Benefits of and Barriers To Mental Health Help-Seeking of Selected Filipino College Students

International Journal of Arts Humanities and Social Sciences Studies
Volume 7 Issue 4 ǁ April 2022

ISSN: 2582-1601
www.ijahss.com
Benefits Of and Barriers to Mental Health Help-Seeking

Of Selected Filipino College Students
Anne Marielle C. Villamor Marison Felicidad R. Dy
Dept of Human and Family Development Studies Dept of Human and Family Development Studies
College of Human Ecology College of Human Ecology
University of the Philippines at Los Baños University of the Philippines at Los Baños
Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines
Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Orcid: 0000-0001-5503-9824
Abstract : The study examined the perceived benefits of and barriers to mental health help-seeking behaviors
among selected college students and how these relate to sex, age, family income, having a friend or family
member with mental health problems, and preferred source of help if they feel mentally poor. The respondents
were 96 undergraduate students. Descriptive analysis and cross tabulations were done. Results show that the
highest perceived benefit of mental health help-seeking was self-awareness/personal growth; highest perceived
barrier was denial that there was a problem; most preferred source of help was a friend; and there were
relationships between benefits of and barriers to mental health help-seeking with sex, age, family income,
having a friend or family diagnosed with mental health disorder, and preferred source of help. Community and
school interventions can be established to widen information dissemination regarding mental health, symptoms
of mental health disorders, and the importance of help-seeking from support services to enhance self-awareness
and healthy mental states.
Keywords: Adolescents, college students, help-seeking behavior, mental health.
I. Introduction
1.1 Mental Health Concerns in the Philippines

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines mental health as “a state of well-being in which an
individual realizes his/her own abilities, can cope with normal stresses of life, can work productively, and is able
to make a contribution to his/her community [1].” Mental health is an important part of an individual‟s life and
is affected by various social and economic factors that need to be addressed through achievable interventions.
There is a great concern for the mental health of adolescents, manifested by the rising cases of mental
health disorders and suicide. People affected by and diagnosed with mental disorders experience “higher rates of
disability and mortality [1].” Of the estimated 1.2 billion adolescents in 2020, some 13% have a mental health
disorder [2]. Further, for those aged 15-19, suicide is the fourth most prevalent cause of death. In the
Philippines, the Department of Health reported that there were 17% of high school students who attempted
suicide one or more times in the past 12 months and mostly, are females (18.7%) [3]. Also, 11.5% of high
school students have seriously considered attempting suicide and mostly, are females (13.6%) [3].
The Philippine Mental Health Act came out in 2017 and mandates the Department of Health to provide
psychiatric psychosocial services to all hospitals while at the same time, enhancing the capacities of mental
health professionals and mental health service providers [4]. Tuliao noted that there are four general professions
that are recognized to provide mental health services: the guidance and counseling practitioners (Guidance and
Counseling Act of 2004); psychologists (Philippine Psychology Act of 2009); social workers (Republic Act
No.4373, 1965); psychiatrists, and those allied to the medical profession [5]. There is one tertiary medical center
for mental health disorder, the National Center for Mental Health, two government-owned psychiatric health
centers, and around 58 private psychiatric health centers [3]. In 2017, the country had 46 outpatient mental
health facilities, four day-treatment facilities, 19 community-based psychiatric inpatient units, and 15
community residential facilities or home-care facility [6]. In terms of mental health professionals, there are 3.47
for 100,000 general population with some specific breakdowns as follows: 0.52 for psychiatrists, 0.06 for child
psychiatrists, 0.88 for psychologists, 0.08 social workers, and 1.62 for other mental health workers such as
health assistants, medical assistants, professional and paraprofessional psychosocial counselors [6]. The
International Journal of Arts Humanities and Social Sciences Studies V7● I4● 78
Benefits Of and Barriers to Mental Health Help-Seeking Of Selected Filipino College St…
distribution of mental health professionals tends to be concentrated in mental health facilities favoring those
living in the cities or near the National Capital Region. Further, psychotropic medicines (antipsychotic,
antidepressant, mood stabilizer, anxiolytics, and antiepileptic medicines) are available in all mental health
outpatient facilities or pharmacy stores year-round [6]. The care and treatment of persons with serious mental
disorders (psychosis, bipolar disorder, major depression) are included in national health insurance or
reimbursement schemes, however, some patients pay mostly from their pocket for the services and medicines
[6].
1.2 Mental Health Help-seeking Behaviors

