Mental Health Service Type Use and Depressive Symptoms: A Multivariable Analysis of Sociodemographic Correlates: Utilisation des services de santé mentale et symptômes dépressifs : Analyse multi-variables des corrélats sociodémographiques

Plain Language Summary

Access to mental health care in Canada varies depending on whether someone uses public or private services. These differences may affect how people experience and manage depression. This study looked at over 2,000 adults across Canada to see how the type of mental health care they used-public or private-was related to their symptoms of depression. Depressive symptoms were measured using a standard questionnaire. The study found that people who used private mental health services had fewer symptoms of depression and were less likely to meet the criteria for moderate-to-severe depression, compared to those using public services. One possible reason for this difference is income. People with higher incomes were more likely to use private services, and income appeared to explain part of the link between service type and depression levels. The study also found that people who went to mental health services more frequently-weekly or monthly-tended to report more symptoms of depression. This may be because individuals with more severe symptoms need more frequent support. Overall, the findings show that how and where people access mental health care matters, and that income plays a big role. These results suggest the need for policies that make high-quality care more accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial situation, to improve mental health outcomes across the population.