UCSF

Objective

Little is known about mental health service use by adults with prior suicidal behavior and current mood or anxiety disorders. This study determined nationally representative prevalence estimates of current mental health service use by these adults, examining racial-ethnic, age, and gender differences.

Methods

Service use across the life course was examined with Collaborative Psychiatric Epidemiology Survey data from 1,139 adults with a history of suicidal behavior and current mood or anxiety disorders.

Results

Overall service use was 47.3%. Across the life course, African Americans showed increasing service use that paralleled use by non-Hispanic whites, Hispanics, and others, whereas use by these three groups decreased in the latter half of the life course (p interaction=.01).

Conclusions

Adults with prior suicidal behavior and current mood or anxiety disorders have low mental health service use. Findings of racial-ethnic disparities in use can help identify those in need of care.