Search Results (632)

Individuals with a history of suicide attempt may face complex decisions about whether, when, and how to disclose their suicidal behavior history. However, little is known about how they navigate these decisions within family, social, and mental health care contexts. This qualitative study examined disclosure decision-making among biological mothers with a documented history of suicide attempt whose children aged 5–17 years had received behavioral health services. Structured clinical and demographic assessments were used to characterize the sample, followed by semi-structured qualitative interviews. Eleven audio-recorded interviews were included in the qualitative analysis. Mothers described disclosure decisions within the context of prior experiences of judgment and dismissal, stigma surrounding mental health and suicide, distrust of mental health care, structural and family stressors, and discomfort with vulnerability. Mothers also described conditions that facilitated disclosure, including close relationships with trust and open communication, and pro-mental health care attitudes. Findings suggest that disclosure of suicide attempt history is a context-dependent decision shaped by experiences across interpersonal, social, structural, and individual contexts. Rather than supporting disclosure as uniformly beneficial or harmful, these findings highlight the need for individualized, developmentally appropriate support for individuals considering whether, when, and how to discuss a suicide attempt history. Full article

This study explored pharmacy students’ lived experiences of mental health support structures at a University in South Africa. A qualitative phenomenological design was employed, with data collected through semi-structured interviews (n = 20) and document analysis of institutional mental health resources (2020–2024). Thematic analysis revealed five interrelated themes: awareness and visibility of support; barriers to access and utilization; institutional responses to mental health crises; cultural and contextual misalignment; and informal support and coping strategies. Although formal support services were available, students experienced them as fragmented, reactive, and insufficiently integrated into academic life. Barriers to access included long waiting times, stigma, and concerns about confidentiality. Institutional responses to crises were perceived as academically focused, with limited psychological follow-up. Students relied heavily on informal networks, including peers, family, and spirituality. These findings highlight a disconnect between institutional provision and student experience, underscoring the need for more integrated, culturally responsive, and student-centred approaches to mental health support within pharmacy education. Full article

While research has investigated the mental health burdens of refugee and asylum seekers with diverse sexual orientation and gender identity and expression (SOGIE), far less attention has been given to what supports their mental health, particularly within the Canadian context. In response to an identified need from a local community organization, this scoping review aimed to identify current approaches that support SOGIE asylum seekers’ mental health in Canada. Using the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, searches took place on 7 and 8 March 2026 across peer-reviewed and grey literature databases indexed in MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL Plus, LGBTQ+ Source, Scopus, Web of Science, SocIndex, Sociological Abstracts, ERIC, Global Health, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Citation Index, EBSCO Open Dissertations, ProQuest’s Canadian Research Index, Government of Canada Library, Canadian Council for Refugees Member Organizations, Newcomer Research Library, UNHCR Canada, Egale, and Google. Title, abstract, and full-text screening were completed by two team members, and seven studies met the eligibility criteria outlined. The analysis of four peer-reviewed studies and three grey literature documents suggests that SOGIE asylum seeker mental health should involve emotional and psychological support during the refugee determination process, as well as address social determinants of health. Additionally, the available literature indicated that there must be an awareness of how stigma and mistrust, intersectional challenges, and structural barriers impact how mental health supports are provided to and received by SOGIE asylum seekers in Canada. While having seven included documents primarily based in Ontario and Quebec is a limitation in the evidence, this also provides evidence for the need to conduct further research about SOGIE asylum seeker mental health in other areas of Canada. Full article

