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The use of mental health services among young adults with emotional and behavioural problems: equal use for equal needs?

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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

Mental health problems are highly prevalent in young adults. Despite possibilities for effective treatment, only about one-third of young adults with mental health problems seek professional help. Little knowledge exists of which groups of young adults are underusing mental health services and for what reasons. The present study examined socio-demographic inequalities in the use of mental health services by young adults, and examined whether such inequalities were attributable to differences in objective need, subjective need, predisposing or enabling factors.

Design

Cross-sectional study among the general population aged 19–32 years (2,258 respondents). A postal survey was administered including questions on socio-demographic factors and mental health service use. Data were analyzed with logistic regression analysis.

Setting

South–West Netherlands.

Participants

All respondents with serious internalizing and externalizing problems (n = 367).

Main outcome measure

Twelve-month primary and specialty mental health services use.

Results

Only 34.6% of young adults with psychopathology had used any mental health services: 16.2% had used only primary mental health services and 18.4% had used specialty mental health services. No socio-demographic differences were found in the use of only primary mental health services. However, recipients of specialty mental health services were more often female (OR = 2.12, 95% CI = 1.14–3.96), economically inactive (OR = 3.12, 95% CI = 1.59–6.09) or students (OR = 2.38, 95% CI = 1.05–5.42) and they were less often higher educated (OR = 0.49, 95% CI = 0.25–0.97). The higher odds ratio for specialty service use among young adults who were female or economically inactive attenuated when adjusting for need for care. The other socio-demographic disparities in specialty service use did not attenuate when adjusting for need, enabling or predisposing factors.

Conclusion

Among young adults, equal use of specialty mental health services for equal needs has not been achieved. The underserved groups of young adults oppose the traditionally underserved groups in the general population, and may inform interventions aimed at improving young people’s help-seeking behaviours.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus Medical Center, Sophia Children’s hospital, Dr. Molewaterplein 60, 3015 GJ, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Kathleen Vanheusden PhD, Jan van der Ende MS & Frank C. Verhulst MD, PhD

  2. Dept. of Public Health, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Kathleen Vanheusden PhD, Frank J. van Lenthe PhD & Johan P. Mackenbach MD, PhD

  3. Dept. of Psychiatry, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Cornelis L. Mulder MD, PhD

  4. Mental Health Group Europoort, Barendrecht, The Netherlands

    Cornelis L. Mulder MD, PhD

Authors
  1. Kathleen Vanheusden PhD
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  2. Jan van der Ende MS
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  3. Cornelis L. Mulder MD, PhD
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  4. Frank J. van Lenthe PhD
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  5. Frank C. Verhulst MD, PhD
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  6. Johan P. Mackenbach MD, PhD
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Correspondence to Jan van der Ende MS.

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Vanheusden, K., van der Ende, J., Mulder, C.L. et al. The use of mental health services among young adults with emotional and behavioural problems: equal use for equal needs?. Soc Psychiat Epidemiol 43, 808–815 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-008-0367-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-008-0367-4

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