Evaluation of Psychological Help Seeking Behavior Based on Health Belief Model

Seeking psychological help is defined as receiving support from a professional source for one's mental problems. Receiving psychological help is influenced by the individual's attitudes towards mental health. There are some models related to the emergence, development and implementation of an individual's health behavior. In this study, psychological help-seeking behavior was examined theoretically. In the literature, studies related to psychological help-seeking behavior are mostly discussed within the scope of the theory of planned behavior and health belief model. In this study, psychological help-seeking behavior was explained on the basis of the health belief model. The health belief model argues that there is a relationship between an individual's behaviors and beliefs. The health belief model consists of six components. These components are perceived usefulness, perceived seriousness, perceived barrier, self-efficacy and behavioral cues. The concepts that make up the health belief model play an important role in the emergence of a behavior. In the literature, it is seen that psychological help-seeking behavior is not at a sufficient level. In this study, what are the barriers to psychological help-seeking behavior and what are effective in increasing psychological help-seeking behaviors are discussed within the framework of the health belief model.