Document Type : Original Article
Author
Abstract
BACKGROUND: To extend our knowledge of social barriers in relation to mental health, the present
study was conducted to investigate the impact of social barriers on mental health help‑seeking among
Saudi Arabians aged 18 years and above.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross‑sectional study was carried out on 1632 participants in
2018 during the months of October and November. The participants completed self‑administered
online surveys about the demographic characteristics, social barriers, and knowledge and attitudes
about mental health.
RESULTS: The majority of the participants agreed that social barriers could prevent them from
seeking mental health help. Stigma was chosen as the most common social barrier among the
participants (76.3%), followed by culture (61.5%) and negative perceptions (56.2%).
CONCLUSION: Social barriers are a challenge in seeking mental health. Increasing public awareness
of available services and resources as well as developing programs to fight stigmatization should be
initiated to create more positive attitudes toward people with mental illness and promote holistic well‑being.
Keywords
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Available from: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/
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Considerations for policy and practice. Front Public Health
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problems of families caring for relatives with mental illnesses
and their coping strategies: A qualitative urban based study in
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. BMC Psychiatry 2016;16:146.
18. Armanmehr V, Shahghasemi Z, Alami A, Moradi N, Rezaeian S.
Poor mental health status and its related socio-demographic
factors: A population-based cross-sectional study. Epidemiol
Biostat Public Health 2016;13:2.
19. Consult a Psychiatrist, National Committee for the Promotion of
Mental Health; 2015. Available from: http://ncmh.org.sa/index.
php/pages/view/82/13/24. [Last accessed on 2018 Aug 28].
20. Qureshi NA, Al-Habeeb AA, Koenig HG. Mental health system
in Saudi Arabia: An overview. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat
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21. Attitudes to Mental Illness 2014 Research Report - The British
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22. Al Mulhim AA, Al Dehneen HA, AlabbadRA, Alhababi NM,
Alhaijab AM, Almomaten JY, et al. Mental illnesses stigma and
its association with quality of life in adult Saudi patients. Egpt J
Health Med 2018;70:766-70.
23. Al Mulhim AA, Al Dehneen HA, AlabbadRA, Alhababi NM,
Alhaijab AM, Almomaten JY, et al. Mental illnesses stigma and
its association with quality of life in adult Saudi patients. Egpt J
Health Med 2018;70:766-70.
24. “Attitudes to Mental Illness 2014 Research Report.,” British
Market Research Bureau, 2015. [Online]. Available: https://www.
time-to-change.org.uk/sites/default/files/Attitudes_to_mental_
illness_2014_report_final_0.pdf. [Last accessed on 2018 Jul 16].
Kjennerud TR, et al. Prevalence and stability of mental disorders
among young adults: Findings from a longitudinal study. BMC
Psychiatry 2018;65:1647-5.
2. Alghadeer SM, Alhossan AM, Al-Arifi MN, Alrabiah ZS, Ali SW,
Babelghaith SD, et al. Prevalence of mental disorders among
patients attending primary health care centers in the capital of
Saudi Arabia. Neurosciences (Riyadh) 2018;23:239-43.
3. Kim SJ, Rha SY, Song SK, Namkoong K, Chung HC, Yoon SH, et al.
Prevalence and associated factors of psychological distress among
Korean cancer patients. Gen Hosp Psychiatry 2011;33:246-52.
4. WHO, WHO Depression and Other Common Mental Disorders;
2017. Available from: https://www.who.int/mental_health/
management/depression/prevalence.[Last accessed on 2018 Jul 16].
5. Anxiety Disorders – Symptoms and Causes - Mayo Clinic.
Available from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseasesconditions/anxiety/symptoms-causes/syc-20350961. [Last
accessed on 2018 Aug 28].
6. Altweck L, Marshall TC, Ferenczi N, Lefringhausen K. Mental
health literacy: A cross-cultural approach to knowledge and
beliefs about depression, schizophrenia and generalized anxiety
disorder. Front Psychol 2015;6:1272.