Help-seeking behaviors are “functional coping strategies that people use when they have to face
stressful events [7].” These are actions performed by individuals to meet certain needs for assistance or
services. Help-seeking is divided into two categories: formal source of help-seeking and informal source of
help-seeking. The former pertains to individuals seeking help from mental health institutions and professionals
such as a psychologist, psychiatrist, counselor, and social worker while the latter pertains to individuals seeking
help from non-professionals such as family members, peers, and significant others. Adolescents preferred
informal sources of support than formal ones due to the familiarity, friendship, trust, maturity level, and
approval given by their informal sources of help [7]. Specifically, it was found that Filipino youth seek the help
of their friends, peers, family, and online support groups when they have mental health concerns [8].
In a study on mental health help-seeking behaviors among Filipino American adults, it was found that
the participants considered mental health help-seeking through counseling in a positive way for dealing with
critical life circumstances such as entering college and marriage [9]. However, the major impediment to help-
seeking is saving face. Lindsey et al. [10] reported that depressed adolescents sought help most often from their
families and if problems cannot be resolved, then, professional help is sought. Heerde [11] pointed out the
important role of family help-seeking to lessen negative mental health outcomes in adolescents.
Vidourek et al. [12] examined the benefits and barriers of mental health help-seeking in university
students across age, sex, involvement in campus organization, with a friend/family diagnosed with mental health
disorder, and race/ethnicity. They found that improved mental health and reduced stress are the top perceived
benefits of help-seeking while the top perceived barriers were embarrassment and denial of the problem.
Tuliao [5] mentioned that for Filipinos here and abroad, there is a stigma attached to being mentally ill
and it serves as a barrier in seeking psychological treatment. How culture shapes the attitudes and behaviors
towards mental disorders and those who suffer from it gets internalized and may lead to low self-efficacy,
shame, and reluctance to seek treatment. Negative perceptions about mental health and mental disorders, limited
discussions about this topic, and traditional Filipino coping mechanisms and values play a role in the
underutilization of mental health services of Filipinos [13; 14]. Filipinos tend to endure difficulties in uncertain
circumstances (concept of “matiyaga”) and manifest inner strength and resilience (concept of “lakas ng loob”).
In a later study among college students, Tuliao [15] found that the loss of face was negatively associated with
attitudes towards counseling.
Thus, the study delved into the perceptions of adolescents and young adults on seeking professional
help for mental health problems. Specifically, it investigated perceived benefits to and barriers of mental health
help-seeking behaviors, their most preferred source of help for mental health problems, and if the perceived
benefits and barriers differ based on sex, age, family income, having a friend or family member with a mental
health disorder, and most preferred source of help for mental health problems.
There is few research on mental health help-seeking among the Filipino youth. The findings of the
study will contribute knowledge to educators, mental health professionals, parents, and the youth about mental
health help-seeking behaviors, motivations, and preferences among the youth in the Philippines. It can also
inform mental health care providers about creating appropriate interventions and conditions for those who seek
mental health services.
II. Methodology
The study utilized a quantitative research approach using a survey questionnaire to collect data. It also
utilized a cross-sectional design since it gathered data from respondents at one point in time.
The respondents were undergraduate students from a college of the national university located south of
the National Capital Region. There was a total of 300 students during the study period. The respondents were
determined using stratified random sampling to obtain equal number of samples for each year level. The
determined sample size was 169 students.
The research instrument was adapted from Vidourek et al. [12] to examine college students‟ perceived
benefits to and barriers of mental health help-seeking behaviors. The questionnaire in English was comprised of
four parts. The first part required students to provide demographic information. In this section, questions
regarding “whether the student has a family/friend diagnosed with mental health disorder”, “would likely ask for
help/advice”, “most likely to go to for help/advice, and “have visited mental health professionals” were also
included. The second part assessed the students' perceived benefits to seeking treatment for a mental health
problem. It included 14 items and required the respondents to check all responses that apply. The third part
assessed the students' perceived barriers to seeking treatment for a mental health problem. It included 14 items
and required respondents to check all responses that apply. The last section examined the respondents‟
perceived stigma to mental health disorders and treatment. It included 4 items and required students to answer
by using a 5-point Likert-type scale (1 = strongly disagree and 5 = strongly agree). The lower the score, the
lower is the likelihood to hold a stigma against those with mental health issues. To establish reliability, the
questionnaires were distributed to a sample of 10 students studying in the university. Cronbach alpha of the
variables of the questionnaire were computed and they ranged between 0.70 – 0.95, which are considered
acceptable in most social science research.
After the reliability test, the survey questionnaires were distributed to the participants through
Facebook including a link of the questionnaire in Google Forms, an online survey platform. An informed
consent form was also given to the participants with information explaining the purpose of the study and the
voluntary nature of participation. A total of 169 questionnaires were disseminated and only 94 questionnaires
were returned (56% response rate).
The data were encoded and analyzed using descriptive statistics through STATA and cross tabulations
in MS Excel. However, due to the low response rate (56%), only descriptive analysis was used to determine the
benefits of and barriers to mental health help-seeking as opposed to the initial plan to use inferential analysis.
Therefore, frequency distributions, percentages, and summary statistics were used to determine the socio-
demographics and background information, perceived benefits of and barriers to mental health help-seeking, and
stigma related attitudes of the respondents. Crosstabulations were done to examine the relationships of the
perceived benefits and barriers with sex, age, family income, having a friend or family member with a mental
health disorder, and most preferred source of help for mental health problems.
The survey was limited to gathering quantitative data and respondents were unable to express their
thoughts and opinions about mental health help-seeking. Also, socially desirable responses may have been given
since the data were based on self-reports. Lastly, there was an unsatisfactory response rate that hindered the use
of inferential statistics to investigate the relationships among the variables.
III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
3.1 Sociodemographic Characteristics of the Respondents

