatments

4. Lack of access due to financial barriers

5. Other structural barriers such as inconvenience or inability to obtain an appointment.

The contribution of these factors however may vary across populations, health care settings and possibly over time.

Low perceived need and attitudinal/evaluative barriers are the major barriers to treatment seeking and staying in treatment among individuals with common mental disorders. Efforts to increase treatment seeking and reduce treatment dropout need to take these barriers into consideration as well as to recognize that barriers differ as a function of socio-demographic and clinical characteristics.