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Mental health literacy in Arab states of the Gulf Cooperation Council: A systematic review

journal contribution
submitted on 2024-11-26, 06:42 and posted on 2024-11-26, 06:43 authored by Rowaida Elyamani, Sarah Naja, Ayman Al-Dahshan, Hamed Hamoud, Mohammed Iheb Bougmiza, Noora Alkubaisi

Background

Mental health literacy (MHL) has been relatively neglected, despite the increase of mental health illnesses worldwide, as well as within the Middle East region. A low level of MHL may hinder public acceptance of evidence-based mental health care.

Aim

This systematic review aims to identify and appraise existing research, focusing on MHL among adults in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

Methods

A systematic search of electronic databases (PubMed, PsychInfo, and Medline) was carried out from database inception to July 2019, in order to identify peer-reviewed journal articles that investigated MHL in the GCC countries. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they were: cross-sectional studies, reported in English, targeted adults (aged 18 and above), conducted in any of the GCC countries, include at least one outcome measure of the main components of MHL: knowledge of mental illnesses and their treatment, stigmatizing attitudes towards mental illnesses, and seeking help for self and offering help.

Results

A total of 27 studies (16,391 participants) were included. The outcome across studies varied due to disparity in the tested populations. Findings show that limited MHL was observed among participants, even health care professionals. Results also show a high cumulative level of stigma and negative attitude towards mental health illness in the public. Negative beliefs and inappropriate practices are common, as well. The majority of studies yielded a moderate to high risk of bias.

Conclusion

This work indicates that research on MHL must be tackled through well-designed large-scale studies of the public. Campaigns to promote early identification and treatment of mental illness is also encouraged to improve overall level of MHL in the general population of the GCC region.

Registration number: PROSPERO 2018 CRD42018104492.

Other Information

Published in: PLOS ONE
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
See article on publisher's website: https://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0245156

Funding

Open Access funding provided by the Qatar National Library.

History

Language

  • English

Publisher

Public Library of Science (PLoS)

Publication Year

  • 2021

License statement

This Item is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Institution affiliated with

  • Hamad Medical Corporation
  • Primary Health Care Corporation

Geographic coverage

Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.