The development and initial pilot test of a novel mental health literacy program for Muslims living in western countries
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Date
2024-08-02
Authors
Zia, Belal
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Abstract
Muslims living in Western countries experience high psychological distress yet underutilize professional mental health services. Unfortunately, research aimed at exploring strategies to improve treatment seeking in this population is limited. In this dissertation, through two studies, I developed, and pilot tested, a mental health literacy (MHL) intervention to improve treatment seeking among Western Muslims. In Study 1, I interview 10 Canadian Muslims about their beliefs about mental health and treatment seeking, employing a validated theoretical model to guide interviews and analyses. I analyse transcripts of these interview using the Framework method, generating both a priori and inductive themes. Participants recognized their susceptibility to mental health issues, believed only severe mental health problems warrant treatment, highlighted barriers to treatment (e.g., stigma, low MHL, lack of treatment access), and held generally positive beliefs about the benefits of professional treatment. My findings highlight gaps in knowledge about mental health and its treatment which could be addressed through a tailored MHL intervention. In Study 2, I outline the development of Mental Health 101: For Muslims, an intervention designed to improve MHL among Muslims living in Western countries by addressing gaps in knowledge. I pilot tested the intervention in a sample of 26 Canadian Muslims. Participants completed pre- and post-intervention questionnaires assessing MHL, public and self-stigma, attitudes toward treatment seeking, and intentions to utilize and recommend various sources of support. Participants also completed a program satisfaction questionnaire post-intervention. Participants reported high satisfaction with the intervention, improvements in MHL, intentions to recommend treatment from family physicians, mental health professionals and imams. Intentions to seek various sources of support oneself, attitudes toward treatment seeking, and self-stigma also improved. Findings highlight the potential for MH101:M, and similar interventions, to improve help-seeking among Western Muslims.
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Keywords
Muslim mental health, mental health literacy, program development, treatment-seeking attitudes