The article "School Matters: A Multilevel Analysis of Stigma, Supportive Relations and Adolescents’ Mental Health Help-Seeking Attitudes", published in the Journal of Youth and Adolescence, examines how school-level stigma and supportive relationships shape adolescents’ attitudes towards seeking mental health support. Using survey data from 4,702 secondary school students in Flanders (Belgium), Fanny D'hondt and her co-authors show that higher levels of public stigma at the school level are associated with less favourable help-seeking attitudes, while supportive relations - particularly with teachers - are linked to more positive attitudes, including towards professional services outside school.
The article (not Open Access) is available here.
Citation: Saelens, L., Bracke, P., Ceuterick, M., D'hondt F., School Matters: A Multilevel Analysis of Stigma, Supportive Relations and Adolescents’ Mental Health Help-Seeking Attitudes. J. Youth Adolescence (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-026-02322-z
