Work

Public perception attitude and awareness toward mental illness in Palestine

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Background Globally, mental health conditions, services, and professionals tend to be viewed in a negative light. Mental health conditions, which the World Health Organization describes as significant disturbances in behavior, emotion, or thinking, are a public health issue across all age groups. Objective This study aimed to assess public perceptions, attitudes, and awareness toward mental illness in the Palestine. Methodology A cross-sectional design was utilized between October and November of 2025. The study population consisted of all Palestinians in the West Bank. The total sample size was 1,360 participants. Convenience sampling was used to collect the data. An online self-administered questionnaire, adopted from a similar study conducted in Iraq, was distributed in public places and on social media platforms. Results The respondents' awareness of the etiology of mental illness is nearly evenly split, with 48.75% being aware and 51.25% not aware. The majority of participants (84.3%) have a positive perception of people with mental illness. While 80.2% of the respondents hold a positive attitude toward people with mental illness, their attitudes toward the care and treatment of people with mental illness were negative, with 66.4% expressing negative views. Conclusions Our study's results demonstrate how attitudes, awareness, and perceptions of mental illness have changed in Palestine over time, indicating an increase in public knowledge and understanding. This change can be attributed to factors such as increased mental health education, global awareness campaigns, and the psychological effects of the region's ongoing political conflicts.

Source: BMC Public Health

DOI: 10.1186/s12889-026-28572-x