Mental-Health Help-Seeking Among Muslims in the Liverpool City Region: A System-Informed Qualitative Study of Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices

Tannerah, A ORCID: 0009-0009-5265-9601, Webster, A, O'Connor, S ORCID: 0000-0003-2802-3549, Douglas-Brown, C, Khan, I and Bifarin, O ORCID: 0000-0002-8247-2508 (2026) Mental-Health Help-Seeking Among Muslims in the Liverpool City Region: A System-Informed Qualitative Study of Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices. Health Expectations, 29 (2). pp. 1-12. ISSN 1369-6513

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Abstract

Background Muslims in United Kingdom (UK) minority contexts remain underrepresented in mental health research, despite evidence of unequal access and experience. In deprived and superdiverse settings such as the Liverpool City Region (LCR), culturally unsafe encounters, low service literacy and stigma may combine to delay help-seeking and widen inequities. Aim To explore knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) related to mental health among Muslims in the LCR, and to identify actionable system leverage points to improve access, engagement and culturally responsive care. Methods A qualitative study informed by social constructivism. Purposive sampling recruited Muslim adults (n?=?11; age 18-59; 6 women/5 men) from diverse backgrounds (Yemeni, Somali, Egyptian, Algerian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi). Recruitment was community-enabled through mosques and community networks. Semi-structured interviews (in person or MS Teams) were audio-recorded, transcribed, anonymised and analysed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis with an audit trail, reflexive memoing and team debriefs. Results Three interlinked themes were generated: (1) Barriers to access and engagement: stigma and reputational risk, communication difficulties, confidentiality concerns and perceived stereotyping reduced disclosure and trust; (2) Cultural and religious context in mental health: participants endorsed integrating faith-based coping and clinical care, with mosques and imams functioning as trusted entry points but with variable mental health capability; (3) System and service provision challenges: limited knowledge of access routes, crisis visibility of services, perceived Islamophobia, and resource/leadership gaps reinforced late presentation. Findings suggested an accumulating pathway from stigma and low trust to delayed access and crisis-driven contact. Conclusions Inequities reflected system design and relational safety as much as individual knowledge. Co-designed, community-enabled pathways, faith-literate practice, safeguarded referral interfaces with faith leaders, and routine equity monitoring are key mechanisms for improving engagement and outcomes in the LCR and similar UK city regions.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	community engagement; cultural safety; help-seeking; mental health inequalities; muslim communities; community engagement; cultural safety; help-seeking; mental health inequalities; muslim communities; Humans; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Mental Health Services; Qualitative Research; Islam; Adolescent; Adult; Middle Aged; Health Services Accessibility; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Female; Male; Interviews as Topic; Young Adult; Social Stigma; Help-Seeking Behavior; United Kingdom; community engagement; cultural safety; help‐seeking; mental health inequalities; muslim communities; Humans; Islam; Female; Male; Adult; Qualitative Research; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Middle Aged; Young Adult; Adolescent; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Social Stigma; Mental Health Services; Help-Seeking Behavior; Health Services Accessibility; Interviews as Topic; United Kingdom; 4203 Health Services and Systems; 4206 Public Health; 42 Health Sciences; Health Disparities; Behavioral and Social Science; Basic Behavioral and Social Science; Mental Health; Social Determinants of Health; Health Disparities and Racial or Ethnic Minority Health Research; Clinical Research; Health Services; Prevention; 8.1 Organisation and delivery of services; 7.1 Individual care needs; 8.3 Policy, ethics, and research governance; Mental health; 3 Good Health and Well Being; Humans; Islam; Female; Male; Adult; Qualitative Research; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Middle Aged; Young Adult; Adolescent; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Social Stigma; Mental Health Services; Help-Seeking Behavior; Health Services Accessibility; Interviews as Topic; United Kingdom; 1110 Nursing; 1117 Public Health and Health Services; 1701 Psychology; Public Health; 4203 Health services and systems; 4206 Public health
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology H Social Sciences > HT Communities. Classes. Races R Medicine > RT Nursing
Divisions:	Nursing and Advanced Practice
Publisher:	Wiley
Date of acceptance:	23 March 2026
Date of first compliant Open Access:	14 April 2026
Date Deposited:	14 Apr 2026 14:39
Last Modified:	14 Apr 2026 14:39
DOI or ID number:	10.1111/hex.70663
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/28375

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