‘Since people who have mental illness are stigmatised, their service is also stigmatised. You get a massive hospital building and there is no mental health facility’: exploring perceptions of mental health, stigma of mental illness, care-seeking and service use in the Somali Regional State of Ethiopia

Nasir Warfa; Charlotte Hanlon; Elyas Abdulahi; Mohamed Abdi Wali; Abdifetah Abdullahi Sheikh; Medhin Selamu; Mussie Abdosh Hassen; Fowsia Abdulkadir Hashi; Abdulahi Hussein; Bashir Abdulahi; Ahmed Muhumed Abdinasir; Abdikarim Abdi; Mustafa Al’Absi; Roxanne Keynejad; Solomon Teferra; Chris Willott

doi:10.1192/bjo.2026.11016

April 13, 2026BJPsych OpenOpen Access

‘Since people who have mental illness are stigmatised, their service is also stigmatised. You get a massive hospital building and there is no mental health facility’: exploring perceptions of mental health, stigma of mental illness, care-seeking and service use in the Somali Regional State of Ethiopia

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Key Points

The aim is to understand how stigma affects mental health service provision and user perceptions in Ethiopia.
Conducted qualitative interviews with service users and carers
Explored perceptions related to mental illness and stigma
Analyzed barriers to accessing mental health services
Stigma significantly impacts the willingness to seek care
Service users reported limited mental health facilities available
Widespread lack of knowledge about mental illness was identified

Implication

Qualitative exploration reveals stigma around mental health affects care-seeking and service use in Ethiopia, highlighting urgent needs for change.

Abstract

Any intervention to improve the provision of mental health services and the development of mental health systems must take into account the perspectives of service users and carers, and address the widespread stigma and lack of knowledge around mental illness.

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Cite This Study

Warfa et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69df2bece4eeef8a2a6b0dde https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2026.11016

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Key Points

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Key Points

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

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