Examining the association between access to a primary care provider and perceived unmet mental health treatment need among New York City adults

Abstract This study examined the relationship between having a primary care provider (PCP) and perceived unmet mental health treatment need in New York City (NYC) adults using data from the 2019 and 2020 NYC Community Health Survey. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the independen...

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Main Authors: Palak Oza, Rachelle Monteau, Wenhua Lu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2025-01-01
Series:Discover Public Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-025-00418-8
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author Palak Oza
Rachelle Monteau
Wenhua Lu
Rachelle Monteau
author_facet Palak Oza
Rachelle Monteau
Wenhua Lu
Rachelle Monteau
author_sort Palak Oza
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This study examined the relationship between having a primary care provider (PCP) and perceived unmet mental health treatment need in New York City (NYC) adults using data from the 2019 and 2020 NYC Community Health Survey. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the independent association between having a PCP and perceived unmet mental health treatment need. In 2019, lacking a PCP significantly increased odds of perceived unmet mental health treatment need in unadjusted analysis, but not in adjusted analysis. Non-specific psychological distress (OR 8.63; 95% CI 5.51, 13.53; p < .001) and perceived unmet medical treatment need (OR 5.33; 95% CI 3.47; 8.20, p < .001) increased odds of perceived unmet mental health treatment need. Similar findings were observed in 2020. These findings suggest that integrating routine mental health screening in primary care and increasing access to quality medical care are important to reduce the mental health treatment gap in NYC adults.
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spelling doaj-art-754b1816404d41ad856fca17e138ba0d2025-01-26T12:15:40ZengSpringerDiscover Public Health3005-07742025-01-0122111210.1186/s12982-025-00418-8Examining the association between access to a primary care provider and perceived unmet mental health treatment need among New York City adultsPalak Oza0Rachelle Monteau1Wenhua Lu2Rachelle Monteau3CUNY School of Medicine, City University of New York School of MedicineCUNY School of Medicine, City University of New York School of MedicineDepartment of Community Health and Social Medicine, School of Medicine, The City University of New YorkCUNY School of Medicine, City University of New York School of MedicineAbstract This study examined the relationship between having a primary care provider (PCP) and perceived unmet mental health treatment need in New York City (NYC) adults using data from the 2019 and 2020 NYC Community Health Survey. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the independent association between having a PCP and perceived unmet mental health treatment need. In 2019, lacking a PCP significantly increased odds of perceived unmet mental health treatment need in unadjusted analysis, but not in adjusted analysis. Non-specific psychological distress (OR 8.63; 95% CI 5.51, 13.53; p < .001) and perceived unmet medical treatment need (OR 5.33; 95% CI 3.47; 8.20, p < .001) increased odds of perceived unmet mental health treatment need. Similar findings were observed in 2020. These findings suggest that integrating routine mental health screening in primary care and increasing access to quality medical care are important to reduce the mental health treatment gap in NYC adults.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-025-00418-8Mental healthPrimary careUnmet treatment needNon-specific psychological distress
spellingShingle Palak Oza
Rachelle Monteau
Wenhua Lu
Rachelle Monteau
Examining the association between access to a primary care provider and perceived unmet mental health treatment need among New York City adults
Discover Public Health
Mental health
Primary care
Unmet treatment need
Non-specific psychological distress
title Examining the association between access to a primary care provider and perceived unmet mental health treatment need among New York City adults
title_full Examining the association between access to a primary care provider and perceived unmet mental health treatment need among New York City adults
title_fullStr Examining the association between access to a primary care provider and perceived unmet mental health treatment need among New York City adults
title_full_unstemmed Examining the association between access to a primary care provider and perceived unmet mental health treatment need among New York City adults
title_short Examining the association between access to a primary care provider and perceived unmet mental health treatment need among New York City adults
title_sort examining the association between access to a primary care provider and perceived unmet mental health treatment need among new york city adults
topic Mental health
Primary care
Unmet treatment need
Non-specific psychological distress
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-025-00418-8
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