Factors influencing care-seeking behaviour for mental illness in India: a situational analysis in Tamil Nadu. (8th October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jani, Anant; Ravishankar, Sindhu; Kumar, Naresh; Vimitha, J; Shah, Soleil; Pari, Anees; Ramasubramaniam, C
• Is Part Of: Journal of public health. Volume 43:(2021)Supplement 2
• Page Start: ii10
• Page End: ii16
• Publication Date: 2021-10-08
• Subjects: health services -- management and policy -- mental health; Public health -- Periodicals; Public health -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Medical policy -- Periodicals; Medical policy -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 362.1
• DOI: 10.1093/pubmed/fdab131
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1741-3842

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Background: The contribution of mental illness to the total burden of disease in India nearly doubled from 1990 to 2017, increasing from 2.5% of the total disability-adjusted life years in 1990 to 4.7% in 2017. Despite efforts by the Indian government, a treatment gap of 75–85%, with heterogeneity across multiple dimensions, exists across India. We conducted a qualitative study in Tamil Nadu, India, to better understand the contextual factors affecting the care-seeking behaviour for mental illness. Methods: Qualitative methods, including semi-structured interviews and focus groups (FGs), were conducted with stakeholders involved in the mental health care pathway in Tamil Nadu. Ten semi-structured interviews and five FGs were conducted and analysed using an inductive approach to identify codes, using Dedoose v7, related to the emerging themes and categories. Results: Our analyses identified three key areas that influence care-seeking: views on what causes and/or constitutes mental illness, stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness and broader factors influencing decision-making. Conclusions: The specific contextual factors identified by our study can be used to design and implement approaches that can help to address some of the issues that influence the care-seeking behaviour and manifest in the treatment gaps seen in Tamil Nadu and in India, more generally.