Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-mkpzs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-25T06:06:39.806Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

More severe mental illness is more concentrated in deprived areas

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 January 2018

Gyles R. Glover ,
Morven Leese  and
Paul McCrone
Gyles R. Glover*
Affiliation:
Section of Community Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, London
Morven Leese
Affiliation:
Section of Community Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, London
Paul McCrone
Affiliation:
Section of Community Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, London
*
Gyles R. Glover, Section of Community Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Background

The greater frequency of mental illness in deprived and inner-city populations is well recognised; allocation of funds in the UK health service makes some allowance for this. However, it is not clear whether the differences are similar for all levels of mental health care need.

Aims

To study the range in prevalence of mental health problems and care at primary care, general secondary care and forensic care levels.

Method

We used mainly descriptive statistics to study evidence available from existing sources – some based on indicators of likely need, some on observed prevalance of treatment.

Results

Among English health authority areas, the most morbid have about twice the prevalence of primary care level mental illness of the least morbid. For secondary care the ratio is between 2.5 and 4 to 1, while for services for mentally disordered offenders it is in excess of 20:1.

Conclusions

Where needs indices are used for resource allocation, responsible authorities should ensure that they produce ranges reflecting the full compass of services funded. For forensic services the range of morbidity levels may be so great that funding needs to rest at a larger population level than that of health authorities.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 175 , Issue 6 , December 1999 , pp. 544 - 548
Copyright
Copyright © 1999 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

Declaration of interest

None.

References

Buckingham, K., Bebbington, A., Campbel, S., et al (1996) Interim Needs Indicators for Community Health Services. Canterbury: Personal Social Services Research Unit, University of Kent.Google Scholar
Carr-Hill, R. A., Hardman, G., Martin, S., et al (1994) A formula for Distributing NHS Revenues based on Small Area Use of Hospital Beds. York: Centre for Health Economics, University of York.Google Scholar
Glover, G. R., Robin, E., Emami, J., et al (1998) A needs index for mental health care. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 33, 89–96.Google Scholar
Lewis, G. & Pelosi, A. J. (1990) Manual of the Revised Clinical Interview Schedule. London: Institute of Psychiatry.Google Scholar
Meitzer, H., Gill, B. & Pettigrew, M. (1994) The Prevalence of Psychiatric Morbidity among Adults Aged 16–64, Living in Private Households, in Great Britain. London: Office of Population Censuses and Surveys.Google Scholar
Netten, A. & Dennet, J. (1996) Unit Costs of Health and Community Care 1996. Canterbury: Personal Social Services Research Unit, University of Kent.Google Scholar
NHS Executive (1997a) 1998/9 Health Authority Revenue Cash Limits Exposition Book. Leeds: NHS Executive.Google Scholar
NHS Executive (1997b) Report of the Resource Allocation Group 1997. Leeds: NHS Executive.Google Scholar
NHS Executive (1998) Modernising Mental Health Services: Safe, Sound and Supportive. Leeds: NHS Executive.Google Scholar
Submit a response

eLetters

No eLetters have been published for this article.