This research investigates distinctions between Japanese students and Chinese international students regarding their help-seeking processes and the factors that affect their decisions toward help-seeking. Prior research shows that Chinese students are reluctant to seek help for mental health problems; however, there has not been an investigation into the factors affecting help-seeking. In this study, both Japanese and Chinese students were presented with scenarios depicting depression and asked about their recognition of the severity of the symptoms and their help-seeking behaviors. Questionnaires also included the SDS (Self-rating Depression Scale), mental health literacy scale, and the social support scale. The results showed that low SDS scores and high levels of social support had a positive effect on both Japanese and Chinese students’ help-seeking. However, for Chinese students, family support and life events factor influenced the most steps of the decision making toward help-seeking, while for Japanese students, different factors influenced different steps of their decision making about help-seeking. Overall, this research showed the necessity of examining the difference between Chinese international students and Japanese students with consideration of the differences; this being despite the common view that they both are associated under the umbrella of Asian culture.
