Attitude Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Among Secondary School Students of Kathmandu Metropolitan City

Abstract

Academic pressure, social expectations, and developmental transitions put secondary school adolescents at greater risk of mental health problems. Despite the recognized importance of professional psychological support, help-seeking rates remain low in many low- and middle-income countries, including Nepal. This descriptive cross-sectional study aimed to explore attitudes of secondary school students in Kathmandu Metropolitan City regarding taking professional psychological help. Cluster sampling was used to select a sample of 245 students in Grades 11 and 12 of the science faculty of a selected secondary school. A self-administered semi-structured questionnaire was used, including items from the Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Scale-Short Form (ATSPPH-SF) to collect data. Data were analysed by descriptive statistics using SPSS version 16. The results showed that 51.0% of the respondents had a negative attitude (scores < 15) and 49.0% had a positive attitude (scores ≥ 15) towards seeking professional psychological assistance. The nearly equal distribution of positive and negative attitudes shows a significant treatment gap, and a clear need for a mental health literacy program, stigma-reduction strategies, and enhanced counseling services in schools. The findings offer baseline data for educational authorities and mental health professionals who want to ensure that more and earlier help is sought by Nepal's adolescents in a more appropriate way.