Background

Lack of knowledge and negative attitudes regarding mental health and mental illness among the high-risk population prevent them from seeking help. The current study aimed to assess awareness, attitudes towards mental illness, and utilization barriers of mental health services in the Najran region, Saudi Arabia

Methods

The cross-sectional design was used to achieve the aim and a convenience sample was used to include 400 participants. The study used a validated survey instrument that included structured questions on demographic factors, the Mental Health Knowledge Questionnaire (MHKQ), the Community Attitude to Mental Illness Inventory (CAMI) with 40 items on the Likert scale, and the Barriers to Mental Health Services Questionnaire.

Results

The study reveals that most of the participants had unsatisfactory knowledge 155 (61.3%). A significant majority showed negative attitudes toward mental illness 290 (72.5%). The main barriers to accessing mental health services were stigma 135 participants (33.7%), unwanted intervention concerns 82 (20.5%), financial problems 78 (19.5%), access difficulties 45 (11.3%), and confidentiality concerns 60 participants (15%). Furthermore, a strong positive correlation existed between knowledge scores and positive attitudes (R=0.598 p= 0.0001).

Conclusions

The current study shed light on the concerning lack of knowledge and the prevalent negative attitudes among the studied sample. The main barriers to accessing mental health services were stigma, unwanted intervention concerns, and financial issues. The findings underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions to address these issues and promote awareness of mental health and positive attitudes in the community.