Obstacles to utilization of prepaid mental health care

The coverage of out-of-hospital expenses for mental health care through prepayment and insurance programs has been a major advance in removing the economic barriers to early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of mental disorders. However, obstacles to obtaining treatment block many eligible people from receiving help. The authors conducted a study among members of the United Auto Workers union to identify these roadblocks. Among the obstacles were differences in perceptions of need for treatment and in attitudes toward treatment, and lack of awareness of eligibility for benefits among three key groups - consumers, referral agents, and providers. The authors urge psychiatry to help in removing these obstacles.