@article{ref1,
title="Attitudes within the general population towards seeking professional help in cases of mental distress",
journal="International journal of social psychiatry",
year="2017",
author="Roskar, Saska and Bračič, Mark Floyd and Kolar, Urska and Lekic, Ksenija and Juričič, Nuša Konec and Grum, Alenka Tančič and Dobnik, Bogdan and Postuvan, Vita and Vatovec, Mojca",
volume="63",
number="7",
pages="614-621",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Although effective treatment is available for a variety of mental disorders, the treatment and help-seeking gap remains high. One of the main obstacles to help-seeking behaviour is prevailing stigmatizing attitudes. <br><br>AIM: To examine attitudes within the general population towards seeking professional help in times of mental distress. <br><br>METHODS: A representative general population survey ( N = 594) was conducted in Slovenia by means of an Internet-based questionnaire, covering data on demographic variables and attitudes towards help-seeking behaviour. <br><br>RESULTS: More stigmatizing attitudes towards help-seeking behaviour were found in men, single persons, those of a younger age and lower educational achievement and in respondents coming from regions with a high suicide rate. Furthermore, 52.50% of the total sample have had an experience with psychological problems, yet only 41.50% of those have sought professional help. Experience with help-seeking behaviour in the past was associated with less stigmatizing attitudes. <br><br>CONCLUSION: Knowledge and understanding of mental health problems are necessary prerequisites to seeking help, but not the only ones. To improve help-seeking behaviour, it is also important to combat stigmatizing attitudes. Additionally, destigmatizing campaigns should also focus on social norms.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0020-7640",
doi="10.1177/0020764017724819",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0020764017724819"
}