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Using participatory video to challenge the stigma of mental illness: a case study
- Authors:
- BUCHANAN Avril, MURRAY Michael
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 14(1), 2012, pp.35-43.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Despite advances in the treatment of different forms of mental ill health, it continues to attract substantial stigmatisation, with public attitudes being increasingly negative. While reviews have highlighted the extensive research on the nature of this stigma, there is limited work on the development of strategies to challenge the stigma. The aim of this case study was to examine the potential of researchers and mental health service users (MHSUs) working collaboratively to identify the main problems the service users experience in their everyday lives and to produce a video challenging the negative image of mental ill health. Discussions were held with volunteers involved in a mental health media action group; all volunteers had been or were currently MHSU. These discussions identified a variety of problems including difficulties in everyday social interaction and negative portrayal of mental ill health in the media. A short video was developed with volunteers summarising the issues they had raised: this was subsequently shown to a wider audience. The MHSUs reported considerable personal benefits of participation in the project. The paper discusses these findings and the process of producing the video.
What do African American youth with a mental illness think about help-seeking and psychiatric medication?: Origins of stigmatizing attitudes
- Authors:
- KRANKE Derrick, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work in Mental Health, 10(1), January 2012, pp.53-71.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Stigma greatly impacts African Americans’ underutilisation of mental health treatment. Stigmatising attitudes are attributed to racial mistrust and familial, religious, and cultural beliefs. However, most research on influences of these attitudes has been conducted with adults. Origins among adolescents may be unique because they have different competing influences relative to development. Identifying these influences is crucial to promoting utilization of psychiatric services as well as positive mental health outcomes among youth. This study explored the origin of stigmatising attitudes among 17 African American adolescents, average age 14, with psychiatric disorders. Adolescents reported similar origins of stigmatising attitudes toward mental illness as adults, and also identified peer perceptions and media messages as influences. The authors concluded that the findings highlight the need to develop family psychoeducation programmes that account for familial, racial, cultural, community, and religious influences.
Changing the meaning of help: clinical approaches to reducing stigma among suicidal young adults
- Author:
- DOWNS Marilyn F.
- Journal article citation:
- Families in Society, 93(1), January 2012, pp.22-28.
- Publisher:
- The Alliance for Children and Families
Reducing the stigma associated with mental health problems is an important objective of suicide prevention policies. Whilst the main aim of these efforts is to encourage help-seeking, the problem of stigma does not necessarily end when a person crosses the threshold to treatment. Internalised stigma can affect meanings attached to experiencing a problem or needing help, adding to the burden of mental health difficulties, and perceived stigma by others can inhibit positive social connections and intensify social isolation. This article, drawing on cognitive and relational–cultural theories to discuss psychological and interpersonal consequences of mental illness stigma for depressed and suicidal young adults, presents clinical approaches to addressing stigma. These approaches are demonstrated with a case study of a 19-year-old male college student.
Factors affecting intention to access psychological services amongst British Muslims of South Asian origin
- Authors:
- PILKINGTON Aneela, MSETFI Rachel Maria, WATSON Ruth
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Health Religion and Culture, 15(1), 2012, pp.1-22.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
In recent years, there has been an increase in research into the mental health of ethnic minority groups, and in particular, South Asian populations. This is largely due to the increasing number of people from this group living in the United Kingdom. This study investigated factors that affected intention to access psychological services in a sample of British Muslims of South Asian origin. It was hypothesised that the level of shame associated with mental health would predict intention to access services when controlling for other, more established, predictors. Ninety-four participants were recruited from community UK centres and online sources. Findings suggested that shame and biological beliefs predicted lesser intent to access psychological services, whereas higher levels of education predicted greater intention. Further analyses suggested differences between people that had migrated to Britain and those born in the United Kingdom. However, shame and duration of habitation in Britain were significant predictors for migrant participants. Implications for future research are discussed.
Window tax
- Author:
- GORDON Peter J.
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Health and Social Inclusion, 16(4), 2012, pp.181-187.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
In this article, the author discusses the stigma surrounding mental illness, contending that attempts to address stigma may have "blocked the light that might bring fuller understanding of suffering". The article draws on scientific research and ideas from philosophy and literature to highlight areas of ongoing stigma and identify possible explanations for this in the current approach of the psychiatric profession. It considers the biomedical view of mental illness, classification, diagnosis, and attitudes to mental disorders. The author urges medical professionals to consider and become aware of their own attitudes, to involve service users in the development of services and to stand up against discrimination.
‘We’ve got another one for you!’ Liaison psychiatry’s experience of stigma towards patients with mental illness and mental health professionals
- Author:
- BOLTON Jim
- Journal article citation:
- Psychiatrist (The), 36(12), December 2012, pp.450-454.
