Abstract
Background
Late adolescence (18-25 years) is a crucial developmental period during which mental health difficulties are common, yet stigma and thus negative societal perceptions often surround both experiencing mental health difficulties and seeking help for it. Despite their mental vulnerability, late adolescents often refrain from seeking help.
Methods
This study explores how perceived stigma - being aware of possible negative societal perceptions - plays a role in late adolescents’ mental health and help-seeking experience, using the qualitative method photovoice. Twenty participants aged 18 to 25 years voiced their experiences through participant-produced photos. The interview transcripts and participant-produced photos were analyzed using a textual-visual thematic analysis.
Results
Preliminary findings indicate that late adolescents think society perceives individuals who experience mental health difficulties as “weak” or “crazy”. However, they themselves strongly disagree. There is a wide variety of mental health difficulties experienced by the late adolescents, such as frequent worrying, stress and feelings of insecurity. Nevertheless, the majority deal with them in the same way. They prefer psychological help or cope through self-reliance, such as going for walks, doing sport or engaging in creative activities. These preferences can be explained by their desire to be heard and understood while having a fear that not everyone will respond with the same level of understanding. In addition, they do not want to be seen as a burden by family or friends from the belief that everyone has their own problems.
Conclusions
There is a duality at play: faced with how late adolescents think society perceives experiencing mental health difficulties, they try to cope with it in an individual way. Destigmatisation could lead to a wider range of ways of coping, including more community-based approaches.
Key messages
• Mental health difficulties in late adolescence can take various forms. Nevertheless, the majority cope with them in the same way.
• Late adolescents believe that society views mental health difficulties negatively and, therefore, prefer more individual ways of coping.