SELF-STIGMA AND QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS WHO RECEIVE COMPULSORY COMMUNITY TREATMENT SERVICES

2012 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
pp. 699-714 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Livingston
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Community Treatment ◽  
Treatment Services ◽  
People With Mental Illness ◽  
Compulsory Community Treatment

scholarly journals Attitudes towards disclosing a mental illness: impact on quality of life and recovery

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lea Mayer ◽  
Patrick W. Corrigan ◽  
Daniela Eisheuer ◽  
Nathalie Oexle ◽  
Nicolas Rüsch
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Social Withdrawal ◽  
Social Consequences ◽  
People With Mental Illness ◽  
High Internal Consistency ◽  
Initial Support ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Purpose The decision whether to disclose a mental illness has individual and social consequences. Secrecy may protect from stigma and discrimination while disclosure can increase social support and facilitate help-seeking. Therefore, disclosure decisions are a key reaction to stigma. The first aim of this study was to test a newly developed scale to measure disclosure attitudes, the Attitudes to Disclosure Questionnaire (AtDQ). The second aim was to examine the impact of attitudes towards disclosing a mental illness on quality of life and recovery. Methods Among 100 participants with mental illness, disclosure attitudes, quality of life, recovery, benefits of disclosure, secrecy, social withdrawal, self-stigma, and depressive symptoms were assessed at weeks 0, 3 and 6. Psychometric properties of the AtDQ were analysed. Longitudinal associations between disclosure attitudes at baseline and quality of life and recovery after 6 weeks were examined in linear regressions. Results The analyses of the AtDQ indicated one-factor solutions, high acceptability, high internal consistency, and good retest reliability for the total scale and the subscales as well as high construct validity of the total scale. Results provided initial support for sensitivity to change. More positive disclosure attitudes in general and in particular regarding to family at baseline predicted better quality of life and recovery after 6 weeks. Conclusion The current study provides initial support for the AtDQ as a useful measure of disclosure attitudes. Disclosing a mental illness, especially with respect to family, may improve quality of life and recovery of people with mental illness.

The Relationship Between Employment Status and Quality of Life For Individuals with Severe and Persistent Mental Illness

1997 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 4-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donna C. Vanden Boom ◽  
Daniel C. Lustig
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Effect Size ◽  
Employment Status ◽  
Community Treatment ◽  
Living Situation ◽  
Persistent Mental Illness ◽  
Global Quality Of Life ◽  
The Relationship

The relationship between quality of life and employment status for individuals with severe and persistent mental illness was investigated. Forty individuals in the Program for Assertive Community Treatment (PACT) participated in the study. PACT is a community-based program for persons with severe and persistent mental illness which emphasizes the importance of employment in rehabilitation. Participants were interviewed using Lehman's Quality of Life Interview. A large effect size for difference between individuals who were employed and those who were unemployed was found for assessment of global quality of life. Medium and small effect sizes were found for satisfaction with family, financial situation, health and social relations, safety, and daily activities. Minimal effect size was found for satisfaction with living situation.

scholarly journals The relationship between internalized stigma and quality of life among people with mental illness: are self-esteem and sense of coherence sequential mediators?

2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (9) ◽  
pp. 2471-2478 ◽  
Author(s):  
Piotr Świtaj ◽  
Paweł Grygiel ◽  
Anna Chrostek ◽  
Izabela Nowak ◽  
Jacek Wciórka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Sense Of Coherence ◽  
Psychiatric Treatment ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Internalized Stigma ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
People With Mental Illness ◽  
Sectional Analysis

