Table 3 Barriers to receiving professional mental health care among students with psychological distress
Questions | Not a barrier (Not at all stopped me) (n) row % | Minor barrier (Stopped me a little) (n) row % | Major barrier (Stopped me quite a lot & a lot) (n) row % | Mean (SD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Stigma-related barriers | ||||
Concern that I might be seen as weak for having a mental health problem | 788 (40.2%) | 956 (48.8%) | 216 (11.0%) | 0.71 (0.654) |
Concern that it might harm my chances when applying for jobs | 810 (41.3%) | 891 (45.5%) | 259 (13.2%) | 0.72 (0.683) |
Concern about what my family might think | 523 (26.7%) | 952 (48.6%) | 485 (24.7%) | 0.98 (0.717) |
Concern that I might be seen as ‘crazy’ | 1024 (52.2%) | 707 (36.1%) | 229 (11.7%) | 0.59 (0.689) |
Concern that I might be seen as a bad parent | 993 (50.7%) | 688 (35.1%) | 279 (14.2%) | 0.64 (0.719) |
Concern that people I know might find out | 784 (40.0%) | 842 (43.0%) | 334 (17.0%) | 0.77 (0.72) |
Concern that people might not take me seriously if they found out I was having professional care | 763 (38.9%) | 857 (43.7%) | 340 (17.3%) | 0.78 (0.719) |
Not Wanting a mental health problem to be on my medical records | 715 (36.5%) | 859 (43.8%) | 386 (19.7%) | 0.83 (0.731) |
Concern that my children may be taken into care or that I may lose access or custody without my agreement | 1036 (52.9%) | 585 (29.8%) | 339 (17.3%) | 0.64 (0.759) |
Concern about what my friends might think, say, or do | 739 (37.7%) | 886 (45.2%) | 335 (17.1%) | 0.79 (0.711) |
Concern about what people at work might think, say or do | 718 (36.6%) | 928 (47.3%) | 314 (16.0%) | 0.79 (0.696) |
Feeling embarrassed or ashamed | 972 (49.6%) | 762 (38.9%) | 226 (11.5%) | 0.62 (0.683) |
Attitudinal-related barriers | ||||
Dislike talking about my feelings, emotions, or thoughts | 324 (16.5%) | 941 (48.0%) | 695 (35.5%) | 1.19 (0.696) |
Wanting to solve the problem on my own | 212 (10.8%) | 892 (45.5%) | 856 (43.7%) | 1.33 (0.661) |
Concern about the treatments available (e.g., medication side effects) | 428 (21.8%) | 969 (49.4%) | 563 (28.7%) | 1.07 (0.708) |
Afraid of being put in hospital against my will | 711 (36.3%) | 724 (36.9%) | 525 (26.8%) | 0.91 (0.789) |
Thinking that professional care probably would not help | 758 (38.7%) | 903 (46.1%) | 299 (15.3%) | 0.77 (0.696) |
Thinking I did not have a problem | 699 (35.7%) | 942 (48.1%) | 319 (16.3%) | 0.81 (0.694) |
Preferring to get help from family or friends | 619 (31.6%) | 936 (47.8%) | 405 (20.7%) | 0.89 (0.715) |
Preferring to get alternative forms of care (e.g., traditional / religious healing or alternative /complementary therapies) | 478 (24.4%) | 1034 (52.8%) | 448 (22.9%) | 0.98 (0.687) |
Having had previous bad experiences with professional care for mental health | 1571 (80.2%) | 313 (16.0%) | 76 (3.9%) | 0.24 (0.509) |
Instrumental-related barriers | ||||
Being too unwell to ask for help | 1237 (63.1%) | 603 (30.8%) | 120 (6.1%) | 0.43 (0.606) |
Not being able to afford the financial costs involved | 664 (33.9%) | 838 (42.8%) | 458 (23.4%) | 0.89 (0.749) |
Difficulty taking time off education | 522 (26.6%) | 951 (48.5%) | 487 (24.8%) | 0.98 (0.717) |
Problems with transport or travelling to appointments | 796 (40.6%) | 873 (44.5%) | 291 (14.8%) | 0.74 (0.699) |
Being unsure where to go to get professional care | 399 (20.4%) | 923 (47.1%) | 638 (32.6%) | 1.12 (0.717) |
Having no one who could help me get professional care | 463 (23.6%) | 932 (47.6%) | 565 (28.8%) | 1.05 (0.723) |
Professionals from my own ethnic or cultural group not being available | 731 (37.3%) | 931 (47.5%) | 298 (15.2%) | 0.78 (0.690) |