Abstract
Introduction: Mental health problems have a high rate of prevalence among adolescents in Pakistan, however, the tendency to access mental health professionals for the treatment has been low due to some barriers. The current review focuses on those barriers and identifies the relevant facilitators in reducing the barriers to enhance the well-being of adolescents. Methodology: By considering the objective of the study, the adolescents whose age ranged between 10-19 years were included, the research work done during 2012-2018 was accessed through Pub Med, Science Direct, Google Scholar and SAGE articles. The key terms mental health services, adolescents, barriers, facilitators were used to locate the articles. Result: Most prevailing barriers were found as stigmatizing belief, lack of awareness, preference for other sources and scarcity of mental health services. Social support from significant others, finding an expression for the problems, customized mental health advertisements, increased awareness about mental health and providing online services for mental health problems can facilitate for reducing reluctance in adolescents for accessing mental health help services. Discussion: Mental health awareness programs can facilitate in reducing the above-mentioned barriers. This review can make it easier to lower down the perceived barriers among adolescents which consequently encourage them to seek help they require. Recommendations for future research are further discussed.
Highlights
Introduction: Mental health problems have a high rate of prevalence among adolescents in Pakistan, the tendency to access mental health professionals for the treatment has been low due to some barriers
The current review focuses on those barriers and identifies the relevant facilitators in reducing the barriers to enhance the well-being of adolescents
Social support from significant others, finding an expression for the problems, customized mental health advertisements, increased awareness about mental health and providing online services for mental health problems can facilitate for reducing reluctance in adolescents for accessing mental health help services
Summary
Mental health problems have a high rate of prevalence among adolescents in Pakistan, the tendency to access mental health professionals for the treatment has been low due to some barriers. Adolescence is characterized by a transitional period with a rapid change physiologically, sexually and emotionally [1, 2] Due to having this transition adolescents are more prone towards mental health problems such as psychological stress, depression and substance abuse as compared to old adults [3,4,5,6]. The treatment gap raises many factors that causes hindrance in accessing mental health help. Reduction in this gap can only be possible by addressing the barriers and facilitators to access mental health help. Recognition of the barriers will help identify ways to overcome them and reduce the treatment gap
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
