Impact of integrated care and co-location of care on mental help-seeking perceptions

Abstract

Background Integrated care may offer a solution to subpar mental health referral adherence, but people’s openness to receiving psychological treatment in this setting is understudied. Aims The present study examined the influence of the integrated care context and co-location of care on people’s help-seeking perceptions. Method This study (N = 397) used an experimental vignette design to compare the impact of treatment type (integrated care vs. traditional psychotherapy) and distance (close vs. far) on help-seeking perceptions. Results The integrated care environment (significant effect on perceived behavioral control) and closer proximity of the psychologist (significant effect on intention, attitudes, perceived effectiveness of treatment, self-stigma) only improved help-seeking perceptions among those with prior experience with mental health treatment. In the overall sample, treatment type and distance only demonstrated an effect among women, but not men. Conclusions Pending replication with samples from diverse populations, these findings provide a cautionary tale about lay perceptions of integrated care’s anticipated utility. However, co-location and, to a lesser degree, the common attributes of the integrated care format (e.g. team approach, flexible scheduling) may represent a potential pathway for reducing resistance to help seeking that can accompany traditional psychotherapy referrals among those with past exposure to behavioral healthcare.