Abstract Purpose To elucidate the mechanism through which internalized stigma reduces the quality of life (QoL) of people with mental illness by exploring the mediating roles of self-esteem and sense of coherence (SOC). Methods A cross-sectional analysis of 229 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia or affective disorders was undertaken to test a sequential mediation model assuming that more severe internalized stigma is related to lower self-esteem, which is associated with weaker SOC, which in turn relates to worse QoL. Results The proposed model was supported by the data. A sequential indirect effect from internalized stigma to QoL via self-esteem and SOC turned out to be significant [beta = −0.06, SE = 0.02; 95% CI (−0.11, −0.03)]. Support was also found for simple mediation models with either self-esteem or SOC as single mediators between internalized stigma and QoL. Conclusions Self-esteem and SOC are personal resources that should be considered as potential targets of interventions aiming to prevent the harmful consequences of internalized stigma for the QoL of people receiving psychiatric treatment.

scholarly journals A cross-sectional study addressing the importance of work and other everyday activities for well-being among people with mental illness: does additional vulnerability matter?

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Eklund ◽  
A. Birgitta Gunnarsson ◽  
Jan-Åke Jansson ◽  
Parvin Pooremamali ◽  
Mona Eklund
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Psychosocial Functioning ◽  
Work Experience ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Activity Level ◽  
Environmental Aspects ◽  
People With Mental Illness ◽  
History Of

Abstract Background Work and other everyday activities are beneficial for well-being among people with mental illness, but poor circumstances can create detrimental effects, possibly aggravated by additional vulnerabilities linked with their mental illness. This study aimed to investigate how activity factors were related to well-being and functioning among three vulnerable groups using outpatient mental health care – young people with psychosis, people with a history of substance use disorder (SUD), and immigrants with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) – while controlling for vulnerability group, age and gender. Methods Participants represented the three types of vulnerability (n = 46/57/39). Data collection, using self-report and interviewer-rated questionnaires, concerned aspects of everyday activity (work experiences; views of the worker role; satisfaction with everyday occupations; activity level), well-being (quality of life: life and health; quality of life: environmental aspects; recovery) and functioning (psychosocial functioning; symptom severity). Spearman correlations and General Linear Modelling were used. Results Activity satisfaction was positive (p < 0.001) but recent work experience negative (p = 0.015) for the life and health aspect of quality of life. Activity satisfaction was positive for the environmental aspects of quality of life (p < 0.001). Resources for having a worker role (p < 0.001) and belief in having a future worker role (p = 0.007) were positively associated with better recovery. Activity level (p = 0.001) and resources for having a worker role (p = 0.004) showed positive associations with psychosocial functioning. Belief in a future worker role (p = 0.011) was related with symptom level. Women had less severe symptoms in the young group with psychosis. Regarding vulnerability group, young people with psychosis perceived better quality of life; those with a history of SUD had less severe psychiatric symptoms; and the recent immigrants with PTSD had the highest level of psychosocial functioning. Conclusion Work experience may not be conducive to well-being in itself; it is satisfaction with work and other activities that matters, and worker and employer expectations need alignment. No vulnerability group seemed consistently more disadvantaged regarding well-being and functioning, but the fact that differences existed is vital to acknowledge in activity-based rehabilitation. Inquiring about meaningful activities and providing opportunities for executing them would be a fruitful way of support.

scholarly journals Evaluation of the “Helping Hands” Volunteer Program for People with Mental Illness

2000 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judy A. Pickard ◽  
Frank P. Deane
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Case Managers ◽  
Volunteer Program ◽  
Knowledge And Attitudes ◽  
People With Mental Illness ◽  
Volunteer Programs

Volunteer programs have been used to alter attitudes, provide long-term knowledge towards mental illness and increase the quality of life of consumers receiving volunteer services. Sixteen volunteers completed an 18-hour training program and in pairs worked with 11 consumers over 4 months. Sixteen volunteers completed training measures of knowledge and attitudes scales. Pre and post program quality of life and behavioural functioning measures were taken on 5 consumers. Volunteers maintained their knowledge of mental illness over 6 months and had significant increases in their comfort in interactions with people who have mental illness. Case managers, consumers and volunteers all reported high levels of satisfaction with the program but there were no significant changes in behavioural functioning or quality of life for consumers over 4 months of receiving volunteer support. High levels of client disability and the need for longer term follow-up were identified as factors needing to be addressed in future studies.

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