Of the participants, more than three-fourths were females, less than half were aged 20 -21 years old,
half were seniors, a third have an annual income in the range from ₱200,000 to ₱500,000 with an average family
income of ₱668,213.30, and lastly, less than half have a weekly allowance ranging from ₱500 to ₱1,000 with an
average of ₱1,482.23 (Table 1). The average annual family income of 5 family member households in the
Philippines is around ₱313,000 [16]. This means the average annual family income of the respondents was
around twice as much and they belong to the middle class of the society.
Table 1. Sociodemographic characteristics of the respondents (n = 94)

Socio-demographic Frequency Percentage
Characteristics
Sex
F 72 76.60
M 22 23.40
Age (years old)
18-19 35 37.23
20-21 39 41.50
22-23 14 14.89
24-25 5 5.32
26+ 1 1.06
Year level
Freshman 28 29.79
Sophomore 2 2.13
Junior 17 18.9
Senior 47 50.00
Annual family income
Less than P200,000 25 26.60
P200,000-P500,000 34 36.17
P501,000-P1,000,000 21 22.34
Above P1,000,000 10 10.64
Weekly allowance
Less than P500 3 3.19
P500-P1,000 40 42.55
P1,001-P1,500 26 27.66
P1,501-P2,000 15 15.96
P2,001-P2,500 3 3.19
Above P2,500 7 7.45
Note: All categories are total of 94 except annual family income due to missing data; Missing values are
excluded.
3.2 Mental Health Information of the Respondents

More than half of the respondents do not have a friend/family member diagnosed with a mental health
disorder (Table 2). Vidourek et al. [12] reported that in their sample, more than a third (38.1%) had a family
member or friend diagnosed with a mental health disorder. The results show a lower percentage for the
respondents. Magtubo [17] reported that around 17-20% of Filipino adults suffer from psychiatric disorders
while De Guzman [18] wrote that an estimated 3 million Filipinos suffer from depressive disorders with higher
suicide rates in males and the stigma associated with mental health disorders may imply that the depression and
suicide rates in the country are under-reported. For the younger population, around 10-15% of children and
adolescents, aged 5-15, experience mental health problems. Further, the top mental health problems in the
country are schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety disorder.
Table 2. Frequency distribution of responses on mental health information of respondents

