Mental Stigma Among Al-Ahsa Population in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Introduction Mental stigma is when patients of mental illness are labeled by their disorders, viewed negatively, and discriminated against due to their illness. This has a big impact on people's attitudes and behaviors toward the mentally ill. Moreover, mental stigma leads people to avoid patients with mental health issues, blame them for their conditions, and associate them with negative features like being dangerous, unpredictable, and hard to communicate with. The primary objective of this study is to assess the mental stigma among the population of the Al-Ahsa region in Saudi Arabia. Methods This is a cross-sectional study conducted in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia, between June and August 2021. The target population of the study was people aged 18-65 years old whose place of residency during the time of the study was Al-Ahsa. The questionnaire used in this study contained a mental stigma scale called community attitudes toward mental illness (CAMI). Results A total of 758 participants were enrolled in the study. The mean of the stigma score was 99.24 ± 15.622, with a minimum of 53 and a maximum of 176. The means of the subscales were as follows: authoritarianism (26.18 ± 4.420), benevolence (23.26 ± 4.762), community mental health ideology (24.66 ± 5.896), and social restrictiveness (25.13 ± 4.6). There was a positive relationship between age and stigma score. Healthcare workers were found to have a lower level of stigma, as were those who spoke more languages. Also, being diagnosed with a mental illness and knowing someone who is diagnosed with a mental illness were associated with a lower level of stigma. Conclusion Most of the population (91.96%) had a low to medium-low level of stigma. The variables found to affect the level of stigma were age, career, number of spoken languages, being diagnosed with a mental illness, and knowing someone who is diagnosed with a mental illness. Mental stigma has a great impact on the person, as it can prevent the patient from seeking help, lead to isolation, and suicidal ideation. Future stigma-targeted campaigns are recommended.

Attitudes and Stigma Toward Seeking Psychological Help Among the General Population of Makkah, Saudi Arabia

“…Our findings showed that the stigma scores were significantly higher among male participants and those with lower levels of education, consistent with previous research conducted on mental stigma among the general Saudi Arabian population [18]. Additionally, a study on the facilitators of and barriers to seeking mental health help in Saudi Arabia found frequent delays in seeking support for psychological well-being due to barriers to seeking help, such as public stigma, difficulty in accessing resources and information, lack of qualified mental health professionals, insufficient knowledge, and unsupportive family members [19].…”

Prescribing Patterns of Psychotropic Medications for Common Psychiatric Disorders in a Mental Health Hospital in Tabuk

“…Hence, we cannot conclude that there was a higher rate of psychiatric disorders among males compared to females. Similarly, a higher percentage of males were enrolled in previous psychiatric studies in Saudi Arabia [ 18 , 23 ]. This may be attributed to the sociocultural barriers and social stigmatization associated with mental health disorders to seeking healthcare services, especially among females [ 24 ].…”

Premarital mental health screening among the Saudi population

“…A study assessing mental health stigmas in the Al-Ahsa population has concluded that, although 91.96% of the population had moderate to low stigma, the stigma was affected by factors including career, age, the number of languages spoken, and either being or knowing someone diagnosed with a mental illness. 27 Furthermore, 76.3% of Saudis 18 years of age or above have indicated that “stigma” is a major social barrier to seeking help for mental health disorders, followed by culture (61.5%) and negative perceptions (56.2%). 26…”