Background: Mental health disorders are an increasing concern in Saudi Arabia, including in the Eastern Province, where one study found that of the 42.5% of medical students who reported a clear need for mental health services, only 16.2% had actually used them. Stigma and other psychosocial factors are thought to shape help-seeking behavior, yet comparative studies remain scarce. This study compares attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help, and perceived stigma, between students in health-related and non-health-related programmes at King Faisal University. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 589 students at King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia, were recruited through convenience sampling. Data were collected with an online, self-administered questionnaire covering sociodemographic characteristics and three validated Arabic instruments: the Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help–Short Form (ATSPPH-SF), the Stigma Scale for Receiving Psychological Help (SSRPH), and the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 (HSCL-25). Results: Of the 589 respondents, 580 (98.5%) were included in the analysis—279 (48.1%) health-related and 301 (51.9%) non-health-related students. Most were aged 18–21 (76.9%), Saudi nationals (96.9%), single (91.9%), and of middle income (79.2%). Attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help did not differ significantly between health-related and non-health-related students (Welch’s t(566) = −1.48, p = 0.138, Cohen’s d = −0.12, a negligible effect). Perceived stigma (SSRPH) was significantly higher among health-related students (10.85 vs. 10.16; t(578) = 2.56, p = 0.011). Perceived social stigma was inversely and significantly associated with attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help (r = −0.262, p < 0.001). Together, stigma and psychological distress (HSCL-25) explained a modest 7.9% of the variance in help-seeking attitudes (R² = 0.079). Conclusions: Health-related and non-health-related students at this single university did not differ significantly in their attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help. Perceived stigma showed the stronger association with less favorable attitudes, whereas psychological distress was associated with a smaller, positive association. These findings, from a single-center convenience sample, point to a need for stigma-reduction efforts and confidential mental health services at King Faisal University. Full article

HIV-related stigma constitutes a critical structural determinant that adversely affects mental health and treatment outcomes among people living with HIV (PLWH) in Tunisia. Rooted in cultural conservatism, legal criminalization, and institutional discrimination, this stigma engenders social exclusion, the systematic removal of individuals from community participation. It further fosters internalized shame, precipitating depression, anxiety, and treatment non-adherence. Evidence was synthesized from English- and French-language literature published between 2014 and 2026, identified through targeted searches of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and grey literature sources from UNAIDS, WHO, and Tunisian governmental authorities. This narrative review synthesizes recent epidemiological data indicating a 0.1% general population prevalence but 13% among men who have sex with men (MSM), with only 26% testing coverage. Situated within trauma-informed, social determinants of health, and public health frameworks, this analysis identifies specific vulnerabilities for women and older adults living with HIV. Integrated approaches combining healthcare-provider training, legal reform, and culturally tailored mental health services are essential to mitigate the harms of stigma and improve equitable health outcomes in Tunisia. Full article

Background: Worldwide, around 400,000 children are diagnosed with cancer every year. Understanding survivors’ social and stigma-related experiences may help address their needs and improve their outcomes. Objectives: To explore the social and stigma-related experiences, coping strategies, and support needs of pediatric cancer survivors in Newfoundland and Labrador, a province of Canada. Methods: This is a qualitative, cross-sectional study focusing on retrospective participant experiences. Eligibility criteria included being diagnosed with cancer before the age of 18 and being diagnosed or treated in the province. Extensive recruitment activities were employed. Data collection occurred through semi-structured virtual interviews and completion of a sociodemographic survey. Participant interviews were transcribed verbatim, and themes were identified iteratively through inductive thematic analysis. Descriptive statistics were used to define the participants’ sociodemographic characteristics. Results: Seven participants were recruited. Thematic analysis identified five major themes: (i) isolation and being treated differently; (ii) support received, coping mechanisms, and support needs; (iii) resilience and interest to give back; (iv) workplace and disability related experiences; and (v) additional impacts of cancer. Our results showed that participants received substantial social support in various ways but inadequate professional mental health support. School was a significant setting for cancer-related stigmatization. Discrimination in the workplace was rare and was disability-related rather than cancer-related. Conclusions: Our results show that there are significant issues to address, such as stigma and isolation experienced by pediatric cancer survivors as well as the need to improve the psychosocial support programs offered to them. Our results also show that the participants had distinct lived experiences compared to adult-onset cancer populations. Overall, the findings presented are expected to inform further studies and healthcare-education policies to help address these issues and improve the experiences of pediatric cancer survivors. Full article

Background/Objectives: Existing mental health help-seeking measures may not adequately reflect adolescents’ developmental and sociocultural contexts. This study developed and evaluated a mental health help-seeking scale for Korean adolescents. Methods: Following DeVellis’ guidelines, items were generated through concept analysis and in-depth interviews. Expert review reduced 50 initial items to 33 preliminary items. Data were collected from 500 adolescents in Gyeongsangbuk-do, Republic of Korea. EFA and CFA were conducted using separate samples of 250 participants. Results: The final scale comprised 16 items across three factors: Mental Health Help-Seeking Willingness, Overcoming Stigma in Mental Health Help-Seeking, and Knowledge of Mental Health Help-Seeking Resources. The factors explained 46.4% of the variance, and CFA provided preliminary support for the three-factor structure. Cronbach’s α was 0.85 overall and ranged from 0.73 to 0.85 across subscales. Conclusions: The scale provides preliminary evidence of reliability and validity for assessing mental health help-seeking among Korean adolescents and may be useful in research and early-prevention settings. Full article

