(PS9-5) Help-Seeking for Suicidal Crises: A Qualitative Exploration of Experiences in Primary Care and Mental Health Care Decision-Making

Introduction: Suicide is a significant public health concern among youth and young adults, ranking second among the leading causes of death for this age group in the United States. While suicide is preventable, many barriers to mental health care exist, contributing to low rates of help-seeking. Research indicates that fewer than 50% of individuals experiencing suicidal ideation seek professional help. Factors such as limited availability of specialized care, stigma, financial constraints, and accessibility often prevent individuals from engaging with mental health professionals (MHPs). Given that primary care providers (PCPs) frequently serve as the first point of contact for individuals in distress, understanding their role in crisis intervention is crucial. Evaluating the experiences of individuals who seek help from PCPs, as well as the reasons some choose not to seek help from MHPs, can inform suicide prevention and intervention efforts across healthcare settings. The purpose of the present study is to explore the experiences of youth and young adults who sought help for suicidal crises. Specifically, it aims to examine what PCPs do to help individuals in crisis and how this is perceived, and to further investigate reasons individuals choose not to seek help from MHPs.

Method: Data were taken from a mixed methods study on college students’ help-seeking experiences during suicidal crises. The current sample includes participants who sought help for their suicidal crisis from a general practitioner, family doctor, or primary care doctor (n = 25, Mage = 21, SD = 9.8, 80% female, 92% White), and those who did not seek help for their suicidal crisis from an MHP (i.e., psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, therapist; n = 35, Mage = 20.3, SD = 3.7, 65.7% female, 74.3% White). Participants responded to open-ended questions regarding the care they received, including what the PCP did for them, what they found helpful or unhelpful, and whether their experiences were satisfactory or unsatisfactory. Additionally, participants who did not seek care from an MHP provided reasons for their decision.

Results: Reflexive thematic analysis will be conducted to examine participants’ experiences of receiving help from a PCP and their reasons for not seeking help from an MHP. Final results will be completed by the time of presentation. It is hypothesized that participants’ experiences will align with prior research indicating that nonjudgmental, compassionate care is perceived as helpful, while barriers such as access to care, cost, transportation, and stigma will contribute to not utilizing MHPs.

Discussion: Findings from this study may help inform and strengthen strategies to enhance crisis intervention within primary care settings and address barriers that prevent youth and young adults from seeking specialized mental health care for suicidal crises.

Keywords: Suicide, help-seeking, patient experiences, intervention strategies, barriers to care.