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.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Mental Health Treatment and Access
Family Caregiving in Mental Illness
Mental Health and Patient Involvement
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Social Work in Mental Health
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Volume
- 24
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 463–483
- Publication date
- 8 January 2026
- Language
- EN