The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #58536

Régis Blais, PhD¹, Jean-Jacques Breton, MD², Mylene Fournier, MSc¹, Marie St-Georges, MPs², and Claude Berthiaume, MSc². (1) GRIS, University of Montreal, PO Box 6128, Station Centre-ville, Montreal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada, (514) 343-5907, regis.blais@umontreal.ca, (2) Research Unit, Hopital Riviere des Prairies, 7070 Perras, Montreal, QC H1E 1A4, Canada

The objectives of this study were: (1) to determine whether mental health resources and services available in four large regions in the province of Quebec (7.4 million population), Canada were distributed according to the mental health needs of children aged 6 to 14 years; (2) to assess whether the variations in mental health resources and services across regions had changed over a five-year period. Indicators of need according to the child’s parent (presence of mental disorder, measure of adaptation and perception of need for help) from an epidemiologic survey of 2400 non institutionalized children were compared to both within school and in the community professional resources, and physician and hospital services in 1992-1993. Resource and service data were also collected for 1997-1998. Resource and service data came from professional colleges and government administrative databases. Results show that there were no significant regional differences for either need indicators, but there were large discrepancies in mental health resources and services in 1992-1993. Differences in professional resources were largest for special education teachers in the school system and for psychiatrists in the community. The regional differences in resources and services were just as large in 1997-1998 as in 1992-1993. Despite universal health care in Quebec and a government mental health policy stressing equity of access, mental health resources available for 6-14 year-old children are not distributed across regions according to needs. More evidence-based planning is required, in particular using epidemiologic survey data, to match resources to needs and monitor changes over time.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to:
• Describe the extent of variation among regions in the province of Quebec, Canada in the mental health needs of children aged 6 to 14 years
• Assess whether mental health services and resources available in these regions are distributed according to the children's needs
• Determine whether the variations in mental health services and resources across regions changed over a five-year period

Keywords: Child/Adolescent Mental Health, Mental Health Services

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.