Cultural Influences and Help-Seeking Among South Asian Expatriate Men in the Gulf: A Qualitative Study of Tradition and Transformation

This qualitative study explored the socio-cultural and media influences on South Asian men’s mental health and help-seeking behaviours. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), six semi-structured interviews were conducted with South Asian men aged 18 and above, all residing in Gulf states at the time of the study. Four Group Experiential Themes (GETs) were identified: The Mental Health Spectrum, Cultural Roadblocks, Media’s Portrayal of Men, and Support Systems at Every Level. Findings revealed that although awareness of mental health was present to varying degrees among participants, socio-cultural norms including family honour, religious frameworks, and intergenerational masculine conditioning were perceived by pariticipants as barriers to help-seeking. Media representations, across both South Asian cultural content and global digital platforms, were perceived by participants to reinforce narrow and unrealistic ideals of masculinity, shaping their understanding of what it means to be a man in ways that further complicated help-seeking. Informal peer support networks were identified as holding significant potential for facilitating mental health engagement among participants. Additionally, participants also highlighted what they perceived as persistent structural barriers within the mental health profession and broader society. The study underscores the need for culturally adapted mental health interventions, further investigation into the representation of South Asian male practitioners within the profession, and dedicated research on South Asian men’s mental health, a population that spans diverse geographic, occupational and cultural contexts yet remains significantly underserved and understudied.