Introduction: Parent training (PT) programs are recognized as effective interventions that enhance parenting techniques and improve the parent-child relationship. In Japan, these programs are increasingly implemented to help parents manage behavioral issues in children. This study evaluated the effectiveness of PT pamphlets designed and distributed in Shioya Town, Japan, by comparing outcomes between the intervention and control groups and within subgroups of parents, categorized based on their children’s need for follow-up health checkups. Methods: The study included an intervention group that received PT pamphlets during their 1.5-year health checkups and a control group that did not. Data were collected through self-administered questionnaires at the 3.5-year health checkups, assessing adherence to 3 recommended parenting techniques. The analysis focused on comparing intervention and control groups, evaluating adherence to 2 recommended parenting techniques versus one or none. The study also analyzed adherence to each recommended parenting technique within subgroups of parents whose children needed follow-up health checkups and those whose children did not. Results: The study included 114 participants, with 55 in the intervention group and 59 in the control group. Analysis revealed that 29.1% of the intervention group adhered to 2 recommended parenting techniques, compared with 24.6% in the control group. However, no significant differences were observed between the intervention and control groups in adherence to 2 recommended techniques versus one or none, or to any single technique among the 3. Subgroup analyses revealed significant differences in adherence among parents whose children were identified to have developmental concerns at the 1.5-year health checkup and were required to have follow-up checkups, specifically in the “avoid immediate reactions” approach between intervention and control groups. Conclusions: The PT pamphlets effectively increased adherence to recommended parenting techniques in the intervention group among children requiring follow-ups. This underscores the importance of culturally adapted PT programs and demonstrates the potential of simple educational interventions in improving parenting styles.

Background: Mental health literacy (MHL) has been related to health behaviors and outcomes. However, studies examining MHL as a barrier and facilitator to service use are limited, especially among minority groups. Aims: This study examined MHL as a barrier and facilitator to mental health service use among the Palestinian Bedouin minority in Israel. Methods: Twenty-five Bedouins (15 women) from southern Israel participated in semi-structured, in-depth interviews. The participants were recruited by publishing an ad on social media about the study, then through a snowball technique. The data were analyzed thematically using ATLAS.ti.9, and the intercoder reliability was 92%. Results: We identified four major themes in the interviews: (1) MHL as a barrier to service use, due to lack of knowledge about professionals in the field, mental health services, or reasons and risk factors for mental health problems; (2) traditional attitudes that acted as barriers to service use, including a preference for informal treatment, a lack of faith in mental health treatment, aversion to discussing private feelings, and the perception that mental health is a luxury; (3) MHL as a facilitator to service use by enabling accurate identification of mental distress and suggesting practical avenues for seeking help; and (4) ways to improve MHL that should be culturally sensitive and under the government agencies’ responsibility. Conclusions: Interventions aimed at increasing the use of mental health services among Bedouins and reducing racial/ethnic disparities should increase knowledge in culturally adapted ways, especially regarding professionals and services, and change negative attitudes such as mental health treatment as ineffective or bonus.

Trust in mental health professionals and services profoundly impacts health outcomes. However, understanding trust in mental health professionals, especially in ethnic minority contexts, is lacking. To explore this within the Bedouin-Arab minority, a qualitative study conducted semi-structured interviews with 25 Bedouins in southern Israel. Participants were primarily female (60%) married (60%), averaging 34.08 years old. Employing grounded theory, three themes emerged. Firstly, concerns about confidentiality were central, eroding trust due to societal repercussions. Secondly, factors influencing confidentiality concerns and distrust were tied to Bedouin-Arab social structures and cultural values rather than professional attributes. Lastly, the consequences of distrust included reduced help-seeking. This study enriches the understanding of trust in mental health professionals among non-Western ethnic minorities, highlighting how cultural factors shape perceptions of mental health services and distrust. Addressing confidentiality worries demands Bedouin mental health professionals to acknowledge hurdles, build community ties, and demonstrate expertise through personal connections and events.