Mental health situation Frequency Percentage
Male Female
Has a friend/family member diagnosed with a
mental health disorder
Yes 14 28 44.68
No 8 44 55.32
Would likely ask for help/advice if feeling
mentally poor
Yes 17 65 87.23
No 5 7 12.77
Has visited a psychologist, psychiatrist,
counselor, or social worker for a mental health
problem
Yes 9 15 25.53
No 13 57 74.47
Majority of the respondents reported that they would most likely ask for help or advice in case they feel
mentally poor. Most of those who responded positively were females. In a study of college students, Bello et al.
[19] found that the respondents highly preferred seeking help from family members and/or friends than mental
health professionals. For the respondents who would not likely ask for help or advice, shame (hiya) and loss of
face may play a part because these can further compound one‟s reluctance to seek psychological help especially
when the culture looks down on mental illnesses [15].
Around three-fourths of the respondents said that they have not visited any mental health professional
such as a psychologist, psychiatrist, social worker, and counselor for a mental health problem. This is like the
findings of Bello et al. [19] where only 22% of the college students sought help from a counselor or
psychotherapist. Rural youth would rather not seek help from anyone and would try to face their problems on
their own or engage in self-reflection [8]. One reason why people shy away from seeking help for mental health
problems was because they feared being officially diagnosed by a mental health professional despite sensing
that something is already wrong with them [20]. They felt that this will make them less likely to become part of
a stigmatized group. Such behaviors, however, may lead to serious and dangerous outcomes due to self-
diagnosis and delay of treatment.
3.3 Perceived Benefits of Mental Health Help-Seeking Behaviors

Table 3 indicates that the top three perceived benefits of mental health help-seeking were self-
awareness/personal growth, improved mental health, and reduced stress. Results generated from Vidourek et al.
[12] showed the top three perceived benefits of their respondents were improved mental health, reduced stress,
and resolving one‟s problem. Self-awareness/personal growth was fourth in their list of results. This focus on
self-awareness may be due to a perceived importance of improving their performance or productivity, goal
setting, and stress management as they transition to adulthood [21]. Generally, the college students seem to
believe that seeking help for mental health issues is an effective way to resolve mental health concerns.
Table 3. Frequency distribution of respondents‟ perception on benefits of mental help-seeking

Benefits of mental health help-seeking Frequency Percentage
Self-awareness/personal growth 84 89.36

Improved mental health 76 80.85
Reduced stress 73 77.66
Increased social support 69 73.40
Increased comfort sharing feelings with others 67 71.28
Resolving one‟s problems 59 62.77
Increased communication 59 62.77
Increased self-confidence 53 56.38
More optimistic attitude 52 55.32
Improved sleep 51 54.26
Improved life satisfaction 46 48.94
Happiness 43 45.74
Increased energy 39 41.49
Increased relationships 35 37.23
Mental health help-seeking behaviors require certain conditions which will facilitate the adolescent‟s
disclosure of his/her mental health concerns. Familiarity or a good relationship with the person, trustworthiness,
and level of maturity of the person help determine if the person they will seek help from is worthy of their self-
disclosure [7].
Meanwhile, the lowest in the list of perceived benefits of mental health help-seeking were happiness,
increased energy, and increased relationships. In another study, it was found that the lowest perceived benefits
were increased energy, improved sleep, and increased social support [12].
3.4 Perceived Barriers to Mental Health-Help Seeking Behaviors

The top three perceived barriers to mental health help-seeking were denial that there is a problem, not
feeling comfortable sharing feelings with another person, and embarrassment (Table 4). Vidourek et al. [12]
found that the highest perceived barriers were embarrassment, denial, and not wanting to be labeled as crazy.
The three perceived barriers to mental health help-seeking seen in this study may be the effect of hiya
(shame) and loss of face if one admits to having and discloses a mental health problem. These are cultural
values that aim to preserve one‟s integrity, the family‟s reputation, and to avoid real or imagined social
misbehaviors [5]. Specifically, the loss of face led to a lower likelihood to seek help from mental health
professionals [5].
Comfort in sharing feelings and problems with another person would require that the discloser knows,
trusts, and finds credible the person he/she is seeking help from [7]. Further, the fear that the other person will
show disapproval of their experiences might be a barrier to help-seeking [7]. If having mental health issues are
disapproved of, then revealing such concerns will be highly avoided [5].
Low utilization of mental health services may be due to shame/stigma, inadequate financial resources,
inappropriateness of services rendered, and the role of culture in terms of the conceptions about mental health
and its treatment [9].
The lowest in the list of perceived barriers to mental health help-seeking were not wanting to be
admitted to a hospital, lack of insurance, and fear of the mental health professional (psychologist/social
worker/psychiatrist/counselor). In a similar study, the lowest in the list were not wanting to be placed under
medication, not wanting help, and lack of insurance [12].
Hospital confinement and utilization of the mental health professional services are very often
associated with major psychiatric problems, especially with the term “going crazy” or “crazy” [7]. In terms of
insurance, the Mental Health Law (Republic Act 11036) will provide patients access to the benefits of the
government medical insurance companies like the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation through insurance
packages [22]. There might be a need for information dissemination regarding this and all benefits included.
Table 4. Frequency distribution of respondents‟ perception on barriers to mental health help-seeking

