Abstract:
Objective: the objective of the study was to assess help seeking behavior and preferred
intervention for mental illness in light of The Three Delays Model.
Methods: the study employed qualitative approach and descriptive exploratory design.
Participants of the study were selected by using nonprobability sampling specifically availabilit
sampling was used to draw samples from the population for both participants and key
informants. 10 participants and 2 key informants were used for the study. Semi structured
interview guide was used to gather information and the interview guide was developed by the
researcher and the data was analyzed by using thematic analysis.
Results: the major themes identified in this study are stigma, causa attribution, lack of
confidence, inability to recognize mental illness, cost and availability of transportation,
geographic problems, and doubt on efficacy. The socioeconomic factors that affect help seeking
behavior are stigma, causal attribution, confidence in mental health professionals, inability to
recognize mental illness. While identifying and accessibility of facilities is affected by cost and
availability of mental health facilities, and geographic problems. Receiving adequate and
appropriate service is affected by perceived doubt on efficacy. The preferred intervention for
mental illness in the region are reciting Quran, Holy Water, and leaves.
Conclusion: from the study it could be seen that the people of Afar help seeking behavior is
impacted by many variables among them are stigma, causal attribution, confidence in mental
health professionals, cost and availability of transportation, while the preferred intervention for
mental illness are reciting the Quran (Du’a), Holy Water and leaves.
