Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39949085›Full record

ArticleEpidemiology and psychiatric sciences2025

Treatment rates and delays for mental and substance use disorders: results from the Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing.

Louise Birrell, Katrina Prior, Joshua Vescovi, Matthew Sunderland, Tim Slade, Cath Chapman

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Epidemiology and psychiatric sciences, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Young Australian Women's Views on Peer Support for Self-Harm: A Qualitative Study.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2025
    Article
  7. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Louise BirrellMatilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1335-1382
Katrina PriorMatilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Joshua VescoviMatilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0007-0845-6204
Matthew SunderlandMatilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8452-364X
Tim SladeMatilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Cath ChapmanMatilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimsPrompt initial contact with a treatment provider is a critical first step in seeking help for a mental or substance use disorders (SUDs). The aim of the current study was to provide estimates of patterns and predictors of delay in making initial treatment contact based on the recently completed Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing.

methodsData came a nationally representative epidemiological survey of

resultsSUDs exhibited the lowest lifetime treatment rate (27%), compared to MD (94%) and ADs (85%). Individuals with AD experienced the longest delay in seeking treatment (Mdn = 11 years), followed by those with SUDs (Mdn = 8 years) and MDs (Mdn = 3 years). Females had higher odds of seeking treatment for MD and AD but lower odds for SUDs. Recent birth cohorts showed increased treatment seeking across disorders, and higher education was associated with increased treatment seeking for MD and AD. Age of onset, country of birth and co-occurring disorders had mixed associations with treatment seeking.

conclusionsThe study reveals stark disparities in treatment-seeking behaviour and delays across mental and substance use disorders, with a pronounced underutilization of services for SUDs. Additionally, attention should be directed towards early intervention for individuals with earlier symptom onset, those from earlier cohorts and those with co-occurring SUDs.

Indexed as

Mental DisordersMental Health ServicesMood DisordersPatient Acceptance of Health CareSubstance-Related DisordersTime-to-TreatmentAdolescentAdultAgedAge of OnsetAnxiety DisordersAustraliaFemaleHealth SurveysHumansMaleanxietydepressionmental healthsubstance usetreatment delaytreatment seeking

Identifiers

PMID39949085
PMCPMC11886968

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.