Do depression literacy, mental illness beliefs and stigma influence mental health help-seeking attitude? A cross-sectional study of secondary school and university students from B40 households in Malaysia

Norhayati Ibrahim,Aisyah Mohd Safien,Suzana Shahar,Noh Amit,Rozainee Khairuddin,Lei-Hum Wee,Rozmi Ismail,Ching Sin Siau

doi:10.1186/s12889-019-6862-6

Norhayati Ibrahim, Aisyah Mohd Safien + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-6862-6

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Abstract

BackgroundMental illness rates among young people is high, yet the frequency of help-seeking is low, especially among those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Understanding factors influencing help-seeking, such as mental illness beliefs, stigma and literacy among B40 individuals is important, but past studies are sparse. Hence, we aimed to examine the factors associated with mental help-seeking attitude among students from the B40 income bracket. Differences in beliefs toward mental illness, stigma and help-seeking attitudes among university and secondary school students were also investigated.MethodsUniversity and secondary school students from low-income households (N = 202) were involved in this cross-sectional study. Participants completed the Depression Literacy Questionnaire (D-Lit), General Help Seeking Questionnaire (GHSQ), Mental Help Seeking Attitudes Scale (MHSAS), Self-Stigma of Seeking Help Scale (SSOSH), and Beliefs toward Mental Illness (BMI).ResultsMental help-seeking attitude had a significant relationship with self-stigma on seeking help (r = −.258, p < .001), general help-seeking attitude (r = .156, p = .027), and age (r = .187, p < .001). However, the strongest predictor for mental help-seeking attitude was self-stigma on seeking help (F (2,199) = 8.207, p < .001 with R2 of .076). University students had better depression literacy and lower levels of self-stigma and negative beliefs toward mental illness compared to secondary school students.ConclusionHigher self-stigma and younger age were associated with negative mental help-seeking attitudes among students from low-income households. As self-stigma may be a barrier to actual mental help-seeking, efforts to reduce self-stigma in this population need to be intensified.

Highlights

Mental illness rates among young people is high, yet the frequency of help-seeking is low, especially among those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds
Most of the participants (N = 202; Mean age = 17.03 ± 3.36) in this study were females (67.8%), and from the second group of Bottom 40% (B40) household income which is within the range of RM1000-RM3000 (57.9%) (Table 1)
The present study found that Self-stigma was the strongest predictor for mental health help seeking attitude among teenagers and young adults of low socioeconomic status

Summary

Introduction

Mental illness rates among young people is high, yet the frequency of help-seeking is low, especially among those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. A review on the use of psychiatric treatment found that only around 33% of students with mental health problems were treated [2]. This trend was observed among young people who showed symptoms of depression and anxiety, of which only 18 to 24% sought professional help [3]. Individuals from lower socioeconomic background have a lower rate of mental health service utilization [5]

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