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Cited by 162Mental Health Treatment and AccessPsychology and Mental HealthGender Roles and Identity Studies

Beliefs about mental illness and willingness to seek help: a cross-sectional study

Segal, D. L., Coolidge, F. L., Mincic, M. S., O'Riley, A.·2005·Aging & Mental Health
DOI 10.1080/13607860500131047
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Abstract

Evidence indicates that older adults underutilize mental health services, but little is known empirically about the perceptions older adults have about mental illness and their attitudes about seeking professional help for psychological problems. The present study examined beliefs about mental illness and willingness to seek professional help among younger (n=96; M age=20.6 years; range=17-26 years) and older (n=79; M age=75.1 years; range=60-95 years) persons. Participants completed the Beliefs Toward Mental Illness Scale and the Willingness to Seek Help Questionnaire. Older adults had generally similar perceptions of mental illness as younger adults except that older adults were more likely to perceive the mentally ill as being embarrassing and having poor social skills. Older adults also did not report a lower willingness to seek psychological help. Correlational analyses showed that, among older adults, increases in negative attitudes about mental illness (specifically, the view that the mentally ill have poor interpersonal skills) are associated with decreases in willingness to seek psychological services. An implication is that negative stereotypes about mental illness held by some older adults could play a role in their underutilization of mental health services. Other barriers to mental health care are also discussed.

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  • Multiple treatment barriers in depression have been documented, including shortage of skilled therapists, long waiting lists, fear of stigma, lack of treatment motivation, negative appraisals of psychotherapy/psychopharmacotherapy, pessimistic expectancies, difficulty identifying symptoms, and time/financial constraints.

    “Research has elucidated a number of treatment barriers in depression, which largely resemble those documented for other psychiatric disorders: shortage of skilled therapists (particularly in rural areas), long waiting lists, fear of stigma associated with mental illness and/or psychiatric treatment, lack of treatment motivation, fears and negative appraisals concerning psychotherapy and/or psychop”

    From The more it is needed, the less it is wanted: Attitudes toward face-to-face intervention among depressed patients undergoing online treatment (2013) · cites this paper as [11]

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Authors
Segal, D. L., Coolidge, F. L., Mincic, M. S., & O'Riley, A.
Affiliations
University of Colorado Colorado Springs (US)
Corresponding author
Segal, D. L.
ORCID
Venue
Aging & Mental Health
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2005-07
Volume
9
Issue
4
Pages
363-367
ISSN
  • 1360-7863 (ISSN-L)
  • 1364-6915
DOI
10.1080/13607860500131047
OpenAlex
W2131862642
Cited by
162
References
22
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 14 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 8
FWCI
4.91
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Aging & Mental Health (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychology and Mental Health
  • Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender Roles and Identity Studies
Keywords
mental illness beliefs, willingness to seek help, older adults, mental health service utilization, age differences, mental illness stereotypes, help-seeking attitudes, barriers to mental health care
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Attitude to Health, Mental Disorders, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Humans, Male, Mental Health, Mental Health Services, Middle Aged, Prejudice

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