Toward a Sustainable Mental Health Care Model in Qatar: Balancing Challenges and Feasibility Through Public and Provider Perspectives

Telemental health care (TMHC) presents significant opportunities to improve access to mental health services in Qatar, a context marked by systemic constraints, cultural stigma, and limited digital readiness. While TMHC offers convenience, privacy, and the potential to overcome geographic and logistical barriers, its implementation remains uneven and underutilized. This study explores the sociocultural, structural, and operational dynamics shaping the feasibility and acceptability of TMHC in Qatar. Methods: This qualitative study employed semi-structured interviews with 62 participants, including members of the general population (n = 34) and mental health professionals (n = 28). Participants were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling strategies via social media, community outreach, and clinical networks. Reflexive thematic analysis was conducted following Braun and Clarke’s (2020) six-phase approach to identify recurring patterns and generate nuanced, interpretive themes. Findings: Four thematic issues emerged: (1) Cultural Stigma and Social Perceptions of Mental Illness, highlighting how stigma, gender norms, and family reputation shape attitudes toward mental health and limit TMHC’s impact; (2) Structural and Logistical Barriers to Mental Health Access, including long wait times, cost, digital illiteracy, and insufficient TMHC infrastructure; (3) Relational Dynamics and Therapeutic Trust in Virtual Care, where lack of provider training and cultural discomfort with virtual communication disrupt therapeutic alliances; and (4) Opportunities and Pathways for Culturally Responsive TMHC Integration, emphasizing participants’ calls for early mental health education, provider training, and community-based campaigns to improve service reach and engagement. Conclusions: TMHC holds promise in reducing access gaps, particularly for women and younger populations, but is constrained by stigma, technological inequities, and weak provider-patient rapport in virtual settings. Addressing these challenges requires coordinated, culturally sensitive policies, investment in digital infrastructure, and collaborative strategies that engage families, communities, and frontline professionals. The findings underscore the urgency of embedding TMHC within broader efforts to destigmatize mental health and build a more inclusive care ecosystem.