Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Barriers To Mental Health Help-Seeking Among Older Adults With Chronic Diseases, Claire Adams, Eyal Gringart, Natalie Strobel

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objective: Older adults often delay seeking professional help, particularly for mental health problems. This is of great concern for older adults with chronic diseases, who are at risk of mental health declines. This study explored barriers to help-seeking among older adults with chronic diseases and identified factors that influence older adults’ perceptions of such barriers. Method: This was a cross-sectional study with 106 adults ≥ 65 years, diagnosed with cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, and/or type 2 diabetes. Demographic variables and barriers to help-seeking were measured using self-report questionnaires. Results: The most common barriers to help-seeking were wondering whether the mental …