Supernatural versus medical: Responses to mental illness from undergraduate university students in Trinidad

2017 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 330-338
Author(s):  
AnMarie Kamanie Ramkissoon ◽  
Casswina Donald ◽  
Gerard Hutchinson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Medical Intervention ◽  
Case Vignette ◽  
Health Seeking ◽  
Medical Problems ◽  
Undergraduate University Students ◽  
Help Seeking Behaviour ◽  
Evil Spirits ◽  
Illness Causation

Background/Introduction: Perceptions about the aetiology of mental illness are likely to influence help-seeking behaviour. Understanding help-seeking behaviour will improve service provision and access. Therefore, this is likely to improve treatment outcomes. Methods: We assessed the perceptions and help-seeking behaviours surrounding mental illness in a Trinidadian population of 158 tertiary-level students (136 female, 22 male; mean age 30) by analysing their responses to a questionnaire which asked for responses regarding a case vignette of a 25-year-old young woman exhibiting symptoms suggestive of schizophrenia. Results: Of the respondents, 32.3% attributed the symptoms to supernatural causes. Specifically, 27.8% to someone doing her bad and 24.1% to evil spirits. In all, 77.2% of respondents indicated that mental illness was caused by medical problems and 63.3% to work stress. A minimum of 9.5% of the students therefore have dual perceptions regarding causation (77.2 + 32.3 = 109.5) Those who perceived causation to be supernatural said they would seek help from both medical ( p = .000) and supernatural ( p = .000) modalities. This also applied significantly to those who said the causation was medical, that is, seeking both religious intervention ( p = .000) and medical intervention (.000) as the first path in the health-seeking pathway. Conclusion: Dual help-seeking behaviour seems to be the functional result of an integration of religious and medical models of mental illness causation even in respondents who clearly identified only one of these as the likely cause of the illness behaviour.

scholarly journals Physician Self-disclosure of Lived Experience Improves Mental Health Attitudes Among Medical Students: A Randomized Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 238212051988935 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrés Martin ◽  
Julie Chilton ◽  
Doron Gothelf ◽  
Doron Amsalem
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Randomized Study ◽  
Role Modeling ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Health Seeking ◽  
Health Seeking Behaviors

Introduction: Depression and suicidal ideation are common among medical students, a group at higher risk for suicide completion than their age-normed peers. Medical students have health-seeking behaviors that are not commensurate with their mental health needs, a discrepancy likely related to stigma and to limited role-modeling provided by physicians. Methods: We surveyed second-year medical students using the Attitudes to Psychiatry (ATP-30) and Attitudes to Mental Illness (AMI) instruments. In addition, we asked questions about role-modeling and help-seeking attitudes at baseline. We then conducted a randomized trial of an intervention consisting of 2 components: (a) a panel of 2 physicians with personal histories of mental illness speaking about their diagnosis, treatment, and recovery to the students, immediately followed by (b) small-group facilitated discussions. We repeated the ATP-30 and AMI after the active/early group was exposed to the panel, but before the control/late group was similarly exposed. Results: Forty-three medical students participated (53% women). The majority of students (91%) agreed that knowing physicians further along in their careers who struggled with mental health issues, got treatment, and were now doing well would make them more likely to access care if they needed it. Students in the active group (n = 22) had more favorable attitudes on ATP-30 ( P = .01) and AMI ( P = .02) scores, as compared with the control group (n = 21). Conclusion: Medical students can benefit from the availability of, and exposure to physicians with self-disclosed histories of having overcome mental illnesses. Such exposures can favorably improve stigmatized views about psychiatry, or of patients or colleagues affected by psychopathology. This intervention has the potential to enhance medical students’ mental health and their health-seeking behaviors.

scholarly journals Help Seeking Behaviour of Chinese Living in Belfast, Northern Ireland

