Barriers and Facilitators to Mental Health Help-Seeking among Young Adults in Saudi Arabia: A Qualitative Study

Robena Noorwali, Sarah Almotairy, Raneem Akhder, Ghadi Mahmoud, Loujain Sharif, Nofaa Alasmee, Alaa Mahsoon and Duaa Hafez
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Robena Noorwali: Faculty of Nursing, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
Sarah Almotairy: Faculty of Nursing, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
Raneem Akhder: Faculty of Nursing, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
Ghadi Mahmoud: Faculty of Nursing, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
Loujain Sharif: Department of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21551, Saudi Arabia
Nofaa Alasmee: Department of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21551, Saudi Arabia
Alaa Mahsoon: Department of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21551, Saudi Arabia
Duaa Hafez: Department of Public Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21551, Saudi Arabia

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 5, 1-11

Abstract: While young Saudi adults are reportedly prone to experiencing a variety of mental health problems, they tend to delay seeking mental health support. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the barriers and facilitators of seeking mental health support among young adults in Saudi Arabia. A qualitative research design was implemented using semi-structured interviews with 12 young adult participants in Saudi Arabia, recruited through social media platforms, and the interviews were then analyzed using thematic analysis. Two major themes emerged: barriers that impede the process of mental health help-seeking and facilitators that assist individuals in seeking mental health support. The barriers included public stigma and lack of awareness, unprofessional mental health practitioners, lack of accessibility to services and information, unsupportive families, intrapersonal dilemmas, and misconceptions based on religious beliefs. Facilitators of help-seeking included increasing societal and family awareness, promoting the accessibility of services, enhancing sources of external support, personal motivation to change, and online therapy. The findings of this study emphasize the importance of promoting mental health literacy among the Saudi public, particularly with regard to young adults and their unique mental health needs. Exploring facilitators and barriers may also assist mental health providers in developing tailored mental health campaigns and interventions directed at young adults.

Keywords: mental health help-seeking; barriers; facilitators; Saudi Arabia; young adults (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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