Family Involvement and Mental Health Service Utilization Among People with Substance Use Disorder in Canada: Results from a Nationally Representative Survey

Background and Purpose

Individuals with substance use disorder (SUD) are known to be less likely to seek mental health services compared to those with mood or anxiety disorders. Various individual and social barriers, such as stigma, lack of social support, financial problems, and lack of appropriate services, contribute to the low rates of health service utilization in this population. Family involvement is recognized as a critical factor that facilitates treatment for SUD and is associated with better outcomes. However, little is known about how family involvement influences the likelihood of utilizing professional health services. This study aims to examine the relationship between family involvement and health service utilization among individuals with SUD using a nationally representative survey in Canada.

Methods

Data was drawn from the 2022 Mental Health and Access to Care Survey (MHACS), a nationally representative survey in Canada. Individuals meeting the WHO-CIDI-MHACS modified criteria for past-12-month SUD, including alcohol, cannabis, and other drugs, were analyzed. Health service utilization was measured by whether participants consulted any health professional for mental health issues, while family involvement was assessed based on whether participants consulted their family members about these issues in the past 12 months. A multiple logistic regression model was conducted to examine the association between family involvement and health service utilization, adjusting for gender, age, marital status, education, household income, mood or anxiety disorder, and other non-professional consultations. Descriptive statistics on types of communication and perceived level of help received from a family member were further examined.

Results

3.8% of Canadians met the criteria for past-year SUD. Among those with SUD, 40.7% had consulted health professionals, while 64.7% had consulted family members about their mental health issues. Results from the regression model show that individuals who consulted family members were 4.8 times more likely to seek professional help compared to those who did not after adjusting for covariates (OR=4.8, 95% CI [1.6-14.4]). The most common communication methods with family members regarding mental health issues were in person (81.6%), followed by over the phone 45.4%). Additionally, among those who sought help from family members, 58.6 % reported receiving a lot of support from them.

Conclusions and Implications

The study shows that family involvement is significantly associated with the utilization of professional health services. This suggests that family members can play a vital role in encouraging individuals with SUD to seek professional help for their mental health and substance use challenges. Providing more resources and support for individuals with SUD and their families in discussing substance use issues may foster greater professional help-seeking behaviours.