2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (S1) ◽  
pp. 1-1
Author(s):  
Y.-W. Yeung
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Northern Ireland ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Psychological Problem ◽  
Mental Illness Stigma ◽  
Covering Letter ◽  
Language Difficulty ◽  
Help Seeking Behaviour ◽  
Chinese And English

Aims:British Chinese have a low uptake of mental health servcies. Poor symptom recognition, language difficulty and mental illness stigma are the key barriers to accessing services. This study aims to explore their help seeking behaviours when they experience mental illness.Methods:About 96% of Chinese in Northern Ireland worked in catering business. Questionnaires (both in Chinese and English) were sent to ninety-one addresses occupied by catering businesses in Belfast. A bilingual covering letter was enclosed to encourage recipients to ask their families and friends to return the questionnaires.Results:Twenty-four questionnaires were returned. 66.6% reported that they visited their GP within the year prior to the study. Only one person visited the GP becasue of a mental / psychological problem. All others visited their GP for their physical illness. Racism (58.3%), physical ill health (50%) and lack of social support (41.7%) were the key stressors. 21% would visit their GP if they had a mental health problem and 45.8% would contact the GP if someone they knew became mentally unwell. Poor recognition of mental illness (41.7%) and mental illness stigma (25%) were the reasons for not seeking medical advice.Conclusion:Findings revealed that the Chinese do seek help from their GP. However, little evidence suggests that the community will approach their GP when they or someone they know actually become mentally unwell. Further investigation is needed to explore diifferent ways to provide information about mental illness symptoms and mental health services for the community.

A Study of Patient's Perspective of Schizophrenia Using Emic Perspective

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. s249-s249
Author(s):  
D. Sanyal ◽  
D. Das
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Cultural Perspective ◽  
Faith Healer ◽  
Mental Health Specialist ◽  
Health Specialist ◽  
Help Seeking Behaviour ◽  
Competing Interest ◽  
Emic Perspective

IntroductionKnowledge about how patients perceive mental illness and how it possibly influences help seeking behaviour is important in development of proper plan for mental health reform.ObjectiveThis study planned to study disease related perception, first help seeking behaviour and stigma among schizophrenia patients admitted at a hospital.Aims(1) To know about patient's view regarding the problems; (2) attempt to predict help seeking behaviour.MethodsFifty-one patients suffering from schizophrenia according to DSM-5 and fit to be interviewed were assessed using EMIC (Explanatory Model Interview Catalogue) to get emic (insider or person's own cultural) perspective of disease related perception, help seeking behaviour and stigma.ResultsTerms used to describe their illness included “depression” (21.6%), “mental” (17.6%) “matha kharap” (9.8%). Most common perceived cause was stress (25.5%) and sorcery (23.5). Mental health specialist was visited by 27.5% Faith healer consultation was high (29.4%). Stigma score was higher with marriage related issues and social isolation. Using exhaustive CHAID analysis, it was found that patients with negative themes as disease name like “matha kharap” (loosely meaning crazy) are more likely to visit faith healers, while patients naming the condition with some medical related term like depression were more likely to visit mental health specialist.ConclusionClearly perception of patients regarding mental illness and its causation varies greatly from the way psychiatrists’ viewpoint and this perception is likely to influence help seeking behaviour. Understanding these issues is likely to enable better patient awareness and proper formulation of plans to address mental health issues.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Explanatory Models of Depression in a Rural Community of Coastal Karnataka, India: A Cross-Sectional Survey

2021 ◽  
pp. 025371762110510
Author(s):  
Sameeksha Hegde ◽  
Ravichandra Karkal
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Rural Community ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Cultural Beliefs ◽  
Explanatory Models ◽  
Case Vignette ◽  
Tension Stress ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Treatment Research

