The role of moral explanations and structural inequalities in experiences of mental illness stigma in Northern Minas Gerais, Brazil

2021 ◽  
pp. 136346152110550
Author(s):  
Patrícia Neves Guimarães ◽  
Duncan Pedersen
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Social Exclusion ◽  
Cultural Beliefs ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Minas Gerais ◽  
Psychosocial Treatment ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Mental Illness Stigma ◽  
Structured Interviews

The process of stigmatization within different cultural contexts has long been viewed as essential in understanding the course and outcomes of mental illness. However, little research has examined which cultural constructs and categories are used to explain mental illness, and how they contribute to the way people with mental illness experience stigma and social exclusion, as well as how these beliefs affect healthcare practices. This study examines meanings ascribed to mental illness and experiences of stigma among four groups in urban settings of Minas Gerais, Brazil: persons with mental illness; their families; members of the lay public; and health professionals working at an alternative community-based psychosocial treatment service or a local university hospital. Qualitative methods, including semi-structured interviews and participant observation, were conducted with a purposive sample of 72 participants. Data were analyzed through content analysis. The findings suggest that stigma and discrimination are intrinsically rooted in a systemic process of social exclusion generated by meanings ascribed to mental illness and the structural vulnerabilities of the mental healthcare system. The findings further suggest that structural inequality is a powerful factor behind lay concepts of mental illness and that this is particularly harmful because it reinforces personal blame attributions instead of addressing the hidden structural forces that contribute to mental illness. The study highlights the subtle interrelations between cultural beliefs and structural vulnerabilities that should be addressed in mental health policy in order to diminish the effects of stigma on people with mental illnesses.

scholarly journals Exploring the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behavioural Responses of Healthcare Students towards Mental Illnesses—A Qualitative Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taylor Riffel ◽  
Shu-Ping Chen
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Health Knowledge ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Qualitative Description ◽  
Mental Illness Stigma ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Behavioural Responses

Background: The stigma of mental illness causes delays in seeking help, and often compromises victims’ therapeutic relationships with healthcare providers. The knowledge, attitudes, and behavioural responses of future healthcare professionals toward individuals with mental illnesses are explored here to suggest steps that will reduce mental illness stigma in healthcare providers. Methods: A generic qualitative approach—Qualitative Description—was used. Eighteen students from nine healthcare programs at a Canadian University participated in individual semi-structured interviews. Participants answered questions regarding their knowledge, attitudes, and behavioural responses towards individuals with mental illnesses. Thematic content analysis guided the data analysis. Results: Four main themes were constructed from the data: positive and negative general perceptions toward mental illness; contact experiences with mental illnesses; mental illness in a healthcare setting; and learning about mental illness in healthcare academia. Conclusions: Students showed well-rounded mental health knowledge and mostly positive behaviours toward individuals with mental illnesses. However, some students hold stigmatizing attitudes and do not feel prepared through their academic experiences to work with individuals with mental illnesses. Mental health education can reduce the stigma toward mental illness and improve the care delivered by healthcare professionals.

scholarly journals Heard, known and safe in general practice? An interview study with patients with severe and persistent mental illness

BJGP Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. BJGPO.2021.0201
Author(s):  
Nancy Jennifer Sturman ◽  
Ryan Williams ◽  
Marianne Wyder ◽  
Johanna Lynch
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
General Practice ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Persistent Mental Illness ◽  
Community Mental Health Clinics

BackgroundAlthough GPs provide care to many patients with severe and persistent mental illness, the role and skillset of the GP in this space are contested. Patients are less satisfied with GP care of mental health than physical health issues.AimTo explore patient expectations and experiences of GP roles in their mental health, and identify opportunities for improving mental health care in general practice.Design & settingPatient participants were recruited from community mental health clinics in Brisbane, Australia.MethodIndividual semi-structured interviews were conducted with a convenience sample of patients. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed professionally. The authors conducted an inductive thematic analysis, attending to participant vulnerability and reflexivity.Results16 interviews were conducted by one author (RW), average duration 29 minutes. Three overarching themes were identified: being heard; being known; and being safe. Participants greatly valued ‘good GPs’ who were able to detect early signs of relapse, and with whom they came to feel heard, known and safe over time. Experiences of perfunctory, hurried care and avoidance of mental health issues were also reported. Many participants were uncertain whether GP training in mental health was sufficient to keep them safe. Patients may suspect negative attitudes to mental illness in GPs who actively engage predominantly with their physical health.ConclusionSome GPs play central roles in patients’ mental healthcare. Barriers for others need further exploration, and may include time, confidence and/or expertise. Findings challenge GPs to engage more actively and effectively with these patients in theirgeneral practice consultations.

