Mental health help-seeking behaviours in young adults

Abstract

There is clinical and research consensus that significant cognitive, social, emotional development and adjustment to physical changes occurs during young adulthood, in the period between ages 18 and 24 years. 1 While three-quarters of psychiatric disorders in adults emerge before the age of 25 years, a European study, comparing access to mental health care by age bands, reported that 18-24-year-old participants were least likely to get care for mental health problems.2 In the 2016 UK National Confidential Enquiry into Suicide in Children and Young People, 43% of people aged <25 years who died had no known prior contact with any agencies.3 Understanding the risk factors and triggers for mental health problems in young adults is crucial, however we also need to know more about how young adults seek help, if we wish to improve the quality and outcomes of mental health care.Early interventions may improve the prognosis of primary mental health disorders in young adults and reduce the risk of chronicity and progression to more severe secondary disorders, but research-led innovation in mental health care is also hampered by delayed diagnostic assessment and care.In a recent UK online survey of young adults, 35% of participants experiencing current emotional or mental health difficulties did not seek any formal or informal help and that perceived stigma, difficulty expressing concerns and accessing help, alongside a preference for self-reliance, were barriers to access to care and support.4 A systematic review of perceived barriers or facilitators to mental health help-seeking in young people identified 13 'barrier' and 8 'facilitator' key themes.5 Since cultural and contextual issues, such as taboos and the structure of service provision, underpin and influence 'help-seeking', the reporting of cross-cultural studies together, was a limitation of the review itself.The most important 'barriers' were 'stigma and embarrassment'; 'poor mental health literacy'; and a preference for 'self-reliance'.There was rather less evidence about 'facilitators', the most important was 'positive past experiences with help-seeking', with some evidence relating to 'social support' or 'encouragement from others'; and 'confidentiality and trust in the provider'.5 However, a challenge to the current conceptual framework may be warranted.

The authors' abstract, as published at the source. British Journal of General Practice, 2016 · DOI ↗