Background: Mental health issues among university students are a growing global concern, including in Malaysia. This exploratory study aims to examine mental health support systems in Malaysian universities using a dyadic perspective, capturing both students’ and counsellors’ experiences. This addresses a key gap in the literature, which has largely relied on single-perspective accounts. Methods: A qualitative exploratory design was employed using purposive sampling. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 students receiving mental health support and 10 university counsellors. The data were analysed using hybrid deductive–inductive thematic analysis. Results: Three themes emerged from the findings. The first theme showed that students sought support once distress affected their daily functioning, valuing trust, safety, and emotional guidance, while counsellors described a parallel process of assessing student needs and facilitating longer term recovery. The second theme identified barriers shared by both groups, namely limited awareness of services and stigma, alongside additional constraints reported only by counsellors, including staffing shortages, unclear referral pathways, and limited institutional support. The third theme centred on strategies for improvement, including early assessment, awareness campaigns, digital accessibility, resilience building, and stronger collaboration among students, counsellors, and university stakeholders. Conclusions: This study contributes to the literature by integrating three complementary theoretical perspectives to explain university students’ mental health support experiences, support networks, and help-seeking behaviour. The findings also provide practical guidance for university administrators, counsellors, and policymakers seeking to develop more accessible, proactive, and student-centred mental health support systems. As the study is based on qualitative, cross-sectional data, the findings should be interpreted as indicative rather than causal. Nonetheless, they suggest that strengthening such initiatives may contribute to more supportive and responsive mental health provision within higher education institutions. Full article

Digital ecosystems, misinformation exposure, mental-health vulnerability and unequal access to care create distinctive challenges for young people. Although youth participation in health governance is increasingly advocated internationally, structured evidence from youth deliberative processes remains limited in Portugal. This study synthesises priorities expressed in two Portuguese deliberative initiatives coordinated by the Sociedade Portuguesa de Literacia em Saúde: the Mini-Assemblies of Health 2022–2023, with particular attention to the 3rd Mini-Assembly on Fighting Health Misinformation, and the Youth Health Choices Forum 2024. Both processes used a structured nominal-group logic to support idea generation, clarification, recording and prioritisation. The analysis used low-inference cross-session thematic aggregation to preserve propositional integrity and remain close to participants’ formulations. Five priority domains were identified: digital health communication and information credibility; curriculum-integrated and peer-mediated health literacy; low-friction mental-health access and stigma reduction; equity and functional service accessibility and governance, accountability and youth participation. Participant quotations are retained, in translated form, to preserve youth voice and to show how recommendations emerged from concrete deliberative formulations. The findings suggest that nominal group technique (NGT)-based youth deliberation can generate operational recommendations for policy and practice, including credibility mechanisms for digital health information, school-based health-literacy integration, autonomy-preserving access routes for mental-health support, and permanent youth participation structures. The findings support recognising young people not only as vulnerable recipients of health information but also as interpreters of digital health ecosystems and contributors to the design of more responsive health governance. Full article

The language used to describe and discuss mental ill-health continues to evolve and improve, driven by advocacy and commitment to reducing the harmful effects of stigma. However, from a lived experience perspective, room for improvement remains. This project aimed to explore the use of language and labels within the mental health sector and its impact on people with lived experience of mental ill-health. Interviews were conducted with mental health consumers and/or carers (n = 15), and co-researchers with lived experience of mental ill-health contributed researcher positionality to the research. Six themes were generated using reflexive thematic analysis; they accented how participants expressed complex and nuanced experiences of language and labels, and the overlapping themes highlight the ‘blurry edges’ when people with lived experience discuss language, with the individual at the centre. Responses reflected the nature of inclusive and exclusive language in the medical system and the community. Central to experiences of exclusion were times when people felt dismissed and misunderstood due to the language and labels others use and how the words are delivered. These negative experiences reflect the influence of stigma. Positive language provides validation, understanding and a sense of hope. Health professionals may have opportunities to apply more personalised communication approaches, which could improve outcomes for the people they support. Full article

