The demand for mental health services has been growing stronger over the last couple of decades. This indicates the need to study and assess the access to these mental health services especially with a focus on the vulnerable populations having the greatest need. As such, this paper presents a Geographical Information Systems (GIS)-based analysis in order to study and evaluate the accessibility of mental health facilities using the information on the spatial distributions of population and facilities, and regional traffic characteristics. For this purpose, different age group segments are utilized including the total population as well as those aged between 18 and 21, 22 and 49, 50 and 64, and those aged over 65 and 85. Focusing on the State of Florida, spatially detailed accessibility metrics are calculated with regard to healthcare facilities using travel times between population block groups and these critical mental health facilities. These estimates are used to calculate the weighted county accessibility scores for each county. Findings clearly delineate those counties that lack access to mental facilities, especially those in Northwest Florida, a demographically diverse and substantially rural region. This type of analysis can help planners and policy makers develop better strategies in order to provide adequate mental health care options needed in targeted locations.

在过去的几十年中，对精神卫生服务的需求一直在增长。这表明需要研究和评估获得这些精神卫生服务的机会，尤其是要着重于最需要的脆弱人群。因此，本文提出了一种基于地理信息系统（GIS）的分析，目的是利用有关人口和设施的空间分布以及区域交通特征的信息来研究和评估精神卫生设施的可及性。为此，使用了不同的年龄段，包括总人口以及18至21岁，22至49岁，50至64岁之间的人群以及65至85岁以上的人群。关注佛罗里达州，使用人口群体与这些关键的精神卫生机构之间的旅行时间，针对医疗机构计算出详细的空间可及性指标。这些估计值用于计算每个县的加权县可达性分数。调查结果清楚地说明了那些缺乏精神设施的县，特别是西北佛罗里达州，这是一个人口众多且乡村化的地区。此类分析可以帮助计划者和决策者制定更好的策略，以便在目标位置提供所需的足够的精神保健服务。调查结果清楚地说明了那些缺乏精神设施的县，特别是西北佛罗里达州，这是一个人口众多且乡村化的地区。此类分析可以帮助计划者和决策者制定更好的策略，以便在目标位置提供所需的足够的精神保健服务。调查结果清楚地说明了那些缺乏精神设施的县，特别是西北佛罗里达州，这是一个人口众多且乡村化的地区。此类分析可以帮助计划者和决策者制定更好的策略，以便在目标位置提供所需的足够的精神保健服务。