Effective Communication Only Part of the Strategy Needed to Promote Help-Seeking of Young People with Mental Health Problems

2009 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 50-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lyn Phillipson ◽  
Sandra C. Jones ◽  
Elizabeth Wiese
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young People ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Service Research ◽  
Target Market ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Seeking Behavior ◽  
Broad Cross Section

Formative research was undertaken in the Illawarra region of New South Wales (south of Sydney, Australia) to identify local communication strategies to influence the help-seeking behavior of young people in relation to a new youth-focused general practice (or physician) led mental health service. Research with the target market (12–25years) revealed the need for a local campaign to address the stigma associated with the use of mental health services and the need to emphasize the central role of the general practitioner or physician to the service. The results also indicated that any overarching campaign should be complemented by segment-specific strategies which tailor not only communication variables and channels to reach different market segments, but also consider varying aspects of the product or service to reach a broad cross-section of the target group.

Prevalence of Mental Health Problems and Help-Seeking Behavior in a Hispanic-Serving Institution

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hsiu-Lan Cheng ◽  
Richard Martinez ◽  
Jessica L. Jackson ◽  
Casey N. Durham ◽  
Jill K. Peters ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Help Seeking Behavior ◽  
Hispanic Serving Institution ◽  
Seeking Behavior ◽  
Hispanic Serving

Mental Health Literacy, Help-Seeking Behaviour and Wellbeing in Young People: Implications for Practice

2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (01) ◽  
pp. 16-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prishini Ratnayake ◽  
Chelsea Hyde
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Gender Differences ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Young People ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Targeted Interventions ◽  
Help Seeking Behaviour

AbstractResearch indicates that individuals who have high levels of mental health literacy engage in help-seeking for mental health issues more in comparison to those with low mental health literacy. It is therefore important to ensure that young people are able to identify signs of psychological distress and identify appropriate supports and resources when necessary. Preliminary research has identified gender differences in help-seeking and identification of mental health problems. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between mental health literacy, help-seeking intentions and wellbeing in senior high school students. The sample consisted of 22 females and 10 male students, ranging from 16–18 years. Findings indicated a positive correlation between wellbeing and general help-seeking, as well as wellbeing and help-seeking for suicidal ideation. Gender differences were identified for aspects of mental health literacy and help-seeking intentions. Results of this research have implications for practitioners in fostering positive outcomes and developing targeted interventions towards improving mental health literacy and help-seeking behaviour in the future.

scholarly journals The role of technology in Australian youth mental health reform

2016 ◽  
Vol 40 (5) ◽  
pp. 584 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane M. Burns ◽  
Emma Birrell ◽  
Marie Bismark ◽  
Jane Pirkis ◽  
Tracey A. Davenport ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Young People ◽  
Health Reform ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
Mental Health Reform ◽  
The Right

This paper describes the extent and nature of Internet use by young people, with specific reference to psychological distress and help-seeking behaviour. It draws on data from an Australian cross-sectional study of 1400 young people aged 16 to 25 years. Nearly all of these young people used the Internet, both as a source of trusted information and as a means of connecting with their peers and discussing problems. A new model of e-mental health care is introduced that is directly informed by these findings. The model creates a system of mental health service delivery spanning the spectrum from general health and wellbeing (including mental health) promotion and prevention to recovery. It is designed to promote health and wellbeing and to complement face-to-face services to enhance clinical care. The model has the potential to improve reach and access to quality mental health care for young people, so that they can receive the right care, at the right time, in the right way. What is known about the topic? One in four young Australians experience mental health disorders, and these often emerge in adolescence and young adulthood. Young people are also prominent users of technology and the Internet. Effective mental health reform must recognise the opportunities that technology affords and leverage this medium to provide services to improve outcomes for young people. What does this paper add? Information regarding the nature of young people’s Internet use is deficient. This paper presents the findings of a national survey of 1400 young Australians to support the case for the role of technology in Australian mental health reform. What are the implications for practitioners? The Internet provides a way to engage young people and provide access to mental health services and resources to reduce traditional barriers to help-seeking and care. eMental health reform can be improved by greater attention toward the role of technology and its benefits for mental health outcomes.

scholarly journals Lost in space - an exploration of help-seeking among young people with mental health problems: a constructivist grounded theory study

2020 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katrin Häggström Westberg ◽  
Jens M. Nygren ◽  
Maria Nyholm ◽  
Ing-Marie Carlsson ◽  
Petra Svedberg
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Grounded Theory ◽  
Young People ◽  
Support Services ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Professional Support ◽  
Constructivist Grounded Theory ◽  
Health Concern

Abstract Background Mental health problems among young people is a worldwide public health concern. There has been an increase in mental health problems among young people in the Nordic countries in the last 25 years, particularly in Sweden. Despite this increase, international research has repeatedly shown that young people do not access or receive support when encountering mental health problems. The purpose of this study was to explore the process of help-seeking for professional support among young people with mental health problems. Methods The study used qualitative constructivist Grounded Theory and open-ended interviews. Thirteen young people between 15 and 23, recruited from two local support clinics, were interviewed. Results Lost in space emerged as the core category, capturing aspects of both the experience of self and mental health problems as well as the process of seeking and acquiring help from professional support systems. The study identified several prominent barriers for seeking and acquiring professional help for mental health problems. The young people expressed a lack of knowledge on mental health issues and support services and substantial efforts were made to try to cope with problems on one’s own. Lost in space involved Drifting - trying to make sense of own experiences and struggling to cope with problems, Navigating - searching for help through multiple attempts and contacts and Docking - finding support with something/somebody that feels right. Conclusions The theoretical model sheds light on how young people with mental health problems were met with fragmented support services. Society needs to provide encompassing, youth-friendly and flexible support services, so that attempts at help-seeking are not missed.

