A research study involving 57,000 individuals from 21 countries indicates that only 6.9% of those who qualify for a mental health or substance-use disorder obtain effective treatment. The main obstacle preventing effective care is a lack of personal awareness about the need for treatment. Even among those who reach out to healthcare services, many still do not receive suitable treatment for various reasons. This study is the first of its kind to quantify where patients drop off at each stage on their journey toward effective treatment.
Recent findings suggest that only 6.9% of individuals suffering from mental health or substance-use disorders globally receive effective care.
Researchers from the University of British Columbia and Harvard Medical School examined data from nearly 57,000 participants across 21 nations, collected over a span of 19 years. This research provides the most comprehensive insight into where individuals tend to abandon their pursuit of effective treatment for nine prevalent anxiety, mood, and substance-use disorders.
The primary barrier to gaining effective treatment is often the individual’s inability to recognize their need for help. However, even individuals who do engage with the healthcare system frequently do not receive suitable treatment.
“This survey data has enabled us to develop the sole effective treatment indicator for mental health and substance use,” explained Dr. Daniel Vigo, the study’s lead author and an associate professor at UBC’s department of psychiatry and school of population and public health. “Funding and policy decisions should be informed by data, which has not always occurred in the mental health and substance use sectors.”
The World Health Organization-World Mental Health Surveys Initiative gathers information regarding the prevalence, severity, and treatment of mental health disorders worldwide. This study concentrated on participants who exhibited symptoms of a disorder according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV, a classification system employed by mental health practitioners from 1994 to 2013.
The research team, led by Dr. Vigo and Dr. Ronald Kessler from Harvard, aimed to investigate how far participants advanced toward receiving effective treatment aligned with evidence-based guidelines, and at which points they may have faltered.
They assessed four major steps in the treatment process and tracked the percentage of individuals moving from each step to the next:
- Recognizing the need for treatment
- Contacting the healthcare system regarding treatment
- Receiving a basic level of adequate treatment
- Obtaining effective treatment
Findings revealed:
- Only 46.5% of individuals who met the criteria for a disorder recognized their need for treatment.
- Among those who acknowledged their need, merely 34.1% sought assistance from the healthcare system.
- Of those who sought help, 82.9% received at least a basic level of adequate treatment.
- Approximately 47% of individuals receiving minimally adequate care eventually accessed effective treatment.
Due to the drop-off at various stages, only 6.9% of individuals ultimately received effective treatment.
“Identifying bottlenecks for these disorders gives decision-makers a unique and previously unavailable framework to objectively understand problems and make necessary adjustments,” stated Dr. Vigo.
The study highlighted a significant decline in individuals obtaining effective treatment after they made contact with the healthcare system. Since general practitioners and family physicians often serve as the first point of contact, it is crucial to ensure they have the proper training, according to Dr. Vigo.
“Enhancing the capacity of these doctors to identify and manage mild to moderate conditions, as well as recognizing when to refer severely affected individuals to specialists, is foundational to the healthcare system,” he added.
