Lived Experiences of Women With Substance Use Disorders Regarding Their Motivations and Barriers to Seeking Treatment.

Women’s Substance Use Treatment in Türkiye: Barriers, Motivations, and Service Recommendations From Social Workers’ Perspectives

Using a generic qualitative design, this study draws on in-depth interviews with 17 social workers to explore barriers women face in accessing and participating in substance use treatment, their motivations for treatment, and service-related recommendations. Thematic analysis identified three main themes: disruptions in the cessation process, motivations for seeking professional help and sustaining treatment, and service-related recommendations. The first theme indicates that treatment disruptions stem from gender-based stigmatization, individual self-help attempts, and social and institutional barriers. The second theme focuses on motivational factors for accessing and sustaining treatment, including internal processes such as regaining a sense of identity and self-worth, and external influences like referrals from social services. The final theme evaluates the importance of preventive and protective factors, alongside holistic empowerment at the personal, interpersonal, and socio-political levels. The main recommendations include expanding gender-responsive treatment centers and providing childcare support to ensure the sustainability of the treatment process.

Inside the System: A Qualitative Examination of Substance Use Disorder Treatment Challenges in Pakistan

Key challenges identified included the absence of integrated treatment for comorbid mental health conditions, frequent relapses, lack of culturally adaptive interventions, limited innovation in treatment approaches, minimal family involvement, and absence of individualized treatment planning.

Experiences and expectations of people with alcohol use disorder and their families in general medical settings in Japan: a qualitative study.

Mental Health Treatment Experiences and Barriers and Facilitators to Treatment among Sexual and Gender Minoritized Adolescents at Risk for Self-Harm

Introduction: Sexual and gender minoritized adolescents (SGMA) are at higher risk for self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (STB), such as suicide and non-suicidal self-injury, compared to their heterosexual and cisgender peers. This study explored treatment experiences, barriers, and facilitators to treatment for SGMA at risk for STB. Methods: Participants were 18 SGMA, aged 13 to 19 years (M = 16.8; SD = 1.89); 61% were transgender or nonbinary; 61% plurisexual; 78% White, non-Hispanic/Latine). Participants completed a semi-structured interview, including questions about their experiences seeking mental health treatment for STB. Results: Several themes emerged for negative treatment experiences (e.g., overemphasis on identity, invalidation), positive treatment experiences (e.g., affirmative work), barriers to treatment (e.g., shame, structural barriers), facilitators to treatment (e.g., family support), and recommendations to mental health professionals. Discussion: The findings of this study provide insights into the varied STB treatment experiences of SGMA at risk for STB. These results underscore the importance of SGM-affirmative clinical practice and have significant implications for research and clinical interventions for SGMA. Additionally, our findings provide useful recommendations from SGMA to help guide mental health professionals in developing SGM-affirmative interventions.

Barriers to Psychological Help-Seeking in Postpartum Women With Depression, Anxiety, or Comorbid Conditions: A Qualitative Exploration.

INTRODUCTION Postpartum mental health research has traditionally focused on depression, though anxiety is gaining attention. Alarmingly, nearly half of the affected women do not seek help, leaving conditions frequently unrecognised and untreated. AIM This study explores barriers to professional psychological help-seeking among postpartum women in Latvia with postpartum depression (PPD), generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), or both. METHOD Using the qualitative comparison groups design and thematic analysis, seventeen semi-structured interviews were conducted, with four participants diagnosed with PPD, six with GAD, and seven with both PPD and GAD. RESULTS Overarching domains of help-seeking barriers were: (1) Individual barriers (hesitation and internal rationalisations, lack of awareness and information about symptoms, stigmatisation and emotional barriers); (2) Family barriers (difficulties arranging childcare); and (3) Systemic and socioeconomic barriers (financial constraints, accessibility and systemic issues, lack of information). Specifically, women with PPD reported emotional unawareness and guilt; those with GAD feared burdening others. Comorbid cases emphasised logistical and access barriers. IMPLICATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Help-seeking behaviour in the postpartum period is influenced by individual, family, and structural factors. To improve access to psychological care, it is essential to foster maternal mental health literacy, normalise help-seeking through public discourse, and ensure health systems proactively support and inform parents.

Service User Perceptions of Addiction Treatment Services in Barcelona: Barriers, Gender, Stigma, Employment, and Recommendations for Improvement

Aim As part of the development of Barcelona's new Action Plan on Drugs, this study explored the perceptions and experiences of individuals receiving outpatient and residential addiction treatment services, integrating service users’ perspectives into service planning. Methods A qualitative descriptive design was employed, utilizing five focus groups (three with women, two with men) involving a total of 37 participants from outpatient and residential addiction treatment services. Data were analysed using thematic content analysis. Results Participants often initiated treatment during personal crises, primarily through self-referral. Women reported discomfort in mixed-gender treatment environments, highlighting feelings of unsafety and exposure to aggression. A pervasive sense of social and familial stigma was identified, with women disproportionately affected. Employment was viewed as critical to recovery, yet treatment programs often discouraged contact with prior environments, including those offering job opportunities. Conclusions Participants recommended service improvements, including increased availability of residential placements, especially for women; expanded emergency support; greater coordination across services; specialized training for general practitioners; and gender-sensitive approaches to care. These findings underscore the need for user-informed, evidence-based, and gender-responsive addiction services to enhance treatment effectiveness and long-term recovery outcomes.