Yonago Acta medica 2008;51:39–47
Factors Related to Attitudes toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help among Japanese Junior High and High School Students
Soichi Takamura, Iwao Oshima*, Koji Yoshida† and Takuro Motonaga‡
Department of Nursing Care Environment and Mental Health, School of Health Science, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, Yonago 683-8503, *Department of Clinical Social Work, Faculty of Social Welfare, Japan College of Social Work, Kiyose 204-8555, †Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation, National Institute of Mental Health National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo 272-0827 and ‡Department of Psychology, Faculty of Liberal Arts, Teikyo University, Hachioji 192-0395, Japan
To develop intervention methods of primary prevention for adolescents who are at high risk for mental health disorders, we investigated help-seeking behavior (HSB) and factors related to HSB. We distributed questionnaires to 1222 junior high (age, 13.55 ± 0.5 years) (mean ± SD) and high school students (age, 16.56 ± 0.49 years) in Japan. A total of 1168 questionnaires were answered and returned. Correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis were conducted to determine HSB and related factors scales. Among the sample students, 39% had previous knowledge of mental health consultation. However, only 10% said they would seek out a mental health specialist. Friends or senior students were frequently chosen (70%) as the initial consultant. Using multiple regression linear analysis, we found that image of and stigma towards psychiatry and psychological counseling and knowledge of mental health to be factors related to HSB. High school students were more likely than junior high students to display HSB. Initially, students tended to choose friends and family rather than specialized professional support for their mental health concerns. The image of psychiatry, knowledge of services and stigma towards mental health problems and services were related factors. We conclude that educational programs that include students, parents, family and friends are needed for early intervention to change the general image and knowledge of specialized mental health services to increase HSB.
Key words: adolescence; help seeking; mental health
[Correction added in May 2015, after online issue publication: Iwao Oshima’s affiliation has been corrected.]