scholarly journals Child and adolescent mental health problems in primary care

2000 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 287-294 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tami Kramer ◽  
M. Elena Garralda
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
General Practitioner ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Young People ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Psychiatric Disorder ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Mental Health Problems

Epidemiological research has revealed that psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents are common, persistent and handicapping. Only 1 in 10 of those with a disorder is seen in specialist mental health services. However, the majority of children and adolescents see their general practitioner (GP) every year. Although the majority present with physical complaints, there are indications that rates of psychiatric disorder in those attending are increased and that psychiatric disorder is associated with increased consulting. These findings raise questions about the role of primary care in the promotion and management of mental health in young people.

scholarly journals Stigmatising Attitudes Towards Depression and Alcohol Misuse in Young People: Relationships with Help-Seeking Intentions and Behavior

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Cheetham ◽  
Anthony F. Jorm ◽  
Coralie Wilson ◽  
Bonita J. Berridge ◽  
Fiona Blee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Young People ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Alcohol Misuse ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Helping Behavior ◽  
Adverse Outcomes ◽  
School Students ◽  
And Behavior

Background and Objective: Adolescents experiencing mental health problems often approach their peers rather than seeking professional help. A better understanding of adolescents’ stigmatising attitudes towards mental illness will help inform interventions that aim to improve the quality of advice that young people provide to their peers. In particular, there is a need for research examining adolescents’ attitudes towards alcohol misuse, given it’s increase in prevalence during this period as well as the adverse outcomes that are associated with untreated early drinking problems. Methods: High-school students (n=2447) were recruited as part of an intervention focussed on overcoming barriers to accessing help for mental health and substance use problems. Participants were presented with two vignettes that described a peer experiencing depression and alcohol misuse, respectively, and completed the General Help-Seeking Questionnaire as well as a 10-item scale measuring stigmatising attitudes. Past helping behavior was also assessed. Results: Compared to depression, a peer experiencing alcohol misuse was more likely to be considered “weak” rather than sick, and was perceived as more dangerous and unpredictable. The “weak-not-sick” and “dangerousness” dimensions of stigma predicted weaker intentions to encourage help-seeking from informal sources, while ‘dangerousness’ predicted stronger intentions to encourage formal help-seeking. Both dimensions were associated with fewer instances of past helping behavior. Conclusion: Young people stigmatise alcohol misuse more severely than depression. Overall, stigma was associated with weaker intentions to encourage peers to seek help. While perceptions of ‘dangerousness’ were associated with stronger intentions to seek help from formal sources, this association may not translate into actual helping behavior.

Role of Stigma and Attitudes Toward Help-Seeking from a General Practitioner for Mental Health Problems in a Rural Town

2005 ◽  
Vol 39 (6) ◽  
pp. 514-521 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Wrigley ◽  
Henry Jackson ◽  
Fiona Judd ◽  
Angela Komiti
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Psychological Help ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Perceived Stigma ◽  
Professional Psychological Help ◽  
Mental Health Issues

Objective: To examine the role of perceived stigma and attitudes to seeking care in predicting help-seeking from a general practitioner (GP) for mental health problems. Method: Across-sectional surveyin 2002 with self-repor t questionnaires assessing current levels of symptomatology, disability, attitudes towards mental illness, knowledge of prevalence and causes of mental illness, contact with mental illness and help-seeking behaviour and preferences and attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help. Results: No significant relationship was found between symptom measures and measures of disability and help-seeking. Variables positively associated with general attitudes to seeking professional psychological help were: lower perceived stigma, and biological rather than person-based causal attributions for schizophrenia. Willingness to discuss mental health issues with a GP was predicted by the perceived helpfulness of the GP and by no other variable. Conclusions: Causal attributions and perceivedstigma rather than participants' levels of symptomatology and disability influence attitudes to help-seeking for mental health issues. Efforts to improve attitudes to help-seeking should focus on reducing stigma and improving mental health literacy regarding the causes of disorders.

scholarly journals Help-seeking behaviour in men and women with common mental health problems: cross-sectional study

2005 ◽  
Vol 186 (4) ◽  
pp. 297-301 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Isabel Oliver ◽  
Nicky Pearson ◽  
Nicola Coe ◽  
David Gunnell
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young People ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
General Health Questionnaire ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Professional Help ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Help Seeking Behaviour

BackgroundMany people with mental health problems do not seek professional help but their use of other sources of help is unclear.AimsTo investigate patterns of lay and professional help-seeking in men and women aged 16–64 years in relation to severity of symptoms and sociodemographic variables.MethodPostal questionnaire survey, including the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ–12), sent to a stratified random sample (n=15222) of the population of Somerset.ResultsThe response rate was 76%. Only 28% of people with extremely high GHQ–12 scores (⩾8) had sought help from their general practitioner but most (78%) had sought some form of help. Males, young people and people living in affluent areas were the least likely to seek help.ConclusionsHealth promotion interventions to encourage appropriate help-seeking behaviour in young people, particularly in men, may lead to improvements in the mental health of this group of the population.

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