Barriers to mental health help-seeking Frequency Percentage
Denial that there is a problem 75 79.79

Not feeling comfortable sharing feelings with another person 71 75.53
Embarrassment 69 73.40
Not knowing where to go for help 63 67.02
Wanting to handle problems on one‟s own 63 67.02
Lack of social support 63 67.02
Cost 59 62.77
Not wanting to talk to a psychologist/social
worker/psychiatrist/counselor about personal issues 45 47.87
Not wanting to be labeled as “crazy” 44 46.81
Not wanting to be placed on medication 40 42.55
Not wanting help 39 41.49
Not wanting to be admitted to a hospital 29 30.85
Lack of insurance 27 28.72
Fear of psychologist/social worker/psychiatrist/counselor 26 27.66
Regarding stigma-related attitudes, most of the respondents strongly disagreed that individuals who go
to counseling/therapy for mental health problems are lazy, are either crazy or different from normal people in a
negative way, are mentally weak, and should handle problems on their own without the help of a
psychologist/social worker/psychiatrist/counselor (Table 5). Similarly, it was found in another study that the
respondents strongly disagreed or disagreed that individuals who to counseling are mentally weak, should
handle problems on their own, are crazy, and lazy [12]. The results of the present study indicate that the
respondents exhibited a „less likely to hold‟ stigma-related attitudes. The results of having low overall stigma
based on their disagreement with the statements portray that the respondents may look at counseling and therapy
in a positive way and may be more likely to seek help from mental health professionals and significant others
when they need it. Lally et al. [23] found that lower stigma levels are associated with a higher likelihood that the
respondents will engage in help-seeking behaviors.
Table 5. Frequency distribution of responses on stigma related attitude

Statements Strongly Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly
Disagree Agree
I feel that individuals: 59 18 12 4 1
1. Who go to counseling/therapy (62.77%) (19.15%) (12.775) (4.26%) (1.06%)
for mental health problems are
mentally weak
2. With mental health problems 63 20 8 2 1

should handle problems on their (62.02%) (21.28%) (8.51%) (2.13%) (1.06%)
own without the help of
psychologist/social
worker/psychiatrist/counselor
3. Who go to counseling/therapy 75 15 0 3 1
are either crazy or different from (79.79%) (15.96%) - (3.19%) (1.06%)
normal people in a negative way
4. Who go to counseling for 77 13 2 1 1

mental health problems are lazy (81.91%) (13.83%) (2.13%) (1.06%) (1.06%)
3.5 Preferred Source of Help/Advice of the Respondents

