Help-Seeking Experiences of Youth with Suicidal Ideations

Approximately 28 percent of Canadians begin to experience a mental health issue during their youth. In this article, we explore patients' perceptions of their mental healthcare experiences within a sample of youth who reported anxiety or depressive symptoms and past suicidal ideations. The study data is taken from in-depth interviews with 23 youth in British Columbia. Interview topics included support systems, help-seeking behavior and healthcare experiences. Our findings indicate that participant experiences were most positive when experiences were neither dismissive nor stigmatizing. Important factors for participants were respect, acknowledgement, information and choice. Our results generated the concept that treatment perceptions for youth with suicidal behaviours can be placed on a theoretical spectrum, which may be a useful tool for self reflection for those who support individuals with mental health conditions professionally or personally.