Mental Health Stigma and Help-Seeking Behaviors Among Primary Healthcare Physicians in Oman

In Oman, primary healthcare physicians (PHPs) are often the first point of contact in the healthcare system. Understanding the prevalence and impact of stigma among these professionals is crucial to fostering a supportive work environment and promoting access to mental health care. This study evaluated mental health stigma and its association with help-seeking behaviors among PHPs in Muscat, Oman.

A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted from March to May 2023 using cluster random sampling to recruit 191 PHPs. Participants completed a structured questionnaire that evaluated demographic and clinical characteristics, help-seeking behaviors, and perceived stigma. The PPSS developed for this study underwent expert review, pilot tests, and reliability analysis. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and multivariate logistic regression, with a significance set at p < 0.05.

Most of the participants were women (78.5%), aged 30-39 years (49.7%), and Omani nationals (71.2%). More than half (57.6%) reported experiencing depressive episodes, yet only 21.8% sought professional help. High levels of stigma were associated with reluctance to seek professional mental health support, and 24.6% of participants preferred not to seek help at all. Those in the stigma group were significantly more likely to rely on family or friends for support (adjusted OR = 2.873; 95% CI = 1.345-6.138; p = 0.006). Common barriers to help-seeking included a lack of belief in the effectiveness of treatment (23.0%) and concerns about confidentiality (19.9%).

Mental health stigma remains a widespread problem among primary healthcare physicians in Oman, influencing their behavior and preferences. Interventions to reduce stigma and address barriers to mental health care, such as enhanced confidentiality safeguards and treatment skepticism, are critical to improving physician well-being and healthcare delivery. This study can inform policy and training programs aimed at improving physician well-being and patient care.