Understanding the Nature of Stigma Communication Associated With Mental Illness in Africa

2018 ◽  
pp. 20-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Gichuhi Kimotho
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mentally Ill ◽  
Cultural Beliefs ◽  
Social Costs ◽  
Mental Illness Stigma ◽  
Social Constructions ◽  
Illness Beliefs ◽  
Stigma And Discrimination ◽  
The Social

Besides health and social costs, mentally ill, often, are also victims of stigma and discrimination, among many communities in Africa. Cultural beliefs, stereotypes are some of the social constructions used to perpetuate mental illness stigma. The purpose of this study was to describe the nature of stigma communication associated with mental illness, beliefs and stereotypes underpinning mental illness stigma. Generally, the findings indicate nature of mental illness stigma communication is an intersection of stigma messages, cultural beliefs, and stereotypes associated with mental illness. Cultural beliefs associated with mental illness are inextricably intertwined with the perceived causes of mental illness (which include curses, witchcraft, cultural misdemeanor, and possession by spirits or demons). Symptoms of mental illness (mainly aggression and nudity) mark the mentally ill as different and expose them to labeling by the rest of the community. Generally, the mentally ill are stereotyped as aggressive, symbol of shame, and unpredictable.

An Empirical Investigation of Mental Illness, Impostor Syndrome, and Social Support in Management Doctoral Programs

2020 ◽  
pp. 105256292095319
Author(s):  
Adam Pervez ◽  
Lisa L. Brady ◽  
Ken Mullane ◽  
Kevin D. Lo ◽  
Andrew A. Bennett ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Doctoral Students ◽  
Doctoral Programs ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Symptoms Of Depression ◽  
Impostor Syndrome

Scholars in multiple cross-disciplinary studies have found rates of mental illness among graduate students exceed the reported averages. Yet mental illness among management doctoral students remains largely unexplored. In this study, we surveyed 113 management doctoral students to ascertain the prevalence of symptoms for two common mental illnesses, depression and anxiety, as well as experiences of impostor syndrome and perceived sources of social support. Empirical findings from the first phase of our research suggest that management doctoral students are at greater risk than the general population of experiencing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and feelings of being an impostor. However, social support from a supervisor and from friends was negatively related to symptoms of depression and anxiety, indicating that these sources can be helpful. In phase two of our research, a thematic analysis of data from structured interviews with nine management doctoral students revealed themes linking impostor syndrome with social support, highlighting that the type of social support may be as beneficial as the source of social support. Recommendations for future research, as well as for students, supervisors, and administrators, are provided.

scholarly journals CONFIRMATION BIAS & PSYCHOEDUCATION WITH RELATION TO MENTAL ILLNESS

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 677-679
Author(s):  
Shambhavi Prathap ◽  
Jyoti Das
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Cognitive Biases ◽  
Confirmation Bias ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Data Driven ◽  
Present Understanding

The article aims to review the present understanding of cognitive biases and how they play a role in the understanding of mental illnesses. The paper explores the effect of conformation bias in a collectivistic society and how psychoeducation can play a role in forwarding research backed and data-driven mental healthcare.

scholarly journals Fractured minds to flourishing minds

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Rebecca Wallace
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Psychiatric Hospitals ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Youth Suicide ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
Self Harm

<p>Youth suicide and self-harm are major public health concerns worldwide. The high rate of youth suicide and intentional self-harm in New Zealand, illustrates that there is a large amount of youth experiencing severe mental illness, as mental illness corresponds to suicidal/harmful behavior. Although more youth are seeking and receiving help, a large portion who are suffering are unwilling to engage in services, due to stigma surrounding mental health. Characteristics of the built environment can effect wellbeing and therefore architecture holds significant implications for the mental health of individuals.  Inpatient environments are an effective intervention for the treatment of a range of severe mental illnesses, however there is a definitive lack of acute inpatient facilities for youth in New Zealand. A shift in the way mental healthcare services are provided has meant that large psychiatric hospitals have been closed or downsized and compulsory inpatient treatment has given way to voluntary engagement with community mental health services. This has not eliminated the need for inpatient care and there still remains a need for these highly specialized environments. These current specialized environments are generally not designed to benefit the mental health and wellbeing of patients, but are just regarded as settings in which recovery takes place.  This thesis aims to explore how architecture can act therapeutically to support the wellbeing of individuals suffering mental illness. It looks at how architecture can retain the dignity of these patients, and challenge conventional norms of prior mental healthcare environments. This thesis aims to integrate Maori and Pacific models of health and wellbeing in order to allow improved care and treatment for Maori and Pacific groups. It responds to the lack and unsuccessful architectural responses for youth in New Zealand and in particular, the central region and aims to design a new mental health inpatient and outpatient facility specifically for youth suffering mental illness.</p>

Correctional Mental Health Research and Program Evaluation

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy Wolff
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Health Research ◽  
Mental Health Treatment ◽  
Mental Health Research ◽  
Psychosocial Treatment ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Health Treatment ◽  
Correctional Mental Health

