Mental Health Stigma and Help-Seeking Behavior Among Manila Central University

Ailea Kathleen  L. Magboo,; Dianne Jean  J. Eisma,; Donna Jane  Z. Andal,; Gilbert  L. Tagufa,; Hwi Jung  Tanhueco,; Hyacinth  G. Macalinga,; Iris Camille  P. Manahan,; Miriam 2nd  B. Tumolva,; Rhea  J. Pobre,; Yunni Gracella  Opur,

Mental Health Stigma and Help-Seeking Behavior Among Manila Central University

Discipline: medicine (non-specific)

Abstract:

Objective The general objective of this study was to determine the mental health stigma and help-seeking behavior among Manila Central University (MCU) College of Nursing undergraduate students. Methods This was a cross-sectional analytical research study that utilized a 37-question online questionnaire made available for a total of 30 days. Specifically, the questionnaire determined the student’s personal level of mental health stigma (Discrimination-Devaluation Scale), perceived level of societal mental health stigma (Discrimination-Devaluation Scale), mental health level (Personal Health Questionnaire) and how an individual’s personal and perceived level of mental health stigma affected their willingness to seek help for their mental health problems (Healthcare for Community Questionnaire). Setting This study was conducted in May 2022 in Manila Central University (MCU) College of Nursing, Caloocan City, Philippines. Participants All full-time students ages 18 years old and above with Filipino citizenship who were enrolled at MCU College of Nursing at the time of the study were eligible to participate. A total of 154 nursing students participated in the study. Results A significant weakly positive relationship was found between student’s level of depression and personal mental health stigma (p-value = 0.03). A significant relationship was also found between help-seeking behavior and personal mental health stigma (p-value = 0.004). All other relationships between independent variables (age, sex, year-level, level of religiosity, current financial status) and personal and perceived public mental health stigma were not statistically significant. Conclusions Mental health stigma does not seem to be a pressing problem among the nursing students at MCU College of Nursing. Personal mental health stigma levels among the students were relatively low and has only a small significant effect on the students’ willingness to seek help for their mental health. Future qualitative research may want to explore other possible factors affecting help-seeking behavior of the nursing students and how these compare with students enrolled in non-allied health courses.

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