Meredith Harris|Amanda Baxter|Nicola Reavley|Sandra Diminic|Jane Pirkis|Harvey Whiteford
Gender-related patterns and determinants of recent help-seeking for past-year affective, anxiety and substance use disorders: findings from a national epidemiological survey
University of Queensland|University of Queensland|University of Melbourne|University of Queensland|University of Melbourne|University of Queensland
examine 1 genderspecific determinants helpseeking mental health including health professional consultation use nonclinical support services selfmanagement strategies sssm 2 gender differences among individuals unmet perceived need careanalyses focused 689 males 1075 females aged 1685 years met icd10 criteria pastyear affective anxiety substance use disorder australian communityrepresentative survey two classifications helpseeking mental health previous year created 1 health professional consultation sssm health professional consultation sssm 2 general practitioner gp mental health professional consultation gp consultation mental health professional consultation withingender helpseeking patterns explored using multinomial logistic regression models characteristics males females unmet perceived need care compared using chisquare testsmales mental substance use disorders relatively lower odds females health professional consultation adjusted odds ratio aor 046 use sssm aor 059 gp consultation aor 029 notably males severe disorders substantially lower odds females health professional consultation aor 029 gp consultation aor 014 correlates helpseeking needrelated many applied genders eg severity disability psychiatric comorbidity although malespecific eg pastyear reaction traumatic event femalespecific eg pastyear affective disorder certain enabling predisposing factors increased probability health professional consultation genders age 30 years males unmarried single parenthood reliance government pension males unmet perceived need care likely experienced substance use disorder want medicine tablets social intervention whereas females peers likely experienced anxiety disorder want counselling talking therapy genders attitudinalknowledge barriers receiving types help wanted eg knowing get help commonly reported structural barriers eg costfindings suggest need address barriers helpseeking males severe disorders promote gp consultation exploring genderspecific attitudinalknowledge barriers receiving help types help wanted may assist designing interventions increase consultation mental health promotioneducation efforts could incorporate information content benefits evidencebased treatments encourage males participate potentially beneficial actions eg physical activity