Intentions to Seek Mental Health Care and Stereotypes Toward Providers: A Cross-Sectional Study in Oman

Abstract

Background

Parents play a pivotal role in recognising and managing mental health issues in children. However, stigma and stereotypes associated with mental health care may influence their intention to seek professional help. This study explored help-seeking intentions and help-seeker stereotypes among Omani parents of children with and without diagnosed mental illness.

Method

A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted among 636 Omani parents (328 with mentally ill child and 308 without). Participants were recruited from health centres, a specialised mental hospital, and a tertiary care public hospital in Muscat, Oman. Data were collected using validated versions of the Mental Health Help-Seeking Intention Scale and the Help-Seeker Stereotype Scale. Statistical analyses included Chi-squared and Maan-Whitney U tests.

Results

Mean help-seeking intention scores were comparable between parents of children with (15.43 ± 4.20) and without mental illness (15.41 ± 4.05; p = 0.993). In contrast, parents of children with mental illness reported significantly higher overall stereotype scores (34.7 ± 13.99 vs 31.0 ± 15.62; p < 0.001). The strongest negative perceptions related to being “not in control” (mean difference [MD] = 0.84; p < 0.001), “untrustworthy” (MD = 0.69; p < 0.001), and “dependent” (MD = 0.26; p = 0.002). Other traits such as “needy”, “oversensitive”, and “cowardly” also showed significant group differences.

Conclusion

The findings reveal that while help-seeking intentions were similar across parent groups, those caring for a child with mental illness held stronger negative stereotypes about help-seekers. These attitudes likely reflect internalised stigma shaped by caregiving experience and societal norms. Addressing such beliefs through culturally sensitive education and caregiver-focused interventions is essential to improving mental health engagement in Oman.

Plain Language Summary

This study looked at how Omani parents view mental health providers and whether they intend to seek help for any mental health concerns. So we compared the parents of children with mental illnesses to those whose children do not have mental illnesses. Both groups showed that they have similar intentions to seek mental health care. However, parents of children with mental illness held stronger negative beliefs about people who seek psychological help. They were more likely to see help-seekers as “not in control of their emotions”, “untrustworthy”, or “dependent”, along with traits such as “needy”, “oversensitive”, and “cowardly”. These results recommended that, to improve mental health care engagement in Oman, it is important to challenge these negative beliefs through culturally sensitive education and support programmes for carers.