@article{ref1,
title="Help-seeking preferences in Australian mental health website visitors: a latent profile analysis",
journal="Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry",
year="2023",
author="Rainbow, Christopher and Baldwin, Peter A. and Hosking, Warwick and Blashki, Grant",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: Psychological distress and suicide rates are climbing in Australia despite substantial mental health programme investment in recent decades. Understanding where individuals prefer to seek support in the event of a personal or emotional crisis may help target mental health resources to where they are most needed. This study aimed to explore individual differences in help-seeking preferences that may be leveraged for early intervention and mental health service design. <br><br>METHOD: Latent profile analysis was used to explore the help-seeking preferences of 1561 Australian online help-seekers who elected to complete a psychological distress screening on a popular mental health website, Beyond Blue. <br><br>RESULTS: Four latent profiles of help-seeker emerged that illustrate distinct preference channels for support: help-negaters, professional help-seekers, family help-seekers and help-affirmatives. Help-negaters were the least likely to consider seeking help from any source, recorded the highest levels of psychological distress and suicidal ideation, and were more likely to be younger. Help-affirmatives were the most likely to seek help from any source, particularly from religious leaders, and were more likely to speak a language other than English at home. <br><br>CONCLUSION: Many individuals experiencing mental health concerns will prefer to seek support from family or community contacts rather than professionals, and some will not seek help at all. Diversity in help-seeking preferences should be considered when designing mental health services, outreach and psychoeducation materials.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0004-8674",
doi="10.1177/00048674231166595",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/00048674231166595"
}