Are they looking for support? Mental health and trauma awareness as predictors of mental health help-seeking behaviour among young adults and adolescents in Bangladesh, Egypt, Ghana and the United Arab Emirates
Abstract Background Mental health is increasingly recognized worldwide as a significant public health challenge. However, progress in developing interventions to address mental health burdens, particularly in non-Western countries, has been remarkably slow. This stagnation may be attributed to limit...
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2025-08-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-24247-1 |
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| author | Maxwell Peprah Opoku Rahemeen Yusuf Shakila Nur Ebenezer Mensah Gyimah Lilian Frimpomaa Eleana Charalambous Yasmin A. Salem Mokhtar A. Elkayal Aisha A. Abosrea Tawasol Babiker Mahra Murad Alblooshi Erin September Nada Obaid Daniel Miezah Ashraf Moustafa |
| author_facet | Maxwell Peprah Opoku Rahemeen Yusuf Shakila Nur Ebenezer Mensah Gyimah Lilian Frimpomaa Eleana Charalambous Yasmin A. Salem Mokhtar A. Elkayal Aisha A. Abosrea Tawasol Babiker Mahra Murad Alblooshi Erin September Nada Obaid Daniel Miezah Ashraf Moustafa |
| author_sort | Maxwell Peprah Opoku |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Mental health is increasingly recognized worldwide as a significant public health challenge. However, progress in developing interventions to address mental health burdens, particularly in non-Western countries, has been remarkably slow. This stagnation may be attributed to limited research on the underlying causes of mental health issues, such as trauma, as well as a lack of awareness regarding mental health disorders and help-seeking behaviours. The current study seeks to mainstream the understanding of mental health disorders by investigating the impact of trauma awareness and mental health disorders on the variance in help-seeking behaviours for mental health in non-Western contexts. This exploration aims to enhance the discourse on mental health initiatives and inform strategies for promoting mental health awareness and access to care in these regions. Methods A total of 2472 young adults (n = 1871) and adolescents (n = 601) were recruited from four countries (Bangladesh, n = 487; Egypt, n = 1070; Ghana, n = 695; and UAE, n = 217) to participate in this study. They completed three survey scales, namely, the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale, the Individual Trauma Identification and Management Scale and the Attitude toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help. Using the Statistical Package for Social Science version 29 and the Andrew Hayes PROCESS Model version 4.0, the data were subjected to hierarchical multiple regression, moderation and mediation analyses. Results Both trauma and mental health disorders collectively served as predictors of access to mental health help-seeking behaviour. Furthermore, mental health help-seeking behaviour was identified as a mediating factor in the relationship between trauma and mental health disorders. Conclusion This study recommends the establishment of mental health and trauma awareness programs specifically aimed at young adults and adolescents across these four countries. Additionally, a comprehensive discussion of the study’s implications is provided in detail. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-373f480df75a46018c8de4332d933c14 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-373f480df75a46018c8de4332d933c142025-08-24T11:55:51ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-08-0125111710.1186/s12889-025-24247-1Are they looking for support? Mental health and trauma awareness as predictors of mental health help-seeking behaviour among young adults and adolescents in Bangladesh, Egypt, Ghana and the United Arab EmiratesMaxwell Peprah Opoku0Rahemeen Yusuf1Shakila Nur2Ebenezer Mensah Gyimah3Lilian Frimpomaa4Eleana Charalambous5Yasmin A. Salem6Mokhtar A. Elkayal7Aisha A. Abosrea8Tawasol Babiker9Mahra Murad Alblooshi10Erin September11Nada Obaid12Daniel Miezah13Ashraf Moustafa14Department of Special and Gifted Education, United Arab Emirates UniversityEmirate Centre for Happiness Research, United Arab Emirates UniversityDepartment of English and Modern Languages, North South UniversityCentre for Disability and Rehabilitation Studies, Department of Health Promotion and Disability, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyDepartment Sociology and Social Work, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Special and Gifted Education, United Arab Emirates UniversityFaculty of Education, Educational Psychology Department, Ainsham UniversityFaculty of Education, Educational Psychology Department, Ainsham UniversityFaculty of Education, Educational Psychology