Parents' help-seeking processes for early childhood mental health problems

Mental health problems affect up to one in five children and adolescents. Yet less than one quarter will access the appropriate professional help. This study explored parents' help-seeking processes for young children with mental health problems.

The present study followed up 442 6-year-old children of an original 733 infants (60% retention) who had been recruited from routine universal maternal and child health well-child appointments. An adapted help-seeking model was applied to a subsample of 84 children with mental health problems.

Less than one third of parents whose child had a mental health problem accessed any type of professional service for their child's mental health. The majority of parents had highly positive help-seeking intentions, however, only one third of parents whose child had a mental health problem recognised their child's behavioural difficulties. Parents with more positive help-seeking intentions were more likely to access professional care for their child in need than parents who felt ambivalent about seeking help. Parent recognition that their child's behaviour was more difficult than average was a key barrier to accessing professional help when their child had a mental health problem.

While most parents have positive help-seeking intentions, professionals aiding parent recognition of their young child's mental health difficulties could facilitate early intervention for children's mental health.