Research in mental health issues in prisoner populations essentially stopped in the mid 1970’s. It is now re-emerging as a critical component of improving mental health care and helping toward recovery for the incarcerated mentally ill. Mental illness, ranging from acute anxiety to schizophrenia, is endemic within prisons and jails. Unlike their free world counterparts, however, incarcerated people have a constitutional right to mental health treatment. Yet, despite the need for and right to mental health treatment, remarkably little reliable and valid evidence is available on the nature and level of mental illness among incarcerated people, the effects of incarceration on symptomatology, the availability and quality of medication, cognitive, and psychosocial treatment for disorders, and how context impacts the effectiveness of the treatment that is available. Evidence is absent because corrections-based research is constrained by regulation, financing, and inexperience. In this chapter, the history of prisoner research and the evolution of federal regulations to protect prisoners as human subjects will be reviewed and then discussed in terms of how regulation has impacted correctional mental health research, after first defining what is meant by research and why research is needed to inform policy and practice decisions. This will be followed by recommendations for building the correctional mental health research evidence base. The intent here is to help researchers, in collaboration with stakeholders, develop, design, and implement research studies, and disseminate evidence to advance science and the quality of care available to incarcerated people with mental illnesses within the current regulatory environment.

scholarly journals Letter from Australia: mental healthcare in Victoria

2011 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
David J. Castle
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Substance Use ◽  
Intellectual Disability ◽  
Mentally Ill ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Psychiatric Hospitals ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Government Agencies ◽  
The Past

SummaryMental health services in the state of Victoria, Australia, have undergone enormous change over the past 15 years, with the closure of all stand-alone psychiatric hospitals and a shift of resources and services into the community. Although successful overall, various areas cause concern, including pressure on acute beds, a paucity of alternative residential options, and suboptimal integration of government and non-government agencies concerned with the care of people with mental illnesses. Certain groups, notably those with complex symptom sets such as substance use and mental illness, intellectual disability and forensic problems, remain poorly catered for by the system. Finally, community stigma and lack of work inclusion for mentally ill individuals are ongoing challenges.

scholarly journals Wearing the Label of Mental Illness: Community-Based Participatory Action Research of Mental Illness Stigma

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean Theurer ◽  
Nicole Jean-Paul ◽  
Kristi Cheyney ◽  
Mirka Koro-Ljungberg ◽  
Bruce Stevens
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Action Research ◽  
Participatory Action Research ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Mental Illness Stigma ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Participatory Action ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Community Based

Stigma remains an impediment to seeking and receiving the requisite care for mental illness. To enhance a local National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) affiliate’s understanding of community members’ perceptions of mental illness and its associated stigma, a community-based participatory action research study was conducted. The study addressed the following research question: how do community members understand and experience the stigma associated with mental illness? Twenty-two participant-researchers wore mental illness labeled T-shirts around the local community, recorded their observations and reflections of this experience and recruited twenty-two community members for semi-structured interviews about mental illness stigma. Domain analysis of the interviews revealed community members’ understandings of (1) sources of stigma, (2) impacts of stigma, (3) conceptualizations of stigma and (4) pathways to change stigma. Findings were presented to members of the local NAMI affiliate as well as other community members. Practical implications, specific to the community of interest, are discussed.

scholarly journals Exploring the role of Islam in perceptions of mental illness in a sample of Muslim psychiatrists based in Johannesburg

2013 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
T Bulbulia ◽  
S Laher
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
South African ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Cultural Beliefs ◽  
Traditional Healers ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Indigenous Theory ◽  
Islamic Values

<div class="column"><p><span><strong>Background</strong>. </span><span>Western definitions of, and approaches to, mental illness have been critiqued for their lack of incorporation of cultural and spiritual elements.</span></p><p><span><br /> </span><strong>Objective. </strong><span>To explore perceptions of mental illness, particularly in terms of the role of Islam in the understanding of mental illness among South African Muslim psychiatrists practising in Johannesburg. </span></p><p><span><strong>Methods</strong>. </span><span>Using a qualitative design, semi-structured interviews were conducted with a convenience sample of 7 Muslim psychiatrists in the Johannesburg area. Thematic content analysis was used to analyse the transcribed data.<br /> </span></p><p><strong>Results. </strong><span>Psychiatrists subscribe to a more biomedical model of illness. The findings of this study also suggest that psychiatrists attempt to remain objective and to refrain from imposing their religious and cultural beliefs on their patients. However, their conceptualisation of mental illness is influenced by their religion and culture. Furthermore, all participating psychiatrists indicated that they always draw on Islamic values when treating their patients. Issues of cultural competence were also highlighted. Psychiatrists indicated that they were open to collaboration with traditional healers and psychologists but that this was quite challenging. </span></p><p><span><strong>Conclusion</strong>. </span><span>The necessity for formal bodies to develop routes for collaboration between healthcare professionals and traditional healers was brought to the fore. So, too, was the need to incorporate indigenous theory and knowledge into mainstream definitions and approaches to mental illness. </span></p></div>

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