A cross-sectional study of the barriers for seeking mental health care among medical undergraduates

Abstract

Aims and Objectives: The aim and objective of this study are to study the major barriers to seeking mental health care among medical undergraduates and to understand the correlation between barriers and demographic factors. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that was conducted with a sample that consists of 100 participants in Mamata Medical College, Khammam and Pratima Medical college, Telangana, India, during the period of 6 months (2019). A semi-structured pro forma was used to collect the sociodemographic details, and the Barriers to Access to Care Evaluation Scale was used to assess the reasons for not seeking mental health services. Results: This study found that 26% of the participants did not seek any kind of mental health care despite needing it. The analysis revealed that stigmatizing beliefs, difficulty in sharing one's concerns, preference for self-reliance, and difficulty in accessing help were the prominent barrier themes among responders. Conclusions: This study highlights the vast discrepancy in the number of individuals in need of mental health care and the actual number of people seeking it. The present findings indicate that interventions are required to improve mental health literacy and knowledge of local services.

Keywords

• barriers
• health services accessibility
• help-seeking behavior
• mental health
• primary health care
• undergraduates