Global estimates of service coverage for severe mental disorders: findings from the WHO Mental Health Atlas 2017

Abstract

Background The study estimated service coverage for severe mental disorders (psychosis, bipolar disorder and moderate-severe depression), globally and regionally, using data collected from the Mental Health Atlas 2017. Methods Service coverage was defined as the proportion of people with a disorder contacting a mental health service among those estimated to have the disorder during a 12-month period. We drew upon 12-month service utilisation data from the Mental Health Atlas 2017. Expected prevalent cases of individual disorders were estimated using the disorder-specific prevalence rate estimates of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016 and total population sizes. Methods for assessing the validity of country-reported service utilisation data were developed and applied. Outcomes From 177 countries, 50 countries provided reliable service coverage estimates for psychosis, along with 56 countries for bipolar disorder, and 65 countries for depression. The mean service coverage for psychosis was lowest in low- [10.9% (95% confidence interval (CI) 3.3–30.4)] and lower middle-income countries [21.5% (95% CI 11.9–35.7)] and highest in high-income countries [59.5% (95% CI 42.9–74.1)]. Service coverage for bipolar disorder ranged between 3.1% (95% CI 0.8–11.5) and 10.4% (95% CI 6.7–15.8). Mean service coverage for moderate-severe depression ranged between 2.9% (95% CI 1.3–6.3) for low-income countries and 31.1% (95% CI 18.3–47.6) for high-income countries. Interpretation The reporting method utilised by the Mental Health Atlas appears to be reliable for psychosis but not for depression. This method of estimating service coverage provides progress in tracking an important indicator for mental health; however, it highlights that considerable work is needed to further develop global mental health information systems.

Anti‐stigma initiatives for mental health professionals—A systematic literature review

“…Lastly, mental illness is a global issue and the majority of the population (85%) reside in low‐ and middle‐income countries [LMIC], and within these countries, mental illness (8.8%) and substance use disorders (16.6%) are prevalent (Jaeschke et al, 2021; World Health Organization, 2017a). Seven of eight studies were conducted in high‐income countries [HIC].…”

Specialised psychiatric beds and 24-hour residential care in Australia 2018–2019 – Comparative analysis and commentary according to international benchmarking

“…This lack of public sector non-acute hospital and residential care adversely affects service coverage for those suffering from severe psychiatric illness. 8…”

“…This lack of public sector non-acute hospital and residential care adversely affects service coverage for those suffering from severe psychiatric illness. 8 The combination of private and public sectors raises the Australian national psychiatric bed average closer to international comparators. Australian private sector beds have shown a 3.8% annual growth rate from 2014-15 to 2018-19, in contrast to relative stasis of public sector bed numbers.…”

How to measure barriers in accessing mental healthcare? Psychometric evaluation of a screening tool in parents of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities

“…Affordability has been revealed as a key barrier to accessing mental healthcare for parents of children with special needs as well as the general population [15,31]. Psychological services are not fully, if at all, covered by insurance [32]. Parents often prioritize spending on their children's rather than on their own needs [33,34].…”