Determinants of help-seeking behavior in depression: a cross-sectional study
Open accessAbstract
BACKGROUND: Although evidence-based and effective treatments are available for people with depression, a substantial number does not seek or receive help. Therefore, it is important to gain a better understanding of the reasons why people do or do not seek help. This study examined what predisposing and need factors are associated with help-seeking among people with major depression. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 102 subjects with major depression. Respondents were recruited from the general population in collaboration with three Municipal Health Services (GGD) across different regions in the Netherlands. Inclusion criteria were: being aged 18 years or older, a high score on a screening instrument for depression (K10 > 20), and a diagnosis of major depression established through the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI 2.1). RESULTS: Of the total sample, 65 % (n = 66) had received help in the past six months. Results showed that respondents with a longer duration of symptoms and those with lower personal stigma were more likely to seek help. Other determinants were not significantly related to help-seeking. CONCLUSIONS: Longer duration of symptoms was found to be an important determinant of help-seeking among people with depression. It is concerning that stigma was related to less help-seeking. Knowledge and understanding of depression should be promoted in society, hopefully leading to reduced stigma and increased help-seeking.
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Barriers such as fear of stigmatisation or the desire to handle the problem on one's own often deter professional help-seeking in depression.
“barriers such as fear of stigmatisation or the desire to handle the problem on one's own often deter professional help-seeking in depression (Boerema et al., 2016; Schomerus and Angermeyer, 2008).”
From The efficacy of automated feedback after internet-based depression screening: Study protocol of the German, three-armed, randomised controlled trial DISCOVER (2021) · cites this paper as Boerema et al., 2016
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References 50 · Cited by 110
- Authors
- Boerema, A. M., Kleiboer, A., Beekman, A. T. F., van Zoonen, K., Dijkshoorn, H., & Cuijpers, P.
- Affiliations
- Amsterdam Public Health (NL)
- GGD Amsterdam (NL)
- Corresponding author
- Boerema, Anke M.
- Venue
- BMC Psychiatry
- Published
- 2016-03-23
- Volume
- 16
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 78-78
- ISSN
- 1471-244X (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC4806501
- OpenAlex
- W2302818832
- Cited by
- 110
- References
- 50
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 3
- FWCI
- 13.61
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- cc-by
- Locations
- BMC Psychiatry (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Pure Amsterdam UMC (publishedVersion, other-oa)
- Amsterdam UMC (VU Amsterdam) - Institutional Repository (publishedVersion)
- VU Research Portal (publishedVersion, other-oa)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- ZonMw (50-51510-98-009)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Keywords
- help-seeking, major depressive disorder, symptom duration, personal stigma
- MeSH terms
- Help-Seeking Behavior, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cross-Sectional Studies, Major Depressive Disorder, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Netherlands, Patient Acceptance of Health Care, Young Adult, Social Stigma
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