An Exploratory Study: Stigma, Beliefs, And Behaviors Towards Mental Health Among Arabs And Subcontinent Asians

This study explores the stigma, beliefs, and behaviors toward mental health among Arabs and Subcontinent Asians, regions where mental health issues are prevalent yet underreported due to cultural and social stigmas. We surveyed 578 participants from these regions to understand their attitudes towards mental health and help-seeking behaviors, considering variables such as gender, age, and previous mental health service use. Our findings reveal significant predictors of mental health attitudes: prior mental health service history, age, and gender notably influenced personal stigma and psychological openness, while ethnicity and place of residence did not. Males exhibited higher personal stigma and indifference to stigma compared to females, who were more open to seeking emotional support. Older adults showed a greater propensity for help-seeking but lower psychological openness. Interventions for reducing stigma and increasing access to mental health services are discussed. Psychological disorders have become an immense global burden, economically and socially, with over 500 million affected by anxiety or depression worldwide (Dattani, et al., 2021) and can cause high rates of morbidity and mortality. Despite this, few people suffering with a mental illness seek help, or only do so after a significant delay (Henderson, et al., 2013). Indeed, it is widely accepted that early intervention, and seeking help from a mental health professional, is crucial to reducing the burden of mental health difficulties. Moreover, the benefits to seeking help at an early stage include reducing social and personal financial costs associated with the mental illness, preventing future relapses, and improving overall quality of life. Post-Covid 19, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated a 25% increase in the global prevalence of anxiety and depression. In the Arab world, it is estimated that 17.7% of the population suffers from depression and the prevalence of other mental health disorders such as anxiety, eating disorders, post-traumatic stress, and substance abuse is estimated between 15.6% to 35.5%, with higher rates due to war and conflict (Ibrahim, 2021). Moreover, Naveed and colleagues (2020) reported the highest prevalence of common mental disorders globally in countries of the Asian Subcontinent. Although the prevalence of disorders rose globally, there is a higher proportion (~80%) among people who reside in low- and middle-income countries. Indeed, in over 135 studies conducted in Asian Subcontinent countries, the total prevalence of depressive symptoms indicated an average prevalence rate of 26.4% among 173,449 participants (Naveed et al., 2020). In another study, the Asian Subcontinent sample had a 24.5% lifetime rate of any DSM-IV mood, anxiety, or substance use disorder (Lee et al., 2015).