Identifying barriers to help-seeking from mental health professionals in the general population and mental disorders

Abstract

Aims: Despite high prevalence of mental disorders, there are some individual, social, and structural factors in not seeking help from mental health professionals. The aim of the current study was to identify the barriers to help-seeking from mental health professionals in the mental disorders and general population. In a cross-sectional study, participants were from the general population (N= 760) and a mental disorders sample (N=486) referred to Hafez and Ebne Sina Hospitals of Shiraz (located in IRAN). General anxiety disorder-7 item scale (GAD-7), patient health questionnaire-9(PHQ-9), and barriers to help-seeking questions were completed via face-to-face and online forms. Mean, standard errors, t-test, and correlation were used to analyze the data. Results showed a high rate of depression and anxiety in two groups. Seeking help from other resources, low perceived need for the severity of mental disorders, lack of affordability, and misconceptions about mental disorders were the main barriers to help-seeking in the general population. Fear of stigma about mental disorders, low perceived need about the severity of mental disorders, fear of burdening families, and reliance to self were the main barriers in the mental disorders population. Interventions that aim to reduce these barriers could be increased to help-seeking from mental health professionals in the population.