Australian rural adolescents' experiences of accessing psychological help for a mental health problem

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore Australian rural adolescents' experiences of accessing help for a mental health problem in the context of their rural communities. DESIGN AND SETTING: A qualitative research design was used whereby university students who had sought help for a mental health problem during their adolescence were interviewed about their experiences. Interviews were conducted face-to-face at the university. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A semi-structured interview schedule was designed around the study's main research questions. Audio-taped interviews were transcribed and thematically coded using a constant comparative method. PARTICIPANTS: Participants were first-year undergradua..