Rural and urban older adults perceptions of mental health services accessibility

Article


Knight, Bob G. and Winterbotham, Sonya. 2020. "Rural and urban older adults perceptions of mental health services accessibility." Aging and Mental Health. 24 (6), pp. 978-984. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2019.1576159
Article Title

Rural and urban older adults perceptions of mental health services accessibility

ERA Journal ID39992
Article CategoryArticle
AuthorsKnight, Bob G. (Author) and Winterbotham, Sonya (Author)
Journal TitleAging and Mental Health
Journal Citation24 (6), pp. 978-984
Number of Pages7
Year2020
Place of PublicationUnited Kingdom
ISSN1360-7863
1364-6915
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2019.1576159
Web Address (URL)https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13607863.2019.1576159
Abstract

Objectives: Older adults have been recognised as a group with poor access to mental health services, particularly those in rural areas. Using a decision framework of recognizing psychological problems, deciding to seek help, and choice of help, this study investigated older adults’ access to mental health services using a mixed methods design.

Methods: Ninety-four older adults from remote, regional and urban Australia returned surveys and twenty-one of them participated in focus groups and in-depth interviews. Participants were asked to identify psychological problems, the decision to seek help including perceived barriers to accessibility of mental health services, and the choice of help including their understanding of mental health disciplines and their views of service use.

Results: When regional differences appeared, inner regional older adults reported more access problems than either urban or outer regional participants. Although older adults have a good understanding of mental health disciplines and accurately identified depression and substance abuse, they had difficulty recognizing anxiety and were uncertain as to when symptom severity should indicate that one should seek help. Though stigma was largely dismissed as a thing of the past, self-sufficiency was implicated as a psychological barrier to accessibility.

Conclusion: Older adults may have difficulty in recognizing anxiety and milder levels of mental health concerns. This may be further complicated by a high value of self-sufficiency. These barriers need to be considered by all professionals working with older adults, in particular GP’s who were identified as expert health advisors.

KeywordsRural older adults, mental health services, accessibility, stigma
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020320210. Geriatrics and gerontology
520399. Clinical and health psychology not elsewhere classified
Public Notes

Files associated with this item cannot be displayed due to copyright restrictions.

Byline AffiliationsSchool of Psychology and Counselling
University of Queensland
Institution of OriginUniversity of Southern Queensland
Permalink -

https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q517x/rural-and-urban-older-adults-perceptions-of-mental-health-services-accessibility

