| dc.description.abstract | Background: Mental health problems are common among medical students, both internationally and in Norway, and can cause serious consequences. Even though there are several different options for seeking support or treatment the degree of help-seeking, is disturbingly low. We therefore wanted to study how medical students can get better help for mental health problems. Which factors promote or restrict help-seeking, and which characteristics of the care-providing institutions influence help-seeking? What measures of change are needed? Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with two focus groups (totally seven students). Relation to mental health issues, perceived factors influencing help-seeking, views of mental healthcare providers and of changes needed to increase help-seeking were discussed. The transcribed interviews were analyzed with systematic text-condensation. Results: Mental health issues were perceived to be common amongst medical students. Lack of openness in society and in the medical profession about mental health issues was found to be the greatest barrier for help-seeking. The need for low-threshold mental healthcare, and more accessible information about them, was deemed essential. More knowledge about mental health issues is important in order to recognize issues for which one should seek help. Conclusions: As lack of openness about mental health is an important barrier to help-seeking, measures should be made to increase the level of openness and acceptance of mental health issues amongst medical students. Low-threshold healthcare providers are discussed as key, and relevant information should be given throughout the time at medical school. More research is needed both to confirm and expand the findings of this study, and to further understand to which extent the different barriers inhibit the help-seeking of medical students, and what actions are required to efficiently address these issues. | eng |