Mental health problems are common among higher education students, yet formal help-seeking rates remain low. Mental health literacy (MHL) is crucial in facilitating help-seeking, but its relationship with formal help-seeking behaviors among ethnic minority students is poorly understood. This study explored MHL among Palestinian minority students in Israel using Jorm's framework, examining the association between each MHL dimension and formal help-seeking. It also investigated information-seeking methods and their relations to actual help-seeking. 129 Palestinian students completed measures of MHL, formal help-seeking, information-seeking methods, sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. Participants reported average or above-average levels on all MHL dimensions. Compared to those who did not report actual formal help-seeking, those who did have significantly higher levels of MHL on all dimensions, except for the ability to recognize disorders. The three dimensions knowledge of risk factors and causes; knowledge of where to seek information; and attitudes that promote recognition or appropriate help-seeking behavior - were found to be significant determinants of formal help-seeking behaviors. Online information-seeking was an important determinant of formal help-seeking. This study supports the association between MHL and formal help-seeking behaviors, even among students from ethnic minorities. Interventions targeting MHL could enhance help-seeking behaviors in this population. This study underlines the crucial role of the Internet in minority students' lives in the context of mental health, similar to its importance in other areas of their lives. They also identify key areas for psychiatric mental health nursing to focus on for more effective education and interventions tailored to minority student populations.

This study attempted to identify the barriers to the utilization of mental health services among the Arab society in Israel, as perceived by professionals working with this population. Twenty-seven therapists from community mental health services participated in structured in-depth interviews with at least 5 years of experience. Five main types of barriers to the utilization of mental health services were discovered: barriers related to attitudes and perceptions regarding mental disorders and their treatment, low literacy in the field of mental health, exposure and stigma, family characteristics and cultural values, and instrumental barriers. Flexibility and sensitivity to the socio-cultural context of the target population while allocating resources to create equality in access to mental health care may increase the utilization of mental health services in a traditional society such as the Arab society in Israel.

BACKGROUND:Mental health challenges are widespread among adolescents undergoing significant physical, emotional, social, and academic changes. However, rates of formal help-seeking remain low, particularly among those from ethnic minorities. AIMS:This study investigated the determinants of intentions to seek formal mental health help among Palestinian adolescents in Israel, focusing on mental health literacy (MHL) and trust in formal sources of information. METHODS:A total of 178 adolescents (Mage = 16.24 ± 1.24 years, 61.8% female) completed measures assessing intention for formal help-seeking, psychological distress, MHL, trust in formal sources of information, sociodemographic, and clinical characteristics. RESULTS:Findings revealed low levels of intention to seek formal help and psychological distress, alongside average or above-average levels on all MHL dimensions and trust in formal sources for information. Our analysis identified socioeconomic status (β = .17, p < .05), psychological distress (β = .18, p < .05), trust in formal sources of information (β = .28, p < .001), and two MHL dimensions: knowledge of where to seek information (β = .25, p < .01) and attitudes that promote recognition or appropriate help-seeking behavior (β = .16, p < .05) - as the main determinants of intention for formal help-seeking. CONCLUSIONS:This study underscores the critical role of trust in formal sources of information and MHL in seeking formal help among adolescents from ethnic minorities. Interventions aiming to improve access to mental health-related information, address and enhance attitudes, and foster trust in formal professionals and institutions may contribute to an increased tendency for formal mental health help-seeking among this population and others.

This study sought to investigate the experiences and adaptations of social workers during the transition from face-to-face to online interventions amid the initial wave of COVID-19 in Israel. In-depth interviews were conducted with 27 social workers who had exclusively delivered face-to-face treatment before. Thematic analysis was employed to analyze the interviews. Findings Data analysis revealed five primary themes concerning the transition from face-to-face face-to-face to online interventions, highlighting the challenges faced by social workers during this shift. The adjustment process was swift and often involuntary. It initiated with a shock stage, marked by difficulties in accepting the new reality due to uncertainties related to technical aspects, technological means, and social workers' attitudes toward the transition. The process concluded with social workers accepting the new reality, discovering new meanings, and gaining insights into themselves, the method, and the process. Applications Integrating the online method into the training processes of social workers could have mitigated most challenges encountered during the transition between treatment methods. Shifts in attitudes and perceptions towards the online method result from practical experience and serve as the foundation for its application in professional work, enabling the realization of its benefits.

