Perceptions of and need for mental health and healthcare services in Japan are revealed from an online survey of outpatients with depression and healthy controls

Right: Dr. Takahiro Nemoto
Left: Dr. Takashi Uchino

A research team led by Professor Takahiro Nemoto from the Department of Neuropsychiatry and Department of Psychiatry and Implementation Science, Toho University Faculty of Medicine, conducted a large online survey, which primarily aimed to clarify the perceptions and attitudes regarding mental health and healthcare services in Japan. The survey was conducted as part of the Mental Health and Early Intervention in the Community-based Integrated care System (MEICIS) project supported by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) Science Research grant (research project number: 22GC1001). From the results, it was suggested that local governments should introduce early counseling and support to address the mental health needs of young people, in addition to activities to raise awareness about mental illness as an essential component of the development and service delivery of the Community-based Integrated Care System for Mental Disorders. The results of this survey were published in the Frontiers in Psychiatry on July 17, 2023.

Left: Dr. Takashi Uchino
Right: Dr. Takahiro Nemoto

A research team led by Professor Takahiro Nemoto from the Department of Neuropsychiatry and Department of Psychiatry and Implementation Science, Toho University Faculty of Medicine, conducted a large online survey, which primarily aimed to clarify the perceptions and attitudes regarding mental health and healthcare services in Japan. The survey was conducted as part of the Mental Health and Early Intervention in the Community-based Integrated care System (MEICIS) project supported by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) Science Research grant (research project number: 22GC1001).
From the results, it was suggested that local governments should introduce early counseling and support to address the mental health needs of young people, in addition to activities to raise awareness about mental illness as an essential component of the development and service delivery of the Community-based Integrated Care System for Mental Disorders.
The results of this survey were published in the Frontiers in Psychiatry on July 17, 2023.

Key Points:

In Japan, the MHLW is promoting the establishment of the ‘Community-based Integrated Care System for Mental Disorders,’ which requires local governments to provide specific mental health and welfare services proactively.
The results of a large online survey showed that most of the participants (both patients with depression and healthy controls) were unaware of the common age of onset or lifetime prevalence of mental illness and could not describe any services where they would feel comfortable discussing mental health problems.
In both groups, “adolescents and young adults” were ranked first as a target population for mental health and illness policies. “Promotion and awareness of correct knowledge of mental illness” was the most common response to the question regarding the requirements for integrated care systems.
In addition to disseminating knowledge and awareness-raising actions regarding mental illness, local governments should implement services where young people can easily consult and receive support in the community.

Journal
Frontiers in Psychiatry

Title
Perceptions and attitudes of users and non-users of mental health services concerning mental illness and services in Japan

Authors
Takashi Uchino, Eriko Fukui, Youji Takubo, Momoko Iwai, Naoyuki Katagiri, Naohisa Tsujino, Haruhiko Imamura, Chiyo Fujii, Kuniaki Tanaka, Tetsuo Shimizu, Takahiro Nemoto*

DOI No.
10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1138866

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