Use of Mental Health Services by Survivors of Psychological Intimate Partner Violence in Lithuania

Ugne GRIGAITE1, Sofia AZEREDO-LOPES2,3, Paulius YAMIN-SLOTKUS4,5,6, Maxi HEITMAYER6, Graca CARDOSO7, Jose Miguel CALDAS-DE-ALMEIDA7

1Lisbon Institute of Global Mental Health, Comprehensive Health Research Centre/NOVA Medical School, National School of Public Health, NOVA University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
2Comprehensive Health Research Centre/NOVA Medical School, NOVA University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
3Department of Statistics and Operational Research, Faculdade de Ciências, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
4Behavioural Lab LT, Vilnius, Lithuania
5Paris Institute for Advanced Study, Paris, France
6Department of Psychological and Behavioural Science, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, United Kingdom
7Lisbon Institute of Global Mental Health, Comprehensive Health Research Centre/NOVA Medical School, NOVA University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal

PRESENTATION:ORAL OR POSTER



Introduction: Lithuania has one of the highest averages in the European Union of psychological and economic intimate partner violence (PE-IPV). Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a major public mental health issue and its survivors are several times more likely to have mental health conditions than those without IPV experiences. This presentation aims to highlight the prevalence, characteristics and attitudes of PE-IPV survivors in Lithuania, and the predictors of them accessing mental health services.

 

Methods: A cross-sectional study based on a 2021 national survey representative of the adult population (n=1001). The survey was implemented by a third-party independent market research company employing an online survey panel. Chi-square or Fisher exact tests and logistic regression models were employed in the analysis. Estimated odds ratios and corresponding 95% confidence intervals were obtained; their statistical significance was assessed by likelihood ratio tests.

 

Results: Almost 50% of women in Lithuania experience PE-IPV. Females are significantly more likely to experience it than males. The vast majority of women find PE-IPV unacceptable; however, only one-third of survivors seek any type of help. Only one-tenth approach mental health services, with divorcees and those living with more than four persons in the household being at higher odds of doing so.

 

Discussion-Conclusions: The study highlights an unexpected and alarming result that even though the prevalence of experiencing PE-IPV among women in Lithuania is high and so is the expected rate of mental health conditions among these women, only a small fraction of them seek help at all or use mental health services. Further research is warranted to explore predictors and contextual factors of why IPV survivors seek mental healthcare, or not. Policy implications include the need to eliminate IPV and mental health stigma; and develop accessible mental health services and effective treatment approaches for this specific population.