The authors argue that the concept of help-seeking pathways, defined
generically, oriented toward institutional structures, and put at the
forefront of research, can help integrate much of what we know about the
use of mental health care and how to make such care more accessible and
effective among underserved populations. They focus the concept of
help-seeking pathways on current issues and research findings pertinent to
the onset of psychological distress, the contacting of mental health care
facilities, and treatment in such facilities. Pathways are not random; they
are structured by the convergence of psychosocial and cultural factors and
have sufficient integrity to be studied directly as unfolding
processes.
Abstract Teaser