Table 2 Mean scores, frequencies and ranks for each barrier in the BACE v2 (n = 117 ^a )

1.

Being unsure where to go to get professional care

N-S

1.47 (1.05)

77.8

19.7

21

2.

Wanting to solve the problem on my own

N-S

1.84 (1.02)

88.0

32.5

6

3.

Concern that I might be seen as weak for having a mental health problem

S

1.75 (0.99)

86.3

25.6

12

4.

Difficulty taking time off work

N-S

1.75 (1.14)

78.6

34.2

3

5.

Fear of being put in hospital against my will

N-S

1.44 (1.08)

75.2

20.5

19

6.

Concern that it might harm my chances when applying for jobs

S

1.98 (1.01)

89.7

39.3

1

7.

Problems with transport or travelling to appointments

N-S

1.24 (1.13)

65.0

18.8

23

8.

Thinking the problem would get better by itself

N-S

1.51 (1.08)

76.9

22.2

15

9.

Concern about what my family might think or say

S

1.37 (1.10)

71.8

20.5

20

10.

Being unhappy with the available services

N-S

1.72 (1.05)

84.6

29.1

8

11.

Feeing embarrassed or ashamed

S

1.46 (1.00)

82.9

19.7

22

12.

Preferring to get alternative forms of care (e.g. spiritual care, non-Western healing / medicine, complementary therapies)

N-S

0.49 (0.81)

33.3

4.3

35

13.

Not being able to afford the financial costs involved

N-S

1.30 (1.18)

63.2

22.2

16

14.

Concern that I might be seen as ‘crazy’

S

1.38 (1.02)

78.6

16.2

25

15.

Thinking that professional care probably would not help

N-S

1.44 (1.05)

35.0

21.4

17

16.

Concern that I might be seen as a bad parent (data from parent subsample, n = 34)

S

1.94 (1.04)

88.2

38.2

2

17.

Professionals from my own ethnic or cultural group not being available

N-S

0.36 (0.81)

19.7

5.1

34

18.

Being too unwell to ask for help

N-S

1.72 (1.11)

82.9

33.3

4

19.

Concern that people I know might find out

S

1.29 (1.01)

73.5

13.7

27

20.

Dislike of talking about my feelings, emotions or thoughts

N-S

1.50 (1.10)

78.6

26.5

11

21.

Concern that people might not take me seriously if they found out I was having professional care

S

1.37 (0.98)

78.6

14.5

26

22.

Having no one who could come to appointments with me

N-S

0.90 (1.00)

53.8

9.4

31

23.

Lack of trust in professionals who provide professional care for mental health problems

N-S

1.55 (1.13)

78.6

29.1

9

24.

Concerns about the treatments available (e.g. medication side effects)

N-S

1.68 (1.00)

85.5

23.9

13

25.

Not wanting a mental health problem to be on my medical records

S

1.54 (1.19)

72.6

30.8

7

26.

Concern that it might bring shame or disapproval on my family

S

0.89 (1.06)

49.6

11.1

30

27.

Having had previous bad experiences with professional care for mental health

N-S

1.56 (1.21)

72.6

33.3

5

28.

Preferring to get help from family or friends

N-S

0.58 (0.80)

41.1

2.6

36

29.

Concern that my children may be taken into care or that I may lose access or custody (parent subsample, n = 34)

S

1.41 (1.18)

67.6

23.5

14

30.

Thinking I did not have a problem

N-S

1.15 (1.07)

66.7

17.1

24

31.

Concern about what my friends might think or say

S

0.92 (0.95)

58.1

6.8

33

32.

Thinking appointments take too much time or are inconvenient

N-S

0.81 (0.97)

50.4

8.5

32

33.

Concern that it might harm my career or chances of promotion

S

168 (1.06)

82.1

27.4

10

34.

Having problems with childcare while I receive professional care (parent subsample, n = 34)

N-S

0.90 (1.11)

47.1

11.6

29

35.

Having no one who could help me get professional care

N-S

1.03 (1.04)

60.7

12.8

28

36.

Concerns about the confidentiality of the information I share

N-S

1.24 (1.18)

61.5

21.4

18