scholarly journals Exploring Mechanisms of Mental Illness Stigma Reduction in Asian Canadian Men: Exploration Des Mécanismes de la Réduction des Stigmates de la Maladie Mentale Chez les Hommes Canadiens d’origine Asiatique

2021 ◽  
pp. 070674372110186
Author(s):  
Kenneth Po-Lun Fung ◽  
Jenny Jing-Wen Liu ◽  
Josephine Pui-Hing Wong
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Psychological Flexibility ◽  
Common Mechanism ◽  
Internalized Stigma ◽  
Stigma Reduction ◽  
Asian Men ◽  
Stigmatizing Attitudes ◽  
Valued Living ◽  
The Impact

Objective: Although there is evidence of effective stigma reduction by various psychological and educational interventions, the mechanisms of change remain unclear. In this article, we examine hypothesized processes that might have mediated reductions in stigma observed among Asian men who had received in mental health promotion interventions in Greater Toronto Area, Canada. Method: Our sample consisted of 495 Asian men, who received either acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT; n = 133), contact-based empowerment education (CEE; n = 149), combination of ACT and CEE ( n = 152), or psychoeducation ( n = 61). Group differences on intervention outcomes, including stigmatizing attitudes (Community Attitudes toward the Mentally Ill), internalized stigma (Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness), valued living (Valued Living Questionnaire), and attitudes to engage in social change (Social Justice Scale) were hypothesized to be due to the impact of the different interventions and mediated by changes in specific underlying psychological processes. These process-related changes were modelled using measures of mindfulness (Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory), psychological flexibility (Acceptance and Action Questionnaire version II), and empowerment (Empowerment Scale [ES]). Their pre- and post changes were analyzed with repeated measures analysis of variance, and mediational analyses were performed. Results: Findings from mediational analyses suggest that empowerment (ES) mediated a significant portion of the effects observed in reduction in stigmatizing attitudes and internalized stigma across intervention groups ( t = 3.67 to 3.78 for CEE groups, and t = 4.32 to 4.56 for ACT groups). For the ACT groups, reduction in internalized stigma might also have been partly mediated by psychological flexibility, an intervention-specific psychological process. Conclusions: Results from the current study suggest that different stigma reduction interventions may be mediated by increased empowerment as a common mechanism of change, while intervention-specific mechanism of change, improved psychological flexibility through ACT, may also contribute to improvement in internalized stigma.

The impact of the social network, stigma and empowerment on the quality of life in patients with schizophrenia

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Sibitz ◽  
M. Amering ◽  
A. Unger ◽  
M.E. Seyringer ◽  
A. Bachmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Internalized Stigma ◽  
Stigma Reduction ◽  
Equation Modelling ◽  
The Social ◽  
Recovery Approach ◽  
The Impact

Abstract:Objective:The quality of life (QOL) of patients with schizophrenia has been found to be positively correlated with the social network and empowerment, and negatively correlated with stigma and depression. However, little is known about the way these variables impact on the QOL. The study aims to test the hypothesis that the social network, stigma and empowerment directly and indirectly by contributing to depression influence the QOL in patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorders.Method:Data were collected on demographic and clinical variables, internalized stigma, perceived devaluation and discrimination, empowerment, control convictions, depression and QOL. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was applied to examine the impact of the above-mentioned constructs on QOL.Results:The influences of the social network, stigma, empowerment and depression on QOL were supported by the SEM. A poor social network contributed to a lack of empowerment and stigma, which resulted in depression and, in turn, in poor QOL. Interestingly, however, the social network and stigma did not show a direct effect on QOL.Conclusions:Following a recovery approach in mental health services by focusing on the improvement of the social network, stigma reduction and especially on the development of personal strength has the potential to reduce depression in patients with psychosis and improving their QOL.

Do Specialty Programs for Justice-Involved People With Mental Illness Exacerbate Stigma?

2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (10) ◽  
pp. 1211-1227
Author(s):  
Jennifer Eno Louden ◽  
Perman Gochyyev ◽  
Jennifer L. Skeem
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Probation Officers ◽  
Internalized Stigma ◽  
Specialty Mental Health ◽  
People With Mental Illness ◽  
Stigma Of Mental Illness ◽  
Stigmatizing Attitudes ◽  
Reducing Recidivism

