Use of Mental Health Services by Children With Mental Disorders in Two Major Cities in Brazil.

Abstract

The study examined lifetime use of mental health services among children diagnosed as having mental disorders in two major cities in Brazil and identified characteristics associated with unmet need. The data were collected as part of the High Risk Cohort Study, a community study conducted in Sao Paulo and Porto Alegre, Brazil. During the period from 2010 to 2011, a total of 2,511 children ages 6 to 12 were assessed, and 652 were given a diagnosis of at least one mental disorder. The current study analyzed data for a subsample of 651 children with complete information on use of mental health services. Eighty-one percent of the children with mental disorders had not received mental health treatment in the past. The majority who received treatment were treated with psychotherapy or a combination of psychotherapy and medication. Mixed-race children were significantly more likely to have unmet need for treatment, compared with white children. The high rate of unmet need among children with mental disorders should be addressed with strategies to improve access to health care.