Story perspectives

Stigma Hinders Mental Health Help-Seeking in Maldives Students

10/22/2025

Summary

Story summary

A study of university students in the Maldives finds that stigma is a barrier to seeking mental health help, especially in smaller communities.
The study aims to examine the relationship among mental health literacy, stigma, and help-seeking attitudes and hypothesizes that higher literacy improves attitudes while stigma lowers them.
It notes that self-stigma and societal stigma may mediate this relationship, contributing to lower literacy and hindering help-seeking among students.

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Story summary

A study of university students in the Maldives finds that stigma is a barrier to seeking mental health help, especially in smaller communities.
The study aims to examine the relationship among mental health literacy, stigma, and help-seeking attitudes and hypothesizes that higher literacy improves attitudes while stigma lowers them.
It notes that self-stigma and societal stigma may mediate this relationship, contributing to lower literacy and hindering help-seeking among students.