CLASS AND MENTAL HEALTH: AN ANALYSIS OF ADOLESCENT HELP-SEEKING BEHAVIOUR

Abstract

There is a disparity between rising levels of mental health problems and low levels of mental health service uptake among Canadian adolescents. While there are resources available for adolescents, they are not accessing the help they need. While research has focused on help-seeking behaviour, there is a limited body of knowledge examining the way that adolescents perceive a need for services. Additionally, few studies consider the complex role of class in the help-seeking process of adolescents in Canada. This study analyzes data from the 2012 Canadian Community Health Survey - Mental Health Component (CCHS-MH) to examine the impact of class on three stages of the help-seeking including the presence of poor mental health, a perception of need for mental health services, and service uptake using Bourdieu’s notion of Capital. Logistic Regression modeling uncovers the complexity of class as it relates to the mental health of Canadian adolescents and provides a unique contribution to the understanding of accessibility of resources based on social position.