Barriers and Facilitators to Mental Health Help-Seeking and Experiences with Service Use among LGBT+ University Students in Chile

Abstract

Barriers limiting access to mental health care for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and other sexual and gender minority (LGBT+) university students have not yet been explored in depth. The aim of this study was to explore the barriers and facilitators to mental health help seeking and experiences with service use among LGBT+ university students. Participants were 24 LGBT+ students between 18 and 23 years of age from a university in Chile. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysed using thematic content analysis. Multiple barriers and facilitators influence mental health help-seeking of LGBT+ students, with some of these barriers being explicitly related to LGBT+ issues (e.g., fear of discrimination or accessing specialised services). Perceived effectiveness of services was closely related to access safe/affirming care. Trans students reported more barriers to help-seeking and negative experiences with professionals than their cisgender peers. Perceptions of university mental health services as safe spaces for LGBT+ students were related to a positive perception of the university regarding LGBT+ issues. Knowing the factors that either hinder or facilitate help-seeking and characterising service use experiences in this population is useful for improving access to mental health services and for the development of policies that promote affirmative care for LGBT+ people.