Perceived Unmet Need for Care and Barriers to Care Among Individuals with Mental Health Issues: A Meta-analysis

Unmet needs refer to the gap between the health services individuals require and what they receive. Individuals with mental health issues often face barriers preventing them from accessing the care they need. A meta-analysis was conducted to estimate the pooled prevalence of unmet needs for care and barriers to care among individuals with mental health issues. The databases PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were searched for relevant studies published from December 1, 1985 to August 1, 2024. Following the screening process, 204 included studies remained for meta-analysis. Individuals with mental health issues reported significant pooled prevalence rate of unmet care needs over the past year, with the most common being related to work/occupation (43%), dental care (41%), counseling (40%), social intervention (37%), mental health (34%), physical health needs (33%), skills training (32%), social network (32%), psychological distress (31%), information (27%), intimate relationships (27%), benefits (26%), harm reduction (25%), psychotic symptoms (24%), housing (24%), money and food (21%), education (20%), sexual expression (19%), home care (16%), safety (15%), self-care (15%), telephone support (9%), and child care (8%). The pooled prevalence rates of barriers to accessing care were motivational (38%), structural (37%), financial (31%), and stigmatization (25%). The findings indicated that patients with substance use disorders experienced a significantly higher prevalence of unmet care needs and barriers to accessing care compared to those with mental health disorders and homeless individuals. The results showed that unmet care needs were highest among those in established adulthood, while harm reduction was more common among adolescents and emerging adults. Physical health and food needs were most prevalent among midlife adults. Barriers to care were most common among adolescents and emerging adults, except for structural barriers, which were most frequent among midlife adults. To address the unmet employment needs of Individuals with mental health issues, comprehensive training in essential skills is recommended. Enhancing dentists' mental health understanding and fostering collaboration among healthcare providers is crucial. Government-funded, low-barrier service models for substance use disorder patients is suggested to enhance accessibility and effectiveness, while improving health service affordability and acceptability is essential.