Barriers to Mental Illness Treatment in Saudi Arabia: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Mental illness is a disorder that can cause impairment and disability, affecting mood, thinking, and behavior; therefore, early intervention will reduce morbidity. This study aims to evaluate all the personal, family, societal, and medical barriers that prevent mental health patients from seeking consultation and treatment.

In Saudi Arabia, a cross-sectional study was conducted on 463 individuals aged 18 and above. Data were collected by face-to-face interviews using a validated questionnaire, which consisted of two parts. The first part included sociodemographic data, while the second part contained subsections of society/family, personal, and medical barriers.

The results showed that 379 (81.9%) indicated that society and family barriers impacted them, whereas 325 (70.3%) believed that personal barriers hindered seeking help. However, 294 (63.5%) opted for medical barriers as a hindrance. Regarding the highest barriers, 120 of the total respondents (25.9%) saw psychiatric illness as a source of shame and stigma, 166 respondents (35.9%) said that the psychiatric patient is seen as crazy, 159 of them (34.3%) believed it is tough for anyone to talk about their feelings and emotions and 183 respondent (39.5%) feared that psychiatric illness would decrease the chance of marriage to the appropriate person. Our findings also indicated a low trust in hospital treatment, hence a loss of confidence in using medications.

The findings of this study indicate that societal stigma is the most common barrier preventing people from seeking mental health consultation. Many barriers differ significantly between males and females.