  • 210
    total views
  • 11
    total downloads
  • 2
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Students managing work and study role boundaries: a person-centred approach
Creed, Peter A., Hood, Michelle, Bialocerkowski, Andrea, Machin, M. Anthony, Brough, Paula, Kim, Sujin, Winterbotham, Sonya and Eastgate, Lindsay. 2023. "Students managing work and study role boundaries: a person-centred approach." Frontiers in Psychology. 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1116031
Real change or more of the same? Analysing Australian media's portrayal of intellectual disability during the NDIS rollout
Winterbotham, Sonya, Knight, Bob G. and du Preez, Jan du. 2023. "Real change or more of the same? Analysing Australian media's portrayal of intellectual disability during the NDIS rollout." Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities. https://doi.org/10.1111/jar.13080
Values and the experience of family care-giving: cultural values or shared family values?
Knight, Bob, Keane, Niamh, Benea, Daniela and Stone, Richele. 2024. "Values and the experience of family care-giving: cultural values or shared family values?" Ageing and Society. 44 (1), pp. 61-78. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X2200006X
The Relationship Among Openness, Wisdom, and Humor: A Preliminary Mediation Model
Leeman, Trilas M., Knight, Bob G. and Fein, Erich C.. 2022. "The Relationship Among Openness, Wisdom, and Humor: A Preliminary Mediation Model." International Psychogeriatrics. 34 (7), pp. 627-636. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1041610222000400
Innovative approaches to long term care
Bahr, S., Koder, D., Jayaram, H., Davison, T., Knight, B. and Laidlaw, K.. 2022. "Innovative approaches to long term care." Asmundson, G (ed.) Comprehensive Clinical Psychology. Oxford, United Kingdom. Elsevier.
Student work-study boundary flexibility and relationships with burnout and study engagement
Creed, Peter A., Hood, Michelle, Brough, Paula, Bialocerkowski, Andrea, Machin, M. Anthony, Winterbotham, Sonya and Eastgate, Lindsay. 2022. "Student work-study boundary flexibility and relationships with burnout and study engagement." Journal of Education and Work. 35 (3), pp. 256-271. https://doi.org/10.1080/13639080.2022.2048250
Organisational career growth: implications for future perceived employability in students who work
Creed, Peter A., Hood, Michelle, Bagley, Louella, Brough, Paula, Bialocerkowski, Andrea, Machin, M. Anthony and Winterbotham, Sonya. 2022. "Organisational career growth: implications for future perceived employability in students who work." International Journal of Educational Research. 112, pp. 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijer.2022.101950
Effect of physical activity, social support, and skills training on late-life emotional health: a systematic literature review and implications for public health research
Snowden, Mark B., Steinman, Lesley E., Carlson, Whitney L., Mochan, Kara N., Abraido-Lanza, Ana F., Bryant, Lucinda L., Duffy, Michael, Knight, Bob G., Jeste, Dilip V., Leith, Katherine H., Lenze, Eric J., Logdson, Rebecca G., Satariano, William A., Zweiback, Damita J. and Anderson, Lynda A.. 2014. "Effect of physical activity, social support, and skills training on late-life emotional health: a systematic literature review and implications for public health research." Frontiers in Public Health. 2, pp. 1-14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2014.00213
Role congruence and study engagement in mature-age students: a serial indirect effects model
Creed, Peter A., Hood, Michelle, Bialocerkowski, Andrea, Machin, M. Anthony, Brough, Paula, Bagley, Louella, Winterbotham Sonya and Eastgate, Lindsay. 2022. "Role congruence and study engagement in mature-age students: a serial indirect effects model." Journal of Education and Work. 35 (6-7), pp. 735-750. https://doi.org/10.1080/13639080.2022.2126967
An evaluation of the factor structure of the Self-Assessed Wisdom Scale (SAWS) and the creation of the SAWS-15 as a short measure for personal wisdom
Leeman, Trilas M., Knight, Bob G., Fein, Erich C., Winterbotham, Sonya and Webster, Jeffrey Dean. 2022. "An evaluation of the factor structure of the Self-Assessed Wisdom Scale (SAWS) and the creation of the SAWS-15 as a short measure for personal wisdom." International Psychogeriatrics. 34 (3), pp. 241-251. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1041610220004202
The impact of a Student vs Worker identity on work-study conflict and facilitation in university students
Machin, Tony, Winterbotham, Sonya, Creed, Peter, Hood, Michelle, Brough, Paula, Bialocerkowski, Andrea and Eastgate, Lindsay. 2019. "The impact of a Student vs Worker identity on work-study conflict and facilitation in university students." Nelson, Karen and Field, Rachael (ed.) 5th Students Transitions Achievement Retention & Success Conference (STARS 2019). Melbourne, Australia 07 - 10 Jul 2019
