Global Scripts for Mental Health: Does World Society Influence Mental Health Services?

• In Event: 343 - Section on Medical Sociology Roundtables (one-hour)
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 06. Mental and Behavioral Health

Abstract

This paper explores the field of international mental health. Utilizing World Polity Theory as a framework, I examine the role of length of membership in the greater international society on multiple indicators of mental health care on a global scale. World Polity theory suggests that as duration in world society increases, member countries would be more likely to adopt similar methods of mental health care in the form of community based care and treatment in outpatient facilities, which are considered the most modern. Using global data from the World Health Organization, I find mixed evidence of the role of world society membership on the provision of mental health care services. In support of World Polity theory, I found that as duration in world society increases, countries are more likely to have formal mental health policies and plans in place. As expected, increased duration in world society was also significantly associated with fewer mental hospitals (a more traditional form of care). However, increased duration was also associated with fewer outpatient facilities, considered a more modern form of care. Further analyses also examined the role of democratic governance in relation country wide mental health care, with numerous significant associations discovered, including greater human resources and a greater government expenditure on mental health. Given the inconsistent and unclear associations, further research should continue to explore these relationships with more thorough and detailed statistical analyses to determine country level indicators that influence the provision of mental health care.

Author

• Andrew Tatch, Mississippi State University