The Association between Health Insurance Status and Initial Help-Seeking among U.S. Adults with Major Depression

Live Poster Session: https://wesleyan.zoom.us/j/96679207919

Abstract: United States adults with serious mental illness are likely to experience delays of an average of 5+ years from the onset of illness to initial treatment contact. In countries with private health-care systems, such as the U.S., the structural barrier of treatment affordability is reported as a more significant barrier to help-seeking than any attitudinal barrier. Prior research regarding initial treatment contact has analyzed factors such as age, sex, race, and marital status, however, the relationship between health insurance status and help-seeking delay has not yet been investigated. Using data from the National Epidemiologic Study of Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC), this study examines how having no insurance compared to public or private insurance is associated with whether an individual who has major depression seeks help and the number of years between the onset of illness and the first time seeking help. As predicted, results showed that both public and private insurance are associated with a greater likelihood of seeking help and shorter help-seeking delays.

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