Help-seeking in nursing and medical students: a concept analysis

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of mental health issues in healthcare students is a growing concern. However, many healthcare students do not seek help because of the strong stigma attached to mental illness. This reluctance has been extensively researched, but a clear understanding of help-seeking behaviour among healthcare students remains elusive. Aims: To clarify the concept of help-seeking in order to develop effective strategies aimed at encouraging help-seeking behaviour in students. Method: Concept analysis of help-seeking behaviour among nursing and medical students in the context of mental health, based on Rodgers’ evolutionary model. Results: Attributes: (a) consulting a healthcare professional, (b) talking to family/peers/friends and (c) self-treatment. Antecedents: (a) self-awareness, (b) relationship and previous experiences with a help-provider, (c) social perception and (d) availability of university-offered help services. Barriers: (a) barriers specific to healthcare students, (b) misconceptions about mental healthcare services, (c) negative social perception, (d) cost and (e) culture. Consequences included: positive and negative consequences. Conclusion: This concept analysis aimed to fill in the gap in concept-analysis research and to provide a new conceptualisation of help-seeking by examining subjective reports. The findings of this study will contribute to implementing effective incentives aimed at encouraging help-seeking behaviour in nursing and medical students.