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Gender differences in health service use for mental health reasons in community dwelling older adults with suicidal ideation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 December 2012

Helen-Maria Vasiliadis ,
Sarah Gagné ,
Natalia Jozwiak  and
Michel Préville
Helen-Maria Vasiliadis*
Affiliation:
Department of Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Sherbrooke, Longueuil, Quebec, Canada
Sarah Gagné
Affiliation:
Clinical Sciences Program, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Sherbrooke, Longueuil, Quebec, Canada
Natalia Jozwiak
Affiliation:
Clinical Sciences Program, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Sherbrooke, Longueuil, Quebec, Canada
Michel Préville
Affiliation:
Department of Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Sherbrooke, Longueuil, Quebec, Canada
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Helen-Maria Vasiliadis, PhD, Centre de recherche Hôpital Charles LeMoyne, Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Université de Sherbrooke, 150 Place Charles-Le Moyne bureau 200, C.P. 11, Longueuil (QC) J4K 0A8, Canada. Phone: +450-466-5000; Fax: +450-670-4135. Email: [email protected].
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Abstract

Background: To ascertain gender-specific determinants of antidepressant and mental health (MH) service use associated with suicidal ideation.

Methods: Data used in this study came from the ESA (Enquête sur la Santé des Aînés) survey carried out in 2005–2008 on a large sample of community-dwelling older adults (n = 2,004). Multivariate logistic regression analyses were carried out.

Results: The two-year prevalence of suicidal ideation was 8.4% and 20.3% had persistent suicidal thoughts at one-year follow-up. In males, the prevalence of antidepressant and MH service use in respondents with suicidal ideation reached 32.2% and 48.9%, respectively. In females, the corresponding rates were 42.6% and 65.6%. Males were less likely to consult MH services than females when their MH was judged poorly. Male respondents with higher income and education were less likely to use antidepressant and MH services. However, males using benzodiazepines were more likely than females to be dispensed an antidepressant. Among respondents with suicidal ideation, gender was not associated with service use. Younger age, however, was associated with antidepressant use.

Conclusions: Increased promotion campaigns sensitizing men to the prodromal symptoms of depression and the need to foster access to MH care when the disorder is manageable may be needed.

Keywords

suicidal ideationantidepressantsservice use
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 25 , Issue 3 , March 2013 , pp. 374 - 381
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2012

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