Perceptions of Mental Health among Pakistani University Students:A Gender-Based Focus Group Discussion(FGDs)

This study examines Pakistani university students' perceptions of mental health in academia, focusing on gender differences, cultural barriers, and institutional challenges. Using a qualitative approach, we conducted four focus group discussions with male and female students from Lahore universities through purposive sampling. Thematic analysis revealed that stigma remains the primary barrier to help-seeking, particularly among males due to masculinity norms; financial constraints limit access to services despite high stress levels; family attitudes serve as both support systems and sources of pressure; and social media amplifies both awareness and anxiety. Notably, the study uncovers how COVID-19 exacerbated academic pressures while isolating students from traditional support networks. The research contributes novel insights by demonstrating how collectivist cultural values in Pakistan uniquely shape mental health narratives differently for genders, with males avoiding disclosure to maintain "strength" and females facing "emotional overlabeling." Practical applications include recommendations for culturally adapted anti-stigma campaigns, gender-segregated counselling services, and curriculum-integrated mental health literacy programs. While limited to Lahore, these findings offer transferable frameworks for Global South universities addressing similar cultural dynamics. The study advances existing literature by intersecting financial accessibility issues with gendered help-seeking behaviours in a low-middle-income educational context.