While self-reports of disability related to other chronic conditions are decreasing, a Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health researcher has found that self-reports of mental health disabilities are on the rise. His findings will be published in the November edition of the American Journal of Public Health.
For this study, Dr. Mojtabai and colleagues reviewed data from the US National Health Interview Survey that included 312,364 adults ranging in age from 18 to 64 years. He discovered that the prevalence of self-reported mental health disabilities increased .7 per cent, or about 2 million people, during 2007 to 2009 as compared to 1997 to 1999.
Researchers did not comment on the cause for this trend, but did note that their findings illustrate the need for improved access to community mental health services and enhanced integration with primary care.
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