The help seeking patterns of 139 secondary school youth between the ages of 14 and 22 in two peri-urban and one rural secondary school in the Eastern Cape, and one urban and one rural secondary school in KwaZulu-Natal were studied. Youth were interviewed in focus groups about their problems and whether or not they seek help for these problems. Possibilities of, and problems with, help resources were also discussed. Data were analysed using qualitative data analysis software and interpreted in terms of the contextual dynamics which facilitate or hinder access to help seeking resources. This study illustrates the intricacy of help seeking behaviour. Contextual factors were found to be significant mediators of help seeking behaviour.