Barriers to Mental Health Treatment in the Saudi National Mental Health Survey

Abdulaziz S. Alangari, Sarah S. Knox, Alfgeir L. Kristjansson, Sijin Wen, Kim E. Innes, Lisa Bilal, Abdulhameed Alhabeeb, Abdullah S. Al-Subaie and Yasmin A. Altwaijri
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Abdulaziz S. Alangari: Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
Sarah S. Knox: Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
Alfgeir L. Kristjansson: Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
Sijin Wen: Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
Kim E. Innes: Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
Lisa Bilal: Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Scientific Computing Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia
Abdulhameed Alhabeeb: National Center for Mental Health Promotion, Ministry of Health, Riyadh 11525, Saudi Arabia
Abdullah S. Al-Subaie: SABIC Psychological Health Research & Applications Chair (SPHRAC), College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 12372, Saudi Arabia
Yasmin A. Altwaijri: Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Scientific Computing Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 11, 1-13

Abstract: Objectives : To examine barriers to initiation and continuation of treatment among individuals with common mental disorders in the Saudi National Mental Health Survey (SNMHS). Methods : The SNMHS is a community-based epidemiological survey in a nationally representative household sample of respondents aged 15–65 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) 3.0 was used. Predictors of barriers to treatment were analyzed with multivariable logistic regression. Results : Among participants with a 12-month DSM-IV/CIDI disorder ( n = 711), 86.1% reported no service use. Of those ( n = 597), 50.7% did not think they needed any help (categorized as “low perceived need”) and 49.3% did perceive need. Of those who perceived need ( n = 309), the majority (98.9%) reported attitudinal barriers to initiation. In contrast, 10.3% of those with a perceived need reported structural barriers. Respondents who were previously married or indicated below-average income were more likely to believe they needed help. Conclusions : Among people with a diagnosed mental disorder, low perceived need and attitudinal barriers are the primary barriers to mental health treatment in the KSA. The results suggest that addressing poor mental health literacy may be essential factor in reducing the unmet need for mental health treatment in the KSA.

Keywords: barriers to treatment; mental disorders; dropout rates; unmet need for treatment; mental services; Saudi National Mental Health Survey (SNMHS); World Mental Health (WMH) survey initiative (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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