Mental health stigma and professional help-seeking in Ghana: the mediating role of informal support

Joshua Awua; Micki Washburn; Philip Baiden; Kathryne B. Brewer; Rabiu K.B. Asante; Robin E. Gearing

doi:10.1080/15332985.2025.2612520

Mental health stigma and professional help-seeking in Ghana: the mediating role of informal support

Joshua Awua
, Micki Washburn
, Philip Baiden
, Kathryne B. Brewer
, Rabiu K.B. Asante
, Robin E. Gearing

Department of Sociology

University of Texas at Arlington
University of New Hampshire
University of Houston

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

In Ghana, many individuals experiencing mental health concerns prefer to seek help from informal sources, including faith-based healers. This study examines whether informal help-seeking mediates the association between stigma and professional help-seeking. A convenience sample of 462 Ghanaian adults aged (M = 31.78, SD = 10.59) was recruited from Accra and Tamale. The results of the mediation analysis indicated that informal help-seeking partially mediated the relationship between stigma regarding treatability and professional help-seeking. The findings from the study highlight the potential role of informal help-seeking in promoting subsequent help-seeking from mental health professionals in Ghana.

Original language	English
Journal	Social Work in Mental Health
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/15332985.2025.2612520
Publication status	Accepted/In press - 2026

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

Informal help-seeking
mental health-related stigma
professional help-seeking
treatability stigma

Access to Document

10.1080/15332985.2025.2612520

Cite this

@article{4ecc8ea334fe4ce98a281455e92ac740,

title = "Mental health stigma and professional help-seeking in Ghana: the mediating role of informal support",

abstract = "In Ghana, many individuals experiencing mental health concerns prefer to seek help from informal sources, including faith-based healers. This study examines whether informal help-seeking mediates the association between stigma and professional help-seeking. A convenience sample of 462 Ghanaian adults aged (M = 31.78, SD = 10.59) was recruited from Accra and Tamale. The results of the mediation analysis indicated that informal help-seeking partially mediated the relationship between stigma regarding treatability and professional help-seeking. The findings from the study highlight the potential role of informal help-seeking in promoting subsequent help-seeking from mental health professionals in Ghana.",

keywords = "Informal help-seeking, mental health-related stigma, professional help-seeking, treatability stigma",

author = "Joshua Awua and Micki Washburn and Philip Baiden and Brewer, \{Kathryne B.\} and Asante, \{Rabiu K.B.\} and Gearing, \{Robin E.\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2026 Taylor \& Francis Group, LLC.",

year = "2026",

doi = "10.1080/15332985.2025.2612520",

language = "English",

journal = "Social Work in Mental Health",

issn = "1533-2985",

publisher = "Routledge",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Mental health stigma and professional help-seeking in Ghana

T2 - the mediating role of informal support

AU - Awua, Joshua

AU - Washburn, Micki

AU - Baiden, Philip

AU - Brewer, Kathryne B.

AU - Asante, Rabiu K.B.

AU - Gearing, Robin E.

PY - 2026

Y1 - 2026

N2 - In Ghana, many individuals experiencing mental health concerns prefer to seek help from informal sources, including faith-based healers. This study examines whether informal help-seeking mediates the association between stigma and professional help-seeking. A convenience sample of 462 Ghanaian adults aged (M = 31.78, SD = 10.59) was recruited from Accra and Tamale. The results of the mediation analysis indicated that informal help-seeking partially mediated the relationship between stigma regarding treatability and professional help-seeking. The findings from the study highlight the potential role of informal help-seeking in promoting subsequent help-seeking from mental health professionals in Ghana.

AB - In Ghana, many individuals experiencing mental health concerns prefer to seek help from informal sources, including faith-based healers. This study examines whether informal help-seeking mediates the association between stigma and professional help-seeking. A convenience sample of 462 Ghanaian adults aged (M = 31.78, SD = 10.59) was recruited from Accra and Tamale. The results of the mediation analysis indicated that informal help-seeking partially mediated the relationship between stigma regarding treatability and professional help-seeking. The findings from the study highlight the potential role of informal help-seeking in promoting subsequent help-seeking from mental health professionals in Ghana.

KW - Informal help-seeking

KW - mental health-related stigma

KW - professional help-seeking

KW - treatability stigma

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105027953553

U2 - 10.1080/15332985.2025.2612520

DO - 10.1080/15332985.2025.2612520

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105027953553

SN - 1533-2985

JO - Social Work in Mental Health

JF - Social Work in Mental Health

ER -

Mental health stigma and professional help-seeking in Ghana: the mediating role of informal support

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this