Shame, self-identification with having a mental illness, and willingness to seek help in northeast Germany

• Published in: Psychiatry research Vol. 285; p. 112819
• Main Authors: Schulze, L.N., Klinger-König, J., Stolzenburg, S., Wiese, J., Speerforck, S., Van der Auwera-Palitschka, S., Völzke, H., Grabe, H.J., Schomerus, G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier B.V 01.03.2020
• ISSN: 0165-1781; 1872-7123
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2020.112819

•General population sample (n = 1330) of adults living in a rural region in the northeast of Germany (SHIP).•Shame was the strongest negative predictor for willingness to seek help.•Structured estimation modelling showed shame being a full mediator of a negative association between social distance and willingness. We examined a general population sample (n = 1330) from an epidemiological study (SHIP), investigating whether shame, social distance and reluctance to self-identify as having a mental illness interfere with willingness to seek help for mental health problems. Analyses were stratified for life-time diagnosis of any mental illness. Shame was the strongest negative predictor for willingness to seek help (beta = −0.183, p < .001). Structured Estimation Modelling showed shame being a full mediator of a negative association between social distance and willingness. Our results corroborate the important role of shame as an impediment to help-seeking for mental health problems in the general population.