In Table 6, results indicated that the top three preferred sources of help or advice if the respondents feel
mentally poor were the following: friend, mother, and psychiatrist. Although by sex, the males also pointed to
the counselor as a source of help after the friend and mother.
Ilagan [13] stated that there is a preference for help-seeking in difficult times from family members or
friends and that if the family is the “ultimate resource for help”, then there is no need for professional help. The
family and peers are main sources of support for adolescents, especially in terms of emotional support and
acceptance [7]. These protect them during stressful experiences and are sources of well-being. Likewise, a study
revealed a higher preference to seek help from friends and family member than professional counselors and
psychotherapist [19]. D‟Avanzo et al. [24] found from their study that adolescents sought help from the friend
first followed by the mother or father, romantic partner, psychologist, and lastly, psychiatrist. Similarly, the
respondents in this study preferred informal sources of help more than the formal sources of help. Tuliao
pointed out to the cultural aspect of help-seeking which is related to the Filipino concept of “ibang tao” or
outsider and “hindi ibang tao” or insider/one of us [5]. One would feel more comfortable expressing their
thoughts and emotions to someone who is perceived as „one of us‟ due to a sense of trust and respect. Also,
given that the third preferred source of help was the psychiatrist for females and counselor for males, this
indicates an openness to seek professional help. Further, since the psychiatrist was preferred more than the
psychologist, it seems that the respondents prefer a more medical approach that includes the diagnosis,
treatment, and prevention of mental health concerns.
In this study, the least preferred sources of help of the respondents were teacher, extended relatives,
psychologist, and father. D‟Avanzo et al. [24] found that the lowest preferences of the adolescents in their study
for help-seeking were the teacher, clergy, and the help-line. These results could be due to the perception that
these people cannot be easily trusted to be of help during emotional difficulties. The respondents may also feel
concerned about what these people, who do not know them well, might think of them if they seek assistance. As
Camara et al. pointed out, the youth require conditions of trust, familiarity, maturity, approval, and a good
relationship for them to disclose their deepest emotions [7].
Table 6. Frequency distribution of responses on preferred source of help/advice if they feel mentally poor
Preferred source of help Sex Percentage
Female Male Total
Friend 21 6 27 28.72
Mother 17 5 22 23.40
Psychiatrist 11 1 12 12.77
Romantic partner 9 2 11 11.70
Sibling 4 2 6 6.38
Counselor 1 4 5 5.32
Others (God, church people) 3 0 3 3.19
Father 1 1 2 2.13
Extended relatives 2 0 2 2.13
Psychologist 1 1 2 2.13
Teacher 2 0 2 2.13
TOTAL 72 22 94 100.00
3.6 Perceived Benefits of Mental Health Help-Seeking Behaviors Based on Sex, Age, Family
Income, having a Friend or Family Member Diagnosed with Mental Health Disorder, and
Most Preferred Source of Help/Advice
Table 7 shows, through the cross-tabulation table, that respondents who are female, aged 20-21, have
an annual family income ranging from ₱200,000 to ₱500,000, and do not have a friend or family diagnosed with
mental health disorder identified self-awareness/personal growth as the top benefit of mental health help-
seeking. Respondents who prefer to seek help from a friend identified improved mental health as the top benefit
of mental health help-seeking. Most of the variables showed that the most perceived benefit of mental health
help-seeking is the self-awareness/personal growth.
Self-awareness is one‟s knowledge about oneself, including one‟s identity, emotions, thoughts and
behaviors, and how this affects or influences other people [25]. It is important since it contributes to personal
growth, goal setting, improving one‟s performance, problem-solving and enhancing interpersonal relationships
[25].
Females are more likely to report benefits to seeking help for mental health concerns than males [12].
Women tend to be more open in seeking help from both formal and informal sources for support and advice for
their mental health problems. This may give them more opportunities to know themselves. Males, due to social
expectations or negative attitudes about help-seeking, may rely on themselves when dealing with their own
problems and deny that things are not going well for them.
Table 7. Relationship between sex, age, annual income, having a friend or family diagnosed with mental health
disorder, and preferred source of help to the top three perceived benefits of mental health help-seeking
Variable Self- Improved mental Reduced stress
awareness/personal health
growth
Sex
F 65 59 57
M 19 17 16
Age (years old)
18-19 30 27 27
20-21 36 31 31
22-23 12 13 12
24-25 5 4 3
26+ 1 1 0
Less than P200,000 23 17 19
P200,000-P500,000 29 28 24
P501,000-P1,000,000 19 18 16
Above P1,000,000 9 9 10
No answer 4 4 4
Has a friend or family
diagnosed with MH disorder
Yes
39 38 34
No 45 38 39
Preferred Source of
help/advice
Friend 22 22 23
Mother 20 18 16
Psychiatrist 11 11 10
Romantic partner 11 11 10
Counselor 5 4 4
Sibling 4 4 4
Extended relatives 2 2 2
Father 2 1 1
Teacher 2 1 1
Psychologist 2 1 1
Others (God, church people) 3 1 1
In terms of age, the respondents are in the stage of emerging adulthood which is considered as a time
for exploration [26], especially in terms of identity, career, love and relationships, and worldviews [27]. This
exploration is part of efforts at self-awareness.
The average family income of Filipino families is P267,000 [16] which places a third of the
respondents‟ families in the middle-income range. According to Rughani [28], an adequate income is an
enabling resource to access help and services in one‟s community.
Contrary to the finding of Vidourek et al. [12], in this study, respondents who did not have a friend or
family diagnosed with a mental health disorder perceived a higher number of benefits of mental health help-
seeking than students who have a family member or friend with a mental health disorder. It is possible that
respondents perceive that self-awareness is not only a benefit of mental health help-seeking but also a protective
factor against mental health issues as one gets to know about one‟s strengths and limitations.
Seeking help from a friend is related to improved mental health. Narr et al. [29] found from their study
on adolescent and adult friendships that high quality friendships in adolescence predicted long-term mental
health later in life. This arises due to the positive experiences of attachment, support, and sharing of intimate
feelings at a time when identity development is crucial.
3.7 Perceived Barriers to Mental Health Help-Seeking Behaviors Based on Sex, Age, Family
Income, having a Friend or Family Member Diagnosed with Mental Health Disorder, and
Most Preferred Source of Help/Advice
In Table 8, results show that respondents who are females, aged 20-21, have an annual family income
ranging from ₱200,000 to ₱500,000, does not have a friend or family diagnosed with a mental health disorder,
and prefer to seek help from the romantic partner identified not
feeling comfortable sharing feelings with another person as the top barrier to mental health help-seeking. Denial
that there is a problem is the next identified barrier to mental health help-seeking behaviors for these categories.
Table 8. Relationship between sex, age, annual income, having a friend or family diagnosed with mental health
disorder, and preferred source of help to the top three perceived barriers to mental health help-seeking
Variable Embarrassment Denial that there Not feeling comfortable
is a problem sharing feelings with
another person
Sex
F 55 56 56
M 14 19 15
Age (years old)
18-19 28 30 25
20-21 28 31 32
22-23 9 10 10
24-25 4 4 3
26+ 0 0 1
Less than P200,000 19 20 19
P200,000-P500,000 24 25 25
P501,000-P1,000,000 13 17 18
Above P1,000,000 9 10 7
No answer 4 3 2
Has a friend or family
diagnosed with MH
disorder
No 40 39 40
Yes 29 36 31
Preferred Source of
help/advice
Friend 1 2 2
Mother 18 19 17
Psychiatrist 4 2 6
Romantic partner 19 21 23
Counselor 9 8 7
Sibling 2 2 1
Extended relatives 1 2 1
Father 7 9 8
Teacher 4 5 2
Psychologist 2 2 2
Others (God, church 2 3 2
people)
Students who do not have a friend or family diagnosed with mental health disorder also perceived
embarrassment as a barrier to mental health help-seeking. The results show how an individual without exposure
to people with mental health problems may feel embarrassed to seek help for mental health problems and feel
uncomfortable sharing their feelings with another person.
Sharing one‟s experiences with others requires interpersonal trust, a sense of maturity in the person
being disclosed to, and a non-judgmental stance [7]. All these are part of a good interpersonal relationship and
without these, there will be difficulties in sharing one‟s problems to another. Denial of the problem is a
perceived barrier to help-seeking since non-acknowledgment that there is a mental health problem means there
is no need to assimilate new information about the self and revise one‟s self-knowledge [30]. Embarrassment
and shame arise due to the stigma associated with people with mental disorders and seeking professional help
[12], which, unfortunately, is also related to avoiding treatment [20].
Females are likely to disclose information more than males in the context of intimate relationships [31].
Intimate relationships are imbued with trust and reciprocity, facilitating the disclosure of personal information to
another person [32]. WHO [33] also reported that females are more likely to disclose mental health concerns to
a mental health professional than males.
According to Lally et al. [23], being younger than 25 years was associated with higher stigma levels
and a lesser likelihood to engage in help-seeking behaviors. Given that they are in the age of exploration of
themselves and various possibilities in identity, career, and relationships as they transition into adulthood [26],
they need a sense of family and belongingness as an avenue for their self-expression, which may be provided by
both friends and family members [34].
A third of the respondents‟ families are in the middle-income range and over a quarter are from lower
income families. According to Leaf et al. [35], individuals with lesser income tend to be more concerned with
family reactions to mental health and utilization of services. It is also possible that “hiya” (embarrassment) or
loss of face influence the disclosure of mental health issues to others. These are cultural values which emphasize
the preservation of integrity and social standing of the self and one‟s family [5]. One would not be comfortable
sharing one‟s mental health concerns if doing that may mean tarnishing one‟s reputation and/or the family name
and leaving a negative impression on others.
Vidourek et al. [12] found that those who have no friend or family member diagnosed with a mental
health disorder were more likely to have stigma-related attitudes such as viewing such individuals as different in
a negative way, as lazy, crazy, or mentally weak. Lally et al. [23] found similar results that having no friend or
family member diagnosed with a mental health disorder led to higher stigma levels and a reduced likelihood to
engage in help-seeking behavior. These respondents perceive discomfort in sharing feeling with others as a
barrier to help-seeking maybe because they are used to solving problems on their own or feel embarrassed to
share private information with other people.
Intimacy, loyalty, support, and trust are part and parcel of romantic relationships. The romantic partner
is a primary coping source and viewed as “hindi ibang tao” or someone who is one with you [5]. Disclosing to a
person one is intimate with is easier than sharing one‟s problems with a person one considers an „outsider.‟
IV. Conclusions and Recommendations

