Özet:

Objective: Many mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety disorder, alcohol and substance abuse can be prevented by presenting primary healthcare services successfully. However, only 18 % of these individuals receive first-line treatment. This study aimed to determine the first application places of those who want to get mental health services and to reveal the reasons why they do not prefer mental health service offered at the primary health care. Methods: Research is descriptive study. One hundred and ten patients who applied to Kocaeli University Medical Faculty Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic for the first time between 11-29 July 2016; 84.3% (n=92) agreed to participate in the study. The variables of the study were the participants' socio-demographic characteristics and their knowledge and experience about mental health services. The collected data were evaluated with SPSS 20.0 package program, descriptive analyzes, Chi-Square and Mann Whitney U tests were performed. Results: The mean age of the participants was 31.3 ± 11.4, 40.2% (n=37) male and 59.8% (n=55) females. In the study, mood disorder frequency was found to be 34.8% (n=32) and anxiety disorder was found to be 34.8% (n=32). While 24% (n=22) of the participants stated that they had applied to the primary health care facility at least once in order to receive mental health service, 21.7% of them stated that the family physician was safe and knowledgeable about mental illnesses. Fifty-three percent (n=47) of the first respondents stated that they did not do primary care because they believe that the mental health was the area of psychiatric specialists. Conclusion: Approximately two-thirds of the patient diagnoses in this study are anxiety disorders and mood disorders, which are the first-line treatment possibilities. However, it is seen that primary health care services are not preferred in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses. Whether the community's family physician does not know that it offers this service or finds the family physician inadequate in this regard are seen as two important reasons. Activation of the referral chain; first of all, to recognize the family physician to which the patients are attached, to ensure that the patients are trustworthy and to use the first step to get mental health services.

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