J Psychosoc Nurs Ment Health Serv. 2025 Mar 27:1-7. doi: 10.3928/02793695-20250320-02. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The current study explored adolescents’ experiences in seeking professional psychological help for depressive disorder, aiming to inform targeted health education and intervention programs.
METHOD: Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 19 adolescent inpatients with depressive disorder at a tertiary psychiatric hospital in Henan Province between June and September 2024, using purposive sampling. Interview data were systematically analyzed using Colaizzi’s seven-step method.
RESULTS: Three main themes and nine sub-themes emerged: (1) Cognitive Bias (poor knowledge of the disease, stigma); (2) Perceived Barriers to Help-Seeking (economic burden, skepticism about professional help, limited access to professional psychological help, alexithymia); and (3) Facilitators of Help-Seeking (relief of mental and physical symptoms, emotional stability, social support).
CONCLUSION: Mental health professionals should pay close attention to the challenges and needs faced by adolescents in the help-seeking process, provide guidance to correct misconceptions, reduce self-stigma, encourage emotional expression, and expand access to professional psychological help, to increase the likelihood of adolescents seeking psychological treatment. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, xx(x), xx-xx.].
PMID:40145689 | DOI:10.3928/02793695-20250320-02
