ReviewCureus2024
Barriers to Seeking Mental Health Help in Saudi Arabia: A Systematic Review.
Review in Cureus, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 24 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
24 citing papers in PubMed.
- Perceived Social Support and Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Symptoms Among Adults Receiving Mental Health Care in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- AI Use for Mental Health Information and Professional Psychological Help-Seeking Intentions Among Saudi Women: A Cross-Sectional Study.Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- A Meta-Analysis of the Acceptance of Artificial Intelligence in Psychotherapy.Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Among Health-Related and Non-Health-Related Students: A Cross-Sectional Study.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Attitudes, Help-Seeking Barriers, and Predictors of Intention to Use Telemental Health Services Among University Students in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Help-Seeking Intentions and Preferred Sources for Mental Health Problems Among University Students in Saudi Arabia.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- The Prevalence and Comorbidities of Self-Reported Mental Health Disorders Among Primary Healthcare Attendees in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Survey.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Self-reported sensory processing and social participation across adult ADHD symptom groups.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2026Article
- Professional Boundaries and Ethical Obligations in Saudi Arabia An Integrated Sharia, Legal and Clinical Psychology Framework.F1000Research · 2026Article
- COVID-19 and psychiatric inpatient admissions at a Saudi tertiary hospital, 2017-2024: an interrupted time-series study.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2026Article
- Mental health burden and service barriers among medical and health sciences students: prevalence and determinants from a cross-sectional analysis.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Article
- Psychological distress, self-efficacy, and academic advising among Saudi nursing students during academic reform: a mixed-methods study.BMC medical education · 2025Article
- A Cross-Sectional Evaluation of Caregiver Burden in Schizophrenia Care: Findings from Western Saudi Arabia with Policy Implications for Preventive Mental Healthcare.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Facilitators, Barriers, and Cultural Appropriateness of Mindfulness-Based Interventions Among Saudi Female University Students: Qualitative Study.JMIR formative research · 2025Article
- Common Mental Health Conditions and Self-Stigma Among Saudi Male Adults: Implications for Promotion and Intervention.Cureus · 2025Article
- Gender Differences in Type 1 Diabetes Management and Mental Health Burden: Findings from a National Survey in Saudi Arabia.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Article
- Validating the Arabic Coming Out with Mental Illness Scale (COMIS-Ar).Oman medical journal · 2025Article
- Nursing students' attitudes and intentions towards seeking professional psychological help: the mediating role of emotional intelligence.BMC psychology · 2025Article
- Prevalence and risk factors of burnout among community pharmacists in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study.Frontiers in public health · 2025Article
- Development and Validation of a Bilingual Reusable Learning Object to Enhance Mental Health Literacy on Neuroendocrine and Mental Health Disorders Among Youth in Saudi Arabia.Psychology research and behavior management · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
11 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Globally, mental disorders have become a significant burden, affecting a substantial number of individuals. Accessing mental health services is crucial for effective treatment and improving outcomes. However, significant barriers to seeking health services can impede access and contribute to the treatment gap. This systematic review aims to identify and analyze the perceived barriers to seeking mental health services in Saudi Arabia. A comprehensive search was conducted among four databases (PubMed, Web of Science, ProQuest, and Science Direct) to identify relevant studies published between 2018 and 2023. Studies that investigated barriers that could prevent psychiatric patients from seeking mental health services in Saudi Arabia were included. Data extraction and synthesis were performed to identify common themes and barriers. The review included a total of six studies that examined barriers to seeking mental health services in Saudi Arabia. The identified barriers encompassed a range of factors, including stigma, lack of awareness, concerns about confidentiality, limited availability of services, negative attitudes toward professional help, and cultural and religious beliefs. The lack of knowledge, as well as the negative attitude toward mental health care, was a perceived barrier to help-seeking in most studies. Furthermore, stigma was consistently reported as a predominant barrier, preventing individuals from seeking mental health care. This systematic review highlights the barriers to seeking mental health services in Saudi Arabia. Addressing these barriers is essential for improving access to mental healthcare and reducing the treatment gap. Strategies should focus on destigmatization efforts, increasing awareness, ensuring confidentiality and privacy, providing culturally appropriate care, and addressing structural limitations. By implementing these strategies, healthcare systems can improve access to mental health care and the overall well-being of individuals experiencing mental disorders in Saudi Arabia.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.