A new study has revealed that globally, only 6.9% of individuals suffering from mental health or substance-use disorders receive effective treatment. The research, conducted by experts from the University of British Columbia and Harvard Medical School, analyzed survey data spanning 19 years and involving nearly 57,000 participants across 21 countries.
The study provides the most comprehensive insight to date on the obstacles people face in accessing effective care for nine common mental health and substance-use disorders, including anxiety and mood disorders. Researchers found that the most significant barrier to treatment is a person’s failure to recognize the need for it. However, even among those who do reach out for help, effective treatment is not always provided.
The data analyzed by the research team came from the World Health Organization’s World Mental Health Surveys Initiative, which tracks the prevalence and treatment of mental disorders globally. The team focused on participants who met the criteria for a disorder based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV, a standardized classification system used until 2013.
Dr. Vigo and Dr. Ronald Kessler, leaders of the research team, explored how far individuals progressed along a pathway to receiving effective treatment. They identified four key steps in the treatment process:
- Recognizing the need for treatment
- Reaching out to the healthcare system
- Receiving a minimum level of adequate treatment
- Receiving effective treatment
Key findings from the study include:
- Only 46.5% of individuals who met the criteria for a disorder acknowledged the need for treatment.
- Of those who recognized the need, just 34.1% sought help from the healthcare system.
- While 82.9% of those who sought help received a minimum level of adequate treatment, only 47% of them ultimately received effective treatment.
- The combined drop-off at each stage of this process resulted in just 6.9% of participants obtaining effective treatment.
“The study highlights where the barriers exist in the treatment process for each disorder, providing policymakers with valuable data to address these issues,” said Dr. Vigo. “Understanding these bottlenecks offers a blueprint for making systemic changes.”
One of the major points of attrition identified in the study occurs after patients first contact the healthcare system but before they receive effective treatment. General practitioners and family doctors are often the first to engage with patients, and the study emphasizes the importance of ensuring these healthcare providers have the necessary training to diagnose and treat mild to moderate mental health disorders, as well as refer patients with more severe conditions to specialists.
“Training family doctors to identify and treat these issues effectively is crucial,” Dr. Vigo stated. “Their ability to navigate the treatment process and refer patients when needed is foundational to improving outcomes.”
The findings, published in JAMA Psychiatry, offer crucial insights for policymakers. By identifying gaps in service delivery and highlighting areas where investment could yield significant improvements, the study provides a clear direction for allocating resources to enhance mental health and substance use care worldwide.
These insights could serve as a catalyst for policy changes aimed at increasing access to care and improving the effectiveness of treatment for individuals with mental health and substance-use disorders.
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