Perhaps even more detrimental than the mental health challenges themselves, mental health stigma serves as one of the chief barriers inhibiting individuals’ access to care—and better yet, recovery—across the Middle East. Fear of societal or familial rejection as well as pharmacological interventions, pervasive myths and misconception, and a lack of trust in or awareness of mental health services have all been cited as major drivers of such stigma, particularly among young adults—the very group most in need of support.
As it stands, nearly 9 in 10 young adults cite fear of judgment or rejection from family or their larger community as the main reason they avoid seeking help for mental health concerns.
This is concerning—especially given the plethora of research that has consistently shown the importance of social support on mental well-being. At the root of most, if not all, mental health challenges lies a distorted viewpoint, negatively affecting how individuals perceive themselves and their surroundings. Without access to supportive friends, family members, or peers who can challenge and correct such perceptions, those afflicted by mental illness will continue to believe the distorted thoughts that something is wrong with them, that they are helpless, that they are less than, or even better off dead… This can lead to a range of negative thought patterns, such as feelings of helplessness, inadequacy, or hopelessness
Case in point: people need the support of others simply to even foster the desire to overcome their challenges, let alone do so. When individuals can trust that their family won’t be brought to shame; that their friends won’t abandon them; or that their peers won’t turn their backs on them for admitting to a problem and subsequently seeking help for it, they feel more compelled to act. Likewise, when individuals are surrounded by like-minded or influential peers who can identify signs of risk or distress, provide effective and immediate assistance, and promptly direct them to the right support, they are more likely to make a full and lasting recovery.
Thus, the need for greater mental health awareness and informed communities couldn’t be clearer. The challenge lies in how to cultivate this knowledge and foster a culture of care. To do so effectively—as in how to reach a community quickly and impactfully—centering efforts on the workplace, where people spend a third of their days (or better yet, their lives) is a promising if not requisite place to begin.
Addressing Stigma at its Source: How Workplace Intervention Can Curb the Spread of Misinformation and Dissent
Just as in school, what a person learns or infers from colleagues at work will doubtless make its way into one’s own personal philosophy in the absence of more firmly held beliefs. When in the presence of informed and open-minded peers, such an influence can be beneficial; in the presence of close-minded and ignorant peers, however, decidedly less so.
Consider, for instance, the power of phrases and labels in shaping people’s understanding of the world. As researchers note, “Arabic idioms of distress often conflate somatic and mental illness symptoms,” causing confusion and misunderstanding about the nature of mental illness. Sayings like, “ضيق في الصدر,” (Deyq fi al-Sadr) or “ألم في الرأس,” (Alam fi al-raas), for example, suggest that feelings of anxiety, depression, stress, or worry manifest as physical sensations of ‘tightness in the chest’ or ‘pain in the head.’ Even more troubling is the use of the word ‘majnoon’ to describe those with mental illness, which leads many to view these individuals as genuinely ‘crazy,’ ‘mad,’ ‘possessed,’ or ‘morally depraved.’ As a result of such expressions, many individuals can either fail to recognize signs of ill mental health in themselves or, even if they can, feel pressured to remain silent out of fear of being perceived as crazy.
Thus, ensuring that one’s workplace is peopled with informed and compassionate peers is paramount to mitigating stigma and creating an environment that is conducive to employee wellbeing.
But how might this be achieved?
By partnering with a holistic wellbeing solutions provider like Workplace Options, employers gain access to essential tools for fostering a safe and supportive environment for employees’ mental health—such as global learning solutions, wellbeing ambassador programs, leadership training and ongoing manager support. These interventions aim to educate staff on the fundamentals of mental health and the importance of psychological safety, both in the workplace and in one’s personal life.
Through training sessions on topics such as ‘Discovering unconscious bias,’ ‘Creating a culture of support – suicide prevention in the workplace,’ ‘Demystifying counseling,’ and Mental health – recognize and respond,’ as well as those addressing physical, financial, spiritual, social, and professional wellbeing, employees gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between mental health and other facets of wellbeing; they learn what mental illness is—and, more importantly, is not; they come to recognize the value of counseling and professional intervention in addressing mental illness; and appreciate the crucial role educated, supportive bystanders play in putting individuals on the path to recovery.
Likewise, through wellbeing ambassador programs, leadership development, and ongoing manager support, employers ensure that individuals have access to knowledgeable and supportive peers at all levels of the organization, thereby guaranteeing that the culture at work—from the ground floor to the executive suite—is genuinely rooted in compassion, understanding, and empathy. Within each intervention, participating staff receive ongoing guidance from certified professionals on how to recognize signs of ill mental health in their peers, how to reach out and effectively communicate concerns and provide support to troubled colleagues, and how to promptly and considerately refer them to appropriate resources further support.
“When people are surrounded by well-informed colleagues who demonstrate positive attitudes toward mental health and help-seeking,” explains Yara Maria Kamel, Clinical Success Coach at Workplace Options, “they benefit from the absence of social stigma that might otherwise prevent them from acknowledging their mental health challenges and seeking care when needed.”
“They also internalize these attitudes and practices,” she explains, “taking them home with them and thereby helping to foster an external community equally rooted in compassion and understanding for those affected by mental illness.”
Yet even with the misconceptions about mental health services resolved, stigma surrounding mental health services remains to be addressed. Current research shows that throughout the Middle East, individuals continue to distrust mental health services, citing concerns over privacy and confidentiality breaches, a heavy reliance on pharmacological interventions, and the risk of misdiagnosis. To alleviate such concerns, partnering with a holistic wellbeing solutions provider is yet again an effective solution. By offering access to care that is flexible, patient-led, and data-driven, employers empower staff to take action on their own terms; instilling in them a sense of agency and control that is at the root of their mistrust in professional services.
For example, by providing multiple pathways to care, including online, in-app, in-person, over the phone, by chat, or via email, employees are encouraged to seek care in a manner that is most familiar, comfortable, and beneficial to them. This way, employees can access counseling services from the comfort and privacy of their own home or preferred, secure location—effectively mitigating employees’ fears about confidentiality and even helping to combat social stigma by reassuring staff that their request for help does not have to be made public. Furthermore, by connecting staff to licensed counselors, clinicians, coaches, and specialists who are committed to working with them on their individual needs and concerns, employees are also assured that they will not be forced to receive any assistance that is not wanted; accept any diagnosis or advice that is not agreed upon; or do anything that they do not feel comfortable with.
Ultimately addressing each of these stigmas simultaneously and through the same provider, employers can maximize employees’ openness and willingness to receive care and proactively manage their mental health by alleviating doubts that they will be judged for doing so; that the help they receive won’t be enough or will be inadvertently harmful to their wellbeing; or, most importantly, that they won’t be able to overcome their challenges.
Stigma is not a quick fix: it takes considerable time, effort, consistency, and strategy to overcome—but it can be done. Partnering with a provider who possesses the necessary tools and insights to address stigma at its root causes is the most effective way for employers to tackle myths and misconceptions about mental illness in the workplace.
