Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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I am a whole: a report investigating the stigma faced by young people experiencing mental health difficulties
- Author:
- NATIONAL COUNCIL OF YMCAs
- Publisher:
- National Council of YMCAs
- Publication year:
- 2016
- Pagination:
- 43
- Place of publication:
- London
Examines the prevalence of stigma faced by young people with mental health difficulties, who is experiencing it and how they are doing so, the impact of this stigma, and the potential solutions that the young people themselves have identified. Mental health difficulties among children and young people are common and can be both persistent and damaging. However, the challenges that young people face are not limited to the symptoms of their mental health difficulties; many must also take on the day-to-day stigma that too often goes with this. The report finds that more than one in three young people with mental health difficulties had felt the negative impact of stigma and 37 per cent of young people who experienced this stigma did so at least once a week. This stigma resulted in young people who had experienced it being unwilling to go out (74%), unable to perform day-to-day tasks (69%), and feeling less confident (85%). Education and awareness lie at the heart of normalising mental health difficulties and overcoming this stigma experienced by young people. Education and more people talking about mental health top the ways young people believe this stigma can be tackled. Four in five of those who believe this stigma exists said school is the best place to combat it. Young people who believe this stigma exists say they can best tackle it by talking more about mental health and sharing their experiences. (Edited publisher abstract)
I am a whole stories: a collection of stories from young people about their experiences of mental health difficulties
- Author:
- NATIONAL COUNCIL OF YMCAs
- Publisher:
- National Council of YMCAs
- Publication year:
- 2016
- Pagination:
- 65
- Place of publication:
- London
This collection brings the voices of young people who experience mental health problems and stigma to the forefront by giving them a platform to share their experiences in their own words and help others around them. These stories illustrate how varied young people’s experiences with mental health can be. The collection is intended to contribute to the process of normalising mental health difficulties and lifting the veil of ignorance that contributes to the stigma that so often dominates the narrative and public consciousness on the issue. (Edited publisher abstract)
The relationship between mental health literacy regarding schizophrenia and psychiatric stigma in the Republic of Ireland
- Authors:
- O'KEEFFE Donal, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health, 25(2), 2016, pp.100-108.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
Background: There is an unclear relationship between mental health literacy (MHL) and psychiatric stigma. MHL is associated with both positive and negative attitudes to mental illness. Aims: This study was conducted to assess MHL regarding schizophrenia and the degree of psychiatric stigma displayed by the general public in the Republic of Ireland. Method: A face-to-face in-home omnibus survey was conducted with a representative sample of residents of the Republic of Ireland. Participants (N = 1001) were presented with a vignette depicting schizophrenia and were asked questions to determine their ability to recognise the condition and to ascertain their attitudes towards schizophrenia and mental illness. Results: Among the participants, 34.1% correctly identified schizophrenia. Higher age, higher socioeconomic status, and an urban geographic location predicted identification. Those who did not correctly identify schizophrenia were significantly more optimistic about recovery and perceived people with schizophrenia as less dangerous. However, only the relationship with perceived dangerousness was considered robust. Conclusions: Participants with higher MHL displayed more negative attitudes to mental illness. Findings have implications internationally for MHL and anti-stigma campaigns. (Edited publisher abstract)
“You don’t have anorexia, you just want to look like a celebrity”: perceived stigma in individuals with anorexia nervosa
- Authors:
- DIMITROPOULOS Gina, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health, 25(1), 2016, pp.47-54.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
Background: Minimal research has been conducted on how individuals with Anorexia nervosa (AN) undergoing treatment perceive public stigma. Aim: Explore how affected individuals with AN believe the general public perceives AN. Method: Using thematic analysis, 19 participants with AN were interviewed at the beginning of treatment. Results: Three interrelated themes were ascertained: (1) AN is not an illness; (2) eating disorder behaviours are volitional and the public endorses a socio-cultural explanation for the disorder; 3) affected individuals delay disclosing their illness and experience shame engaging in intensive treatment for AN as a result of their perception of stigma. Conclusions: Individuals with AN viewed the public as trivializing AN by viewing behaviours as within their control and by attributing eating disorder behaviours solely to socio-cultural factors. Participants believed that the public minimizes the challenges associated with treatment. Findings suggest that clinical interventions targeting stigma are required to counteract perceptions held by service users regarding how others view their illness. “Mental health literacy” interventions are needed for health professionals working with high risk groups likely to avoid seeking help due to fears of stigmatisation. (Publisher abstract)
I am whole stories: a collection of stories from young people about their experiences of mental health difficulties
- Author:
- YMCA
- Publisher:
- YMCA
- Publication year:
- 2016
- Pagination:
- 66
- Place of publication:
- London
A collection of case studies which illustrate young people’s experience of mental health problems. Collected as part of the ‘I am whole’ research project, they can be used to help start conversations around mental health and reduce the stigma that often surrounds mental health. (Edited publisher abstract)
Adults’ perceptions about whether children should disclose their mental illness
- Authors:
- CORRIGAN Patrick, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Public Mental Health, 15(4), 2016, pp.200-208.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: Disclosure of mental illness is a key ingredient in contact-based public stigma change strategies. Adults who disclose their personal recovery story experience greater empowerment and heightened quality of life. Qualitative research suggests youth may similarly benefit, but also have unique benefits and costs associated with disclosure. The purpose of this paper is to examine adults’ perceived costs and benefits of mental illness disclosure for middle and high school students with a new measure, the Coming Out with Mental Illness Scale for Children (COMIS-Child). Design/methodology/approach: In total, 300 adult participants from Amazon’s MTurk completed the COMIS-Child, the Beliefs about Disclosure Scale (BDS), assessing perceptions about child disclosure, and the Attribution Questionnaire, assessing public stigma. Findings: Principal component analyses of the COMIS-Child yielded one factor representing disclosure costs and two factors for benefits (changing pubic stigma; person-defined benefits). Internal consistencies of the COMIS-Child factors were strong. Parents with children with mental illness endorsed more costs and fewer benefits from the changing public stigma factor than other respondents. Regression analyses showed decisions about youth disclosing mental illness from the BDS were associated with perceived costs, perceived benefits as personally defined, and public stigma. Disclosure beliefs were also inversely associated with public stigma. Social implications: Adults who identify more costs and fewer benefits were less likely to believe youth should disclose, favouring a more conservative approach to youth disclosure. This highlights the importance of participating in self-stigma interventions that guide an individual’s decision making about disclosure. Originality/value: To the author’s knowledge, this is the first study examining adults’ perceptions of youth disclosure of mental illness. (Publisher abstract)
Theoretical and practical considerations for combating mental illness stigma in health care
- Authors:
- UNGAR Thomas, KNAAK Stephanie, SZETO Andrew C.H.