The perceived benefits of mental health help-seeking focused on self-awareness/personal growth,
improved mental health, and reduced stress. The perceived barriers to mental health help-seeking centered on
discomfort in sharing feelings with another person, denial that there is a problem, and embarrassment. The most
preferred sources for help were the friend, mother, and psychiatrist. Most of them reported that they would most
likely ask for help in case they feel mentally poor, especially among the females. More than half of the
respondents do not have a friend/family member diagnosed with mental health disorder and majority have not
visited a psychologist, psychiatrist, counselor, or social worker for a mental health problem.
Respondents who were female, aged 20-21, has an annual family income ranging from ₱200,000 to
₱500,000, and do not have a friend or family diagnosed with a mental health disorder identified self-
awareness/personal growth as the top benefit of mental health help-seeking. Respondents who prefer to seek
help from a friend identified improved mental health as the top benefit of mental health help-seeking.
Meanwhile, respondents who were female, aged 20-21, has an annual family income ranging from ₱200,000 to
₱500,000, do not have a friend or family diagnosed with a mental health disorder, and preferred to seek help
from the romantic partner identified not feeling comfortable sharing feelings with another person as the top
barrier to mental health help-seeking. Most of the respondents exhibited a less likely to hold stigma-related
attitude.
For future research, using a mixed method approach can be beneficial through inclusion of qualitative
data regarding other factors which may positive and negatively influence youth‟s perceptions on mental health,
those with mental health concerns, and mental health help-seeking behaviors. Out of school youth and other
youth groups from various settings can also be considered as future respondents.
Community and school interventions like seminars and workshops can be put in place to widen
information dissemination regarding mental health literacy including symptoms of mental health disorders, and
the importance of help-seeking from both informal and formal support services to enhance self-awareness and
healthy mental states. Information and educational campaigns may also use social media sites popular among
the youth to develop more positive attitudes toward mental health help-seeking and encourage them to
participate in mental health services.
Parents, family members, and other significant others like friends and romantic partners should be
informed about their significant roles in mental health help-seeking. They should be willing to listen and support
in times of challenges and difficulties. They can also put forward positive opinions regarding counseling,
psychotherapy, and immediate seeking of mental health services if stressors become overwhelming.
Mental health service providers should exhibit a more approachable and trust-worthy stance to
encourage the youth to seek professional help. Increased availability of accessible and affordable in-campus and
out-campus mental health services should be done if the youth are to be encouraged to seek mental health
support and/or treatment [36]. Whether support services are formal or informal, these should overcome the
perceived barriers to mental health help-seeking such as feeling uncomfortable sharing feelings with another
person and embarrassment.
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International Journal of Arts Humanities and Social Sciences Studies

