A pathway model of the predictors of professional psychological help-seeking intentions in adults

Abstract

Many people who have suicidal thoughts or engage in related behaviors do not seek help from mental health professionals. The reasons for this are complex and have not been well-studied in our society. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate variables related to the intention to seek professional psychological help regarding suicide in the general population of Gonabad. In this cross-sectional study in 2024, 1100 people over the age of 18 who had resided in Gonabad (a city in Iran) for more than 1 year and had informed consent to participate in the study were recruited using a stratified household survey sampling method. Seven different questionnaires were used to collect data (Demographic Questionnaire, General Help-Seeking Questionnaire, Suicidal Ideation Attributes Scale, Stigma of Suicide Scale, Attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help (ATSPPH) scale, Literacy of Suicide Scale, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support). Structural equation modeling was used to test a hypothesized pathway model between the primary predictors and general help seeking. Data analysis and structural equation modeling were performed by examining the fit indices and using Amos 24 software. Based on the results, the variables of suicide stigma, suicidal attempt, social support, suicide ideation, history of suicide attempt, and suicide literacy can predict 39% variance the attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help (ATSPPH) among all participants (R2 = 0.39). Also, variables of suicidal attempt, social support, suicide ideation, history of suicide attempt, suicide literacy, suicide stigma, and ATSPPH can predict 63% variance the general help seeking intention (GHSI) among all participants (R2 = 0.63). High suicide literacy, good social support, and having a positive attitude towards help seeking have positive relationship with GHSI, while having a history of suicide attempt or suicidal thoughts have negative relationship with GHSI. Therefore, developing educational programs to improve literacy and change attitudes along with implementing screening interventions to identify individuals with suicidal thoughts or history is recommended.