Open AccessMental Health Services for Men Who Have Sex with Men in China
Author(s) -
Chunqing Lin,
Li Li,
Jun Lee,
Xiaobing Fu,
Yan Li
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
community mental health journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.639
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1573-2789
pISSN - 0010-3853
DOI - 10.1007/s10597-020-00660-1
Subject(s) - mental health , china , cohabitation , medicine , service (business) , mental health service , psychiatry , cross sectional study , men who have sex with men , family medicine , gerontology , business , geography , syphilis , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , archaeology , pathology , marketing
This study explores the presence of mental health challenges and related service utilization among MSM in China. An online cross-sectional survey recruited 520 MSM in Guangdong, China, to evaluate the participants' psychiatric symptoms, service fulfillment, and challenges. A high proportion of the participants experienced at least one psychiatric symptom in the past year, but less than half of their mental health service needs were fulfilled. The preferred agencies for mental health services were provincial and city-level general hospitals or primary health centers. Lack of knowledge and misconceptions of mental health services were the primary reasons for not receiving necessary services. Mental health service fulfillment was associated with younger age, lower education, higher income, local residency, cohabitation, and disclosure of MSM status. The high rate of mental health issues and gaps in service seeking indicates an urgent need to increase mental health awareness among MSM.