Mental health help-seeking among Arab university students in Israel, differentiated by religion

A wide literature considers differences in utilisation and attitudes towards mental health treatment among diverse ethno-racial and religious communities. This paper is the first to compare attitudes to mental health-seeking patterns among a cohort of students representing three major religious minorities among Arab communities in Israel: Christians, Druze, and Muslim. Results of a cross-national survey of 195 student respondents indicate significant differences regarding attitudes towards help-seeking behaviour. Compared to Druze and Muslim counterparts, Christian subjects were higher in interpersonal openness, perceived mental health services as less stigmatising, and were less likely to use traditional healing systems. Findings are analysed in relation to cultural, historical, and political differences.