Abstract
Perceptions of Mental Health and Barriers to Care Among Healthcare Professionals in Papua New Guinea: A Qualitative Inquiry.
Background: Papua New Guinea (PNG) faces significant challenges in mental health care delivery, compounded by geographic isolation, limited infrastructure, and cultural beliefs that often interpret mental illness through spiritual or supernatural frameworks. With the majority of the population living in rural areas, access to trained professionals and mental health services remains critically low. Understanding healthcare professionals’ perspectives on these challenges is essential to improving mental health outcomes and informing policy development.
Objective: This study was to explore the perceptions of healthcare professionals in PNG regarding mental health conditions, and to identify perceived barriers to treatment and management within the current healthcare context.
Methods: A qualitative study design was used, employing semi-structured interviews with healthcare professionals. Interviews were conducted virtually via Zoom or WhatsApp, or face to face, and were analysed thematically. Data collection continued until thematic saturation was reached. Ethical approvals were obtained from International Business School University (IBSU) HREC, PNG and the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC) HREC, Australia. Participants described a range of systemic, cultural and logistical barriers impacting the delivery of mental health care. Key themes included the influence of cultural beliefs (such as associations with sorcery or spiritual causes), the widespread stigma surrounding mental illness, and the shortage of trained personnel and psychotropic medications. Geographical remoteness and infrastructure limitations were also highlighted as critical barriers. Participants reported a high reliance on informal care or self-reliance within communities, particularly in rural areas. Several also noted the need for culturally safe and locally tailored mental health education and resources.
Conclusions: The study provided insight into the complex interplay of cultural, systemic, and geographical factors that shape mental health care delivery in PNG. Findings underscored the urgent need for decentralised services, improved mental health literacy, and integration of culturally appropriate care models. The results have important implications for health policy, education, and practice, and can inform strategies to improve access, reduce stigma, and build workforce capacity in PNG’s mental health sector, ensuring that nobody’s health is left behind.