Help-Seeking Intention During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Nationwide Web-Based Survey in Indonesia

Abstract

Background: This study was conducted based on many studies on mental health problems during the Covid-19 pandemic and the urgency for the availability of mental health services. Unfortunately, research related to help-seeking intention for mental health in general public, particularly in Indonesia, is very limited. Meanwhile, several studies have shown that help-seeking intention is a good predictor whether someone will attend mental health services or not.Objective: The aims of this study are to determine the sources of help that are most soughtafter and the factors predicting help-seeking intention during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: Online instruments consist of demographical questions, 11 items of General Helpseeking Questionnaire (GHSQ) (Wilson, Deane, Ciarrochi, & Rickwood, 2005), 7 items of Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) (Ahorsu et al., 2020), and 5 items of Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS) (Lee, 2020) were distributed via email, Facebook messenger, and Whatsapp during August 11 – 21, 2020. The data were analyzed using multiple linear regression and multivariate logistic regression.Results: The results showed that parents were the most sought-after source of help during the COVID-19 pandemic. While age, education, occupation, living in infected area, and fear significantly predict help-seeking intention. Meanwhile, the factors significantly predict the level of help-seeking intention are anxiety and fear.Limitations: This research uses a cross-sectional design. Therefore, it cannot test help-seeking intention after data collection. Furthermore, data was obtained using the self-report method which depends on the participants' ability to understand the items of the questionnaire. Conclusion: The results showed that parents were the main choice of the participants if they seek for help. Therefore, it is important for parents to be equipped with skills in providing mental health help for their children or relatives. Moreover, all parties should be equipped and trained to provide mental health help. Mental health services should be provided to various demographical background of general public during of COVID-19 pandemic. The attention of mental health services should be directed to the not infected area as well rather than infected area only.

Factors Related to Psychological Help-Seeking Behavior among First-Year College Student

“…The results of this study are contrary to research of Upadhyaya et al (2019) states that the reason someone uses a religious teacher/spiritual teacher as a source of help is because of the easy accessibility and belief in their respective religions or beliefs. The majority of students living with their parents live with their parents, students who live with their parents choose to seeking psychological assistance, this is because when living with their parents the sources of assistance are more accessible, for example, mothers whom we can meet when seeking psychological assistance, supported by Maba et al (2020) stated that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the first source of assistance sought was parents, especially mothers and fathers because these sources were easily accessible. Meanwhile, students who live in a boarding house tend not to seek psychological help in the future, this can be a concern where students with a boarding house status when they have problems need regular monitoring to prevent things that are not desirable.…”

Differences in Help-Seeking Behavior in Adolescents with Anxiety Disorder During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…However, a previous study mentioned that anxiety could predict someone's help-seeking behavior. 19 The ap-pearance of symptoms and the increase in mental health problems experienced can make a person more active in seeking help. 20,21 The results of this study show no significant difference in help-seeking behavior between male and female adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic.…”