Help-Seeking for mental health problems among Chinese

Summary: Among the Chinese population, one of their problems in mental health care is the intention to seek help from the mental health professionals. Nine hundred and forty one Chinese household were utilized as research subjects using a randomized household design. Results showed that Mental health showed no significant effect on help seeking intention. Studies in mental health utilization in Hong Kong have shown unfavorable results in seeking help from mental health professionals and mental health care utilization. Early intervention on psychological problems may help prevent prolonging the suffering of an individual or it may also prevent the escalation of a disease into a chronic mental health problem. Three cognitive components are important in explaining behavioural intention and the behavior itself, namely: attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioural control. According to the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), individuals are more likely to engage in a behavior if they have a positive outlook towards it, if they feel that there is a necessity or opportunities to engage in the behavior. According to the Hong Kong health and Welfare Bureau, an estimated of 95,000 individuals had mental health problems and required rehabilitation in 2001. However, less than 20% of the population actually received help from the same year. One of the barriers for low mental health service utilization is the incompatibility of Chinese beliefs and culture in seeking help for mental health problems. One example of it is when an individual suffers from psychological distress may be considered as lack of self control in solving personal problems, it may also signify that an individual has a weakness in character, bad thoughts or lack of will power. Chinese may avoid to seek help due to the interpretation of the disease which the Chinese will have concern about their shame. There has been strong evidence that the Chinese are less individualistic and more collectivistic. It is also documented that the Chinese culture values interpersonal relatedness, which includes harmony with others, concern of face loss and consideration of self in terms of different kinds of relationship. The Chinese are strongly influenced by their religion, Confucianism which implies hierarchy and authority to ensure unity and harmony among the individuals. Generally speaking on gender issues, women have high tendencies to seek psychological help. Research shows that women have more positive attitudes and more open to seeking professional help. On the contrary, men perceive themselves as an autonomous problem solver, self-reliant, and have restricted emotionality. As a result, men are highly endorsed. The study has three objectives. The first objective was to apply the Theory of Planned Behavior to examine what are the socio-cognitive factors of help seeking intention. Considering the specific socio-cultural factors that are relevant to Chinese, the study tested whether subjective norm would have an effect on attitude and perceived behavioral control. The second objective was to determine the practical barriers. The third objective was to identify whether there are differences in Chinese men and women in mental help seeking intention.

The purpose of the study was to examine the utility of Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) in understanding the help seeking attitudes for Mental Health Problems of the Chinese. Studies show that first, having a positive attitude towards seeking mental health treatment was a strong factor in seeking help for mental health problems. Chinese individuals who possess more positive attitude are more likely to seek help, those who have a less favorable attitude were more likely to have a delay in having a mental health treatment. The research also suggests that help seeking attitudes must be targeted with outreach services and public campaigns, to promote positive beliefs and positive outcomes in association with professional mental health services. The intention to seek help is also associated with the degree of an individual to have a strong self confidence in seeking help for personal mental health problems. The study has also shown that perceived behavioural control contributed the least to the understanding in help seeking intention. The present study showed that subjective norm was a significant predictor of help-seeking intention. The study strongly proposed that in relation to the collectivistic societies, interpersonal relatedness, and strong kinship bond among the Chinese population are emphasized that they do play a role in the development in the individuals attitude and perception and control over behavior. The study confirmed that this assertion that attitude towards help seeking intention are partially influenced by significant others among Chinese adults. Findings also suggest that in the Chinese society, seeking help from mental health professionals are less preferred. Social-cognitive factors might be more important in shaping help intention than the actual need to seek psychological help of a Chinese individual. Results also strongly supports the importance of targeting socio-cognitive factors in promoting helpseeking for mental health problems in the Chinese society. Implications: The study showed that there is a great influence on shaping and influencing an individuals behavior throughout any aspects in life. We must learn how to understand the differences of each mankind in terms of knowledge, attitude, behavior and perception towards a situation. We must be aware that each individual culturally diverse and may possess differences in beliefs and culture. In relevance to the study, it is important to educate people about the importance that mental health plays in our lives. It is important to give emphasis on mental health awareness not just on identifying mental diseases that a person might have but on identifying factors that may contribute or lead to a specific disease. We must also be aware of the different approach or therapies on how to treat or lead an individual to better mental health perception. Understanding a persons attitude may not be that easy but, patience and perseverance may be helpful in teaching how it is important to spread mental awareness in spite of the socio-cultural barriers. As nurses, we must figure out some helpful interventions aiming at promoting helpseeking from mental health professionals. We must also enhance mental health awareness and the promotion of mental health services considering the social-cognitive approach of a person. We must enforce that utilizing mental health services may not harm a personality of an individual, instead it helps an individual to understand how mental health greatly affects a persons life. Nurses are strongly encouraged to educate the public that help given by health professionals and therapy can be an effective means to treat any mental illness. According to the study, an individual who possess a positive attitude are those who seek more help than those who have an unfavorable attitude. In adherence to this, as nurses, we must help individuals to have a positive outlook in seeking help from any health care professional. It is also

important to have an ample look at the personality of a person, not just generalizing the group on what are their perceptions to behavioral change. We must be also be open on making our own strategies and interventions on how to deal with the help seeking intention of an individual especially on those who are culturally diverse. For furthermore research, it is encouraged that there must be more empirical research among the Chinese population. I suggest that the researcher should not focus more on the attitude of the Chinese population but also in their lifestyles, education about Mental Health and their perceptions on how they would acknowledge change in their help seeking intention. Future researchers may also find ways how to persuade the public on how to make a change in the publics sense of control over seeking help. Reference: Help-seeking for mental health problems among Chinese- Phoenix K.H. Mo. Winnie W.S. Mak Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol (2009)