Depression, anxiety disorders and sleep disorders are becoming increasingly prevalent among college students. While psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy remain important interventions, their practical implementation in university settings may be constrained by factors including limited service accessibility, scheduling constraints, privacy concerns, stigma, and poor long-term adherence. As a low-threshold supportive intervention that can be readily integrated into campus environments, art healing offers a complementary approach to promoting college student mental health. This review includes 20 studies retrieved from the Web of Science and PubMed databases. These studies provide evidence for the mental health benefits of auditory art, visual art, and integrated art healing. The findings indicate that music-based interventions (the primary form of auditory art) have relatively robust supporting evidence for alleviating stress and anxiety; visual art and integrative art healing also yield measurable positive mental health outcomes. However, existing research is limited by heterogeneous intervention delivery protocols, small sample sizes, short follow-up periods, and substantial variation in methodological quality. Current evidence supports art healing as a complementary strategy for mental health promotion in higher education settings, rather than an alternative treatment modality. Future work should test standardized protocols in multi-site student samples. Long-term follow-up designs to further clarify its target populations, underlying mechanisms, and sustained efficacy. Full article

Background/Objectives: Filipino Americans are one of the least likely Asian American subgroups to use formal mental health services, even when mental health needs are present. This study used the Capability–Opportunity–Motivation–Behavior (COM-B) framework to examine mental health symptomatology, perceived social support, help-seeking intentions, and perceived barriers to mental health treatment among Filipino American older adults residing in the United States. Methods: We used a cross-sectional descriptive correlational design. A sample of 100 Filipino American older adults completed the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, an 8-item subset of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, the Mental Health Seeking Intention Scale, and the Perceived Barriers to Psychological Treatment scale. We performed descriptive statistics and correlation analyses using Pearson’s and Spearman’s coefficients. Results: Participants experienced low levels of depressive symptoms (M = 2.73, SD = 4.80) and anxiety symptoms (M = 2.56, SD = 4.11), high perceived social support (M = 5.32, SD = 1.83), moderate help-seeking intentions (M = 4.90, SD = 2.18), low overall perceived barriers to care (M = 1.67, SD = 0.90), and nearly universal health insurance coverage. Of the barrier domains, stigma/interpersonal barriers had the highest mean scores. Greater depressive and anxiety symptom severity was associated with higher overall perceived barriers to mental health care (r = 0.45–0.47) and with higher structural, motivational, and stigma/interpersonal barriers (r = 0.41–0.46). Conclusions: Despite high healthcare access and strong perceived social support, Filipino American older adults expressed only moderate intentions to seek professional mental health care. Culturally mediated factors may shape mental health help-seeking beyond structural barriers to access. The COM-B framework offers a useful lens for understanding help-seeking behavior and guiding culturally responsive interventions with Filipino American older adults. Full article

Background: Mental health problems are common among people living with HIV (PLWH); however, the use of mental health services remains inadequate in many low- and middle-income countries. Objectives: This study aimed to explore the perspectives of health professionals on the provision of mental health services for PLWH presenting with mental health problems in primary health care in Lesotho. Methods: A qualitative descriptive approach was adopted, involving semi-structured interviews with 50 health professionals who were purposely selected, including nurses and medical officers, each with a minimum of 2 years’ primary health care experience in the Maseru district. Data were collected between December 2022 and January 2023, audio-recorded, and transcribed verbatim. Data collection continued until thematic saturation was achieved, and analysis was conducted using a thematic framework analysis. Results: The analysis revealed two main themes: (1) limited knowledge of mental health problems, encompassing an inadequate understanding of signs and symptoms, diagnosis, and management, and (2) barriers to the management of mental health problems. Key subthemes included the shortage of qualified mental health specialists and psychiatric medications, the absence of dedicated counselling services for the prevention of mental health problems, lack of a mental health department, time constraints within clinical practice, and limitations in clinical infrastructure. Cultural beliefs, stigma, and discrimination, both among health professionals and in the broader community, were also identified as significant impediments. Participants described a substantial treatment gap, driven by insufficient training and limited resources, which undermines the effective delivery of mental health services. Conclusions: The findings revealed that health professionals working in primary health care in Lesotho experience considerable knowledge gaps and systemic constraints that hinder the provision of adequate mental health services for PLWH who have mental health problems. These challenges can be mitigated through targeted capacity building, the integration of MHS into primary care, improved resource allocation, and strategies to reduce stigma, thereby enhancing health outcomes. Full article

