Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine attitudes towards mental illness and help seeking in relation to gender, self-esteem and life satisfaction. This mixed method study using a sample of 79 college students investigated attitudes to mental illness and help seeking in relation to gender and the relationship between these attitudes and self-esteem and life satisfaction. No significant attitudinal differences between genders were reported. Self-esteem and attitudes towards mental illness were identified as strong predictors of help seeking and a strong correlation between self-esteem and life satisfaction was found. A significant difference was found in attitudes amongst respondents who know someone with a mental illness and those who don’t. Findings conclude gender is not a factor in attitudinal difference whereas knowing someone with a mental illness is, while self-esteem and attitudes to mental illness are predictors of help seeking. Findings and limitations are discussed along with future research suggestions. Author keywords: Attitudes towards mental illness, help seeking behaviour, gender and mental illness, stigma of mental illness
