Barriers and Facilitators to Professional Mental Health Help-Seeking Behavior: Perspective of Malaysian LGBT Individuals

Abstract

This qualitative study explored the facilitators and barriers influencing professional mental health help-seeking among Malaysian LGBT young adults (n = 28). The main barriers identified were internal resistance, lack of resources and information about mental health, limited availability and accessibility to services, negative perception of mental health services, and stigma against LGBT communities. The facilitators were self-awareness, having resources and information, accessibility or availability of mental health services, and positive attitudes and beliefs about these services. Perspectives from our participants strongly highlight the requirement of culturally competent practices and LGBT-affirmative policies for better provision of mental health services among the LGBT communities.

Keywords:

• Barriers
• help-seeking
• LGBT
• facilitators
• Malaysia
• mental health

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia for the support in this research.