Department, Ainsham UniversityDepartment of Special and Gifted Education, United Arab Emirates UniversityDepartment of Speech and Language Pathology, United Arab Emirates UniversityDepartment of Special and Gifted Education, United Arab Emirates UniversityDepartment of Special and Gifted Education, United Arab Emirates UniversityDepartment of Education and Psychology, College of Education Studies, University of Cape CoastDepartment of Special and Gifted Education, United Arab Emirates UniversityAbstract Background Mental health is increasingly recognized worldwide as a significant public health challenge. However, progress in developing interventions to address mental health burdens, particularly in non-Western countries, has been remarkably slow. This stagnation may be attributed to limited research on the underlying causes of mental health issues, such as trauma, as well as a lack of awareness regarding mental health disorders and help-seeking behaviours. The current study seeks to mainstream the understanding of mental health disorders by investigating the impact of trauma awareness and mental health disorders on the variance in help-seeking behaviours for mental health in non-Western contexts. This exploration aims to enhance the discourse on mental health initiatives and inform strategies for promoting mental health awareness and access to care in these regions. Methods A total of 2472 young adults (n = 1871) and adolescents (n = 601) were recruited from four countries (Bangladesh, n = 487; Egypt, n = 1070; Ghana, n = 695; and UAE, n = 217) to participate in this study. They completed three survey scales, namely, the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale, the Individual Trauma Identification and Management Scale and the Attitude toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help. Using the Statistical Package for Social Science version 29 and the Andrew Hayes PROCESS Model version 4.0, the data were subjected to hierarchical multiple regression, moderation and mediation analyses. Results Both trauma and mental health disorders collectively served as predictors of access to mental health help-seeking behaviour. Furthermore, mental health help-seeking behaviour was identified as a mediating factor in the relationship between trauma and mental health disorders. Conclusion This study recommends the establishment of mental health and trauma awareness programs specifically aimed at young adults and adolescents across these four countries. Additionally, a comprehensive discussion of the study’s implications is provided in detail.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-24247-1Public healthMental healthHelp seekingYouthBangladeshEgypt |
| spellingShingle | Maxwell Peprah Opoku Rahemeen Yusuf Shakila Nur Ebenezer Mensah Gyimah Lilian Frimpomaa Eleana Charalambous Yasmin A. Salem Mokhtar A. Elkayal Aisha A. Abosrea Tawasol Babiker Mahra Murad Alblooshi Erin September Nada Obaid Daniel Miezah Ashraf Moustafa Are they looking for support? Mental health and trauma awareness as predictors of mental health help-seeking behaviour among young adults and adolescents in Bangladesh, Egypt, Ghana and the United Arab Emirates BMC Public Health Public health Mental health Help seeking Youth Bangladesh Egypt |
| title | Are they looking for support? Mental health and trauma awareness as predictors of mental health help-seeking behaviour among young adults and adolescents in Bangladesh, Egypt, Ghana and the United Arab Emirates |
| title_full | Are they looking for support? Mental health and trauma awareness as predictors of mental health help-seeking behaviour among young adults and adolescents in Bangladesh, Egypt, Ghana and the United Arab Emirates |
| title_fullStr | Are they looking for support? Mental health and trauma awareness as predictors of mental health help-seeking behaviour among young adults and adolescents in Bangladesh, Egypt, Ghana and the United Arab Emirates |
| title_full_unstemmed | Are they looking for support? Mental health and trauma awareness as predictors of mental health help-seeking behaviour among young adults and adolescents in Bangladesh, Egypt, Ghana and the United Arab Emirates |
| title_short | Are they looking for support? Mental health and trauma awareness as predictors of mental health help-seeking behaviour among young adults and adolescents in Bangladesh, Egypt, Ghana and the United Arab Emirates |
| title_sort | are they looking for support mental health and trauma awareness as predictors of mental health help seeking behaviour among young adults and adolescents in bangladesh egypt ghana and the united arab emirates |
| topic | Public health Mental health Help seeking Youth Bangladesh Egypt |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-24247-1 |
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