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Inequalities in mental health

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 January 2018

Claire Henderson ,
Graham Thornicroft  and
Gyles Glover
Claire Henderson*
Affiliation:
Section of Community Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, London
Graham Thornicroft
Affiliation:
Section of Community Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, London
Gyles Glover
Affiliation:
Section of Community Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, London
*
Claire Henderson, Section of Community Psychiatry, (PRiSM), Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF. Tel: 0171 919 2610; Fax: 0171 277 1462
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Extract

The Government emphasis on tackling health inequalities and the availability of recent data on mental health inequalities from the Office of Population Censuses and Survey's (OPCS) National Psychiatric Morbidity Survey (NPMS) (Meitzer et al, 1995) suggest that it is time to review the evidence on inequalities in mental health. We aim to summarise the relevant research on rates of psychiatric morbidity within the general population, and define specific populations at high risk of mental disorder. The theories put forward to account for these inequalities are considered, noting the limitations of the data they are based on and highlighting their implications for the data required to facilitate further research. Inequalities in access, provision and appropriateness of services are also discussed. We make policy recommendations for reducing these inequalities at national, regional and district levels.

Type
Review Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 173 , Issue 2 , August 1998 , pp. 105 - 109
Copyright
Copyright © 1998 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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