Global barriers to provision and utilization of mental health services: a systematic scope study

Abstract

Background Mental Health (MH) is an important part of community well-being and a remarkable portion of global burden of diseases is related to mental disorders. Despite this fact, little attention has been given to the provision of adequate and appropriate MH services and improving equitable access to these services in some parts of the world. This review was aimed to identify main global barriers to provision and utilization of MH services.Methods We carried out a systematic and comprehensive search on 7 important online databases for English-language literature on global barriers to provision and utilization of MH services applying Arksey and O’Malley guideline. The extracted materials were tabulated and synthesized using a content analysis approach.Results Three main themes were developed regarding the barriers to provision of MH services including resource and administrative barriers, information and knowledge barriers, as well as policy and legislation barriers. Five frequent barriers to utilization of MH services were attitudinal barriers, structural barriers, knowledge barriers, treatment-related barriers, and family-related barriers as well.Conclusions It is suggested that, improvement of public knowledge regarding MH, reallocation of health resources toward high-priority MH needs, developing community-based insurance, as well as integration of MH services into all levels of health-care systems and MH policy into general health policy could be considered as effective strategies to tackling the challenges especially in low- and middle-income countries. Further study is also needed for determining relative importance of the barriers and the related solutions in this regard.