ArticleClinical practice and epidemiology in mental health : CP & EMH2025
Stigma and Help-Seeking Attitudes in Relation to Psychological Distress Among Medical Students in Saudi Arabia.
Article in Clinical practice and epidemiology in mental health : CP & EMH, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled 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
- Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Among Health-Related and Non-Health-Related Students: A Cross-Sectional Study.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Workplace Violence as an Occupational Hazard in Psychiatric Nursing: Burnout, Quality of Life, and Turnover Intentions in Saudi Arabia.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Help-Seeking Intentions and Preferred Sources for Mental Health Problems Among University Students in Saudi Arabia.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Article
- The influence of peer support on medical students' professional psychological help-seeking intention: the chain mediating role of professional psychological help-seeking stigma and self-efficacy.BMC medical education · 2026Article
- Stop burning out and breaking the healers: burnout, depression, and the urgent need to humanize medical school in the Latin American context.Frontiers in medicine · 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
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
10 authors.
Funding
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Abstract
Introduction: Psychological distress is common among medical students worldwide. However, psychological stigma remains a significant barrier to seeking help. This study explores the association between psychological distress, stigma, and attitudes toward help-seeking among medical students in the unique cultural context of Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online survey distributed to medical students across Saudi Arabia, yielding 1,077 completed responses. Sociodemographic data were collected, along with responses to the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6), the Stigma Scale for Receiving Psychological Help (SSRPH-A), and the Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Scale (ATSPPH-SF-A). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Spearman's correlation, and factor analysis. Results: Overall, 32.2% of students reported low distress, 34.5% moderate distress, and 33.4% high distress. Female students exhibited higher distress but greater openness to seeking help, while males reported higher stigma. Lower GPA and income were associated with increased distress and reduced help-seeking attitudes. Regional variations were observed, with Najran reporting the highest distress, and Madinah and Qassim showing higher openness to help-seeking. Discussion: Findings are consistent with the international studies, indicating that stigma significantly hinders service utilization despite need. Cultural norms, socioeconomic status, and educational systems further shape attitudes. Digital healthcare transformation in Saudi Arabia offers opportunities to reduce stigma and expand access. Conclusion: Psychological distress and stigma remain prevalent among Saudi medical students, influenced by gender, socioeconomic, and regional factors. Targeted, culturally informed interventions are essential to reduce psychological stigma, promote awareness, and encourage positive help-seeking behaviors within academic environments.
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