Predictors Associated With Mental Help Seeking Attitude Among Malaysian College Foundation Students in the Midst of Covid-19 Pandemic: a Cross Sectional Study

Abstract

Background Globally, the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic results in major psychological sequalae across age groups including adolescents. Mental illness rates are high, yet mental help seeking attitude (MHSA) among adolescents is evidently low in developed countries during the pandemic. However, data is scarce in developing countries, hence the aim of this study was to determine the MHSA and its predictors including psychological wellbeing of Malaysian college foundation students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A cross sectional study was conducted among college foundation students, aged 18 to 19 years old, from a private college in Klang Valley from 1st December 2021 until 30th March 2022. All college foundation students were invited, and eligible students completed self-administered online questionnaires. Data on MHSA, sociodemographic, clinical factors, availability, accessibility and affordability of mental health service, mental health literacy, self-stigma of seeking help and psychological wellbeing were collected. An independent T-test analysis was performed to compare mean of MHSA between psychological distressed and non-psychological distressed. Multiple linear regression analysis was done to identify predictors of MHSA. Results 345 participants completed the questionnaires and the response rate was 62.9%. The mean age was 18.7 (± 0.75) years old. More than half were female (64.3%, n=222) and a majority had no past history of mental health illness (95.1%, n=328). Almost half had personal history of COVID-19 infection (49.3%, n=170). The mean of MHSA was 50.98 ±10.39. The predictors associated with MHSA were; self-stigma of help seeking (β=-0.59 (95% CI: -0.76, -0.42) p<0.01); mental health literacy (β=0.22 (95% CI: 0.13, 0.30) p<0.01); and affordability of mental health service facility (β=3.29 (95% CI: 1.42, 5.16) p<0.01). The prevalence of psychologically distressed was 23.2%, (95%CI: 20.4, 26.1), in which psychological distressed had a higher mean of MHSA than that of non-psychological distressed (53.29 ±10.48 vs. 50.29 ±10.29, p=0.02) Conclusion Mental help seeking attitude among Malaysian college foundation students was low during the COVID-19 pandemic. This may result in lost opportunities for early diagnosis and treatment. Strategies to reduce self-stigma of seeking help for mental illness is vital, while efforts to educate young adults about mental health and make mental health services affordable are warranted.