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Psychiatric problems of the 1970's.
The International Journal of Social Psychiatry
|January 1, 1976
Summary
Social trends in the 1970s influenced psychiatric needs. Youth sought less help, while Black women sought more, but white women remained the largest patient group.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Sociology
- Mental Health
Background:
- 1970s social movements and national events influenced mental health care utilization.
- Examined psychiatric patient data from Shands Teaching Hospital and University of Florida Student Mental Health Services.
Observation:
- Single male and female youth showed decreased psychiatric service utilization post-Vietnam War.
- Black women's increased help-seeking correlated with the Black liberation movement.
- White women continued to be the largest demographic group seeking psychiatric outpatient services.
Findings:
- Reduced alienation among youth may explain decreased demand for psychiatric services.
- Empowerment through the Black liberation movement likely increased Black women's engagement with psychiatry.
- Persistent societal factors contributed to white women's continued high rates of psychiatric care seeking.
Implications:
- Psychiatric services must adapt to evolving social dynamics and demographic needs.
- Sociopolitical movements can positively impact mental health care access and seeking behaviors.
- Understanding social determinants is crucial for effective psychiatric interventions and public health strategies.