Beliefs about mental illness and willingness to seek help: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Evidence indicates that older adults underutilize mental health services, but little is known empirically about the perceptions older adults have about mental illness and their attitudes about seeking professional help for psychological problems. The present study examined beliefs about mental illness and willingness to seek professional help among younger (n=96; M age=20.6 years; range=17-26 years) and older (n=79; M age=75.1 years; range=60-95 years) persons. Participants completed the Beliefs Toward Mental Illness Scale and the Willingness to Seek Help Questionnaire. Older adults had generally similar perceptions of mental illness as younger adults except that older adults were more likely to perceive the mentally ill as being embarrassing and having poor social skills. Older adults also did not report a lower willingness to seek psychological help. Correlational analyses showed that, among older adults, increases in negative attitudes about mental illness (specifically, the view that the mentally ill have poor interpersonal skills) are associated with decreases in willingness to seek psychological services. An implication is that negative stereotypes about mental illness held by some older adults could play a role in their underutilization of mental health services. Other barriers to mental health care are also discussed.

The use of healthcare services for mental health problems by middle-aged and older adults

“…Furthermore, the participants seldom reported fear of being stigmatized as a reason for not seeking help. These results are in line with recent findings, which indicate that older adults are progressively open to mental health treatment, displaying positive attitudes towards help seeking (Mackenzie, Scott, Mather, & Sareen, 2008;Mohlman, 2012;Segal, Coolidge, Mincic, & O'Riley, 2005). Nevertheless, the likelihood of seeking help for mental health problems still decreased with age.…”

Health status and treatment-seeking stigma in older adults with trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder

“…Mental health stigma can lead individuals to feel ashamed, think of themselves as weak, and lose self-respect-all of which can increase distress and social problems and decrease willingness to seek treatment [24]. Stigma related to mental health diagnoses and treatment is particularly salient within the older adult population and has been associated with decreased satisfaction with mental health treatment [25][26].…”

Medical and nursing students' attitudes to people with mental illness in Nigeria: a tale of two teaching hospitals

“…Studies have demonstrated the presence of such attitudes in Nigeria (Gureje et al, 2005); they are informed and reinforced by traditional, cultural and religious beliefs about the causes of mental illness (Gureje et al, 2006) and have been shown to inhibit help-seeking behaviour (Segal et al, 2005). Furthermore, beliefs about and attitudes to mental illness among healthcare professionals can influence treatment outcomes (Schulze, 2007).…”