Mind the Gap: Disparity between Mental Health Care Needs and Utilization among Medical Undergraduates in the National Capital Region of India
Aninda Debnath, Priyansha Gupta, Snigdha Basu, Shruti Santoshi, Anita VermaAbstract
Introduction:
Medical students face a high burden of mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and alcohol use disorder, yet often underutilize available mental health services. This study aimed to estimate the unmet need for mental health care and identify key barriers to access among undergraduate medical students in Northern India.
Methodology:
A cross-sectional study was conducted at a government medical college in New Delhi during May and June 2023. Validated tools, including Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, CAGE, and Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test – Concise (AUDIT-C), were used to screen for mental health conditions. Barriers to care were assessed using the Barriers to Access to Care Evaluation scale. Data analysis was performed using STATA 18.
Results:
Among 413 participants, 31.4% screened positive for depression, 24.2% for anxiety, and 2.6% for alcohol use disorder. Overall, 36.3% had at least one mental health condition. Of these, 62.7% perceived a need for care, but only 21.3% accessed services, indicating an unmet need of 78.3%. Stigma, privacy concerns, self-reliance, and academic pressures were major barriers.
Conclusion:
There is a significant mismatch between mental health care needs and service use among medical students. Targeted institutional efforts are essential to reduce stigma, ensure confidentiality, and improve access to timely support services.