Psychological Distress as a Predictor of Perceived Barriers to Professional Mental Health Help-Seeking among Financially Indebted Civil Servants

Abstract

Financial indebtedness has become an increasingly salient occupational risk factor within the public sector, as financial strain is consistently associated with psychological distress and reduced utilization of mental health services. However, limited empirical research has examined whether psychological distress itself functions as a determinant of perceived barriers to professional help-seeking among financially vulnerable employees. Addressing this gap, the present study investigates the predictive role of psychological distress on perceived barriers to professional mental health help-seeking among financially indebted civil servants in Malaysia.
A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was employed involving financially indebted civil servants (n = 123). Psychological distress was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), while perceived barriers were assessed using a five-item measure of perceived barriers to professional mental health help-seeking. Data were analysed using simple linear regression analysis. The results indicate that psychological distress significantly and positively predicted perceived barriers to professional help-seeking, F (1,121) = 25.069, p < .001, accounting for 17.2% of the variance (R² = .172). Higher levels of psychological distress were associated with greater perceived barriers to professional mental health help-seeking.
These findings challenge the assumption that greater psychological distress necessarily promotes help-seeking and instead position psychological distress as a barrier-amplifying factor within financially strained occupational groups. The study extends occupational mental health literature by integrating financial vulnerability into help-seeking frameworks. Practically, the findings highlight the need for integrated workplace interventions that address financial strain, psychological vulnerability, and stigma reduction to improve access to professional mental health services among indebted civil servants.