Specialty mental health probation caseloads have shown promise in reducing recidivism for justice-involved people with mental illness. However, assignment to these caseloads may be stigmatizing due to labeling effects. We examined (1) whether assignment to specialty probation versus traditional probation is associated with greater internalized stigma among clients and (2) whether probation officers are the source of some of this stigmatization. As part of a multisite longitudinal study, 138 specialty probation clients and 148 similar clients from traditional probation rated their internalized stigma of mental illness, and officers rated their attitudes toward each of their supervisees. Specialty probation clients experienced more internalized stigma ( d = .61) than traditional clients. Although both specialty and traditional officers held stigmatizing attitudes toward clients, only traditional officers’ attitudes were associated with clients’ internalized stigma. Probation officers from both types of agency may benefit from antistigma interventions to effectively work with clients with mental illness.

scholarly journals M220. SELF-STIGMA, RESILIENCE, AND RECOVERY ATTITUDES AS PREDICTORS OF FUNCTIONING IN PEOPLE WITH SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESSES

2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S219-S220
Author(s):  
Sarah E Dihmes ◽  
Anthony Ahmed ◽  
Sherry Tucker ◽  
Alex Mabe ◽  
Peter Buckley
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Goodness Of Fit ◽  
Social Withdrawal ◽  
Coping Styles ◽  
Internalized Stigma ◽  
Community Functioning ◽  
Stigma Resistance ◽  
Path Models ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Studies increasingly show an association between internalized stigma and increased symptoms, and poorer social and occupational functioning. Fewer studies have informed about protective traits, attitudes, and factors that may attenuate the impact of internalized stigma on psychopathology and psychosocial functioning. The current study used path analysis to examine putative intervening roles for resilience, coping, and recovery attitudes consistent with hope, empowerment, strengths, and self-direction on the effect of internalized stigma on psychopathology and function. Methods Participants were individuals diagnosed with either schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder (N=84). All participants had completed training and certification as peer support specialists and included 49 individuals currently employed and 35 currently unemployed. Using mailed surveys, participants were administered the Life Stressors Inventory, Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness, the Connors Davidson Resilience Scale, Maryland Assessment of Recovery in Serious Mental Illness, the Brief Symptom Inventory, Brief COPE, Social Functioning Scale, and the Social Support Questionnaire. Path analytic models were estimated using Mplus5. Three path models were estimate designating psychopathology, social support, and community function as dependent variables. Goodness of Fit indices including the Comparative Fit Index (CFI), Tucker Lewis Index (TLI), the Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA), and the Standardized Root Mean Squared Residual were used to evaluate the fit of the models to the data. Results There were associations between five subdomains of the ISMI—Alienation (r=0.47, p<0.001), Stereotype Endorsement (r=0.29, p<0.001), Discriminatory Experiences (r=0.40, p<0.001), Social Withdrawal (r=0.47, p<0.001), and Stigma Resistance(r=-0.28, p<0.01) and the severity of psychopathology. There was a significant association between internalized stigma and overall functioning (r=0.46, p<0.001). In addition, the five subdomains of the ISMI—Alienation (r=-0.53, p<0.001), Stereotype Endorsement (r=-0.40, p<0.001), Discriminatory Experiences (r=-0.39, p<0.001), Social Withdrawal (r=-0.40, p<0.001), and Stigma Resistance(r=0.35, p<0.001) were associated with ratings of the satisfaction with social support. Associations with reported amount of social support ranged from r=0.25 for Stigma Resistance to r= -0.39 for Alienation. The final path models for the severity of psychopathology (CFI/TLI = 0.955/0.933, RMSEA=0.091, SRMR =0.049), social support (CFI/TLI = 0.957/0.935, RMSEA=0.085, SRMR =0.072), and community functioning (CFI/TLI = 0.928/0.901, RMSEA=0.087, SRMR =0.09) produced adequate goodness-of-fit estimates. In all three models, the use of maladaptive coping but not the use of adaptive coping mediated the effect of internalized stigma on the dependent variable. Recovery attitudes did not significantly predict psychopathology when resilience was included in the model, suggesting possibly collinear constructs. Discussion The study demonstrates that coping styles, recovery, and resilience attitudes are associated with functional outcomes in people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. However, the impact of internalized stigma on psychopathology, social, and community functioning may be mediated the use of maladaptive coping styles and attitudes consistent with resilience and adaptability.

scholarly journals Stigma Towards Wuhan People During the COVID-19 Epidemic: An Exploratory Study Based on Social Media

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yazheng Di ◽  
Ang Li ◽  
He Li ◽  
Peijing Wu ◽  
Simin Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Exploratory Study ◽  
Observation Time ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Stigma Reduction ◽  
Government Interventions ◽  
Repeated Measures Anova ◽  
Stigmatizing Attitudes ◽  
The Government

