Why Teens Don’t Talk: Understanding the Role of Stigma Within Barriers to Help Seeking

The stigma of mental illness, among a larger set of barriers to help seeking, has been understudied among teens. These barriers and the sources of support were examined through an online survey with 1,428 U.S. 13- to 17-year-olds. Data were analyzed using Q, with indexing and Z tests calculated for significant group differences. Parents were cited as the top support source for depression compared with mental health professionals. Nonstigma barriers were the top barriers for teens, including discomfort with difficult emotions and being misunderstood when reaching out for support. Stigma barriers were significantly higher for Hispanic and LGBTQ+ teens, and stigma-adjacent barriers were significantly higher among Black/African American teens. Results are discussed in terms of the differential support that teens need to navigate emotional challenges and for further understanding barriers to help seeking that are not weighed heavily by stigma, as in past studies.