Help-seeking behavior of patients with mental health problems visiting a tertiary care center in North India

• DOI: 10.4103/0019-5545.86814
• Publication Date: 2011-10-29T06:43:36Z
• Authors: RakeshK Chadda; Nitin Mishra; SajanjivSingh Nagpal; Mamta Sood
• Keywords: Tertiary care; Center (category theory)

Background: Patients with mental health problems in the nonwestern world seek help from a variety of sources, such as family physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, traditional faith-healers, or alternative medicine practitioners. Understanding help-seeking behavior is important public perspective. Materials and Methods: Two hundred new patients visiting psychiatric outpatient service at tertiary care hospital were interviewed on semi-structured questionnaire for various services contacted by them their problems. Results: Psychiatrists first choice 45% cases followed nonpsychiatric physicians religious faith healers. Important reasons to different sources included easy accessibility, belief system, particular healer good reputation. Mean duration treatment varied 2.35 months system practitioners 16.63 psychiatrists. The mean expenditure per visit was highest physician lowest Conclusion: healers, practitioners, healers multiple reasons. It sensitize early identification optimum management disorders.