ABSTRACT
The extent to which demographic characteristics and importance of services offered by mental health providers are related to unaided awareness and recommendation of public and private mental health care providers was assessed. Awareness and recommendation of private providers was found to be stronger among men and among higher income groups. Relative to public providers, these factors were stronger among women and lower income groups. While the services offered do not appear to be strongly related to awareness or recommendation of provider types, some differences were found. Those who are aware of and would recommend a private provider gave higher importance ratings to counseling for suicide and life changes —those who are aware of and would recommend a public provider gave higher ratings to counselling for spouse 36abuse, depression, and eating disorders, and treatment for major mental illness.