Background: People with schizophrenia are one of the most stigmatized social groups. The purpose of this study was to assess stigma, quality of life, social anxiety and illness insight in a sample of first-episode psychosis (FEP) patients and to investigate possible correlations between these variables and psychopathology/socio-demographic factors of the study group. Methods: This observational cross-sectional study included 90 patients (55 males, 35 females) with a mean age of 31.8 ± 8.6 years (18–52) experiencing a first episode of psychosis. The mean ± SD duration of untreated psychosis was 13.4 ± 6.2 weeks. The medications used were risperidone (n = 24; 26.7%), clozapine (n = 34; 37.8%), and olanzapine (n = 32; 35.6%). The tools used for this study were the Internalized Stigma for Mental Illness Scale (ISMI), World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment-BREF (WHOQoL-BREF), Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS-SR), Schedule for the Assessment of Insight—Expanded version (SAI-E), and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Results: The mean ISMI total score was 50.9 ± 7.9 (range: 29–84), with 56.6% of patients scoring greater than 50, indicative of internalized stigma. Mean PANSS total scores improved from 76.1 ± 7.2 at baseline to 44.9 ± 6.3 after six months of follow-up (p < 0.001). Patients demonstrated insight of (mean ± SD) 20.3 ± 4.5, measured by SAI-E, and moderate-to-good quality of life across WHOQOL-BREF domains. The results of this study indicated that the ISMI scale showed statistically significant linear correlations with the LSAS-SR [anxiety (r = 0.399, p < 0.001) and avoidance (r = 0.421, p < 0.001)], with positive correlations and approximately medium associations. In the multivariable analyses, ISMI was inversely associated with all WHOQoL-BREF domains (physical health: −0.72 units 95% CI: −1.09 to −0.35, p < 0.001; mental health:−1.04, 95% CI: −1.45 to −0.63, p < 0.001; social relationships: −0.79, 95% CI: −1.39 to −0.18, p = 0.012; environmental health: −0.70, 95% CI: −1.00 to −0.39, p < 0.001). Multivariable models were adjusted for age, gender, medication, marital status, having children, employment, residence, DUP, SAI-E, ISMI, and LSAS-SR. Conclusions: Stigma is positively correlated with social anxiety. Higher stigma levels were independently linearly associated with lower levels of quality of life, even after adjusting for other predictor variables. Our results also indicated an association between higher insight levels and elevated odds of high internalized stigma. Stigma in first-episode psychosis patients is negatively associated with quality of life and positively associated with social anxiety/avoidance. Full article

Background/Objectives: Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated dermatosis with an important psychodermatologic burden, in which psychological stress, perceived disease impact, stigma, and attitudes toward mental health care may influence patient support needs. Although psychological and psychiatric interventions are increasingly discussed in dermatology, patient openness to different forms of supportive care, including music therapy, remains insufficiently characterized. This study aimed to characterize psychodermatologic burden and support-related attitudes among patients with psoriasis, with particular emphasis on openness to psychological counseling, psychiatric care, and music therapy-based support, and to explore the factors associated with these attitudes. Methods: In this single-center cross-sectional study, 102 adults with cutaneous or nail psoriasis completed an original self-administered questionnaire between July 2023 and January 2025. Results: Most participants perceived stress as related to psoriasis onset or worsening (86.3%) and considered dermatologist guidance toward psychological or psychiatric support beneficial (80.4%). Psychological counseling was the most accepted supportive intervention (75.5%), followed by music therapy (54.9%) and psychiatric consultation (48.0%), while previous psychological or psychiatric care was reported by 22.5%. Willingness to seek psychological support was independently associated with perceived psoriasis impact, whereas willingness to seek psychiatric support was associated with perceived stress impact. Awareness of music therapy was associated with higher educational level. Willingness to try music therapy was associated with high perceived stress impact, higher educational level, music listening, and awareness of music therapy. Conclusions: Patients with psoriasis frequently perceive stress as relevant to their disease and show variable openness to supportive care. These findings support an individualized psychodermatologic approach in which dermatologists may help identify patients receptive to psychological, psychiatric, or music therapy-based interventions. Full article