Seeking help for psychological distress: Barriers for mental health professionals
Objective Mental health care is a demanding profession with high rates of stress and burnout. Given the implications of untreated illness, it is essential that mental health professionals feel able to seek help from appropriate service providers when required. This study investigated perceived barri...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Taylor & Francis Group
2017-09-01
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| Series: | Australian Journal of Psychology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ajpy.12146 |
| _version_ | 1797681678262468608 |
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| author | Janet L. Edwards Dimity A. Crisp |
| author_facet | Janet L. Edwards Dimity A. Crisp |
| author_sort | Janet L. Edwards |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective Mental health care is a demanding profession with high rates of stress and burnout. Given the implications of untreated illness, it is essential that mental health professionals feel able to seek help from appropriate service providers when required. This study investigated perceived barriers to disclosure and help‐seeking within this population. Methods A sample of 98 Australian mental health professionals and students (clinicians in training) completed an online survey assessing help‐seeking intentions and past behaviour, barriers to accessing care for mental ill health, and concerns regarding disclosure of mental health problems. Results Results indicated that while the majority of participants (89%) would seek help if they were distressed, 57% acknowledged that there had been a time when they would have benefited from seeking help but had not done so. Reported barriers to seeking help included wanting to solve the problem on their own, fear about colleagues finding out, and the potential for negative consequences relating to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency's mandatory reporting requirement. Conclusions The findings provide initial evidence that despite good mental health literacy, and personal experience with mental illness, significant barriers exist for mental health professionals seeking help for mental health conditions. This is a significant area requiring further attention. Future research to better understand the perceived barriers and association between attitudes toward mental illness and help‐seeking in this population is required. Education around mandatory reporting requirements may help to improve help‐seeking behaviour. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T23:48:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c368c34f285e4737b5994f8c256fa838 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0004-9530 1742-9536 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T23:48:24Z |
| publishDate | 2017-09-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Australian Journal of Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-c368c34f285e4737b5994f8c256fa8382023-09-19T08:54:46ZengTaylor & Francis GroupAustralian Journal of Psychology0004-95301742-95362017-09-0169321822510.1111/ajpy.1214612098853Seeking help for psychological distress: Barriers for mental health professionalsJanet L. Edwards0Dimity A. Crisp1University of CanberraUniversity of CanberraObjective Mental health care is a demanding profession with high rates of stress and burnout. Given the implications of untreated illness, it is essential that mental health professionals feel able to seek help from appropriate service providers when required. This study investigated perceived barriers to disclosure and help‐seeking within this population. Methods A sample of 98 Australian mental health professionals and students (clinicians in training) completed an online survey assessing help‐seeking intentions and past behaviour, barriers to accessing care for mental ill health, and concerns regarding disclosure of mental health problems. Results Results indicated that while the majority of participants (89%) would seek help if they were distressed, 57% acknowledged that there had been a time when they would have benefited from seeking help but had not done so. Reported barriers to seeking help included wanting to solve the problem on their own, fear about colleagues finding out, and the potential for negative consequences relating to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency's mandatory reporting requirement. Conclusions The findings provide initial evidence that despite good mental health literacy, and personal experience with mental illness, significant barriers exist for mental health professionals seeking help for mental health conditions. This is a significant area requiring further attention. Future research to better understand the perceived barriers and association between attitudes toward mental illness and help‐seeking in this population is required. Education around mandatory reporting requirements may help to improve help‐seeking behaviour.http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ajpy.12146barriershelp‐seekingmental health professionalspsychological distress |
| spellingShingle | Janet L. Edwards Dimity A. Crisp Seeking help for psychological distress: Barriers for mental health professionals Australian Journal of Psychology barriers help‐seeking mental health professionals psychological distress |
| title | Seeking help for psychological distress: Barriers for mental health professionals |
| title_full | Seeking help for psychological distress: Barriers for mental health professionals |
| title_fullStr | Seeking help for psychological distress: Barriers for mental health professionals |
| title_full_unstemmed | Seeking help for psychological distress: Barriers for mental health professionals |
| title_short | Seeking help for psychological distress: Barriers for mental health professionals |
| title_sort | seeking help for psychological distress barriers for mental health professionals |
| topic | barriers help‐seeking mental health professionals psychological distress |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ajpy.12146 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT janetledwards seekinghelpforpsychologicaldistressbarriersformentalhealthprofessionals AT dimityacrisp seekinghelpforpsychologicaldistressbarriersformentalhealthprofessionals |