BackgroundMental health literacy (MHL) is a crucial concept in mental health because it promotes positive mental health outcomes and behaviors across various demographics, including adolescents.AimsThis study utilized the MHLS-Arabic-Adolescents tool to investigate MHL among Palestinian adolescents in Israel, aiming to explore its significance in determining intentions to seek formal and informal mental health help separately.MethodsA cohort of 172 adolescents (with a mean age of 16.25 ± 1.25 years, comprising 64% females) completed assessments measuring their intention for both formal and informal help-seeking, levels of psychological distress, MHL, and various sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. This study uses the same dataset from previous research on formal help-seeking, with an expanded focus on informal help-seeking and MHL using an adapted tool.ResultsParticipants reported medium to high levels of MHL factors, demonstrating stronger intentions to seek informal help compared to formal. “Knowledge of where to seek information” and “Attitude toward mental illness” emerged as the significant MHL factors determining formal help-seeking intentions, whereas ‘attitudes toward mental illness’ was identified as the sole determinant of intentions to seek informal help.ConclusionsThis study highlights the importance of MHL factors in shaping adolescents’ intentions to seek formal and informal mental health help. It emphasizes the need to strengthen informal support networks, improve adolescents’ attitudes toward mental illness, and facilitate access to mental health information. These insights offer valuable guidance for intervention programs aimed at promoting both formal and informal help-seeking behaviors among Palestinian Arab adolescents in Israel and similar groups.

Background. Mental health literacy (MHL) has been proposed as a factor in facilitating the utilization of mental health services. This study examined MHL among the Palestinian-Arab minority in Israel, based on Jorm’s six-dimension framework, and the contribution of each MHL dimension to mental health service use. Methods. A cross-sectional study consisting of a convenience sample of 214 Palestinian-Arabs (Mage = 36.40 ± 10.77 years, 68.2% female), who completed measures of MHL, psychological distress, mental health service use, and sociodemographic characteristics. The differences between participants who reported using mental health services (30.38%) and those who did not were examined using t- and χ2 tests. Binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify service use determinants. Results. Participants reported moderate or high levels on all MHL dimensions. Compared to those who did not report mental health service use, those who did had significantly ( p < 0.001 ) higher MHL levels on three dimensions: knowledge of professional help available, knowledge of where to seek information, and attitudes that promote recognition or appropriate help-seeking behavior. The regression analysis indicated that the main determinants of mental health service use were psychological distress (OR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.44–2.01), knowledge of where to seek information (OR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.02–1.32), and attitudes that promote recognition or appropriate help-seeking behavior (OR = 1.08, 95% CI: 1.02–1.14). Practice implications. This study underlines MHL’s crucial role and indicates that it is not only objective characteristics or psychological distress that determine service use among Palestinian-Arabs in Israel. Rather, individuals’ knowledge of where to seek information and attitudes promoting recognition or help-seeking behavior are also important determinants. Interventions targeting these two MHL dimensions may help increase mental health service use among this population.

Background: Many studies show that members of minority groups underutilize mental health services and report more barriers to such utilization than majority groups. However, very little is known about these barriers and their relation to mental health service use among the Palestinian-Arab minority in Israel. Aims: This study examined barriers to mental health service use in this population based on the stigma-related, attitudinal, and instrumental barriers dimensions of the Barriers to Care Evaluation scale (BACE v3) and its correlates to mental health service use. Methods: The participants were a convenience sample of 231 Palestinian Arabs. They completed measures of BACE v3, mental health service use, and sociodemographic characteristics. Results: The findings showed that participants who reported using mental health services had lower levels of barriers in all dimensions compared to those who did not use such services. Attitudinal barriers were found to be the main determinants of mental health service use. Conclusions: This study underscored the role of attitudinal barriers to the utilization of mental health services. The findings indicated that interventions addressing such barriers might be helpful in increasing mental health service use among the Palestinian-Arab minority in Israel as well as other minorities in Israel and elsewhere, who might share similar backgrounds and perceptions.

In recent years, general practitioners (GPs) have become more involved in treating people with mental disorders. This study examined the mental health literacy of GPs in Israel, based on Jorm's conceptual framework. Twenty-one GPs participated in a semi-structured, in-depth interview. The data were analyzed thematically, guided by Jorm's six mental health literacy dimensions. The GPs generally reported that they could identify symptoms of mental disorders, mainly noted genetics as the cause and risk factor for mental disorders, did not believe that self-care methods could alleviate mental disorders, and regarded social workers-as distinct from psychologists-as particularly helpful in their work with people with mental disorders. The findings, which have implications for families, emphasize the importance of providing GPs with ongoing educational opportunities to ensure they remain knowledgeable and skilled in mental health.

