Structural forces (e.g., racism, classism) are often left unaccounted for in investigations of the factors that influence mental health help seeking. Structural forces can be assessed with objective indicators (e.g., service cost data) as well as respondent-report measures such as those administered on a survey or via an interview conversation. There is a growing array of self-report measures that can be used to inquire about individuals’ perceptions of the nature and impact of these structural forces in their lives, including how these forces may shape their mental health care journey.

This webpage is designed to introduce readers to some of the many measures of structural forces that exist, which help-seeking researchers may leverage to answer questions about how these forces shape people’s perceptions and behaviors related to seeking mental healthcare.

Given the multitude of existing and forthcoming measures, the below list will be expanded and revised over time to maximize its value to those users looking for measures with published evidence of reliability and validity.