Perceived Benefits and Perceived Barriers' of Help Seeking Intention for Mental Health Counseling: The Moderating Role of Social Support Among High School Students in Bole Secondary School
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Date
2026-05
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Mental health help-seeking among adolescents remains a critical yet underexplored issue in the
Ethiopian educational context. This study examined the perceived benefits and perceived
barriers associated with help-seeking intention for mental health counseling and explored the
role of social support among students at Bole Secondary and Preparatory School in Addis
Ababa, Ethiopia. the The study employed a quantitative cross-sectional correlational research
design. Data were collected from 275 students selected through a multistage sampling procedure
using a structured self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive findings indicated that students
generally held positive perceptions regarding the benefits of mental health counseling and
reported relatively high intentions to seek professional help when experiencing emotional or
psychological difficulties. However, students also reported high levels of perceived barriers,
particularly self-reliance, concerns about confidentiality, stigma, and fear of social judgment.
Family support emerged as the strongest source of social support among respondents. Pearson
correlation analysis revealed that perceived barriers had the strongest positive relationship with
help-seeking intention (r = .554, p < .001), followed by social support (r = .271, p < .001).
Multiple regression analysis further demonstrated that perceived barriers were the strongest
predictor of help-seeking intention (β = .560, p < .001), followed by social support (β = .234, p
< .001), while perceived benefits did not significantly predict help-seeking intention (β = .080, p
= .122). Collectively, the predictor variables explained 38.1% of the variance in help-seeking
intention (R² = .381, F(3, 271) = 55.619, p < .001). Hierarchical regression analysis also
indicated that social support made a significant contribution to the prediction of help-seeking
intention, highlighting the importance of supportive family, peer, and school relationships in
facilitating access to mental health services. The study concludes that students’ intentions to seek
mental health counseling are influenced more strongly by perceived barriers and social support
than by their beliefs regarding the benefits of counseling. The findings underscore the need for
schools to strengthen counseling services, reduce stigma, address confidentiality concerns, and
actively engage families and school communities in promoting positive mental health helpseeking
behaviors among adolescents.
Key words: Perceived Benefits, Perceived Barriers, Help-Seeking Intention, Social Support,
Mental Health Counseling,
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Keywords
Perceived Benefits, Perceived Barriers, Help-Seeking Intention, Social Support, Mental Health Counseling