<![CDATA[Background: Despite growing global recognition of mental health needs, qualitative evidence on how different vulnerable populations in Indonesia experience mental health challenges and navigate help-seeking within the same sociocultural context remains limited. This knowledge gap may result in unrecognized psychosocial needs, underutilization of mental health services, insufficiently tailored interventions, and persistent inequities in mental health service provision.Purpose: This study explored experiences of mental health challenges among vulnerable populations, including adolescents, university students, pregnant and postpartum women, and caregivers of individuals with severe mental illness.Methods: A qualitative descriptive design was employed. Data were collected through five focus group discussions (FGDs) conducted with 18 participants recruited through purposive sampling in the Special Region of Yogyakarta: three pregnant women, three postpartum women, four caregivers of individuals with severe mental illness, four adolescents, and four university students. Source triangulation was conducted through an additional FGD with five mental healthcare providers. Verbatim Indonesian transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis with manual coding supported by Microsoft Excel. Trustworthiness was enhanced through peer debriefing and cross-verification among the research team.Results: Three overarching themes emerged: (1) root causes of mental health vulnerability, encompassing family- and perinatal-related stressors, developmental and identity-related stress, and caregiving burden and social exclusion; (2) coping and help-seeking practices, shaped by emotional disclosure preferences, support systems, and mental health literacy; and (3) structural gaps in mental health services, including inadequate service integration, logistical barriers, and mistrust of care quality. Help-seeking preferences varied across vulnerable groups and were influenced by stigma, concerns about confidentiality, and perceived accessibility of mental health services.Conclusion: Vulnerable populations experience mental health challenges through distinct psychosocial stressors, coping strategies, and help-seeking behaviors. These findings underscore the need for person-centered, culturally responsive, and population-specific mental health services that address the diverse needs of vulnerable groups. ]]>
