Mental health conditions associated with worse health care experiences

People with mental health conditions have consistently worse experiences in primary health care and face more barriers to accessing care, a University of Otago—Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka study has found.

Lead author Research Associate Professor Ruth Cunningham, of the Department of Public Health, Wellington, says the negative experiences are more pronounced among Māori.

“Our findings highlight the inequitable care encounters of groups whose experiences are often hidden. They also add to our previous research, which demonstrates bias related to mental health or substance use conditions is affecting the physical care provided in New Zealand’s health system,” she says.

These negative experiences are one of the reasons people with these conditions have worse health outcomes compared to the rest of the population.

“Improving health care quality is important for reducing the gap in life expectancy between people with and without mental health conditions.”

The study, published in the New Zealand Medical Journal, used responses from a Health Quality and Safety Commission survey which asked about people’s experiences with general practice services.

Of the more than 200,000 responses analyzed, 21% had a currently diagnosed mental health condition.

Associate Professor Cunningham says the study found people’s encounters in primary care were predominantly positive.

“A high proportion of respondents with mental health conditions reported feeling listened to, treated with respect, and having their mental health needs met. However, overall, people with mental health conditions reported less positive care experiences.

“We also found people with mental health conditions face more barriers to accessing primary care, including difficulties in getting appointments and feeling that providers do not spend enough time with them.

“When the health system is under pressure it is even harder to provide our best care, but empathetic, non-judgmental, and patient-centered approaches can improve experiences and outcomes for those experiencing mental health conditions and addiction.”

She says it is important medical professionals understand people’s differing experiences to provide the best care they can.

“As medical professionals we need to be aware of our own biases and the way they can affect the care we provide. The way in which a diagnosis of mental health conditions, problematic substance or addiction, can get in the way of providing high quality care is not something that is often talked about, but is a very important issue.”