Citation

Currie SR, Fiest K, Guyn L. Can. J. Commun. Ment. Health 2013; 32(1): 43-57.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Wifrid Laurier University Press)

DOI

10.7870/cjcmh-2013-005

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The effect of social determinants of health on depression prevalence and treatment access was examined using community survey and administrative data on mental health service users in the Calgary Health Region (CHR). Consistent with national prevalence data, depression was significantly associated with female gender, younger age, and health risk factors such as smoking, hypertension, and obesity. The prevalence of depression causing interference in daily functioning across 19 social districts (subregions within the CHR) was significantly related to community-level indicators of single-parent status, low-income families, and low educational achievement in each district. Disparities in treatment access were also found with persons living in the most impoverished districts having the lowest rates of accessing professional mental health services.

KEYWORDS: major depression, epidemiology, administrative data, social determinants, community level planning