The impact of mental health literacy, stigma, and social support on attitudes toward mental health help-seeking

Abstract

Guided by the theory of reasoned action, this study built a model to examine the ways in which mental health literacy (MHL), personal stigma, self-stigma, and social support collectively influence attitudes toward mental health help-seeking. A sample of 211 participants (age range 22–64; 67.62% females) from a cross-sectional survey that examined MHL of local public housing staffs in Texas were included in a structural equation modeling analysis. MHL directly influenced attitudes. Personal and self-stigma did not mediate the relationship between MHL and attitudes. Yet, self-stigma was significantly associated with attitudes. Social support positively predicted attitudes. Findings suggest the need for improving MHL and strengthening social support to promote positive attitudes toward mental health help-seeking. Mental health education to those who are at risk for mental illness and to families who are likely to influence help-seeking attitudes of those with mental illness could be useful.

Keywords:

• Attitudes
• help-seeking
• mental health literacy
• personal-stigma
• self-stigma
• social support

Acknowledgments

We thank the public housing authority employees who volunteered their time for this research.