When it comes to accessing healthcare, not all Aussies are equal, it seems. A survey of 5,248 adults measured access to healthcare with 39 questions covering from before to after reaching services, and found people with mental health issues were more likely to face barriers than mentally-healthy Aussies in 29 of those 39 measures; barriers were, on average, 10 per cent higher for those with a condition. The biggest barrier was affordability, but a lack of respect from hospital staff was where the largest disparity lay, say the researchers. The scientists hope their study will lead to improved healthcare for Australians who are mentally unwell.
Journal/conference: Australian Health Review
Organisation/s: James Cook University
Funder: The Bureau of Health Information in New South Wales and the Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine.
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