- Journal article citation:
- Community Mental Health Journal, 52(3), 2016, pp.262-271.
- Publisher:
- Springer
Reducing the stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness is becoming an increasingly important focus for research, policy, programming and intervention work. While it has been well established that the healthcare system is one of the key environments in which persons with mental illnesses experience stigma and discrimination there is little published literature on how to build and deliver successful anti-stigma programs in healthcare settings, towards healthcare providers in general, or towards specific types of practitioners. This paper addresses this gap by providing a set of theoretical considerations for guiding the design and implementation of anti-stigma interventions in healthcare. (Edited publisher abstract)
Mental illness discrimination in mental health treatment programs: intersections of race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation
- Authors:
- HOLLEY Lynn C., TAVASSOLI Kyoko Y., STROMWALL Layne K.
- Journal article citation:
- Community Mental Health Journal, 52(3), 2016, pp.311-322.
- Publisher:
- Springer
People with mental illnesses (PWMI) who are of colour and/or lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB) experience mental health disparities, including within mental health treatment programs (MHTPs). Informed by a critical framework with attention to intersectionality and microaggressions, this qualitative study asked 20 PWMI and family members who also are of colour and/or LGB whether they had experienced mental illness discrimination in MHTPs, a possible factor in disparities. Participants were also asked about aspects of MHTPs that supported recovery. Participants reported that they were ignored/not listened to, not viewed as complex individuals, experienced condescension/lack of respect and violations of privacy or other rights, and were presumed to lack intelligence. In addition, identifying mental illness discrimination was complex due to intersections of identities. Despite these perceptions of discrimination, participants described supportive aspects of MHTPs. Implications for practice and research are offered. (Edited publisher abstract)
What is the impact of self-stigma? loss of self-respect and the “why try” effect
- Authors:
- CORRIGAN Patrick W., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health, 25(1), 2016, pp.10-15.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
Background: The “Why Try” phenomenon, a consequence of self-stigma, is a sense of futility that occurs when people believe they are unworthy or incapable of achieving personal goals because they apply the stereotypes of mental illness to themselves. Aims: This study examines a four-stage model of self-stigma (aware, agree, apply, and self-stigma harm) and examines the “why try” effect as a result. We do that by testing a measure of “why try.” Method: Two hypothetical path models were tested. In the first, applying stereotypes to oneself leads to diminished self-respect and a sense of “why try”. In the second, the effect of applying stereotypes on “why try” is mediated by diminished self-respect. Participants completed the “why try” measure along with measures of self-stigma, public stigma, recovery, and empowerment. Results: Results show application of stereotypes to oneself predicts diminished self-respect and “why try”. “Why try” was significantly associated with agreement with public stigma, depression, and diminished sense of personal recovery. Conclusions: Findings from this study reveal the complex impact of self-stigma demonstrating its emotional and behavioural consequences. Implications for impacting self-stigma are discussed. (Publisher abstract)
The perceptions of adolescents who self-harm on stigma and care following inpatient psychiatric treatment
- Authors:
- MITTEN Nicole, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work in Mental Health, 14(1), 2016, pp.1-21.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Stigma within the context of mental illness has been conceptualised as problematic or negative knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour held against someone with mental illness. Perceptions of stigma and care receipt have been explored in adult clinical populations; however, these experiences have not been widely explored with adolescent clinical populations who self-harm. The purpose of this study was to explore youths’ perceptions of stigma. Using a cross-sectional design, open-ended interviews were conducted with 12 adolescents (14–19 years, 83% female). Data were examined with content analysis. Results indicated that youth reported experiences of stigma from both clinicians and other patients, and some of these youth reported stigmatising others with mental health disorders. Youth reported varied experiences with stigma and varied experiences with care receipt. Implications for practice include attention to perceived stigma in healthcare settings. (Edited publisher abstract)