MENTAL HEALTH STIGMA AND HELP-SEEKING ATTITUDES AMONG AMERICAN MUSLIMS

The purpose of this literature review is to present an overview of the available literature on the relationship between mental health stigma and help-seeking attitudes among American Muslims and how these factors contribute to their underutilization of mental health services. The link between mental health stigma and help-seeking attitudes among American Muslims to cultural mistrust of the mental health system and its providers, religious discrimination, attitudes toward mental health, cultural and religious perceptions of mental illness, acculturation styles, coping styles, and service preferences were reviewed. Overall, the available literature appears to be congruent in the comprehensive finding that mental health stigma and help-seeking attitudes are related among American Muslims. Limitations of the existing research and future directions were outlined. More research is needed to clarify some of the associations of these constructs with help-seeking and stigma further. Clinical implications and recommendations for mental health professionals were discussed. It is hoped that this review may provide clinicians with more direction for treating American Muslims with cultural competence and will shatter the monolithic stereotype of Muslims.