Objective: This analysis examined the distribution of four social determinants of health among recipients of state-licensed mental health services and analyzed relationships between determinants and individuals' clinical and demographic characteristics.
Methods: With data from the New York State Office of Mental Health 2017 Patient Characteristics Survey (N=103,416), prevalences of four social determinants (education, employment, housing, and criminal legal involvement) among mental health service recipients were described. Results were stratified to explore differences by diagnosis, gender, race and ethnicity, and region of residence.
Results: High proportions had low education (20.9%), unemployment (79.1%), homelessness (8.2%), and criminal legal involvement (12.2%), surpassing statistics for the general state population. Prevalences of alcohol-related, drug-related, and psychotic disorders were higher among these groups than were prevalences of other diagnoses. People of color and male recipients were overrepresented among those with adverse social determinants.
Conclusions: Results highlight the magnitude of social adversity among those receiving mental health services, as well as potential inequities.
Keywords: Epidemiology; Mental illness and alcohol/drug abuse; Patient needs; Public health; Racial-ethnic disparities.