Table 3.

Top rated barriers by quantitative studies (n = 7)

Author	Top rated barriers
Sheffield (2004) [35]	School counsellor
	1. Prefer to handle myself (45%) (self-reliance)
	2. Don't think they can help (27%) (no one can help)
	Doctor
	1. Too expensive (25%) (cost)
	2. Prefer to handle myself (23%) (self-reliance)
	Psychologist/Psychiatrist
	1. Too expensive (50%) (cost)
	2. Don't know where to find (28%) (knowledge)
Dubow (1990) [26]	1. I felt that no person or helping service could help (55%) (no one can help)
	2. The problem was too personal to tell anyone (53%) (stigma/comfort)
West (1991) [37]	1. I do not like to tell a stranger about personal things (29.4%) (stigma/comfort)
	2. I am afraid counsellor will pass information about me to other people (18.3%) (confidentiality)
Kuhl, (1997) [32]	1. If I had a problem I would solve it by myself (3.87) (self-reliance)
	2. I think I should work out my own problems (3.79) (self-reliance)
Wilson (2008) [38]	1. I feel comfortable talking to a GP (general practitioner) who I don't know (1.65) (stigma/comfort)
	2. I'm not embarrassed to talk about my problems (1.51) (stigma/comfort)
Eisenberg (2007) [27]	1. Stress is normal in graduate school (51%) (self-reliance)
	2. Have not had any need (45%) (no perceived need)
Brimstone (2007) [24]	1. Worries about either knowing the doctor/counsellor or having to have future dealings with the counsellor/psychologist or general practitioner at university health care centre (stigma/comfort)
	2. Worries about either knowing the doctor/counsellor or having to have future dealings with the counsellor/psychologist or general practitioner at non-university health care centre (stigma/comfort)