Machi Suka|Takashi Yamauchi|Hiroki Sugimori
Help-seeking intentions for early signs of mental illness and their associated factors: comparison across four kinds of health problems
Jikei University School of Medicine|National Institute of Mental Health|National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry|Daito Bunka University
failure delay initial treatment contact mental disorders recognized important public health problem according concept mental health literacy recognition symptoms crucial making decisions seek seek professional help aims study investigate types health problems japanese adults intend seek help preferred sources help factors associated helpseeking intentions crosssectional webbased survey conducted june 2014 among japanese adults aged 2059 years total 3308 eligible respondents included study helpseeking intentions measured listing potential sources help including would receive help asking ones would chosen four health conditions indicated irritability dizziness insomnia depressed mood respectively case dizziness 859 participants reported positive helpseeking intention 427 gave first priority seeking help formal sources percentages smaller cases insomnia 754 250 depressed mood 749 187 irritability 729 09 multiple logistic regression analysis revealed factors significantly associated helpseeking intentions almost identical across four health problems particular perception family friends regarding helpseeking psychiatric history contact people mental illness better health literacy neighborhood communicativeness significantly associated overall helpseeking intention also helpseeking intention formal sources problems dizziness insomnia depressed mood majority participants indicated intentions seek help psychological problems insomnia depressed mood less likely induce helpseeking intentions physical problem dizziness besides developing health literacy skills communitybased interventions creating friendly approachable atmosphere facilitating daily interactions family friends neighbors may worth considering possible public health strategy encouraging helpseeking whether psychological physical problems