Qualitative Study Examining the Role of Stigma in the Help-seeking Behaviours of South Asian Youth Accessing Psychotherapy in Ontario

South Asian (SA) youth face many mental health challenges yet access psychotherapy less often than other ethnic groups and this may be, in part, due to stigma. The aim of this qualitative descriptive study (N=10) was to understand SA youth’s experiences with stigma when accessing psychotherapy using semi-structured interviews. This level of understanding is sought to learn how the barrier of stigma was overcome. The Cultural Help-seeking Model served as a theoretical framework informing the author’s understanding of the role of stigma within the help-seeking process of SA youth. Six major themes were identified in the data: 1) influence of SA culture; 2) others as barriers to accessing psychotherapy; 3) others as facilitators to accessing psychotherapy; 4) personal attitudes; 5) context of mental health care; and 6) strategies for reducing stigma. The results of this study are used to propose recommendations for social work researchers, educators, practitioners, and policymakers.M.S.W