Social stigma in severe mental illness in Tunisia: Clinical and socio-demographic correlates

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S577-S577 ◽  
Author(s):  
U. Ouali ◽  
R. Jomli ◽  
R. Nefzi ◽  
H. Ouertani ◽  
F. Nacef
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Severe Mental Illness ◽  
Cultural Context ◽  
Social Inclusion ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Social Stigma ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Local Context ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Competing Interest

IntroductionMental patients generally internalize some of the negative conceptions about how most people view them: they might be considered incompetent or untrustworthy or believe that people would not want to hire, or marry someone with mental illness. A lot of research on stigma has been conducted in western countries; however, little is still known on the situation in Arab-Muslim societies.ObjectivesTo evaluate social stigma as viewed by patients suffering from severe mental illness (SMI)MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study on clinically stabilized patients with schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder (BD) according to DSM IV, who were interviewed in our out-patients clinic with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire, containing 8 opinions on the social inclusion and stigmatization of psychiatric patients, with special reference to the local cultural context (e.g.: “It is better to hide mental illness in order to preserve the reputation of my family”)ResultsWe included 104 patients, 51% with schizophrenia and 49% with BD. Mean age was 38.4 years (18–74 years); 59.6% were males. Overall social stigma scores were high. Social stigma in patients was correlated with gender, age, place of residence and diagnosis. Patients with BD showed significantly less social stigma than patients with schizophrenia.ConclusionOur results show the need for a better understanding of this phenomenon in patients with SMI, but also within Tunisian society, in order to elaborate anti stigma strategies adapted to the local context.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

scholarly journals Mental Illness Stigma. A Comparative Cross-sectional Study of Social Stigma, Internalized Stigma and Self-esteem

2021 ◽  
pp. 000-000
Author(s):  
Clara González-Sanguino ◽  
Sara González-Domínguez ◽  
Miguel A. Castellanos ◽  
Manuel Muñoz
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Social Stigma ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Mental Illness Stigma ◽  
Internalized Stigma ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional

scholarly journals Delays to diagnosis among people with severe mental illness in rural Vietnam, a population-based cross-sectional survey

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Trang Nguyen ◽  
Thach Tran ◽  
Sally Green ◽  
Arthur Hsueh ◽  
Tuan Tran ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Severe Mental Illness ◽  
Financial Burden ◽  
National Policy ◽  
Mental Health Program ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional

Abstract Background People with severe mental illness (SMI) living in low and middle-income countries can experience extended delays to diagnosis, which hinder access to medical treatment. The aims of this study were to describe the interval to diagnosis among these people in rural Vietnam and its associated factors. Methods A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted among people with SMI in two provinces in Vietnam. The delay to diagnosis was defined as the time between the first abnormal behaviour being observed by family members and the formal diagnosis of psychosis. A multilevel linear regression was used to examine the factors associated with the delay to diagnosis. Results Among 404 people with SMI from 370 households, the median delay to diagnosis was 11.5 months (IQR 0–168.0). Overall, 53.7% had a delay to diagnosis of less than one year (95% CI: 48.81–58.54). The financial burden of these people on their families was nearly USD 470/year. After adjusting for other factors at individual and household levels, living in a Northern province; older age, and having psychotic diagnosis before the implementation of the National Community Mental Health program (2003) were associated with a delay of more than twelve months to diagnosis. Conclusions These data indicate that the implementation of a national policy for community-based care has been effective in reducing the delay to diagnosis in rural Vietnam. Therefore, there is a need for strengthening the program and mental health policies, focusing on public communication to improve mental health literacy and reduce stigma against SMI.

Mental Health Stigma: What's Been Done? Where to Go?

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. s245-s245
Author(s):  
P. Macedo ◽  
M. Silva ◽  
A. Fornelos ◽  
A.R. Figueiredo ◽  
S. Nunes
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Social Inclusion ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Mental Health Stigma ◽  
Public Stigma ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
People With Mental Illness ◽  
Competing Interest

IntroductionNegative attitudes towards psychiatric patients still exist in our society. Persons suffering from mental illness frequently encounter public stigma and may internalize it leading to self-stigma. Discrimination occurs across many aspects of economic and social existence. It may represent a barrier for patients to receive appropriate care. Many anti-stigma campaigns have been taken to decrease people's prejudice, but its effects are not well documented.ObjectivesTo characterize anti-stigma initiatives and its effects on diminishing negative consequences of stigma.MethodsBibliographical research using PubMed using the keywords “stigma” and “mental illness”.ResultsDespite several approaches to eradicate stigma, it shows a surprising consistency in population levels. It was expected that focus on education would decrease stigma levels. The same was expected following concentration on the genetic causation of pathology. Most studies have revealed that education has little value and endorsing genetic attributions has led to a greater pessimism on the efficacy of mental health services, sense of permanence and guilty feelings within the family.ConclusionPublic stigma has had a major impact on many people with mental illness, especially when leading to self-stigma, interfering with various aspects in life, including work, housing, health care, social life and self-esteem. As Goffman elucidated, stigma is fundamentally a social phenomenon rooted in social relationships and shaped by the culture and structure of society. Social inclusion has been pointed as a potential direction of change.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

scholarly journals Functional disability and associated factors among patients with severe mental illness attending psychiatry outpatient unit at Ayder comprehensive specialized hospital, Mekelle, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tesfalem Amare ◽  
Natnael Seifu ◽  
Mirkat Shewangzaw
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Severe Mental Illness ◽  
Functional Disability ◽  
Social Supports ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Duration Of Illness ◽  
Functional Disabilities

Abstract Background According to the World Health Organization (WHO), functional disability associated with severe mental illnesses was pervasive, affecting everyday life, and has a significant contribution to the global functional disability. The severe mental illnesses (schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, and bipolar disorder) were among the top ten leading causes of functional disability as indicated by years lived with a functional disability. These illnesses hurt the academic, occupational, social and family functioning of the patients. Despite this fact, functional disabilities and its contributing factors among severe mental illness were not clear. Therefore this study will assess the prevalence and associated factors of functional disabilities among patients with severe mental illnesses. Methods Institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted from Feb 03 to March 10, 2020, with a total of 423 participants in Mekelle, Ethiopia. A stratified random sampling method was included in the study. Functional disabilities were measured by WHO functional disability assessment schedule version two (WHODAS 2.0). Bivariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the association between independent and dependent variables. Results The prevalence of functional disability among severe mental ill patients was 88.1% (51.3% mild, 27.5% moderate & 9.3% sever functional disabilities). This study revealed that, being jobless [AOR=4.01, 95% CI (1.77, 12.35)], duration of illness ≥11 years [AOR=2.99, 95% CI(1.17,7.64)], those who had poor treatment adherence [AOR= 2.79, 95% CI (1.06, 7.35)], drug adverse effects [AOR= 4.61, 95% CI (1.79, 11.84)], poor social supports [AOR=6.58, 95% CI (2.01, 21.56)], and moderate social supports [AOR=4.16, 95% CI (1.88,9.20)] were significantly associated with functional disabilities. Conclusion The prevalence of functional disability was found to be high. Being jobless, duration of illness ≥11 years, medication non-adherent, having drug side effects and having poor or moderate social support were significantly associated with functional disabilities. Therefore, when treating patients with severe mental illness giving especial attention the bio-psycho-social aspect of treatment is essential.

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