RURAL/URBAN COMPARISON OF THE HELP SEEKING PROCESS

建议研究的两个主要目的是：1）制定一个全面的 两种类型的男女求助过程模型 精神健康问题-酗酒和抑郁; 2）建立模型 农村/城市对这些精神障碍的求助差异。数据 这项研究将来自4000名电话采访者 1,940名受访者是从1989年的一项调查中选出的， 其余的选择，以过度代表农村和边境县。数据 当地提供的健康和精神健康服务， 并会收集受访者的意见。这项研究的结果可能是 预计将回答有关三路的重要理论问题 自助方法之间的关系，非正式支持的使用 网络和获得正式的心理健康服务， 寻求帮助途径的变化，以及使用 正式和非正式的支持不同类型的障碍。因为 该研究包括面板数据，结果也将有助于评估 精神症状发作之间的因果关系的方向， 非正式支助系统的存在和范围 以及随后的病程。最后，结果将提供 关于使用的结构性和文化障碍的重要基本信息 农村地区的精神卫生服务。这些信息将是 与农村保健服务规划者和提供者特别相关 因为它将产生更精确的模型来评估农村的精神状况， 卫生服务需求，同时考虑到 农村社区和文化/态度障碍， 对使用正式的精神卫生保健的威慑，并将产生 有关首选治疗源、类型和设置的信息。

The two major aims of the proposed study are 1) to develop a comprehensive model of the help-seeking process for men and women across two types of mental health problems--alcohol abuse and depression; and 2) to model rural/urban differences in help-seeking for these mental disorders. Data for the study will come from telephone interviewers with 4,000 respondents, 1,940 selected from respondents to a 1989 survey and the remainder selected to over-represent rural and frontier counties. Data on the availability of health and mental health services available locally to respondents will also be collected. Findings from the study can be expected to answer important theoretical questions regarding the three-way relationship between methods of self-help, the use of informal support networks, and access to formal mental health services, about gender variation in help-seeking pathways, and about differences in the use of formal and informal support across different types of disorder. Because the study includes panel data, results will also be useful in assessing the direction of causality between onset of psychological symptoms, the availability and scope of informal support systems use of formal services, and the subsequent course of illness. Finally, results will provide important basic information about structural and cultural barriers to use of mental health services in rural areas. This information will be of particular relevance to rural health services planners and providers because it will generate more refined models for estimating rural mental health service needs by taking into account both rates of impairment in rural communities and the cultural/ attitudinal barriers which serve as deterrents to the use of formal mental health care and will yield information on preferred sources, types, and settings for treatment.