The delaying effect of stigma on mental health help‐seeking in Sri Lanka
Abstract
Background: Mental health stigma has been associated with delays in seeking treatment. Aims: To describe perceived stigma experienced by patients and carers in Sri Lanka and to determine the effects of stigma on help‐seeking delay. Methods: Survey of outpatients and family carers (n = 118 dyads) attending two psychiatric hospitals in Sri Lanka, using the Disclosure and Discrimination subscales of the Stigma Scale. Results: Stigma was positively related to help‐seeking delay for carers but not patients. Public stigma experienced by carers accounted for 23% of the variance in help‐seeking delay. Conclusion: Reducing stigma may reduce help‐seeking delays during the course of treatment.
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Stigma of mental illness is associated with delayed help seeking.
“The stigma associated with mental illness presents a barrier to seeking help for their mental health.”
From Promoting the mental health of university students in China: Protocol for contextual assessment to inform intervention design and adaptation (2021) · cites this paper as [12]
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- Authors
- Fernando, S. M., Deane, F. P., & McLeod, H. J.
- Affiliations
- University of Colombo (LK)
- University of Wollongong (AU)
- University of Glasgow (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Deane, Frank P.
- Venue
- Asia-Pacific Psychiatry
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2016-08-24
- Volume
- 9
- Issue
- 1
- ISSN
- 1758-5864 (ISSN-L)
- 1758-5872
- OpenAlex
- W2534818928
- Cited by
- 27
- References
- 6
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 2
- FWCI
- 3.67
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Asia-Pacific Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- ENLIGHTEN (Jurnal Bimbingan dan Konseling Islam) (acceptedVersion)
- Research Online (University of Wollongong) (submittedVersion)
- Figshare (submittedVersion)
- 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 health stigma, help-seeking delay, public stigma, family caregivers, psychiatric outpatients, disclosure, discrimination, Sri Lanka
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Mental Disorders, Female, Humans, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Male, Mental Health, Mental Health Services, Middle Aged, Patient Acceptance of Health Care, Sri Lanka, Time Factors, Caregivers, Social Stigma
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