Year of Publication
2019
College
Public Health
Date Available
7-26-2019
Degree Name
Master of Public Health (M.P.H.)
Committee Member
Dr. Hefei Wen
Advisor
Dr. Tyrone Borders
Co-Director of Graduate Studies
Dr. Kathi Harp
Abstract
Rates of mental illnesses are consistently higher in the corrections system at all levels of incarceration. However, local jails are largely unable to meet the mental health needs of their inmates. Considering that there are several barriers to treatment seeking such as stigma, transportation, or availability of services in rural areas already, the treatment seeking behavior of people in jail differs from those not in jail. The objective of this research is to understand the factors that influence treatment seeking behavior among those in jails, and how those factors differ from those not in jail. Overall people in jail had higher rates of diagnosed mental illnesses, and worse perceptions of their own mental health that may have contributed to their higher rates of treatment seeking behavior. Transportation related barriers to treatment seeking which were prevalent among those in jail were not significant enough to decrease treatment seeking behavior in the jailed population.
Recommended Citation
Gross, Kathryn Olson, "Analyzing Differences in Mental Health Treatment Seeking Behavior in Hopkins County, Kentucky" (2019). Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.). 237.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/cph_etds/237
