“Look Like You Have It Together”: Examining Mental Illness Stigma and Help Seeking Among Diverse Emerging Adults

Abstract

Individuals transitioning through emerging adulthood endure various challenges that impact their mental health and well-being. Mental illness stigma interferes with the willingness to seek professional mental health services during this transition period. We must fully understand the influence of mental illness stigma and ways to increase the utilization of mental health services for emerging adults. Using content analysis, the researchers examined responses to open-ended survey questions and identified themes that captured beliefs about mental illness stigma and help seeking, desired characteristics of mental health providers, and support preferences for mental health concerns in a diverse group of emerging adults. The three core themes of (1) public stigma, (2) mental health provider traits, and (3) supports for mental health concerns provide insight into the understudied area of emerging adulthood. Study findings have important implications to combat stigma, increase mental health service utilization, and improve mental health service delivery for emerging adults.

‘Five hours to sort out your life’: qualitative study of the experiences of university students who access mental health support

“…Students hoped for better service integration to streamline the process of accessing support, 9 and reduce the experience of abandonment that seemed to hinder intentions to seek further help. 7 , 11 Interviewees were concerned for students who may not seek help because of stigma, uncertainty over how to initiate contact with services or feeling that the problems they experienced were not severe enough (or too severe). This corroborates previous research where students wanted more clarity on what was encompassed by the term ‘mental health difficulties’.…”

“… 9 This might prevent some students from seeking help, with only half of students who experience significant levels of anxiety or depressive symptoms going on to contact professionals. 7 The roots of these hesitations are likely multifaceted and may include stigma, 7 , 10 , 11 lack of understanding of symptoms 7 , 8 and confidentiality concerns. 7 Furthermore, young people express fears that treatment providers will be judgemental, lack insight into the experience of young people or be too busy to listen.…”

“… 7 Furthermore, young people express fears that treatment providers will be judgemental, lack insight into the experience of young people or be too busy to listen. 7 , 11 …”

“…7 Furthermore, young people express fears that treatment providers will be judgemental, lack insight into the experience of young people or be too busy to listen. 7,11 Adaptation of current service delivery Research also suggests that students who do seek help report dissatisfaction with available services, 12 and young adults disengage from treatment more than other age groups. 11,13 Involving students in service design could positively influence aspects of treatment provision currently concerning students, such as lack of treatment choice 14,15 or time available alongside studies.…”

“…7,11 Adaptation of current service delivery Research also suggests that students who do seek help report dissatisfaction with available services, 12 and young adults disengage from treatment more than other age groups. 11,13 Involving students in service design could positively influence aspects of treatment provision currently concerning students, such as lack of treatment choice 14,15 or time available alongside studies. 16 Participatory design methods have proven effective in the cultural adaptation of university support, 17 suggesting that similar methods could be usefully integrated into design of services for all university students.…”