Shortfall in mental health service utilisation

Background Treatment coverage for mental disorders is poor in most develope d countries. Aims To explore some reasons for the poor treatment coverage f or mental disorders in developed countries, Method Data were taken from Australian national surveys and from the World Health Report. Results Only one-third of people with a mental disorder consulted. Probabil ity of consulting varied by diagnosis: 90% for schizophrenia, which is acco unted for by external factors; 60% for depression; and 15% for substance us e and personality disorders. The probability of consulting varied by gender , age, marital status and disability, from 73% among women aged 25-54 years , disabled and once married to 9% among males without these risk factors. T hose who did not consult but were disabled or comorbid said that they "pref erred to manage themselves". Data from five countries showed no evidence th at overall health expenditure, out-of-pocket cost or responsiveness of the health system affected the overall consulting rates. Conclusions Societal, attitudinal and diagnostic variables account for the variation. Funding does not. Public education about the recognition and tre atment of mental disorders and the provision of effective treatment by prov iders might remedy the shortfall. Declaration of interest None, Funding detailed in Acknowledgements.