Power dynamics of the healthcare field: seeking mental care in Lithuania

ABSTRACT

Over the course of the last decades, the post-socialist societies have been enduring high levels of mental distress, while reporting relatively low treatment rates, which suggests a considerable treatment gap and delay. This article examines how the design and functioning of the mental healthcare system and, particularly, the structure of its inner power relations influences mental healthcare seeking in Lithuania. Employing the theoretical stances of Pierre Bourdieu and Norbert Elias, 23 in-depth interviews with healthcare providers and users of services, who suffer from depression or anxiety disorders, are analyzed. It is concluded that while mental healthcare appears to be relatively accessible it is not necessarily acceptable or humane.

KEYWORDS:

• mental health
• health system
• power relations
• help seeking
• central and eastern Europe
• Pierre Bourdieu

Acknowledgments

The earlier versions of this article were presented at the 17^th Biennial Conference of European Society for Health and Medical Sociology (ESHMS) in Lisbon (Portugal), the 26^th International Conference of Europeanists in Madrid (Spain), and the RC19 Annual Conference (Research Committee on Poverty, Social Welfare, and Social Policy of the International Sociological Association) in Mannheim (Germany). I would like to thank those who commented on the article for their valuable insights.

Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Research Group PROMEBI (Promoviendo el Empleo y el Bienestar en Europa / Promoting Employment and Welfare in Europe), University of Oviedo (ref. no. FC-15-GRUPIN14-086).

Notes on contributors

Sigita Doblytė

Sigita Doblytė is a Ph.D. candidate and researcher at the Research Group “Promoting Employment and Welfare in Europe„ (PROMEBI), Department of Sociology, University of Oviedo (Spain). Her research focuses on health inequalities and behaviors, comparative health policy, mental health, medicalization of society, and power relations.