Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the barriers and determinants of help-seeking in mental health professionals for personal mental health care. The research
was guided by two research questions: 1) Are there gender differences in the extent to which mental health professionals respond to their own mental health concerns?
2) What characteristics predict the extent to which mental health professionals seek help in response to their mental health concerns? Respondents were 183 Australian
based mental health professionals who were recruited over a seven-month period from October 2017 through April 2018. Respondents were representative of a diversity of age, gender, and practice experience. The sampling method was purposive and conducted in an online modality. The factors of age, location of practice and gender, were found to have no impact on help-seeking. Self-stigma was found to be a barrier to accessing care, but did not make a statistically significant
contribution in participant help -seeking. The study identified however, that distress disclosure, contributed significantly to participant overall help-seeking behaviours for mental health concerns. Distress disclosure was the only factor identified that contributed significantly towards predicting the likelihood of engagement in a help
seeking process in mental health professionals. Strengthening mental health literacy in early career professionals through training programs and the supervisory process,
could open greater dialogue targeting the reduction of stigma associated with
working in the profession and experiencing mental health concerns.
was guided by two research questions: 1) Are there gender differences in the extent to which mental health professionals respond to their own mental health concerns?
2) What characteristics predict the extent to which mental health professionals seek help in response to their mental health concerns? Respondents were 183 Australian
based mental health professionals who were recruited over a seven-month period from October 2017 through April 2018. Respondents were representative of a diversity of age, gender, and practice experience. The sampling method was purposive and conducted in an online modality. The factors of age, location of practice and gender, were found to have no impact on help-seeking. Self-stigma was found to be a barrier to accessing care, but did not make a statistically significant
contribution in participant help -seeking. The study identified however, that distress disclosure, contributed significantly to participant overall help-seeking behaviours for mental health concerns. Distress disclosure was the only factor identified that contributed significantly towards predicting the likelihood of engagement in a help
seeking process in mental health professionals. Strengthening mental health literacy in early career professionals through training programs and the supervisory process,
could open greater dialogue targeting the reduction of stigma associated with
working in the profession and experiencing mental health concerns.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Qualification | Master of Applied Science |
| Awarding Institution |
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| Supervisors/Advisors |
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| Publication status | Published - 22 Sept 2018 |
| Externally published | Yes |