Youth Mental Health Help-Seeking Behaviour: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

Research shown that the prevalence of mental illness among youth is dramatically higher than other age groups but they have reported reluctance to seek help for mental illness and psychological suffering. The present review tends to provide an update of the literature and expand the understanding on facilitators and barriers of youth mental health help-seeking behavior as well as the influence of socio-demographic factors.  The most mentioned facilitators are associated with mental health knowledge and attitude, while main barriers were stigma and shame.  Gender difference, living areas and ethnic were the main socio-demographic influencing factors. The findings contribute to the current knowledge related to mental health help-seeking among youth.  This has implications for psychology practitioners and schools in developing targeted interventions towards improving mental health literacy as well as organizing school or public awareness campaigns to diminish the stigma of mental health illness.