Published Paper Details:

Stigma associated with seeking psychological therapy continues to persist in professional environments despite increasing awareness of mental health. The present study examined attitudes toward therapy among professionals in Bengaluru and explored the organizational and cultural factors that influence help-seeking behavior. Using a qualitative survey design, responses from 36 participants were analyzed through content analysis and proportionally scaled to represent a sample size of 100. The findings revealed high awareness of therapy benefits alongside comparatively low help-seeking behavior, indicating a significant awareness-action gap. Themes such as workplace stigma, normalization of stress, fear of career consequences, and concerns about labeling emerged prominently. The results suggest that stigma is embedded not only in individual beliefs but also within organizational cultures and professional norms. The study highlights the limitations of awareness-based interventions and emphasizes the need for multi-level strategies targeting individual, organizational, and structural factors to effectively normalize therapy in professional settings.