7. Al-Qadhi W, Ur Rahman S, Ferwana MS, Abdulmajeed IA.
Adult depression screening in Saudi primary care: Prevalence,
instrument and cost. BMC Psychiatry 2014;14:190.
8. Aldabal B, Koura M, Alsowielem L. Magnitude of depression
problem among primary care consumers in Saudi Arabia. Int J
Med Sci Public Health 2015;4:205.
9. WHO. Mental Disorders; 2017. Available from: https://www.
who.int/mental_health/management/en/. [Last accessed on
2018 Jun 20].
10. Depression (Major Depressive Disorder) – Symptoms and
Causes - Mayo Clinic. Available from: https://www.mayoclinic.
org/diseases-conditions/depression/symptoms-causes/syc20356007. [Last accessed on 2018 Jul 16].
11. NIMH ” Eating Disorders; 2016. Available from: https://www.
nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/eating-disorders/index.shtml.[Last
accessed on 2018 Aug 28].
12. Alwosaifer AM, Alawadh SA, Abdel Wahab MM, Boubshait LA,
Almutairi BA. Eating disorders and associated risk factors
among Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal university preparatory
year female students in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Med J
2018;39:910-21.
13. PSYCHOLOGY | Meaning in the Cambridge English Dictionary.
Available from: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/
english/psychology. [Last accessed on 2018 Jul 16].
14. Salaheddin K, Mason B. Identifying barriers to mental health
help-seeking among young adults in the UK: A cross-sectional
survey. Br J Gen Pract 2016;66:e686-92.
15. Misael Benti AB, Jemal E, Tadesse A , Zegeye Y. Community
perception towards Mental illness among residents of Gimbi
Town, Western Ethiopia; 2016. Available from: https://www.
hindawi.com/journals/psychiatry/2016/6740346. [Last accessed
on 2018 Jul 16].
16. Gopalkrishnan N. Cultural diversity and mental health:
Considerations for policy and practice. Front Public Health
2018;6:179.
17. Iseselo MK, Kajula L, Yahya-Malima KI. The psychosocial
problems of families caring for relatives with mental illnesses
and their coping strategies: A qualitative urban based study in
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. BMC Psychiatry 2016;16:146.
18. Armanmehr V, Shahghasemi Z, Alami A, Moradi N, Rezaeian S.
Poor mental health status and its related socio-demographic
factors: A population-based cross-sectional study. Epidemiol
Biostat Public Health 2016;13:2.
19. Consult a Psychiatrist, National Committee for the Promotion of
Mental Health; 2015. Available from: http://ncmh.org.sa/index.
php/pages/view/82/13/24. [Last accessed on 2018 Aug 28].
20. Qureshi NA, Al-Habeeb AA, Koenig HG. Mental health system
in Saudi Arabia: An overview. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat
2013;9:1121-35.
21. Attitudes to Mental Illness 2014 Research Report - The British
Library; 2014. Available from: https://www.bl.uk/collectionitems/attitudes-to-mental-illness-2014-research. [Last accessed
on 2018 Jul 16].
22. Al Mulhim AA, Al Dehneen HA, AlabbadRA, Alhababi NM,
Alhaijab AM, Almomaten JY, et al. Mental illnesses stigma and
its association with quality of life in adult Saudi patients. Egpt J
Health Med 2018;70:766-70.
23. Al Mulhim AA, Al Dehneen HA, AlabbadRA, Alhababi NM,
Alhaijab AM, Almomaten JY, et al. Mental illnesses stigma and
its association with quality of life in adult Saudi patients. Egpt J
Health Med 2018;70:766-70.
24. “Attitudes to Mental Illness 2014 Research Report.,” British
Market Research Bureau, 2015. [Online]. Available: https://www.
time-to-change.org.uk/sites/default/files/Attitudes_to_mental_
illness_2014_report_final_0.pdf. [Last accessed on 2018 Jul 16].
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