Delay in Seeking Mental Health: Concept Analysis

Abstract

Objective: Delay seeking mental health has been mentioned in passive mode hence this concept wants to realise when we can say there is delay. Around the world management of mental conditions is being taken as a priority, but the background of when these conditions started has not been dealt on much. Methods: A concept analysis of delay in seeking mental health services was done using 8 steps of Walker and Avant strategic method. Initially 24 articles were reviewed. 8 articles were later dropped, and 16 articles finally reviewed to deduce what is delay in seeking mental health services. Results: the attributes are; supernatural beliefs, stigma, perceived hospital costs, service unavailability. The inadequate services results in prolonged period on the waiting list after initial bookings. The antecedents are geographical inaccessibility of mental health facilities, ignorance, lack of education, fear of stigma, poverty, cultural connotations, age, and nature of condition. Consequences that can occur as a result of delay include; premature mortality, increased years of disability, productivity loss, increased risk of chronic mental disorders and unfavourable clinical outcomes. The reviewed papers have shown that the minimal period of delay was four months and the maximum period of delay was 50 years. The first contact with a health facility varied with severity of condition. Conclusion The concept of delay in seeking mental health paves way to improve earlier contact with mental health facilities. The avoidance of delay means improved quality of life for the mentally ill. This piece of work has been able to describe delay in seeking mental health and its antecedents and attributes. The devotion now is to avoid delay because the complications not only drawbacks individuals but also nations enormously.