Problem:
Please provide a discussion response with APA citations and references to "Societal issues, personal biases, and cultural influences can strongly affect whether individuals choose to seek mental health treatment. One major societal issue is the stigma surrounding mental illness, which often causes people to fear being judged or labeled negatively. Because of this fear, many individuals avoid counseling even when they recognize they need support (Corrigan & Watson, 2002). Biases within the mental health system can also discourage treatment-seeking. For example, individuals from marginalized racial or ethnic groups may hesitate to seek help due to concerns about being misunderstood or misdiagnosed based on provider bias (Snowden, 2012). Cultural influences further shape help-seeking behaviors, as some cultures view mental health concerns as private family matters or believe emotional distress should be managed without professional intervention (Sue & Sue, 2022). These factors are especially important when formulating a diagnosis because societal and cultural influences affect how clients experience, express, and report symptoms. If counselors fail to consider these influences, they may misinterpret culturally normative behaviors or overlook important aspects of a client's distress, which can lead to inaccurate diagnoses (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2022). Societal issues, biases, and cultural influences should also be carefully considered throughout the treatment. Need Assignment Help?