A major international study examines the global landscape of mental health, revealing stark disparities in care and experience.
A study published in PLOS Medicine on May 5th analyzed data from the People's Voice Survey to examine the health profiles and healthcare experiences of adults with poor mental health compared to those with good mental health. The research, conducted across 18 countries, involved 32,419 adults and collected data in 2022 and 2023.
Prevalence and Demographics
The prevalence of self-reported poor or fair mental health varied significantly by country, ranging from 4.7% in Nigeria to 39.6% in China, with an average of 19.5% across all countries.
The study found no direct relationship between national income per capita and the prevalence of poor mental health.
In most countries, women reported poor mental health at higher rates than men.
Healthcare Experiences and Outcomes
Participants reporting poor mental health also reported poorer self-rated overall health and higher rates of chronic illness compared to those with good mental health. They reported lower levels of patient activation (confidence in managing their own health), lower ratings of care quality, and lower confidence in the healthcare system.
The proportion of respondents with poor mental health who reported receiving mental healthcare in the past year varied widely, from 0.9% in Lao PDR to 52.4% in the United Kingdom.
After statistical adjustment, poor mental health was associated with significantly lower confidence in accessing and affording good care in 9 of the 18 countries. Respondents with poor mental health also reported higher rates of unfair treatment within the health system.
Limitations
The study's findings are based on self-reported mental health status and were not derived from clinical diagnoses. The surveys excluded adolescent populations and were not conducted in the Tigray region of Ethiopia due to ongoing conflict. The authors note that aggregate data may not capture individual experiences.
Recommendations
The authors suggest that health systems should consider integrating mental health services into primary care and addressing comorbidities to improve care quality for this population. They also identified patient activation as a potential target for improving health outcomes. They recommend further comparative and longitudinal studies across different health systems.