Help seeking behaviour of mentally ill patients: A cross sectional study

Understanding the help-seeking behavior is important from the public health perspective. This study was conducted to explore the help seeking behavior of mentally ill patients and its association with selected variables. Study was conducted using cross sectional - descriptive correlational research design at psychiatric ward of B. P Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Tertiary hospital in Nepal. Hundred samples who met the inclusion criteria were chosen for the study by purposive sampling technique. Data was collected using self-developed, validated and pretested semi structured tools such as Proforma to collect the baseline data of the patients and relatives and semi structured interview schedule to find out the help seeking behavior of patients through interview method. Collected data was analyzed using appropriate descriptive (Frequency and percentage) to describe demographic characteristics of the patients and inferential statistics (Chi square test) to find out the association between help seeking behavior and selected variables. Study findings indicate that traditional community services are utilized by majority of the patients reflecting the need for planning strategies by the health care professionals including nurses to create awareness among public to utilize the mental health services by the needy people.