Factors Influencing Professional Help-Seeking for Suicidality

Abstract

Further quantitative and qualitative studies examining the potential important factors in broader community samples, especially in developing countries, are needed.

Psychologists’ Willingness to Provide Services to Individuals at Risk of Suicide

“…Despite the ego‐dystonic nature of suicidality, many individuals struggling with suicidal thoughts and behavior fail to seek out formal therapeutic assistance (Arria et al., ; Pitman & Osborn, ). The literature has identified several barriers to help‐seeking behaviors among individuals experiencing suicidality, including high levels of self‐reliance, low perceived need for formal assistance, and stigmatizing attitudes toward suicidality and mental health problems (Han, Batterham, Calear, & Randall, ; Vogel, Wester, & Larson, ). Overcoming the apprehension that often accompanies reaching out to a mental health professional and self‐disclosure of suicidal ideation and/or intent are undoubtedly acts that require courage.…”

Suicide Stigma and Suicide Literacy in a Clinical Sample

“…Suicide stigma, defined as negative attitudes toward suicidal individuals, may similarly lead to a range of negative outcomes, therefore representing an important intervention target for suicide prevention. Stigma has been shown to increase suicide risk (Carpiniello & Pinna, ; Sharaf, Ossman, & Lachine, ), while personal stigma toward suicidal people may reduce engagement with professional services (Han, Batterham, Calear, & Randall, ; Hom, Stanley, & Joiner, ) and lead to more negative attitudes regarding professional service use (Calear, Batterham, & Christensen, ). Other attitudes about suicide, such as glorification of suicide, or attribution of suicide to isolation, may also impact upon outcomes for individuals experiencing suicidal thoughts (Calear et al., ; Chan, Batterham, Christensen, & Galletly, ).…”

Help‐seeking Behavior in Socially Conservative and Christian Suicide Decedents

“…Between 1999 and 2016, the suicide rate in the United States increased from 10.5 per 100,000 to 13.9 per 100,000 (CDC, ). One particularly vital consideration in suicide prevention is that many individuals who are suicidal do not seek help prior to their death (Han, Batterham, Calear, & Randall, ). Han et al.…”

“…Han et al. () reviewed the literature on factors influencing help‐seeking behavior for suicidality and reported several common categories of barriers to help‐seeking behavior, including lack of perceived need for treatment and high self‐reliance, as well as stigmatizing attitude toward suicide, mental health issues, and seeking help. Vogel, Wester, and Larson () identified five other avoidance factors to the help‐seeking process: social stigma, treatment fears, fear of emotion, anticipated utility and risks, and self‐disclosure.…”

“…Additionally, conservative individuals are more likely to perceive individuals with mental illnesses as a danger, which could discourage conservative individuals from disclosing mental health issues or suicidality for fear of being perceived this way by others (Phelan & Link, ). Support from friends and family is also important to encourage help‐seeking behavior, which may be lacking for individuals who identify as conservative due to the stigma of mental illness in that community (Han et al., ). Overall, political beliefs have not been as heavily studied as other influences on help‐seeking behavior, and so we seek to add to this knowledge base.…”