Background: Depression is a major public health problem but there is a huge treatment gap in India. Cultural beliefs influence conception of illness, personal meaning, help-seeking behaviors, and adherence to treatment. Research on explanatory models of depression attempt to explore these unique characteristics in an individual and the community. We set out to examine explanatory models of depression in a rural community of coastal Karnataka and explore the association between sociodemographic variables and explanatory models of depression. Methods: A cross-sectional household survey in the rural community of Harekala village, Mangaluru taluk, Dakshina Kannada district, Karnataka, was done using Kish tables. A total of 200 individuals were interviewed with an adaptation of the Short Explanatory Model Interview in a local language using a case vignette of depression. Results: Around 40% of the individuals perceived the problem as tension/stress/excessive worrying and did not perceive it as mental illness. A scant 10% of the participants recognized some mental illness. Around one-fifth of the individuals attributed the problem to evil spirits and black magic; female participants were more likely to endorse consulting a doctor (P = 0.003**) or a psychiatrist (P = 0.012*). In addition, participants belonging to Islam were less likely to consult a doctor (P = 0.028*) and psychiatrist (P = 0.021*). Also, participants belonging to lower social class were less likely to endorse psychiatric consultation (P = 0.018*) Conclusions: A vast majority of the study subjects failed to identify depression as an illness or acknowledge biomedical causation. Gender, religion, and socioeconomic class may influence help-seeking behavior.

Suck It Up: Opinions and Attitudes about Mental Illness Stigma and Help-Seeking Behaviour of Male Varsity Football Players

2014 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 43-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samantha Delenardo ◽  
Jenepher Lennox Terrion
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Mental Illness Stigma ◽  
Football Players ◽  
Football Team ◽  
Health Initiatives ◽  
Help Seeking Behaviour ◽  
Elite Level ◽  
The Impact

The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand the attitudes and opinions of varsity football players toward mental health and help-seeking. The insights gained from this study may contribute to a greater understanding of how stigma functions in a competitive, elite-level football team. The authors concluded that the competitive edge required for success in elite athletics conflicts with mental health issues and illnesses. Components of the stigma process (labelling, stereotyping, separation, status loss, and discrimination), along with the impact of gender on stigma toward mental illness and help-seeking behaviours, are explored. Recommendations are made to broaden the scope of mental health initiatives for student athletes.

scholarly journals Predictors of help-seeking behaviour in people with mental health problems: a 3-year prospective community study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolin M. Doll ◽  
Chantal Michel ◽  
Marlene Rosen ◽  
Naweed Osman ◽  
Benno G. Schimmelmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Community Study ◽  
People With Mental Illness ◽  
Help Seeking Behaviour ◽  
Anticipated Stigma

Abstract Background The majority of people with mental illness do not seek help at all or only with significant delay. To reduce help-seeking barriers for people with mental illness, it is therefore important to understand factors predicting help-seeking. Thus, we prospectively examined potential predictors of help-seeking behaviour among people with mental health problems (N = 307) over 3 years. Methods Of the participants of a 3-year follow-up of a larger community study (response rate: 66.4%), data of 307 (56.6%) persons with any mental health problems (age-at-baseline: 16–40 years) entered a structural equation model of the influence of help-seeking, stigma, help-seeking attitudes, functional impairments, age and sex at baseline on subsequent help-seeking for mental health problems. Results Functional impairment at baseline was the strongest predictor of follow-up help-seeking in the model. Help-seeking at baseline was the second-strongest predictor of subsequent help-seeking, which was less likely when help-seeking for mental health problems was assumed to be embarrassing. Personal and perceived stigma, and help-seeking intentions had no direct effect on help-seeking. Conclusions With only 22.5% of persons with mental health problems seeking any help for these, there was a clear treatment gap. Functional deficits were the strongest mediator of help-seeking, indicating that help is only sought when mental health problems have become more severe. Earlier help-seeking seemed to be mostly impeded by anticipated stigma towards help-seeking for mental health problems. Thus, factors or beliefs conveying such anticipated stigma should be studied longitudinally in more detail to be able to establish low-threshold services in future.

