Keziban Sukri Salaheddin|Barbara J. Mason
Identifying barriers to mental health help-seeking among young adults in the UK: a cross-sectional survey
University of Hertfordshire|University of Hertfordshire
despite high prevalence burden mental health problems among young people studies suggested infrequently seek professional help understanding barriers helpseeking important step towards facilitating early access mental health services improving psychological wellbeingto investigate young adults may choose seek support emotional mental health difficultya crosssectional online survey young adults aged 1825 general uk populationthe survey consisted anonymous questionnaire measured psychological distress helpseeking preferences barriers accessing help included barriers access care evaluation bace scale openended question explore reasons seeking help past qualitative feedback analysed using thematic analysisoverall 35 participants n 45 reported emotional mental health difficulty seek formal informal help thematic analysis revealed stigmatising beliefs difficulty identifying expressing concerns preference selfreliance difficulty accessing help prominent barrier themes among respondersyoung adults experiencing psychological distress may struggle access help others stigma negative perceptions surrounding mental health helpseeking may explain young people reluctant approach others help improving public awareness services resources available well screening psychological distress primary care services may necessary improve mental wellbeing among young adults