- Publisher:
- Royal College of Psychiatrists
Within a general hospital there is a risk that prejudicial attitudes towards mental illness held by some members of staff may translate into discriminatory behaviour towards patients with mental illness. Liaison psychiatry workers are well placed to notice this behaviour and any resultant impact on care. This study assessed stigmatising attitudes towards mental illness and psychiatric professionals as experienced by UK liaison psychiatry staff. A questionnaire asked about the impact of these events on patient care and for suggestions for tackling stigma in the general hospital. The total of 72 multidisciplinary respondents was made up of consultants 42%, doctors in training 10%, nursing staff 42%, and others 6%. More than three-quarters of those surveyed had experienced stigmatising attitudes towards mental illness by general hospital colleagues at least once a month. Two-thirds reported instances where stigmatisation had an adverse impact on patient care, and over a quarter reported stigmatising attitudes towards mental health professionals themselves. Suggestions for combating stigma included educational initiatives, clear clinical communication, and the provision of high-quality liaison services. The author believes that liaison psychiatry is well placed to both recognise and combat stigma in the general hospital and so help to ensure that patient care is comprehensive, safe and respectful.
Penetration of Time to Change leaflets on stigmatised attitudes to people with mental illness
- Authors:
- MENDES Vania, EASOW Joby Maducolil, LUTY Jason
- Journal article citation:
- Psychiatrist (The), 36(10), October 2012, pp.371-374.
- Publisher:
- Royal College of Psychiatrists
In the past few years, several national anti-stigma campaigns, including the Time to Change campaign in England, have been launched to reduce negative attitudes towards the mentally ill. Unfortunately, reports suggest that these campaigns are not particularly effective. The aim of this research was to determine whether members of the general public read a leaflet from the Time to Change anti-stigma campaign. The research comprised 2 studies. In study 1, leaflets were sent to 1000 members of the public at random. Those who read the leaflet were offered £4, in a statement concealed within the text, to return the leaflet. Only 20 of the 1000 (2%) people who received the unsolicited leaflet returned them, suggesting that the vast majority were unread. Study 2 aimed to determine how much of the leaflet was read by those who had chosen to look at it. Modified leaflets were posted to 400 members of a representative panel of the UK general public who had volunteered to participate in a separate study. In different points in the text of the leaflets, the participants were asked to tick inside the brackets and return the leaflet. This achieved a good response with 29% of participants (115 of 400) reading the leaflet. The findings indicate that very few people are likely to read unsolicited leaflets, including those containing a public health message.
Inclusive dialogue: the way forward in anti-stigma mental health education?
- Author:
- LINDLEY Emma
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Public Mental Health, 11(2), 2012, pp.77-87.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
In this study focusing on the stigma of mental illness, an inclusive dialogue approach (aiming to encourage and facilitate young people to participate and cooperate as equal partners in discussion and to engage in sharing and exploring understandings of mental illness) was used and evaluated. The inclusive dialogue process involved 6 hour-long discussions about mental illness with a group of 7 pupils aged 14 to 15 years attending a secondary school in Manchester. Semi-structured interviews were then undertaken with participants 7 months after the end of the discussion series about how participating in the inclusive dialogue process affected them. The article reports on and discusses the findings, including the themes emerging from what the young people said about the impact of participation on them: confidence in talking about it, responding to others in distress, knowledge and understanding, capacity for empathy and solidarity, and surprise at each other's contributions. It also summarises the promising features of the inclusive dialogue approach, suggesting that it may have the potential to work effectively at increasing positive understanding and reducing stigma, and that further testing and evaluation of the approach is required.
Filmed v. live social contact interventions to reduce stigma: randomised controlled trial
- Authors:
- CLEMENT Sarah, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 201(1), July 2012, pp.57-64.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Direct social contact interventions are known to reduce mental health stigma. The authors suggest that filmed contact may be equally effective. They tested the hypotheses that: DVD and live interventions are equally effective; and interventions with social contact (DVD/live) are more effective than a lecture. Cost-effectiveness, process and acceptability were also assessed. Student nurses (n=216) were randomised to: watch a DVD of service users/informal carers talking about their experiences, watch a similar live presentation, or attend a lecture. Primary outcomes were changes in attitudes (using the Mental Illness: Clinicians Attitudes Scale, MICA), emotional reactions (using the Emotional Reactions to Mental Illness Scale, ERMIS), intended proximity (using the Reported and Intended Behaviour Scale, RIBS), and knowledge (using the Social Contact Intended Learning Outcomes, SCILO), immediately after the intervention and at 4-month follow-up. The results broadly confirmed the hypothesis. There were no differences between the DVD and live groups on MICA, ERMIS or RIBS scores. The DVD group had higher SCILO (knowledge) scores. The combined social contact group (DVD/live) had better MICA and RIBS scores than the lecture group, the latter difference maintained at 4 months. The DVD was the most cost-effective intervention, and the live session the most popular. The authors suggest that wider use of filmed social contact interventions could be a cost-effective way of reducing stigma about mental illness.
Improving the mental health of looked after young people: an exploration of mental health stigma
- Author:
- YOUNGMINDS
- Publisher:
- YoungMinds
- Publication year:
- 2012
- Pagination:
- 11p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This report examines the particular perceptions and experiences of mental health stigma amongst looked after young people. Figures from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) show that around 60% of looked after young people have some level of mental health problem. This research involved a variety of creative workshops with 50 young people from residential homes, secure settings, and foster placements. The workshops focused on the areas of: education including how the young people thought they were perceived at school; how they felt about placements; and their perception of Local Authority services and mental health services. In addition, 2 groups were run for professionals; one for residential child care workers and the other for supervising social workers. The report provides findings from these workshops and groups, and also provides a series of recommendations relating to education, placements, and mental health services. It concludes that there needs to be a more widespread understanding of what it means to be a looked after young person.