Abstract
The present study examined various barriers and facilitators of help-seeking attitudes and behaviors among young adults from rural populations. The sample consisted of 311participants who ranged in age from 18 to 25 years old (M = 23.44). The overall results of the study demonstrated that rural young adults with greater degrees of both self and perceived stigma, who maintain stronger agrarian values (stoicism, self-reliance, and personal responsibility), and who possess less mental health literacy, were more likely to hold negative attitudes towards mental health and help-seeking, and were less likely to seek or intend to seek help for their mental health-related needs. Greater degree of mental health literacy, including knowledge, beliefs, and awareness of resources, was also found to significantly predict more positive attitudes towards mental health help-seeking and greater likelihood of seeking or intending to seek help for mental health needs. Clinical implications highlight the importance of working to target and reduce stigma around mental health and help-seeking in rural communities, particularly among young adults, as well as increasing the mental health literacy of these individuals.