Comparative Study of Cultural Influence on Mental Health Stigma among Pakistani Ethnic Groups

Pakistan, the fifth most populous country in the world and mental health is a most prevailing issue in the Pakistani society, as mental health care do not meet the needs of the population. Stigma related to mental health is also very common. Negative beliefs of people about those who have a mental illness are referred to as mental health stigma. The aim of this study is to examine the cultural influences on mental health stigma among young adults of different ethnic groups in Pakistan. A cross-sectional study in which the sample (N=200) comprised men (n=100) and women (n=100) university students within the age range of 18 to 25 years. The participants were selected from private and government sector universities in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Public mental health stigma (MHS) is measured by the Community Attitude towards the Mentally Ill (CAMI; Taylor and Dear, 1981) scale consists of 40 items and four subscales. Results show that men have a more negative attitude towards mental health stigma, particularly in Baloch ethnicity, while women from Punjabi and Sindhi ethnicities have a more negative attitude, influenced by socioeconomic status. Findings help to reduce stigma associated with mental health and also help to design mental health stigma awareness programs to address these challenges in Pakistan. Potential limitations, suggestions, and implications of the study were also been discussed.