Balancing needs and resources in mental health care through the lens of public and provider perspectives
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Background
Telemental health care (TMHC) may offer convenient and private pathways to mental health support, but its feasibility and acceptability depend on the cultural, structural, and operational context in which it is delivered. This qualitative study examined how members of the general population and mental health professionals perceived the barriers and opportunities associated with TMHC in Qatar.
Methods
This qualitative study employed semi-structured interviews with 62 participants, comprising members of the general population ( n = 34) and mental health professionals ( n = 28), using purposive and snowball sampling strategies. Participants were recruited through social media, community outreach, and clinical networks. The study used reflexive thematic analysis, following Braun and Clarke’s six-phase approach to identify recurring patterns and generate nuanced, interpretive themes.
Findings
Four themes were identified: (1) Cultural Stigma and Social Perceptions of Mental Illness, describing how participants perceived stigma, gender norms, and family reputation as shaping help-seeking and TMHC acceptability; (2) Structural and Logistical Barriers to Mental Health Access, including perceived concerns about wait times, cost, digital literacy, and TMHC infrastructure; (3) Relational Dynamics and Therapeutic Trust in Virtual Care, reflecting concerns that limited provider preparation and discomfort with virtual communication could weaken therapeutic engagement; and (4) Opportunities and Pathways for Culturally Responsive TMHC Integration, emphasizing participants’ recommendations for mental health education, provider training, community engagement, and culturally responsive service development.
Conclusions
Participants perceived TMHC as a potentially useful complement to in-person services, particularly because of its convenience and privacy, while identifying stigma, digital access, confidentiality, and relational trust as important barriers. These findings identify context-specific considerations for future TMHC development and evaluation in Qatar; they do not establish TMHC effectiveness or population-level effects on access.
