Help-seeking from a counsellor or psychotherapist: a cross-sectional study of Irish adults

Abstract

The factors that contribute towards an individual seeking help from a counsellor or psychotherapist for a mental, nervous or emotional problem are explored in this study. A multivariate logistic regression is applied to analyse data from the 2006 National Psychological Wellbeing and Distress Survey. Individuals living in rural areas and in towns with populations of between 5,000 and 10,000 people are found to be less likely to seek counselling, relative to individuals living in Dublin City. Respondents earning the lowest income were less likely to enter therapy compared with respondents earning the highest, while having private health insurance increased the probability of a respondent entering therapy. Individuals aged between 18 and 39 years and between 50 and 64 years are more likely to seek the help of a counsellor. Finally, attending a general practitioner, psychologist, social worker, or member of the clergy increased the likelihood of an individual seeking help from a counsellor or psychotherapist. No such effect was found for attending either a psychiatrist or nurse.