Exploring the Mental Health Landscape: Understanding the Needs,Access,and Barriers for Mothers of Children With Down Syndrome

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the mental health needs of mothers of children with Down syndrome, identify their access to mental health support along with the barriers. The study included 64 mothers of children diagnosed with Down syndrome, aged 0 to 42 months. State-Trait Anxiety Scale 1 (STAI-1), Trait Anxiety Scale 2 (STAI-2), and Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) were administered. According to the STAI-1, 82.8% of mothers exhibited elevated levels of anxiety, while the STAI-2 revealed that 76.6% experienced elevated anxiety. The CES-D indicated that 37.5% of mothers exhibited symptoms of depression. Among the participants, 43.8% expressed the greatest need for support when receiving their child’s diagnosis. Additionally, 57.8% of the mothers preferred meeting with families facing similar challenges as the most suitable approach. It was found that 82.8% of the mothers cited acceptance of the disease according to their religious beliefs as the most common barrier to accessing support.