Author/Editor     Roškar, Saška; Bračič, Mark Floyd; Kolar, Urška; Lekić, Ksenija; Konec Juričič, Nuša; Tančič Grum, Alenka; Dobnik, Bogdan; Poštuvan, Vita; Vatovec, Mojca
Title     Attitudes within the general population towards seeking professional help in cases of mental distress
Type     članek
Vol. and No.     Letnik 63, št. 7
Publication year     2017
Volume     str. 614-621
ISSN     1741-2854 - The International journal of social psychiatry
Language     eng
Abstract     BACKGROUND: Although effective treatment is available for a variety of mental disorders, the treatment and help-seeking gap remains high. One of the main obstacles to help-seeking behaviour is prevailing stigmatizing attitudes. AIM: To examine attitudes within the general population towards seeking professional help in times of mental distress. METHODS: A representative general population survey ( N%=%594) was conducted in Slovenia by means of an Internet-based questionnaire, covering data on demographic variables and attitudes towards help-seeking behaviour. RESULTS: More stigmatizing attitudes towards help-seeking behaviour were found in men, single persons, those of a younger age and lower educational achievement and in respondents coming from regions with a high suicide rate. Furthermore, 52.50% of the total sample have had an experience with psychological problems, yet only 41.50% of those have sought professional help. Experience with help-seeking behaviour in the past was associated with less stigmatizing attitudes. CONCLUSION: Knowledge and understanding of mental health problems are necessary prerequisites to seeking help, but not the only ones. To improve help-seeking behaviour, it is also important to combat stigmatizing attitudes. Additionally, destigmatizing campaigns should also focus on social norms.
Keywords     stigma
behaviour intention
help-seeking
knowledge
mental distress