PhD Defence of Inayat Shah

  • -
  • 10:00 a.m.
  • Department of Psychology
 
 
NOTIFICATION
 
Mr. Inayat Shah, Ph.D. Research Scholar has submitted thesis on "Crafting a Group-Based Psychoeducational Program to Foster Positive Attitudes towards Professional Help-Seeking for Mental Illnesses among College Students”" to the University of Peshawar, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Psychology.
 
The oral examination (Public Defence) is scheduled to be held on February 26h, 2026, at 10.00 a.m in the Department of Psychology, University of Peshawar. The abstract of the thesis is attached herewith.
 
All those interested in the said research work may participate in the event. They may raise relevant questions during presentation by the scholar for further evaluation.

 

Abstract
The presence of psychological disorders in Pakistan's college population has reached alarming levels, with individuals suffering profound emotional, social, and academic consequences. Up to 62% of students experiencing mental health issues avoid professional care due to fear, stigma, and misperceptions, instead resorting to informal support or symptomatic treatments; only one in ten adolescents confide in mental health professionals rather than peers. Guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior and cultural-competence frameworks, this research pursued three objectives: (1) to explore stakeholder views on a group-based psychoeducational module, (2) to develop a teacher-deliverable module, and (3) to evaluate its impact on help-seeking attitudes. A mixed-methods design was implemented. Study 1 convened eight focus groups with mental health professionals, community members, and students (diagnosed and undiagnosed) to co-create module content using thematic analysis in NVivo. Study 2 translated these insights into a structured manual detailing session theme, facilitator qualifications, and delivery formats. Study 3 tested the program's efficacy in a quasi- experimental pre-post assessment (N=136; balanced by gender and province), supplemented by 24 in-depth interviews. Quantitative analyses of the ATSPPHS-SF and OMI scales revealed statistically significant improvements in attitudes toward professional help-seeking and mental health beliefs (all p<.001), with high internal consistency across measures. Qualitative feedback underscored culturally tailored metaphors, interactive discussions, and peer support fostered destigmatization and practical engagement. These findings demonstrate that a context-sensitive, teacher-led psychoeducational program can effectively reshape help-seeking attitudes among Pakistani college students, offering a scalable model for higher educational institutions seeking to bridge the gap between mental health literacy and service utilization.