Phenomenological study on the psychological experience of professional help-seeking disabled child mother

Background: There has been a noticeable increase in the number of studies concerned with mental health literacy (MHL), specifically among students. Still, very few studies have examined MHL among students of non-Western minority groups. Aims: This study examined MHL among Arab students in Israel based on Jorm’s conceptual framework. Methods: Twenty-eight Arab students in Israel took part in semi-structured, in-depth interviews. Most were single and Muslim, in their second year of studies, and most reported low socioeconomic status. The data were analyzed thematically, guided by the Jorm’s six MHL dimensions. Results: Different levels of literacy were found in the various MHL dimensions. The participants identified severe mental disorders more easily than mood disorders; reported a variety of possible causes of mental disorders; were well aware of available professional help (apart for rehabilitative services); identified significant barriers to mental health help seeking, as Arabs; and reported the internet as a major source of information about mental health problems and their treatment Conclusions: The participants’ MHL appeared to be associated with their unique sociocultural characteristics. This study stresses the need to raise MHL among Arab students in Israel, and in particular to promote positive attitudes to seeking professional help. It also highlights the need to develop culturally adapted mental health interventions for the Arab population in Israel.

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Perception about Etiology of Epilepsy and Help-Seeking Behavior in Patients with Epilepsy

International Journal of Epilepsy ◽

10.1055/s-0041-1731933 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Gautam Das ◽

Samar Biswas ◽

Souvik Dubey ◽

Durjoy Lahiri ◽

Biman Kanti Ray ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Help Seeking ◽

Tertiary Care ◽

Epileptic Seizures ◽

Treatment Seeking ◽

Professional Help ◽

Epileptic Patients ◽

Seeking Behavior ◽

Tertiary Care Centers ◽

Patients With Epilepsy

Abstract Objectives Patients with epilepsy and their family have diverse beliefs about the cause of their illness that generally determine their treatment-seeking behavior. In this study, our aim was to find out different beliefs about epilepsy that lead to different help-seeking patterns, which act as barrier to the intended modern medical management of epilepsy. Materials and Methods One hundred and fifty consecutive consenting patients accompanied by a reliable informant/family member fulfilling the International Classification of Epileptic Seizures (ICES), simplified version, were included. Demographic and clinical data of all the eligible subjects was collected. Perceived cause of illness and help-seeking pattern were explored from patient/informant by administering proper instruments. Results Respondents identified varied causes of epilepsy and explored multiple help-seeking options before reaching tertiary care centers. We observed that, generally, epileptic patients/relatives who had belief in causes like supernatural causes sought help from nonprofessional personnel and those attributed their symptom to bodily pathology had professional help-seeking. Conclusions The belief in supernatural causes not being conformed to the biomedical models of the epileptic disorders increases the treatment gap.

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The Association Between Problem Recognition, Race/Ethnicity, and Professional Help-Seeking Intentions Across Psychological Disorders

Emerging Adulthood ◽

10.1177/21676968211000491 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 216769682110004

Author(s):

Ayanda Chakawa ◽

Steven K. Shapiro

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Young Adults ◽

Help Seeking ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

The United States ◽

Psychological Disorder ◽

Future Research ◽

Problem Recognition ◽

Professional Help ◽

Race Ethnicity

While 75% mental health problems emerge by young adulthood, there is a strong reluctance during this developmental stage to seek professional help. Although limitations in mental health literacy, such as incorrect problem recognition, may hinder professional help-seeking intentions, the relationship between these variables has been understudied among young adults in the United States (U.S.) and racial/ethnic differences in help-seeking intentions for specific disorders have not been well explored. Using a vignette-based design, the current study examines the association between psychological disorder recognition and professional help-seeking intentions among 1,585 Black/African American and White/European American young adults. Correctly identifying a psychological disorder was significantly associated with intentions to seek professional help for several disorders and race/ethnicity significantly influenced intentions to seek professional help for some disorders. Implications for ways to address unmet mental health care needs, especially among racially/ethnically diverse young adults, and directions for future research are discussed.

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Stigma and its impact on help-seeking for mental disorders: what do we know?

Epidemiologia e Psichiatria Sociale ◽

10.1017/s1121189x00002669 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

pp. 31-37 ◽

Cited By ~ 150

Author(s):

Georg Schomerus ◽

Matthias C. Angermeyer

Keyword(s):

Mental Illness ◽

Mental Disorders ◽

Help Seeking ◽

Public Attitudes ◽

Population Based ◽

Professional Help ◽

Promising Target ◽

Individual Discrimination ◽

Stigma Of Mental Illness ◽

Seeking Help

SummaryAims – Many people suffering from serious mental illness do not seek appropriate medical help. The stigma of mental illness has often been considered a potential cause for reluctance in seeking help. We review recent evidence on this topic. Methods – Narrative review of the recent literature on stigma and helpseeking for psychiatric disorders. Results – There is proof of a particular stigma attached to seeking help for a mental problem. Anticipated individual discrimination and discrimination qua self-stigmatisation are associated with a reduced readiness to seek professional help for mental disorders. Intervention studies show that destigmatisation may lead to increased readiness to seek professional help, but other aspects like knowledge about mental diseases seem to be at least as important. The belief that seeking help for a mental health problem is actually helpful has been shown to be at the core of help-seeking intentions and thus offers a promising target for information programmes. Population based time-trend studies show that public attitudes towards help-seeking have improved over the last decade. Discussion – The relationship between help-seeking intentions and actual help-seeking needs further exploration. While many studies have been able to relate attitudes to intentions, predicting actual help-seeking has proved more difficult.Declaration of Interest: None.

