The impact of community-based mental health service provision on stigma and attitudes towards professional help-seeking

Abstract

Background: Stigma of mental ill-health and attitudes towards help-seeking are recognized barriers to seeking professional help, and have previously been linked to the type of support services available.

Aims: This study examined if the introduction of community-based mental health services to an area impacts mental health stigma and attitudes towards professional help-seeking amongst local residents.

Method: A repeated cross-sectional study comprising of community surveys in two localities was carried out before and after community-based mental health services were introduced (N = 1074). Measures including perceived public and self-stigma of mental ill-health, and attitudes towards seeking professional help were compared across the two time points.

Results: Both public and self-stigma were significantly lower, and attitudes towards seeking professional help significantly more positive, after community-based mental health services had been introduced in each locality.

Conclusions: The presence of local, accessible mental health services can positively impact help-seeking behaviour by reducing stigma and changing norms and attitudes around professional help-seeking.

Keywords:

• Mental health
• help-seeking
• service provision
• community
• stigma

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded by the Irish Research Council Enterprise Partnership Scheme in conjunction with Pieta House, Centre for the Prevention of Suicide and Self-Harm [EPSPG/2014/74].