Barriers to Accessing Mental Health Services Among Adult Somali Populations in the Somali Peninsula and High-Income Countries: A Scoping Review Protocol
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Study design: Study Protocol
Abstract: This research project will explore the barriers that prevent Somali adults from accessing and using mental health services. It will focus on Somali populations living in the Somali Peninsula as well as Somali refugees, migrants, and diaspora communities living in high-income countries. The purpose of the study is to bring together what is already known about the challenges Somali people experience when seeking mental health support and to understand how these challenges may differ between their home countries and countries where Somali communities have settled. Mental health needs among Somali communities may be influenced by a range of social, cultural, economic, and healthcare-related factors. These can include stigma and shame surrounding mental illness, limited awareness and understanding of mental health, financial difficulties, language barriers, concerns about confidentiality, discrimination, cultural and religious beliefs, and difficulties navigating healthcare systems. In the Somali Peninsula, limited mental health services and shortages of trained professionals may also make it difficult for people to receive appropriate care. For Somali communities living in high-income countries, additional challenges may arise from unfamiliar healthcare systems and difficulties finding services that are culturally and linguistically appropriate. The study will use a scoping review approach to identify and map the existing research on these barriers. It will include qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods studies involving Somali adults and will examine evidence published from 2000 onwards. The review will search several major academic databases and will use a structured process to identify, screen, and extract relevant studies. The findings will then be brought together and organised into themes, allowing the research team to identify both common and context-specific barriers to accessing mental health services. The main expected outcome is a clearer and more comprehensive understanding of why Somali adults may not be able to access or use formal mental health services when they need them. The review will also identify factors that may help people access and use these services, where these have been reported in the existing research. The findings are expected to highlight important gaps in the current evidence and identify areas where further research is needed. They may also help researchers, healthcare professionals, policymakers, and community organisations better understand the needs of Somali communities and support the development of mental health services that are more accessible, culturally appropriate, and responsive to those needs. Ultimately, the project aims to contribute to improving access to mental health care for Somali communities both in the Somali Peninsula and in the diaspora.
Language: English
Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7204199212