Help-Seeking Behavior for Depression in Japanese Schoolteachers

This correlational field study investigated the relationship between depression and help-seeking behavior in Japanese schoolteachers. Thirty-four primary schoolteachers from a rural area of Japan were surveyed using both quantitative and qualitative measures related to help-seeking and depression. Survey packets included a demographic questionnaire, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies depression scale (CES-D), the help-seeking scale for depression (HSSD), and a modified version of Kleinman’s (1980) explanatory model of help-seeking behavior. Findings from the study indicate a gap between participants’ awareness of depression and help-seeking behavior; participants had good awareness of depression and its severity, but they were not likely to seek professional help. We propose that social stigma may be one of the major deterrents to seeking such help. Furthermore, we found evidence that participants would seek professional help if motivated by family and friends and that family and friends could become strong motivators for increasing the use of mental health services. Findings also indicate that both utilizing one’s parent(s) as a source of help and taking action for alleviating depressive symptoms predict a higher likelihood of less severe depression. Practical implications of findings and future directions are discussed.