Public knowledge, stigma, and social acceptance toward mental illness in the Gulf region: a cross-sectional survey

Background Mental illness stigma undermines help-seeking, treatment engagement, and social inclusion globally. Although the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region has undergone rapid social and health-system modernization, few studies have simultaneously assessed public knowledge, attitudes, and intended behaviour toward people with mental illness using validated instruments. Objective To examine mental-health knowledge, public stigma, and social acceptance among adults in GCC countries using the Mental Health Knowledge Schedule (MAKS), the Reported and Intended Behaviour Scale (RIBS), and the 40-item Community Attitudes toward the Mentally Ill (CAMI) scale. Methods An Arabic-language online survey was completed by 1, 557 adults (84.1% female; mean age = 26.2 years, SD = 10.6; 80.5% from Kuwait). Descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses, and simultaneous-entry multiple linear regression were conducted. Internal consistency was evaluated using Cronbach’s α and McDonald’s ω, supplemented by item-total correlations and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of the CAMI. Results Participants reported moderate mental-health knowledge (MAKS M = 41.6, SD = 5.9), moderately positive attitudes (CAMI M = 135.2, SD = 16.2), and moderate behavioural willingness (RIBS M = 13.1, SD = 3.2). Knowledge and attitudes were moderately correlated ( r = .341, p