SOCIO-CULTURAL FACTORS (OR BARRIERS) IN SEEKING MENTAL HEALTH CARE; EXPLORATORY STUDY OF SIALKOT, PUNJAB

Abstract

The objective of the study was to explore the general perceptions of people diagnosed with mental illnesses regarding mental health and the stigma that are attached to it. The study further aimed to understand how the respondents defined the terms mental health and stigma, and how well they conceived mental health stigma as a barrier to seeking treatment. This qualitative study used a purposive sampling technique. Two healthcare facilities providing psychiatric services were selected for the data collection in the district of Sialkot, Punjab namely Social Security Hospital (a public hospital) and Imran Idrees Teaching Hospital (a private hospital). In-depth interviews were conducted with 20 respondents who were seeking treatment for any mental illness through a single interview guide. For the identification of key themes, reflexive thematic analysis was utilized. The results of the study suggested that there was negligible to a minimum understanding regarding mental health and the role of stigma in influencing treatment-seeking behaviors among the targeted community. Multiple sociocultural and religious factors played a key role in penetrating stigma into the lives of people with mental illnesses. The study presented the perceptions of people who were subjected to stigmatization and the barriers they faced while seeking treatment. It was concluded that the societal stigma that was attached to mental illnesses led to social isolation and marginalization of the people suffering, and negatively impacted their treatment-seeking decision.