Table 2 Illustrative quotes about stigma as a barrier

Illustrative Quotes

They all carry that stigma, that disease, or any kind of mental health, anything of that nature, would equate to weakness or breakdown, and that’s, … They don’t like people knowing that they’re ill. … So I think, there is just like a dirty stigma. [Group 1: Provider 1]

They don’t talk about it. At least they might talk about it to their immediate family, but they don’t talk about it when there are functions and there are a lot of gatherings…or say, ‘I’m not going to have [eat] this’…because if they do then they’re bringing attention to themselves. [Group 1: Provider 3]

I think the stigma clouds their judgment on making the right decisions for them to help them. For instance,…one of our patients, he is diabetic, he is 34 years old and he’s an amputee…Severe diabetic, and…he became noncompliant because of depression…There is absolutely no way he was gonna go to therapy. Because therapy is associated with weakness and the Arab community, especially, especially the men, do not wanna be associated with weakness. [Provider2: Group 2]

But we see them like the diabetic patients who they think “Oh my gosh”, you know, “I can’t go to family functions all the family functions have to do with food. I can’t attend this wedding, I can’t go on vacation. I can’t do this. I have to sit and I have to pretend like ok I can’t eat”, you know and that’s a big stigma for them, but we don’t even offer that kind of support. [Group 1: Provider 3]