Mental Health Stigma and Self-Concealment as Predictors of Help-Seeking Attitudes among Latina/o College Students in the United States

The study examined whethermental health stigma and self-concealment are uniquely related to various dimensions of attitudes toward seeking professional psychological services (i.e., help-seeking attitudes) in Latina/o college students. Data from129 Latina/o undergraduates (76% female) were used in the analysis. Results revealed that mental health stigma was a unique predictor of overall help-seeking attitudes. Mental health stigma was also significantly related to recognition of need for psychotherapeutic help, stigma tolerance, and interpersonal openness, but not to confidence in mental health practitioners. Self-concealment was uniquely related to stigma tolerance and interpersonal openness.