Table 1.

Key barrier themes and number of studies (n = 13) in which theme addressed

#	Barrier theme	Number of studies
1	Public, perceived and self-stigmatising attitudes to mental illness	10
2	Confidentiality and trust	6
3	Difficulty identifying the symptoms of mental illness	5
4	Concern about the characteristics of the provider	5
5	Reliance on self, do not want help	5
6	Knowledge about mental health services	4
7	Fear or stress about the act of help-seeking or the source of help itself	4
8	Lack of accessibility, e.g., time, transport, cost	4
9	Difficulty or an unwillingness to express emotion	3
10	Do not want to burden someone else	2
11	Prefer other sources of help (e.g., family, friends)	2
12	Worry about effect on career	1
13	Others not recognising the need for help or not having the skills to cope	1