Attitudes Towards Professional Psychological Help Seeking Among Young Adults in Kenya: Case Study of Public Teacher Training Colleges

Eunice Jemalel Nyavanga

doi:10.11648/j.pbs.20160503.12

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the attitudes towards professional psychological help seeking among young adults in Kenya. A self completed questionnaire made up of demographic characteristics and Attitudes towards Professional Psychological Help Seeking scale (ATPPHS) was used to collect data from 2777 young adults training in four selected public teacher training colleges. Unfavorable attitudes towards professional psychological help seeking were identified among these participants. Significant variations were indicated in year of study, gender, marital status and whether they ever taught before coming to college in both summative and factor scores of ATPPHS. Young adults students hold more negative attitudes towards psychological professional help seeking for a mental illness in Kenya. The Study recommended on psychoeducation on both mental illness and expectations about counseling to improve help seeking behaviour.

Highlights

Mental illness is a leading cause of disability (45%) among young adults, [1] yet nearly two-thirds of individuals with a diagnosable mental illness do not seek help, [2]
22.51%, 77.49% and 0% were found on negative, moderate/neutral and positive summative scores on Attitudes towards Professional Psychological help seeking among these participants as indicated on diagram 1 below
The second years and female participants held more favourable attitudes towards professional psychological help seeking compared to the first years and male participants respectively

Summary

Introduction

Mental illness is a leading cause of disability (45%) among young adults, [1] yet nearly two-thirds of individuals with a diagnosable mental illness do not seek help, [2]. Individuals with mental illness experience significant disabilities including limitation of functioning at the personal, physical and society levels, [3] poor quality of life and impaired social functioning as their families and the communities are affected badly, [4]. Attitudes for professional help seeking have been identified as one major reason for not seeking help, [5]. Some studies in Psychiatric Morbidity among teachers have indicated higher levels compared to the general population. A study in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia among secondary school female teachers indicated a high prevalence of psychiatric morbidity at 59.4%, [6]. A study by the author Nyavanga et al (unpublished work)

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion