Access to mental health services and health sector social capital

Mental health services are underused relative to mental illness rates. We hypothesized a positive correlation between use of mental health services and community-level health care social capital. Community Tracking Study data from 43 cities (N = 43,278), merged with the National Profile of Local Hea...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Administration and policy in mental health and mental health services research 2001-01, Vol.28 (3), p.205-218
Main Authors: Hendryx, M S, Ahern, M M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Access
Adult
Child
Community Participation
Cultural Capital
Delivery Systems
Female
Health care
Health Care Services
Health Care Utilization
Health services
Health Services Accessibility
Humans
Insurance Coverage
Male
Managed Care Services
Mental disorders
Mental Disorders - prevention & control
Mental Health Services
Mental Health Services - organization & administration
Mental Health Services - utilization
Public Health
Public Health Administration
Socioeconomic Factors
United States
United States of America
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Summary:Mental health services are underused relative to mental illness rates. We hypothesized a positive correlation between use of mental health services and community-level health care social capital. Community Tracking Study data from 43 cities (N = 43,278), merged with the National Profile of Local Health Departments and other sources, show that use of mental health services was greater when public health districts collaborated with managed care organizations and other community groups, independent of individual predictors and health care system variables. Use was also positively associated with community levels of public insurance coverage and with direct public health provision of behavioral health care services. Research is needed to understand the mechanisms by which social capital may improve access to mental health services.
ISSN:0894-587X
1573-3289
DOI:10.1023/A:1007860002137