Self-recognition and formal help-seeking for mental health conditions: A cross-sectional study

Fewer than half of those with a mental health condition seek professional support. Formal help-seeking is associated with mental health literacy and perceived need for care, which rely on the ability to accurately recognise one's own mental health. While poor self-recognition may present a significant barrier to service use, factors influencing problem-identification remain understudied. This investigation aimed to identify targets to improve self-recognition and increase formal help-seeking behaviour.

This study used a cross-sectional survey of 1135 Australian adults with mental health conditions. Participants completed DSM-5 symptom checklists and screening tools for depression, anxiety, social phobia, panic disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder, and reported their subjective experience of each condition. Adjusted logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with poor self-recognition and formal help-seeking.

Poor self-recognition was exhibited by 19 % of participants and was significantly associated with older age, comorbidity and lower symptom severity. Those with poor self-recognition had 18 % lower odds of formal help-seeking compared to those with accurate self-recognition. This association was not significant based on DSM-5 symptom checklists (AOR = 0.82, 95 % CI: 0.57-1.17), but was significant using screening tools (AOR = 0.76, 95 % CI: 0.59-0.97). Formal help-seeking was significantly associated with informal help-seeking, older age, English language and greater symptom severity.

Targeted strategies to improve self-recognition, particularly among older adults, could enhance service utilisation and reduce the mental health treatment gap. Additionally, informal supports and community-based interventions have the potential to promote early symptom recognition, facilitating more effective mental health management.