Abstract Background: Stigma associated with infectious diseases is common and causes various negative effects on stigmatized people. With Wuhan as the center of the COVID-19 outbreak in China, its people have become an object of stigmatization. To provide necessary information for stigma mitigation, this study aims to identify the stigmatizing attitudes towards Wuhan people and trace their changes as the COVID-19 progressed in China by analyzing related posts on social media.Methods: We collected a total of 19,780 Weibo posts containing the keyword ‘Wuhan people’ and performed a content analysis to identify stigmatizing attitudes in the posts. Then we divided our observation time into three periods and performed Repeated Measures ANOVA to compare the differences in attitudes in three periods. Results: Results show that stigma was mild with 2.46% of related posts being stigmatizing. The percentages of stigmatizing posts differed significantly in 3 periods (F (2,66) = 5.60, p <.01, η2= 0.15). The percentages of ‘Infectious’ posts (F (2,66) = 3.69, p <.05, η2 = 0.10) and ‘Stupid’ posts (F (2,66) = 3.65, p <.05, η2 = 0.10) are significantly different in 3 periods. The percentages of ‘Irresponsible’ posts is not significant different in 3 periods (F (2,66) = 0.63, p =.53, η2 = 0.02). After government interventions, stigma didn’t reduce significantly, and stigma with ‘Infectious’ attitude even increased. It was until the government interventions took effect that stigma significantly reduced. Conclusions: This study found that stigma towards Wuhan people included diverse attitudes and changed at different periods. After government interventions but before they took effect, stigma with ‘Infectious’ attitude increased. After government interventions took effect, general stigma, and stigma with ‘Infectious’ and ‘Stupid’ attitudes decreased. This study constitutes an important endeavor to understand the stigma towards Wuhan people in China during the COVID-19 epidemic. Implications for stigma reduction and improvement of the public’s perception in different periods of epidemic control are discussed.

scholarly journals Stigma towards Wuhan people during the COVID-19 epidemic: An exploratory study based on social media

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yazheng Di ◽  
Ang Li ◽  
He Li ◽  
Peijing Wu ◽  
Simin Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Exploratory Study ◽  
Observation Time ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Stigma Reduction ◽  
Government Interventions ◽  
Repeated Measures Anova ◽  
Stigmatizing Attitudes ◽  
The Government ◽  
P 53

Background: Stigma associated with infectious diseases is common and causes various negative effects on stigmatized people. With Wuhan as the center of the COVID-19 outbreak in China, its people have become an object of stigmatization. To provide necessary information for stigma mitigation, this study aims to identify the stigmatizing attitudes towards Wuhan people and trace their changes as the COVID-19 progressed in China by analyzing related posts on social media.Methods: We collected a total of 19,780 Weibo posts containing the keyword ‘Wuhan people’ and performed a content analysis to identify stigmatizing attitudes in the posts. Then we divided our observation time into three periods and performed Repeated Measures ANOVA to compare the differences in attitudes in three periods. Results: Results show that stigma was mild with 2.46% of related posts being stigmatizing. The percentages of stigmatizing posts differed significantly in 3 periods (F (2,66) = 5.60, p &lt;.01, η2= 0.15). The percentages of ‘Infectious’ posts (F (2,66) = 3.69, p &lt;.05, η2 = 0.10) and ‘Stupid’ posts (F (2,66) = 3.65, p &lt;.05, η2 = 0.10) are significantly different in 3 periods. The percentages of ‘Irresponsible’ posts is not significant different in 3 periods (F (2,66) = 0.63, p =.53, η2 = 0.02). After government interventions, stigma didn’t reduce significantly, and stigma with ‘Infectious’ attitude even increased. It was until the government interventions took effect that stigma significantly reduced. Conclusions: This study found that stigma towards Wuhan people included diverse attitudes and changed at different periods. After government interventions but before they took effect, stigma with ‘Infectious’ attitude increased. After government interventions took effect, general stigma, and stigma with ‘Infectious’ and ‘Stupid’ attitudes decreased. This study constitutes an important endeavor to understand the stigma towards Wuhan people in China during the COVID-19 epidemic. Implications for stigma reduction and improvement of the public’s perception in different periods of epidemic control are discussed.

