Barriers in Seeking Psychological Help: Public Perception in Pakistan

Mental health services are globally less utilized because of several psychosocial barriers that vary from culture to culture. Regarding Pakistan, a serious knowledge gap existed in this regard. The current study was aimed at exploring the barriers for Pakistanis which stop them from seeking psychological help. The survey involved 3500 participants from 5 cities. The sample was sufficiently rich to be categorized based on gender, age, education, profession and income. Data was gathered through interviews and a self-report questionnaire. Lack of faith in psychological treatment, prior personal experience, religious fatalism, carelessness for mental disorders, social defame, personal shame, bad reputation of mental health practitioners, prohibition by family, and fear of treatment were found to be the barriers in seeking psychological help. To overcome these barriers, the participants of the current study suggested the mental health practitioners of the country to raise awareness on mental health and improve mental health services.