Predicament of Services: An Independent Survey of New Orleans Mental Healthcare System

In the city of New Orleans, a number of social, cultural, economic, and historical factors have affected the availability and accessibility of mental health services. To assist individuals suffering from mental illness in the city of New Orleans, various agencies, programs and databases have been implemented to promote easy access to the available mental health services. This study explores the ease of accessing available mental health services through telephone contact. The telephone was used as the main source of contact in this study to emulate the experience that a potential mental health client would undergo when trying to find treatment. National, state, and local mental health provider databases were used to compose a list of mental health agencies in the New Orleans area. One hundred and twenty-seven facilities were identified as mental health treatment agencies. Each agency was contacted by phone and requested to participate in the study by completing a 15-item questionnaire regarding the availability and accessibility of mental health services. Seventy-nine percent [n= 101] of the agencies contacted by phone did not answer or had an automated voicemail service. Descriptive information regarding the availability and accessibility of mental health services, types of services, and treatment populations are reported and discussed. This research addresses the disparities between the burden of mental disorders, resources and accessibility.