"I thought it would just be, like, older men in white coats": A qualitative exploration of first encounters with mental health services.

Individuals whose mental health is becoming a concern may not receive the care they require. Although efforts have been made to reduce barriers to accessing services, including stigma reduction campaigns and healthcare practitioner training, there remains a lack of understanding of individual perspectives regarding help-seeking behaviour. The aim of this study was to explore people's first experiences accessing mental health services. A qualitative descriptive approach was adopted. Interviews were conducted with eight service users. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. The COREQ checklist guided this study (Tong et al., 2007, International Journal for Quality in Health Care, 19, 349). Three themes were identified: learning to navigate an unfamiliar system, making sense of mental health services, and promoting a positive image for those in need of care. Uncertainty about mental health services and stigmatizing images could be mitigated by developing positive media-based interventions. Systemic barriers need to be addressed and services need to be better resourced to ensure the benefits of early intervention are available to those experiencing mental health challenges. To encourage people to access services earlier, services need to be promoted in a positive way.