• Keziban Salaheddin and Barbara Mason.
• Psychology and Sports Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield.
• Br J Gen Pract. 2016 Oct 1; 66 (651): e686e692e686-92.

BackgroundDespite the high prevalence and burden of mental health problems among young people, studies have suggested that they infrequently seek professional help. Understanding the barriers to help-seeking is an important step towards facilitating early access to mental health services and improving psychological wellbeing.AimTo investigate why young adults may choose not to seek any support for an emotional or mental health difficulty.Design And SettingA cross-sectional online survey of young adults aged 18-25 from the general UK population.MethodThe survey consisted of an anonymous questionnaire that measured psychological distress, help-seeking preferences, and barriers to accessing help, which included the Barriers to Access to Care Evaluation (BACE) scale and an open-ended question to explore reasons for not seeking help in the past. Qualitative feedback was analysed using thematic analysis.ResultsOverall, 35% of participants (n = 45) who reported having an emotional or mental health difficulty did not seek any formal or informal help. The thematic analysis revealed that stigmatising beliefs, difficulty identifying or expressing concerns, a preference for self-reliance, and difficulty accessing help were prominent barrier themes among responders.ConclusionYoung adults experiencing psychological distress may struggle to access help from others. Stigma and negative perceptions surrounding mental health and help-seeking may explain why young people are reluctant to approach others for help. Improving public awareness of the services and resources that are available, as well as screening for psychological distress in primary care services, may be necessary to improve mental wellbeing among young adults.© British Journal of General Practice 2016.

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