The effects of sociodemographic factors on help-seeking for depression: Based on the 2017–2020 Korean Community Health Survey

Abstract

When individuals face psychological difficulties that exceed their resources, consulting professionals for mental health treatment can be an effective way to overcome these difficulties. However, in general, only a few patients receive treatment for depression. The goal of the present study was to explore the help-seeking behaviors of currently employed individuals with depression and the factors influencing their help-seeking behaviors. This study used raw data from the Korean Community Health Survey (KCHS) obtained from 2017 to 2020. A total of 6,505 employed individuals, who responded as having experiences of sadness or hopelessness that caused problems in their lives for more than two weeks and who scored more than nine points on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, were included in our analysis. Help-seeking behavior was measured as receiving expert advice due to feelings of sadness or hopelessness. Of the 6,505 people with depression, only 1,781 (27.38%) received professional counseling for it. Male participants (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.31, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.157–1.487), those aged 45–64 years (aOR = 1.192, 95% CI = 1.022–1.389) and more than 75 years (aOR = 1.446, 95% CI = 1.059–1.973), those not having a Medical Aid program (aOR = 1.750, 95% CI = 1.375–2.226), and those having low educational levels (aOR = .896, 95% CI = .830–.968) were less likely to seek professional help for depression. Our study found that help-seeking behaviors for depression in the Korean population were low. Furthermore, we identified the characteristics associated with individuals with depressive symptoms who chose not to receive help from mental health professionals. The results of this study provide insights to guide national interventions to increase help-seeking behaviors for depression.