ATTITUDES TOWARD MENTAL ILLNESS AMONG MENTAL HEALTH SPECIALISTS IN KAZAKHSTAN: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Mental health stigma remains a significant challenge worldwide, affecting access to care and treatment outcomes. In Kazakhstan, stigma contributes to high suicide rates and reluctance to seek help, despite national efforts to promote mental health awareness. While public stigma has been widely studied, the extent of stigma in the mental health workforce has not been well explored. This study aims to assess the prevalence of stigma among mental health specialists in Kazakhstan and identify factors influencing their attitudes, providing insights for targeted interventions to improve mental health services.