scholarly journals Attitudes of people working in mental health non-governmental organisations in Australia: A comparison with other mental health professionals

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 205510291876541 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grenville Rose ◽  
Courtney von Hippel ◽  
Loren Brener ◽  
Bill von Hippel
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
People With Mental Illness ◽  
Help Seeking Behaviour ◽  
Mental Health Clients

Research suggests that stigma impacts help-seeking behaviour and health outcomes for people affected by mental illness. This study compared the attitudes of Australian non-governmental organisation support workers towards people with mental illness with those of other health professionals. Three hundred and seventy four support workers were randomly allocated to answer questions about one of the six vignettes. Results indicated that non-governmental organisation support workers held more positive attitudes towards people with mental illness than those of general practitioners, psychiatrists and psychologists measured in prior research. These results suggest that non-governmental organisations may be a more positive and comfortable entry and referral point for mental health clients.

Enhancing mental health literacy in India to reduce stigma: the fountainhead to improve help-seeking behaviour

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 146-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shivani Mathur Gaiha ◽  
Greeshma Ann Sunil ◽  
Rajeev Kumar ◽  
Subhadra Menon
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
Community Level ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Help Seeking Behaviour

Purpose – Lack of understanding around mental illness and stigma are an overwhelming barrier in help-seeking behaviour for mental health concerns. The purpose of this paper is to examine mental health literacy and social attitudes as instrumental factors in building capacity of the demand-side to support and access mental health care at the community level in India. Design/methodology/approach – Knowledge, Attitude and Practice surveys were administered to 521 persons from the general population, distributed equally in the age range of 15-60 years. The study included 52 respondents per district from ten districts across five states in India, namely Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Delhi, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh. The responses were collected and analysed thematically, keeping in mind the relevance of these findings as contributors to knowledge of mental health and to the construct of stigma. Findings – Pervasive socio-cultural factors, especially stigma inhibit access to basic mental health information and care, despite knowledge that mental illness is treatable. Degrading treatment, loss of personal liberty and social exclusion, i.e. compromised human rights at the community level are widespread. Self-reported attitudes when encountering a person with mental illness show that respondents act out of fear and are guided by misinformation and myths. Extant knowledge on mental health is attributed predominantly to informal networks, as a potential resource to be strengthened. Practical implications – Realising mental health care, including help-seeking behaviour calls for greater knowledge-sharing, sensitisation and community engagement. Originality/value – This paper fulfils an identified need to study current levels of mental health literacy and underlying perceptions that contribute to the persistent treatment gap.

The development of the Short Explanatory Model Interview (SEMI) and its use among primary-care attenders with common mental disorders

1998 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 1231-1237 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. R. LLOYD ◽  
K. S. JACOB ◽  
V. PATEL ◽  
L. St. LOUIS ◽  
D. BHUGRA ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Common Mental Disorders ◽  
Field Work ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Explanatory Models ◽  
African Caribbean ◽  
Help Seeking Behaviour

Background. Recent anthropological studies have documented the importance of understanding the relation of culture to the experience of mental illness. The use of interviews that elicit explanatory models has facilitated such research, but currently available interviews are lengthy and impractical for epidemiological studies. This paper is a preliminary report on the development of a brief instrument to elicit explanatory models for use in field work.Method. The development of the SEMI, a short interview to elicit explanatory models is described. The interview explores the subject's cultural background, nature of presenting problem, help-seeking behaviour, interaction with physician/healer and beliefs related to mental illness.Results. The SEMI was employed to study the explanatory models of subjects with common mental disorders among Whites, African-Caribbean and Asians living in London and was also used in Harare, Zimbabwe. Data from its use in four different ethnic groups is presented with the aim of demonstrating its capacity to show up differences in these varied settings.Conclusions. The simplicity and brevity of the SEMI allow for its use in field studies in different cultures, data can be used to provide variables for use in quantitative analysis and provide qualitative descriptions.

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