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Mental health help-seeking among Brazilian medical students: Who suffers unassisted?

Author

Listed:
  • Tamires Martins Bastos
  • Daniela Benzano Bumaguin
  • Vitória Rech Astolfi
  • Aurora Zamora Xavier
  • Mauricio Scopel Hoffmann
  • Felipe Ornell
  • Daniel Tornaim Spritzer
  • Ana Margareth Siqueira Bassols
  • Lisia von Diemen
  • Pricilla Braga Laskoski
  • Simone Hauck

Abstract

Introduction: Several barriers for mental health help-seeking were identified among medical students, including minimizing mental illness. Studies examining aspects particular to those who perceive psychological impairment but do not access treatment are necessary for planning interventions. Aims: To identify help-seeking barriers based on the students’ perception about their need for treatment and psychiatric symptoms. Methods: Cross-sectional study assessing 436 Brazilian medical students (833 attending the medical school = 52.3% response rate). Data collection covered sociodemographic data, mental health, academic environment, and Beck Inventories of Depression (BDI) and Anxiety (BAI). Non-parametric tests and hierarchical logistic regression were used to compare students undergoing treatment, those willing to access treatment, and the ones reporting no need for treatment. Results: Among the 382 students who completed the survey (87.6% completion rate), 38.5% ( n  = 147) were in treatment, and 33% ( n  = 126) were in need. Moderate to severe risk of alcohol abuse was observed in 45.9% ( n  = 50) of students reporting no need for treatment. Regression models suggested that perceiving need for treatment – whether already undergoing it or not – was associated with the severity of depressive symptoms (OR 1.14 [95% CI 1.07–1.21]), female assigned sex (OR 2.18 [95% CI 1.23–3.88]), LGBTQ+ (OR 2.47 [95% CI 1.09–5.60]) and reporting good relationship with the family (OR 0.26 [95% CI 0.08–0.83]). Models comparing students in treatment and those in need, pointed that the factors associated with lacking mental health care were age (OR 0.90 [95% CI 0.82–0.99]), perception of a heavy workload (OR 2.43 [95% CI 1.35–4.38]) and good relationship with colleagues (OR 3.51 [95% CI 1.81–6.81]). Discussion: Social variables and the severity of depressive symptoms are positively associated with perceived need for treatment. Age and academic environment factors were related to help-seeking behavior among students with appropriate self-awareness. We discuss these findings’ implications for planning interventions.

Suggested Citation

  • Tamires Martins Bastos & Daniela Benzano Bumaguin & Vitória Rech Astolfi & Aurora Zamora Xavier & Mauricio Scopel Hoffmann & Felipe Ornell & Daniel Tornaim Spritzer & Ana Margareth Siqueira Bassols &, 2022. "Mental health help-seeking among Brazilian medical students: Who suffers unassisted?," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 68(6), pages 1203-1212, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:68:y:2022:i:6:p:1203-1212
    DOI: 10.1177/00207640221082930
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Travis Tian-Ci Quek & Wilson Wai-San Tam & Bach X. Tran & Min Zhang & Zhisong Zhang & Cyrus Su-Hui Ho & Roger Chun-Man Ho, 2019. "The Global Prevalence of Anxiety Among Medical Students: A Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-18, July.
    2. Daniel Luccas Arenas & Anna Carolina Viduani & Ana Margareth Siqueira Bassols & Simone Hauck, 2021. "Peer support intervention as a tool to address college students’ mental health amidst the COVID-19 pandemic," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 67(3), pages 301-302, May.
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