Mental Health Stigma in Medical Educators: The Images Study

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenna Thygesen
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Faculty Members ◽  
Mental Health Stigma ◽  
Clinically Depressed ◽  
Stigmatizing Attitudes ◽  
Medical Educators ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Health Programmes

Neuropsychiatric disorders are among the leading cause of disability worldwide, accounting for 13% of the global burden of disease, and one-third of all years lost due to disability. In Canada 15% of the population report that they have been diagnosed as being clinically depressed, with at least one in five Canadians experiencing a mental illness in their lifetime. Recruitment to psychiatry within medical schools worldwide ranges from approximately 2-7%, resulting in unfilled psychiatric residencies and an inadequate number of practicing professionals to address demand for mental health services within populations. The negative socialization hypothesis attempts to explain the lack of interest as the result of anti-psychiatry statements by peers and non-psychiatric faculty members. An international questionnaire measuring the prevalence of stigmatizing attitudes towards non-psychiatric physician educators at medical centres was conducted under the auspices of the Association for the Improvement of Mental Health Programmes. Results will be discussed within the context of current theories about stigmatizing attitudes towards psychiatric patients and the field of psychiatry. Current anti-stigma programmes and the impact of culture on mental illness and stigma will also be discussed.

scholarly journals Individuals with Mental Illness and Stigma Reduction: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Group of College Students

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdulaziz Aflakseir ◽  
Muhammad Rasooli Esini ◽  
Muhammad Goodarzi ◽  
Javad Molazadeh
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mentally Ill ◽  
Social Contact ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Personal Contact ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Stigma Reduction ◽  
People With Mental Illness ◽  
Stigmatizing Attitudes

Objective: Stigma has a significant impact on the life of individuals with mental illness. The purpose of this study was to examine the association of contact with the mentally ill with stigmatizing attitudes in a group of college students. Method: A total of 287 college students participated in this study. The participants were recruited from Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences using convenience sampling and completed the research measures including the Level of Familiarity (LOF) and the Attribution questionnaires (AQ). The data were analyzed using SPSS. Results: The descriptive findings of this study showed that the participants’ highest score on stigmatizing attitudes was related to pity and the least score was related to anger towards people with mental illness. Furthermore, the regression analysis results indicated that personal contact, family contact, and work contact with individuals with mental illness significantly predicted stigma reduction, while other types of contacts with the mentally ill, such as friend contact, social contact, and media contact, did not significantly predict stigma reduction. Conclusion: This study highlighted the significant role of having contact with the mentally ill in reducing stigmatizing attitudes towards them.

scholarly journals Impact of Service User Video Presentations on Explicit and Implicit Stigma toward Mental Illness among Medical Students in Nepal: A Randomized Controlled Trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 2143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cori L. Tergesen ◽  
Dristy Gurung ◽  
Saraswati Dhungana ◽  
Ajay Risal ◽  
Prem Basel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Service User ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Mental Illness Stigma ◽  
Stigma Reduction ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Action Programme ◽  
The Impact

This study evaluated the impact of didactic videos and service user testimonial videos on mental illness stigma among medical students. Two randomized controlled trials were conducted in Nepal. Study 1 examined stigma reduction for depression. Study 2 examined depression and psychosis. Participants were Nepali medical students (Study 1: n = 94, Study 2: n = 213) randomized to three conditions: a didactic video based on the mental health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP), a service user video about living with mental illness, or a control condition with no videos. In Study 1, videos only addressed depression. In Study 2, videos addressed depression and psychosis. In Study 1, both didactic and service user videos reduced stigma compared to the control. In Study 2 (depression and psychosis), there were no differences among the three arms. When comparing Study 1 and 2, there was greater stigma reduction in the service user video arm with only depression versus service user videos describing depression and psychosis. In summary, didactic and service user videos were associated with decreased stigma when content addressed only depression. However, no stigma reduction was seen when including depression and psychosis. This calls for considering different strategies to address stigma based on types of mental illnesses. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03231761.

Reducing Mental Illness Stigma in the Classroom

2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 351-357 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carla G. Strassle
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Psychology Students ◽  
Mental Illness Stigma ◽  
Abnormal Psychology ◽  
Stigma Reduction ◽  
Course Content ◽  
Reduction Techniques ◽  
Psychology Courses ◽  
Content Coverage ◽  
The Impact

Psychology courses present unique opportunities to reduce mental illness stigma. The literature highlights contact with people diagnosed with disorders as the best stigma reduction technique. Simple stigma education, however, is also promising and can be accomplished as part of course content coverage. Abnormal psychology students participated in one of five conditions to gauge the impact of different stigma reduction techniques. Results for overall stigma reduction indicate robust effect sizes (Cohen’s d; range = 0.77–1.52) for all interventions conditions, but no effect for the control condition. The current study supports the use of stigma reduction techniques but highlights the usefulness of stigma education as a simple but powerful tool for stigma reduction within standard course curricula.

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