I’m still in the blue family: gender and professional identity construction in police officers
du Plessis, Carol, Winterbotham, Sonya, Fein, Erich C., Brownlow, Charlotte, du Preez, Jan, McKenna, Bernard, Chen, Peter, Beel, Nathan and du Plessis, Graham. 2021. "I’m still in the blue family: gender and professional identity construction in police officers." Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology. 36, pp. 386-396. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11896-020-09397-9
Planning for caregiving of adults with intellectual disability: Australian perspectives
Winterbotham, Sonya. 2020. Planning for caregiving of adults with intellectual disability: Australian perspectives. PhD Thesis Doctor of Philosophy. University of Southern Queensland. https://doi.org/10.26192/7fkn-7t42
Older parents caring for adults with intellectual disability
Winterbotham, Sonya, Knight, Bob G. and du Preez, Jan. 2019. "Older parents caring for adults with intellectual disability." Innovations and Advances in Ageing Well: Joint Conference of the NZ Psychologists of Older People and the Australian Psychological Society’s Psychology & Ageing Interest Group in partnership with the Auckland University of Technology Centre for Active Ageing (2019). Auckland, New Zealand 28 - 29 Jun 2019 Aukland, New Zealand.
Re-evaluating the factor structure of the self-assessed wisdom scale (saws)
Leeman, Trilas M., Knight, Bob G., Fein, Erich C. and Winterbotham, Sonya. 2019. "Re-evaluating the factor structure of the self-assessed wisdom scale (saws)." Innovations and Advances in Ageing Well: Joint Conference of the NZ Psychologists of Older People and the Australian Psychological Society’s Psychology & Ageing Interest Group in partnership with the Auckland University of Technology Centre for Active Ageing (2019). Auckland, New Zealand 28 - 29 Jun 2019 Aukland, New Zealand.
Effects of age and mood on emotional face processing differ depending on the intensity of the facial expression
Durbin, Kelly A, Rastegar, Sarah and Knight, Bob G. 2020. "Effects of age and mood on emotional face processing differ depending on the intensity of the facial expression." Aging, Neuropsychology and Cognition. 27 (6), pp. 902-917. https://doi.org/10.1080/13825585.2019.1700900
Characteristics and effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy for older adults living in residential care: a systematic review
Chan, Phoebe, Bhar, Sunil, Davison, Tanya E., Doyle, Colleen, Knight, Bob G., Koder, Deborah, Laidlaw, Ken, Pachana, Nancy, Wells, Yvonne and Wuthrich, Viviana M.. 2021. "Characteristics and effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy for older adults living in residential care: a systematic review." Aging and Mental Health. 25 (2), pp. 187-205. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2019.1686457
Recommendations for male-friendly individual counseling with men: A qualitative systematic literature review for the period 1995–2016
Beel, Nathan, Jeffries, Carla, Brownlow, Charlotte, Winterbotham, Sonya and du Preez, Jan. 2018. "Recommendations for male-friendly individual counseling with men: A qualitative systematic literature review for the period 1995–2016." Psychology of Men and Masculinity. 19 (4), pp. 600-611. https://doi.org/10.1037/men0000137
Wisdom across the ages and its modern day relevance
Mitchell, Leander. K., Knight, Bob G. and Pachana, Nancy. A.. 2017. "Wisdom across the ages and its modern day relevance." International Psychogeriatrics. 29 (8), pp. 1231-1234. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1041610217000783
Psychosocial wellbeing in active older adults: a systematic review of qualitative literature
Winterbotham, Sonya and du Preez, Jan. 2016. "Psychosocial wellbeing in active older adults: a systematic review of qualitative literature." International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology. 9 (1), pp. 96-115. https://doi.org/10.1080/1750984X.2015.1122075
Attentional avoidant biases as mediators in the association between experiential avoidance and blood pressure in dementia family caregivers
Marquez-Gonzalez, Maria, Cabrera, Isabel, Losada, Andres and Knight, Bob. 2018. "Attentional avoidant biases as mediators in the association between experiential avoidance and blood pressure in dementia family caregivers." Aging and Mental Health. 25 (2), pp. 669-677. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2017.1293003
Understanding the Mechanisms of Change in a Lifestyle Intervention for Older Adults
Juang, Christine, Knight, Bob G., Carlson, Mike, Schepens Niemiec, Stacey L., Vigen, Cheryl and Clark, Florence. 2017. "Understanding the Mechanisms of Change in a Lifestyle Intervention for Older Adults." The Gerontologist. 58 (2), pp. 353-361. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnw152
The effects of the MORE wisdom resources on spousal caregivers’ life satisfaction: an application of the resilience model
