Mental healthcare in deprived areas

A new study conducted by researchers at the University of York has found a potential association between deprivation, higher mental health needs and worse mental health outcomes.

According to the summary article on the University of York’s website, deprived communities in England tend to have more mental health referrals from medical professionals than normal, yet people in these areas are less likely to access the relevant services, such as therapy.

According to project leader Dr Delgadillo, “People living in poorer areas were less likely to access services and were less likely to show clinical improvement compared to those in more economically advantaged areas.”

The study used the Index of Multiple Deprivation to determine ‘deprived areas’ and is another good example of the large body of health research that uses deprivation statistics to analyse health inequalities.