Barriers and Attitudes toward Psychotherapy in Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Psychotherapy is a fundamental kind of treatment for people struggling with meager mental well-being for overcoming emotional obstacles and seeking personal development via the use of psychological tools.


Objective: The research explores the barriers to seeking psychotherapy in Pakistan due to the fragile mental health of the population.


Methods: The natives were approached through the cross-sectional study for collecting data specifically from adults 15 years and above from all socioeconomic backgrounds.


Results: 340 responses were collected, in which the ratio of female participants was 82.4% and of male was 17.6%. The most pervasive reasons for high stress levels among people were self-doubt and negative ways of thinking. The findings indicate that a sizable portion of Pakistan's population is coping with mental health problems, but getting professional help is socially stigmatized. Nevertheless, 17.1% of people stated that they had sought the assistance of a counsellor or psychiatrist, and out of that, 95.3% of those surveyed recommended therapy to others facing any psychological issue.


Conclusion: The exploration ends with the conclusion that Pakistani natives are in an utmost need to access mental health, and if not managed, it may lead to social detachment.