ArticleBMC psychology2025
Unraveling the stigma: a qualitative descriptive exploration of the relationship between culture, religion, and mental disorders in Saudi Arabia.
Article in BMC psychology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 15 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
15 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- "I Was Embarrassed to Go and See a Counsellor": Stigma Experienced by Individuals Diagnosed with Mental Illness (A Systematic Review and Meta-Synthesis).International journal of environmental research and public health · 2026Pooled it
- Family Honor, Gender Norms, and Help-Seeking Shape Mental Health Stigma in Saudi Arabia: A Systematic Review.Inquiry : a journal of medical care organization, provision and financingPooled it
- Mental health literacy in youth: a quasi-experimental comparison of a reusable learning object in Saudi Arabia and Malaysia.BMC public health · 2026Article
- Enigma of autism regression mechanistic pathways, clinical phenotypes, and early intervention implications.World journal of clinical pediatrics · 2026Review
- The Unseen Wounds: Why the Middle East's Mental Health Catastrophe is a Regional Emergency.Health promotion perspectives · 2026Article
- Affiliate stigma, perceived social support, and caregiver burden among caregivers of people with substance use disorders in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study.BMC psychiatry · 2026Article
- Mental-Health Help-Seeking Among Muslims in the Liverpool City Region: A System-Informed Qualitative Study of Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices.Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy · 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
- Words Matter: Content Analysis of Language Used When Documenting in the Medical Records of Patients in Mental Health.Journal of multidisciplinary healthcare · 2026Article
- Prevalence and risk factors of suicide and their correlation with depression and anxiety among medical students: a Saudi multicenter study.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2026Article
- Effectiveness of Psychoeducation via Telenursing on Reducing Caregiver Burden Among Caregivers for Patients with Schizophrenia in Saudi Arabia: A Quasi-Experimental Study.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Prevalence and Determinants of Suicidal Ideation Among Physicians in Saudi Arabia.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Relationship between grief and coping strategies among nurses dealing with patient deaths: a descriptive, cross-sectional, correlational study.BMC palliative care · 2025Article
- Stigma and Help-Seeking Attitudes in Relation to Psychological Distress Among Medical Students in Saudi Arabia.Clinical practice and epidemiology in mental health : CP & EMH · 2025Article
- The Willingness to Utilize Psychological Health Applications Among Saudis: A Study Guided by the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT).Inquiry : a journal of medical care organization, provision and financingArticle
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
11 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundA lack of understanding about the needs of people in Middle Eastern and Islamic contexts living with mental health disorders, and their experiences of diagnosis-related social and personal stigma inhibits high-quality care.
methodsThis qualitative descriptive study, based in Saudi Arabia, used the Stigma Mitigating Conceptual Model to explore mental disorder-related stigma from the perspective of challenges and strategies connected to knowledge, attitudes and behaviours. Thirteen adults with mental health disorders completed semi-structured interviews, analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.
resultsFour major themes and nine subthemes pertaining to the impact of stigma on public and self/personal knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors were identified: (1) effects of the mental disorder on everyday life, (2) challenges, (3) overcoming the challenges, and (4) types of stigma experienced. Greater knowledge of mental health disorders promoted Islamic principles of compassion and support, while the absence of knowledge exacerbated public stigma and fears the individual is under the influence of the 'Evil Eye', or lacks prayers and devotion. Participant strategies to mitigate stigma include education, and more opportunities for those living with mental health disorders to share their stories.
conclusionsStudy findings provide nuance into the role of stigma in the context of cultural and religious factors in Saudi. These insights can be used to help tailor care and interventions to people from Middle Eastern contexts, as Western perspectives have predominantly driven mental health care.
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