Impact of Discrimination on Help-Seeking Behavior Among Individuals With Serious Mental Illness in South Korea: Role of Social Participation Services.

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between perceived discrimination, help-seeking behaviors, and the adequacy of social participation services among individuals with serious mental illness in South Korea. Data were drawn from a 2020 survey conducted by the National Human Rights Commission of Korea, involving 607 participants who used community-based mental health rehabilitation facilities. Structural equation modeling was employed to examine the extent to which perceived discrimination in healthcare, employment, and personal-social relationships affects help-seeking behaviors, including the mediating effect of perceived adequacy of social participation services. Results revealed that experiences of discrimination in healthcare and employment significantly influenced help-seeking, whereas discrimination in personal-social relationships did not. Although the adequacy of social participation services positively impacted help-seeking, it did not mediate the relationship between discrimination and help-seeking behaviors. The findings suggest addressing discrimination in healthcare and employment and expanding diverse, accessible social participation services are crucial for encouraging help-seeking among individuals with serious mental illness across regions in Korea.