Suggested avenues to reduce the stigma of mental illness in the Middle East

Abstract

Background: Stigma toward mentally ill individuals acts as a barrier to accessing care and receiving treatment. Aim: To review current evidence pertaining to stigma toward mental illness in the Middle East in order to inform effective and sustainable interventions in this region. Methods: We conducted a systematic literature search using the PubMed database and evaluated all identified studies according to specific inclusion criteria. Results: Stigma toward individuals with mental illness does exist in the Middle East. Stigmatizing attitudes are particularly high toward culturally proscribed mental illnesses like alcohol abuse and lower for other disorders such as depression and psychosis. Conclusions: We propose the following initiatives to reduce stigma toward mental illness in the Middle East: (a) educate families to enable them to support their affected relatives, (b) increase cooperation between psychiatrists and faith healers and (c) educate young people in schools to increase their awareness and understanding of mental illnesses and to combat negative stereotypes.

Knowledge and Awareness Regarding Mental Health and Barriers to Seeking Psychiatric Consultation in Saudi Arabia

“…A study 30 conducted among parents of children with mental illness in the United Arab Emirates, reported that a significant proportion of the respondents showed reluctance to acknowledge that a member of their family had a mental illness and only 38% said that they would seek psychiatric help for a family member, including their children. Stigma has a major role to play in modifying the attitudes and behaviors of the population with regard to perceiving mental illness and treatment seeking decisions 31 . The stigma associated with mental illness prevents many mentally ill people and their caregivers from seeking adequate treatment.…”

Anxiety and depression among school students in Jordan: Prevalence, risk factors, and predictors

“…Moreover, 40% of schools have either a part‐time or full‐time health professional; however, only a small percentage of these professionals are prepared and trained in mental health . It is severely lacking standards in regard to mental health due to the stigma and shame associated with mental health illnesses . The mentally ill persons and their families face isolation from the community as whole; however, the persons additionally may be isolated from family life.…”

“…34 It is severely lacking standards in regard to mental health due to the stigma and shame associated with mental health illnesses. 35 The mentally ill persons and their families face isolation from the community as whole; however, the persons additionally may be isolated from family life. Mental illnesses are still regarded as shameful and debilitating in many communities, thus leading the people to avoid seeking mental health help.…”

Neuropsychiatric genetics in developing countries: Current challenges

“…Lack of awareness about its importance is exacerbated in LMICs because of specific cultural and educational factors, especially stigma [19] . So, it is important that laboratory-based researchers educate health professionals, and the general public, on the relevance of basic biomedical research into NPDs and the underlying basic concepts [20] .…”