This study examined the experience of bereavement because of COVID-19 among the Arab minority in Israel, based on the two-track model of grief, using a qualitative approach. The data was collected in an in-depth interview with 34 participants representing the three religions in the Arab population in Israel, approximately 1 year after the loss occurred. The findings revealed that most participants reported returning to their previous function almost completely, exclusively in the field of work. However, they reported decreased social functioning and feelings of loneliness and sadness, and some reported manifestations of active and traumatic grief. Some findings may create a false impression that the mourners have gone through the loss process and returned to normal. However, the current study's findings refute this conclusion, which requires appropriate treatment from health professionals.

Background: There has been a noticeable increase in the number of studies concerned with mental health literacy (MHL), specifically among students. Still, very few studies have examined MHL among students of non-Western minority groups. Aims: This study examined MHL among Arab students in Israel based on Jorm's conceptual framework. Methods: Twenty-eight Arab students in Israel took part in semi-structured, in-depth interviews. Most were single and Muslim, in their second year of studies, and most reported low socioeconomic status. The data were analyzed thematically, guided by the Jorm's six MHL dimensions. Results: Different levels of literacy were found in the various MHL dimensions. The participants identified severe mental disorders more easily than mood disorders; reported a variety of possible causes of mental disorders; were well aware of available professional help (apart for rehabilitative services); identified significant barriers to mental health help seeking, as Arabs; and reported the internet as a major source of information about mental health problems and their treatment Conclusions: The participants' MHL appeared to be associated with their unique sociocultural characteristics. This study stresses the need to raise MHL among Arab students in Israel, and in particular to promote positive attitudes to seeking professional help. It also highlights the need to develop culturally adapted mental health interventions for the Arab population in Israel.

BACKGROUND:Many studies indicate that ethnic minority women, including women from the disadvantaged Palestinian-Arab minority in Israel, experience higher rates of psychological distress but are less likely to use mental health services. This study examined psychological distress and its role as a moderator in the relationship between mental health service use and stigma-related, attitudinal, and instrumental barriers. METHOD:Cross-sectional study of 146 Palestinian-Arab women who completed measures of psychological distress, mental health service use, the Barriers to Care Evaluation scale, and sociodemographic characteristics. RESULTS:Participants who did not utilize mental health services reported higher levels of all barrier types compared to participants who reported previous use, but lower levels of psychological distress. Psychological distress was a significant moderator only in the relationship between attitudinal barriers and mental health service use. CONCLUSIONS:This study highlights the role of psychological distress in the relationship between barriers to and utilization of mental health services, helping professionals and policymakers increase mental health service use among Palestinian-Arab women in Israel and other vulnerable women elsewhere.

Based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB), this study aimed to examine factors influencing therapist uptake of digital mental health interventions in Israel. Two hundred twenty-nine mental health professionals recruited through a convenience sample completed a background and demographic questionnaire, as well as the TPB-based electronic-therapy attitudes and process questionnaire. Regressions were used to examine the contribution of attitudes, perceived behavioral control, subjective norms, and behavioral intentions. Intention to use and use of digital interventions were significantly predicted by attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control, as suggested by the TPB. The use of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and higher perceived behavioral control increased the likelihood of using digital interventions. Having a positive attitude, having expectations/social pressure from one's professional environment, and having a sense of control over the process were found to predict the intent to use, as well as the actual use of, digital interventions.

Abstract Based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB), this study aimed to examine factors influencing therapist uptake of digital mental health interventions in Israel. Two hundred twenty-nine mental health professionals recruited through a convenience sample completed a background and demographic questionnaire, as well as the TPB-based electronic-therapy attitudes and process questionnaire. Regressions were used to examine the contribution of attitudes, perceived behavioral control, subjective norms, and behavioral intentions. Intention to use and use of digital interventions were significantly predicted by attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control, as suggested by the TPB. The use of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and higher perceived behavioral control increased the likelihood of using digital interventions. Having a positive attitude, having expectations/social pressure from one’s professional environment, and having a sense of control over the process were found to predict the intent to use, as well as the actual use of, digital interventions.