Help-seeking in emerging adults with and without a history of mental health referral: a qualitative study

Article


Spence, R., Owens-Solari, M. and Goodyer, I. 2016. Help-seeking in emerging adults with and without a history of mental health referral: a qualitative study. BMC Research Notes. 9 (1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-016-2227-8
TypeArticle
TitleHelp-seeking in emerging adults with and without a history of mental health referral: a qualitative study
AuthorsSpence, R., Owens-Solari, M. and Goodyer, I.
Abstract

Background: Young people are generally reluctant to seek professional help when experiencing problems. However, past experience of services is often cited as increasing the intention to seek help, therefore those with a history of mental health referral may adopt more adaptive help seeking strategies. The current study investigated whether the pattern of different help seeking strategies and barriers to help seeking differed as a function of previous referral history.
Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 29 emerging adults (12 males, 17 females); 17 with a history of mental health referral and 12 without and analysed using thematic analysis.
Results: Overall, those with a referral to services were more likely than those without to rely on avoidant coping, especially techniques that depended upon suppression. This could help account for the increased use of strategies involving self-harm and substances in those with past referral. An exploration of barriers to help seeking showed those with a history of mental health referral were much more likely to self-stigmatise and this became attached to their sense of identity.
Conclusions: Emerging adults with a history of referral are more likely to adopt avoidant coping strategies when dealing with problems and self-stigmatise to a greater degree than those without a history of referral. This suggests that current approaches to mental health in emerging adults are not decreasing the sense of stigma with potentially far-reaching consequences for the developing sense of self and choice of help seeking strategies

KeywordsEmerging adults; Help-seeking; Qualitative research; Mental health; Stigma
Research GroupCentre for Abuse and Trauma Studies (CATS)
PublisherBioMed Central
JournalBMC Research Notes
ISSN
Electronic1756-0500
Publication dates
Online24 Aug 2016
Print01 Dec 2016
Publication process dates
Deposited30 Aug 2016
Accepted15 Aug 2016
Output statusPublished
Publisher's version
Copyright Statement

© The Author(s) 2016

Additional information

Article number = 415

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-016-2227-8
Web of Science identifierMEDLINE:27553615
LanguageEnglish
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