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

Overview

Journal Int J Environ Res Public Health

Publisher MDPI

Specialties Environmental Health
Public Health

Date 2020 Jun 4

PMID 32486182

Citations 15

Authors

Abdulaziz S Alangari

Sarah S Knox

Alfgeir L Kristjansson

Sijin Wen

Kim E Innes

Lisa Bilal

Abdulhameed Alhabeeb

Abdullah S Al-Subaie

Yasmin A Altwaijri

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

: To examine barriers to initiation and continuation of treatment among individuals with common mental disorders in the Saudi National Mental Health Survey (SNMHS). : 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. : Among participants with a 12-month DSM-IV/CIDI disorder ( = 711), 86.1% reported no service use. Of those ( = 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 ( = 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. : 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.

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