Kim, Seungyoun and Knight, Bob G.. 2017. "The effects of the MORE wisdom resources on spousal caregivers’ life satisfaction: an application of the resilience model." Clinical Gerontologist. 40 (5), pp. 413-427. https://doi.org/10.1080/07317115.2016.1209607
Caregiving Subgroups Differences in the Associations Between the Resilience Resources and Life Satisfaction
Kim, Seungyoun and Knight, Bob G.. 2018. "Caregiving Subgroups Differences in the Associations Between the Resilience Resources and Life Satisfaction." Journal of Applied Gerontology. 37 (12), pp. 1540-1563. https://doi.org/10.1177/0733464816669804
Adapting psychotherapy for older adults with Parkinson's disease
Knight, Bob, Dissanayaka, Nadeeka N. W. and Pachana, Nancy A.. 2016. "Adapting psychotherapy for older adults with Parkinson's disease." International Psychogeriatrics. 28 (10), pp. 1631-1636. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1041610216000569
Brief on the role of psychologists in residential and home care services for older adults
Davison, Tanya E., Koder, Deborah, Helmes, Edward, Doyle, Colleen, Bhar, Sunil, Mitchell, Leander, Hunter, Carol, Knight, Bob and Pachana, Nancy. 2016. "Brief on the role of psychologists in residential and home care services for older adults." Australian Psychologist. https://doi.org/10.1111/ap.12209
Age differences in the connection of mood and cognition: evidence from studies of mood congruent effects
Knight, Bob G., Rastegar, Sarah and Kim, Seungyoun. 2016. "Age differences in the connection of mood and cognition: evidence from studies of mood congruent effects." Warner Schaie, K. and Willis, Sherry L. (ed.) Handbook of the psychology of aging. Tokyo. Elsevier. pp. 280-302
Psychological assessment and therapy with older adults
Knight, Bob G. and Pachana, Nancy A.. 2015. Psychological assessment and therapy with older adults. United Kingdom. Oxford University Press.
Age differences in interpreting ambiguous situations: the effects of content themes and depressed mood
Juang, Christine and Knight, Bob G.. 2016. "Age differences in interpreting ambiguous situations: the effects of content themes and depressed mood." Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences. 71 (6), pp. 1024-1033. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbv037
Influences on the perception of elder financial abuse among older adults in Southern California
Knight, Bob G., Kim, Seungyoun, Rastegar, Sarah, Jones, Scott, Jump, Victoria and Wong, Serena. 2015. "Influences on the perception of elder financial abuse among older adults in Southern California." International Psychogeriatrics. 28 (1), pp. 163-169. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1041610215000587
Parental emotional support during emerging adulthood and baby boomers' well-being in midlife
Poon, Cecilia Y. M. and Knight, Bob G.. 2013. "Parental emotional support during emerging adulthood and baby boomers' well-being in midlife." International Journal of Behavioral Development. 37 (6), pp. 498-504. https://doi.org/10.1177/0165025413498217
Cross-cultural differences in dementia: the sociocultural health belief model
Sayegh, Phillip and Knight, Bob G.. 2013. "Cross-cultural differences in dementia: the sociocultural health belief model." International Psychogeriatrics. 25 (4), pp. 517-530. https://doi.org/10.1017/S104161021200213X
Accreditation in the profession of psychology: a cautionary tale
Maiden, Robert, Knight, Bob G., Howe, Judith L. and Kim, Seungyoun. 2012. "Accreditation in the profession of psychology: a cautionary tale." Gerontology and Geriatrics Education. 33 (1), pp. 55-74. https://doi.org/10.1080/02701960.2012.640728
Effectiveness of a lifestyle intervention in promoting the well-being of independently living older people: results of the Well Elderly 2 Randomised Controlled Trial
Clark, Florence, Jackson, Jeanne, Carlson, Mike, Chou, Chih-Ping, Cherry, Barbara J., Jordan-Marsh, Maryalice, Knight, Bob G., Mandel, Deborah, Blanchard, Jeanine, Granger, Douglas A., Wilcox, Rand R., Lai, Mei Ying, White, Brett, Hay, Joel, Lam, Claudia, Marterella, Abbey and Azen, Stanley P.. 2012. "Effectiveness of a lifestyle intervention in promoting the well-being of independently living older people: results of the Well Elderly 2 Randomised Controlled Trial." Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. 66 (9), pp. 782-790. https://doi.org/10.1136/jech.2009.099754
Positivity effects in older adults' perception of facial emotion: the role of future time perspective
Kellough, Jennifer L. and Knight, Bob G.. 2012. "Positivity effects in older adults' perception of facial emotion: the role of future time perspective." Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences. 67B (2), pp. 150-158. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbr079
Mental health and aging in the 21st century
