Attitudes and expectations towards mental health interventions in the general population: Comparing face-to-face counseling, blended counseling, and digital or on-paper self-help [Author Accepted Manuscript]

Background: Digital interventions are supported by a growing evidence base and have the potential to contribute to accessible and personalized mental healthcare services. When individuals seek help for mental health problems, various intervention options are available in a digital, face-to-face or on-paper format. However, it is important to understand what individuals find important for intervention selection and how they perceive different intervention options. Method: The study recruited 232 individuals for a cross-sectional online survey on (1) the relevance of 12 evaluation dimensions for mental health support, (2) whether self-help books, digital interventions, face-to-face counseling, and blended interventions would meet expectations, and (3) self-reported likelihood of use. Results: The most important dimensions for intervention selection were helpfulness, personal support, motivates to get better, and credibility. Face-to-face counseling was evaluated favorably for dimensions linked to intervention content (e.g., helpfulness), while self-help approaches were rated more positively for practical aspects (e.g., waiting time). Blended counseling received fairly similar dimension ratings as face-to-face counseling. Self-reported likelihood of use differed significantly between modalities despite large individual differences. Face-to-face interventions were most likely used, followed by blended counseling and a shared third rank for digital and on-paper self-help options. Conclusion: The findings suggests that mere self-help (online or on paper) does not sufficiently meet the needs and is not the preferred choice for handling mental health problems for most individuals. If presented with the choice, individuals still prefer face-to-face counseling. Nevertheless, blended interventions can be a promising treatment option for the future.