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Gender, Mental Health Stigma, and Help-Seeking in Arabic- and Swahili-Speaking Communities in Australia

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  • Shameran Slewa-Younan

    (Translational Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW 2751, Australia
    Centre for Mental Health and Community Wellbeing, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia)

  • Renu Narchal

    (Translational Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW 2751, Australia
    School of Psychology, Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW 2751, Australia)

  • Ruth Das

    (EMBRACE Multicultural Mental Health Project, Mental Health Australia, Deakin West, WA 2600, Australia)

  • Klimentina Krstanoska-Blazeska

    (Translational Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW 2751, Australia)

  • Ilse Blignault

    (Translational Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW 2751, Australia)

  • Bingqin Li

    (Social Policy Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2033, Australia)

  • Nicola Reavley

    (Centre for Mental Health and Community Wellbeing, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia)

  • Andre Renzaho

    (Translational Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW 2751, Australia)

Abstract

Australia is an ethnically diverse nation with large numbers of migrants and refugees entering the country yearly. Despite research demonstrating that individuals from culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) communities experience an elevated risk of developing a mental illness, mental health services uptake is consistently low. To improve the mental health outcomes of these CaLD individuals in Australia, there is an urgent need to understand barriers to treatment, such as stigma. Research has noted that gender may play a role in mental health stigma and help-seeking. Using a qualitative approach as part of the Embrace Multicultural Mental Health Project, the aim of this study was to explore gender perspectives in mental health stigma and help-seeking among Arabic-speaking and Swahili-speaking individuals in Sydney. A total of five focus group discussions and 18 interviews were undertaken online using Zoom, digitally recorded, transcribed, and thematically analysed. Three major themes were identified. The first theme related to stigma and the fears regarding mental illness being discovered by others. The second theme related to the different approaches to confronting stigma. The last theme related to the various issues considered when identifying sources of help. Our findings suggest that a nuanced approach using the ‘what matters most’ framework can explain how men and women within each community may experience stigma and emphasise different aspects of help-seeking. These findings can help to guide clinical practitioners in delivering gender-specific and culturally sensitive and effective treatment sessions with these CaLD individuals, in addition to offering directions for stigma-reduction initiatives.

Suggested Citation

  • Shameran Slewa-Younan & Renu Narchal & Ruth Das & Klimentina Krstanoska-Blazeska & Ilse Blignault & Bingqin Li & Nicola Reavley & Andre Renzaho, 2024. "Gender, Mental Health Stigma, and Help-Seeking in Arabic- and Swahili-Speaking Communities in Australia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(12), pages 1-15, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:21:y:2024:i:12:p:1619-:d:1536078
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Yang, Lawrence Hsin & Kleinman, Arthur & Link, Bruce G. & Phelan, Jo C. & Lee, Sing & Good, Byron, 2007. "Culture and stigma: Adding moral experience to stigma theory," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 64(7), pages 1524-1535, April.
    2. Victoria A. Schlaudt & Rahel Bosson & Monnica T. Williams & Benjamin German & Lisa M. Hooper & Virginia Frazier & Ruth Carrico & Julio Ramirez, 2020. "Traumatic Experiences and Mental Health Risk for Refugees," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-10, March.
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