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Shame, perceived knowledge and satisfaction associated with mental health as predictors of attitude patterns towards help-seeking

Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences ◽

10.1017/s204579601300036x ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 23 (2) ◽

pp. 177-187 ◽

Cited By ~ 42

Author(s):

N. Rüsch ◽

M. Müller ◽

V. Ajdacic-Gross ◽

S. Rodgers ◽

P.W. Corrigan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Illness ◽

Help Seeking ◽

Latent Profile Analysis ◽

Service Use ◽

Psychiatric Symptoms ◽

Mental Health Service Use ◽

Psychiatric Medication ◽

Perceived Knowledge ◽

Professional Help

Aims.To examine stigma- and knowledge-related barriers to help-seeking among members of the general population.Methods.In a representative survey of young to middle-aged Swiss adults (n = 8875), shame about a potential own mental illness, perceived knowledge about and satisfaction with one's mental health, psychiatric symptoms and attitudes towards help-seeking were assessed.Results.A latent profile analysis of all participants yielded two groups with different attitudes towards help-seeking. Relative to the majority, a one-in-four subgroup endorsed more negative attitudes towards seeking professional help, including psychiatric medication, and was characterized by more shame, less perceived knowledge, higher satisfaction with their mental health, younger age, male gender and lower education. Among participants with high symptom levels (n = 855), a third subgroup was reluctant to seek help in their private environment and characterized by high symptoms as well as low satisfaction with their mental health.Conclusions.Shame as an emotional proxy of self-stigma as well as poor subjective mental health literacy may be independent barriers to help-seeking. Interventions to increase mental health service use could focus on both variables and on those individuals with more negative views about professional help, in the general public as well as among people with a current mental illness.

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Mental health of young Brazilians: Barriers to professional help-seeking

Estudos de Psicologia (Campinas) ◽

10.1590/1982-02752016000200017 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 33 (2) ◽

pp. 355-365 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Cláudia Cristina FUKUDA ◽

Maria Aparecida PENSO ◽

Deise Matos do AMPARO ◽

Bruno Coimbras de ALMEIDA ◽

Camila de Aquino MORAIS

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Young People ◽

Private School ◽

Mental Health Treatment ◽

Help Seeking ◽

Structural Barriers ◽

Professional Help ◽

Health Treatment ◽

Major Barrier ◽

Positive Effects

The present study investigated the perception of young Brazilians of professional help and barriers to seeking mental health services. A total of the 1,030 questionnaires were administered to young people aged 8-21 years of both genders attending public and private school or who had received or were receiving treatement at mental health facilities in three Brazilian cities. The data were evaluated using descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis, and comparison between means. The results showed fear of stigmatization as a major barrier to seeking mental health treatment, exerting greater impact than that of structural barriers. Regional differences influenced their perception of the treatment. Having undergone previous mental health treatment was found to be related to a greater perception of the positive effects of the treatment and the structural barriers to accessing care services. It was found that the onset of mental disorders usually occurs during early adolescence. School-related issues, anxiety, fear, and depression were the most common reasons for mental health treatment seeking among young people.

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The impact of community-based mental health service provision on stigma and attitudes towards professional help-seeking

Journal of Mental Health ◽

10.1080/09638237.2018.1521928 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 28 (3) ◽

pp. 289-295 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Michelle Kearns ◽

Orla T. Muldoon ◽

Rachel M. Msetfi ◽

Paul W.G. Surgenor

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Service ◽

Health Service ◽

Service Provision ◽

Help Seeking ◽

Community Based ◽

Professional Help ◽

Health Service Provision ◽

Mental Health Service Provision ◽

The Impact

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Professional support during the postpartum period: Primiparous women’s views on professional services, their expectations, and barriers to mobilizing professional help

10.21203/rs.2.16975/v1 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Yiping Nan ◽

Jingjun Zhang ◽

Nisar Anum ◽

Lanting Huo ◽

Lei Yang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Phenomenological Study ◽

Well Being ◽

Professional Services ◽

Professional Support ◽

Professional Help ◽

Services Delivery ◽

Young Infants ◽

Health Centres ◽

Primiparous Women ◽

Women’S Views

Abstract Background: Mothers of young infants, especially primiparous women who lack experience and knowledge, are usually overwhelmed with a multitude of stressors and challenges. Although support from professionals is needed for new mothers, there is indeed a gap between the necessary high-quality service and the currently provided poor services. This study aimed to explore primiparous women’s views on professional services, identify barriers to mobilizing professional support, and further understand women’s expectations of and preferences for the delivery of professional services. Method: A descriptive phenomenological study design was utilized in this study, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 28 primiparous women who were selected from two community health centres and who had given birth within one year before the interview. Each conversation lasted between 20-86 minutes. Colaizzi’s seven-step phenomenological approach was used for data analysis. Results: Three major themes were identified: (a) dissatisfaction with current professional services for postpartum women, (b) barriers to mobilizing professional support, and (c) primiparous women’s expectations of professional support. Seven related subthemes included primiparous women’s disappointment with clinical services and their low confidence in services provided by communities, social health centres and online platforms; internal personal reasons and external socio-cultural factors that contributed to barriers in obtaining professional help; and primiparas’ new expectations of baby-care-related services, their personal needs for recovery, and their expectations of methods of services delivery. The necessity of professional support in the first month of confinement was emphasized by primiparas. Online methods were perceived by the majority of participants to be the best way to receive services. Conclusion: The results of this descriptive phenomenological study suggested that the professional services currently provided by medical facilities were insufficient and could not meet the requirements of primiparous women. The identified barriers should be analysed and overcome by enhancing education and eliminating stigma. The results also suggested that providing service focused on women’s requirements may be an effective strategy to enhance primiparous women’s well-being and suggested that women believed that the most acceptable and convenient methods should be considered during the delivery of interventions.

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