Volume 7 Issue 4 ǁ April 2022

Benefits Of and Barriers to Mental Health Help-Seeking

Keywords: Adolescents, college students, help-seeking behavior, mental health.

1.1 Mental Health Concerns in the Philippines

1.2 Mental Health Help-seeking Behaviors

III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

3.1 Sociodemographic Characteristics of the Respondents

Table 1. Sociodemographic characteristics of the respondents (n = 94)

3.2 Mental Health Information of the Respondents

Table 2. Frequency distribution of responses on mental health information of respondents

3.3 Perceived Benefits of Mental Health Help-Seeking Behaviors

Table 3. Frequency distribution of respondents‟ perception on benefits of mental help-seeking

Self-awareness/personal growth 84 89.36

3.4 Perceived Barriers to Mental Health-Help Seeking Behaviors

Table 4. Frequency distribution of respondents‟ perception on barriers to mental health help-seeking

Denial that there is a problem 75 79.79

Table 5. Frequency distribution of responses on stigma related attitude

2. With mental health problems 63 20 8 2 1

4. Who go to counseling for 77 13 2 1 1

3.5 Preferred Source of Help/Advice of the Respondents

IV. Conclusions and Recommendations

[21] M. Kalaiyarasan, & M. Solomon, Importance of self-awareness in adolescence – A thematic research

[27] W. Bleidorn, & T. Schwaba, Personality development in emerging adulthood. In J. Specht

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