Barriers to uptake of Mental Health Services Among Adults in Mendankwe

Mental health refers to emotional, psychological, and social well-being, influencing how individuals think, feel, and act. In Mendankwe, Bamenda, Cameroon, a community affected by conflict since 2016, barriers to mental health service uptake are pronounced due to disrupted healthcare systems, widespread displacement, and socio-economic challenges that exacerbate mental health issues while fostering stigma and misinformation. This study aimed to assess barriers to mental health service uptake by evaluating knowledge about mental disorders, examining attitudes toward services and affected individuals, and identifying help-seeking practices in Mendankwe. Data were collected using researcher administered questionnaires on knowledge, stigma, and service utilization from the 9th of May to the 23rd of June 2025. This study, surveyed 300 adults and results indicated 60% of participants lack adequate knowledge with 60% attributing mental illness to spiritual causes. More so, 60% held stigmatizing views, mostly males, and only 16.7% seek professional help, with 60% consulting traditional healers highlighting how conflict-related educational disruptions and cultural beliefs fuel these gaps, with male stigma reflecting resilience norms and low uptake tied to access barriers like roadblocks. Therefore, educational workshops, gender sensitive stigma reduction, awareness campaigns, mobile clinics, and cultural integration should improve access. A key gap is the lack of longitudinal data to assess intervention efficacy, suggesting future research needs.