Caregivers' help-seeking for child and adolescent mental health: A look into their journey through the lens of mental health literacy

Purpose: To examine caregivers' help-seeking for child and adolescent mental health services through the lens of mental health literacy (MHL). Particularly, caregivers' knowledge and beliefs about child mental health and treatments. Method: Twenty-six caregivers who sought mental health services for their child between the ages of 6-18 participated in a semi-structured virtual or telephone interview. Interviews were conducted in Ontario, Canada, audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Grounded theory (GT) methodology was used for the thematic analysis. Results: A model was developed to illustrate the study's seven themes: Caregivers' experience; recognition of a mental health concern; belief in child and adolescent mental health treatment; complex access and availability of mental health services; "chasing information"; judgement in parenting and stigma. Overall, caregivers' knowledge and beliefs about child/adolescent mental health was the catalyst to seeking child mental health services. Conclusion: Accessing child mental health services is complex, non-linear, and fraught with barriers. Despite varying self-reports of knowledge about child mental health issues and their belief in mental health and treatments, most caregivers continued to search for more information about child mental health.