Knight, Bob G. and Sayegh, Philip. 2011. "Mental health and aging in the 21st century." Journal of Aging & Social Policy. 23 (3), pp. 228-243. https://doi.org/10.1080/08959420.2011.579494
Impact of childhood parental abuse and neglect on sleep problems in old age
Poon, Cecilia Y. M. and Knight, Bob G.. 2011. "Impact of childhood parental abuse and neglect on sleep problems in old age ." Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences. 66B (3), pp. 307-310. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbr003
Training in professional psychology in the US: an increased focus on competency attainment
Knight, Bob G.. 2011. "Training in professional psychology in the US: an increased focus on competency attainment ." Australian Psychologist. 46 (2), pp. 140-141. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1742-9544.2011.00026.x
Mentoring for professional geropsychology within a doctoral program
Knight, Bob G.. 2011. "Mentoring for professional geropsychology within a doctoral program." Educational Gerontology: an international journal. 37 (5), pp. 378-387. https://doi.org/10.1080/03601277.2011.553559
The effects of familism and cultural justification on the mental and physical health of family caregivers
Sayegh, Philip and Knight, Bob G.. 2011. "The effects of familism and cultural justification on the mental and physical health of family caregivers." Journal of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences. 66B (1), pp. 3-14. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbq061
Age differences in the complexity of emotion perception
Kim, Seungyoun, Geren, Jennifer L. and Knight, Bob G.. 2015. "Age differences in the complexity of emotion perception." Experimental Aging Research. 41 (5), pp. 556-571. https://doi.org/10.1080/0361073X.2015.1085727
Contextual adult lifespan theory for adapting psychotherapy with older adults
Knight, B. G., Juang, Ch. and Poon, C. Y. M.. 2015. "Contextual adult lifespan theory for adapting psychotherapy with older adults." Maercker, I. A. (ed.) Alterpsychoterapie und klinische gerontopsycholgie. Heidelberg. Springer.
Using the CALTAP life span developmental framework with older adults
Pachana, Nancy A., Mitchell, Leander K. and Knight, Bob G.. 2015. "Using the CALTAP life span developmental framework with older adults." GeroPsych. 28 (2), pp. 77-86. https://doi.org/10.1024/1662-9647/a000126
Aging and the effects of emotion on cognition: implications for psychological interventions for depression and anxiety
Knight, Bob G. and Durbin, Kelly. 2015. "Aging and the effects of emotion on cognition: implications for psychological interventions for depression and anxiety." Psych Journal. 4 (1), pp. 11-19. https://doi.org/10.1002/pchj.84
Adaptation of the Three-Dimensional Wisdom Scale (3D-WS) for the Korean cultural context
Kim, Seungyoun and Knight, Bob G.. 2015. "Adaptation of the Three-Dimensional Wisdom Scale (3D-WS) for the Korean cultural context." International Psychogeriatrics. 27 (2), pp. 267-278. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1041610214002178
Can we do better? Researchers' experiences with ethical review boards on projects with later life as a focus
Pachana, Nancy A., Liddle, Jacki, Peel, Nancye M., Beattie, Elizabeth, Juang, Christine and Knight, Bob G.. 2015. "Can we do better? Researchers' experiences with ethical review boards on projects with later life as a focus." Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. 43 (3), pp. 701-707. https://doi.org/10.3233/JAD-141956
Functional assessment and neuropsychiatric inventory questionnaires: measurement invariance across Hispanic and non-Hispanic whites
Sayegh, Philip and Knight, Bob G.. 2014. "Functional assessment and neuropsychiatric inventory questionnaires: measurement invariance across Hispanic and non-Hispanic whites." The Gerontologist. 54 (3), pp. 375-386. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnt026
Assessment and diagnosis of dementia in Hispanic and non-Hispanic white outpatients
Sayegh, Philip and Knight, Bob G.. 2013. "Assessment and diagnosis of dementia in Hispanic and non-Hispanic white outpatients." The Gerontologist. 53 (5), pp. 760-769. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gns190
Emotional reactivity to network stress in middle and late adulthood: the role of childhood parental emotional abuse and support
Poon, Cecilia Y. M. and Knight, Bob G.. 2012. "Emotional reactivity to network stress in middle and late adulthood: the role of childhood parental emotional abuse and support." The Gerontologist. 52 (6), pp. 782-791. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gns009
Confirmatory factor analysis of a brief version of the Zarit Burden Inventory in black and white dementia caregivers
Flynn Longmire, Crystal V. and Knight, Bob G.. 2011. "Confirmatory factor analysis of a brief version of the Zarit Burden Inventory in black and white dementia caregivers." The Gerontologist. 51 (4), pp. 453-462. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnr011