scholarly journals Stigma associated with mental health problems among young people in India: a systematic review of magnitude, manifestations and recommendations

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shivani Mathur Gaiha ◽  
Tatiana Taylor Salisbury ◽  
Mirja Koschorke ◽  
Usha Raman ◽  
Mark Petticrew
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Young People ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Public Stigma ◽  
Targeted Interventions ◽  
Awareness Campaigns

Abstract Background Globally, 20% of young people experience mental disorders. In India, only 7.3% of its 365 million youth report such problems. Although public stigma associated with mental health problems particularly affects help-seeking among young people, the extent of stigma among young people in India is unknown. Describing and characterizing public stigma among young people will inform targeted interventions to address such stigma in India, and globally. Thus, we examined the magnitude and manifestations of public stigma, and synthesised evidence of recommendations to reduce mental-health-related stigma among young people in India. Method A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies was conducted. Nine electronic databases were searched and 30 studies (n = 6767) met inclusion criteria. Results Most studies (66%) focused on youth training to become health professionals. One-third of young people display poor knowledge of mental health problems and negative attitudes towards people with mental health problems and one in five had actual/intended stigmatizing behavior (I2>=95%). Young people are unable to recognize causes and symptoms of mental health problems and believe that recovery is unlikely. People with mental health problems are perceived as dangerous and irresponsible, likely due to misinformation and misunderstanding of mental health problems as being solely comprised of severe mental disorders (e.g. schizophrenia). However, psychiatric labels are not commonly used/understood. Conclusion Public education may use symptomatic vignettes (through relatable language and visuals) instead of psychiatric labels to improve young people’s understanding of the range of mental health problems. Recommended strategies to reduce public stigma include awareness campaigns integrated with educational institutions and content relevant to culture and age-appropriate social roles.

Mental Health Literacy, Help-Seeking Behaviour and Wellbeing in Young People: Implications for Practice

2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (01) ◽  
pp. 16-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prishini Ratnayake ◽  
Chelsea Hyde
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Gender Differences ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Young People ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Targeted Interventions ◽  
Help Seeking Behaviour

AbstractResearch indicates that individuals who have high levels of mental health literacy engage in help-seeking for mental health issues more in comparison to those with low mental health literacy. It is therefore important to ensure that young people are able to identify signs of psychological distress and identify appropriate supports and resources when necessary. Preliminary research has identified gender differences in help-seeking and identification of mental health problems. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between mental health literacy, help-seeking intentions and wellbeing in senior high school students. The sample consisted of 22 females and 10 male students, ranging from 16–18 years. Findings indicated a positive correlation between wellbeing and general help-seeking, as well as wellbeing and help-seeking for suicidal ideation. Gender differences were identified for aspects of mental health literacy and help-seeking intentions. Results of this research have implications for practitioners in fostering positive outcomes and developing targeted interventions towards improving mental health literacy and help-seeking behaviour in the future.

scholarly journals Lost in space - an exploration of help-seeking among young people with mental health problems: a constructivist grounded theory study

2020 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katrin Häggström Westberg ◽  
Jens M. Nygren ◽  
Maria Nyholm ◽  
Ing-Marie Carlsson ◽  
Petra Svedberg
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Grounded Theory ◽  
Young People ◽  
Support Services ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Professional Support ◽  
Constructivist Grounded Theory ◽  
Health Concern

Abstract Background Mental health problems among young people is a worldwide public health concern. There has been an increase in mental health problems among young people in the Nordic countries in the last 25 years, particularly in Sweden. Despite this increase, international research has repeatedly shown that young people do not access or receive support when encountering mental health problems. The purpose of this study was to explore the process of help-seeking for professional support among young people with mental health problems. Methods The study used qualitative constructivist Grounded Theory and open-ended interviews. Thirteen young people between 15 and 23, recruited from two local support clinics, were interviewed. Results Lost in space emerged as the core category, capturing aspects of both the experience of self and mental health problems as well as the process of seeking and acquiring help from professional support systems. The study identified several prominent barriers for seeking and acquiring professional help for mental health problems. The young people expressed a lack of knowledge on mental health issues and support services and substantial efforts were made to try to cope with problems on one’s own. Lost in space involved Drifting - trying to make sense of own experiences and struggling to cope with problems, Navigating - searching for help through multiple attempts and contacts and Docking - finding support with something/somebody that feels right. Conclusions The theoretical model sheds light on how young people with mental health problems were met with fragmented support services. Society needs to provide encompassing, youth-friendly and flexible support services, so that attempts at help-seeking are not missed.

scholarly journals Help-seeking behaviour in men and women with common mental health problems: cross-sectional study

2005 ◽  
Vol 186 (4) ◽  
pp. 297-301 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Isabel Oliver ◽  
Nicky Pearson ◽  
Nicola Coe ◽  
David Gunnell
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young People ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
General Health Questionnaire ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Professional Help ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Help Seeking Behaviour

BackgroundMany people with mental health problems do not seek professional help but their use of other sources of help is unclear.AimsTo investigate patterns of lay and professional help-seeking in men and women aged 16–64 years in relation to severity of symptoms and sociodemographic variables.MethodPostal questionnaire survey, including the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ–12), sent to a stratified random sample (n=15222) of the population of Somerset.ResultsThe response rate was 76%. Only 28% of people with extremely high GHQ–12 scores (⩾8) had sought help from their general practitioner but most (78%) had sought some form of help. Males, young people and people living in affluent areas were the least likely to seek help.ConclusionsHealth promotion interventions to encourage appropriate help-seeking behaviour in young people, particularly in men, may lead to improvements in the mental health of this group of the population.

scholarly journals Association between mental health-related stigma and active help-seeking: Systematic review and meta-analysis

2017 ◽  
Vol 210 (4) ◽  
pp. 261-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nina Schnyder ◽  
Radoslaw Panczak ◽  
Nicola Groth ◽  
Frauke Schultze-Lutter
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Random Effect ◽  
Public Stigma ◽  
Related Stigma ◽  
Personal Attitudes ◽  
The Impact

BackgroundMental disorders create high individual and societal costs and burden, partly because help-seeking is often delayed or completely avoided. Stigma related to mental disorders or mental health services is regarded as a main reason for insufficient help-seeking.AimsTo estimate the impact of four stigma types (help-seeking attitudes and personal, self and perceived public stigma) on active help-seeking in the general population.MethodA systematic review of three electronic databases was followed by random effect meta-analyses according to the stigma types.ResultsTwenty-seven studies fulfilled eligibility criteria. Participants' own negative attitudes towards mental health help-seeking (OR = 0.80, 95% CI 0.73–0.88) and their stigmatising attitudes towards people with a mental illness (OR = 0.82, 95% CI 0.69–0.98) were associated with less active help-seeking. Self-stigma showed insignificant association (OR = 0.88, 95% CI 0.76–1.03), whereas perceived public stigma was not associated.ConclusionsPersonal attitudes towards mental illness or help-seeking are associated with active help-seeking for mental problems. Campaigns promoting help-seeking and fighting mental illness-related stigma should target these personal attitudes rather than broad public opinion.

scholarly journals Is Knowledge Enough? The Relationship Between Mental Health Knowledge and Stigmatising Attitudes Among Australian Adolescents

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 206-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emmelin Teng ◽  
Venning Anthony ◽  
Winefield Helen ◽  
Crabb Shona
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Young People ◽  
Adolescent Girls ◽  
Health Behaviour ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Health Problems

Background: Young people carry mental health problems disproportionate to the size of their population, and rates of help-seeking are low. School mental health programs have been developed to address these issues, founded on an educational approach to target mental health literacy, and indirectly improve help-seeking. However, it has been suggested that knowledge does not necessarily predict health behaviour in young people. Objective/Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to explore whether knowledge about mental illness was related to attitudes towards mental illness and intentions to seek help in a sample of adolescent girls (N=327). Results: Results indicated a weak negative relationship between knowledge about mental health and stigmatising attitudes about mental illness, but no relationship between knowledge about mental health and intentions to seek help for mental health problems. When mental health was categorised (e.g., optimal vs. poorer mental health), a negative relationship between knowledge about and stigmatising attitudes toward mental health was shown in those with poor mental health, but not for adolescents categorised as having moderate or optimal mental health. Conclusion: Findings suggest that while the traditional adage - more information on mental health equals better attitude to mental health - may be true for those with ‘poorer’ levels of mental health (e.g., high levels of psychological distress), it may not reduce stigma associated with mental illness or motivate positive health behaviour in adolescent girls with ‘optimal’ mental health (e.g., low or no levels of psychological distress). .

scholarly journals What is the impact of mental health-related stigma on help-seeking? A systematic review of quantitative and qualitative studies

2014 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Clement ◽  
O. Schauman ◽  
T. Graham ◽  
F. Maggioni ◽  
S. Evans-Lacko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Qualitative Studies ◽  
Deterrent Effect ◽  
Related Stigma ◽  
Health Related ◽  
The Impact

BackgroundIndividuals often avoid or delay seeking professional help for mental health problems. Stigma may be a key deterrent to help-seeking but this has not been reviewed systematically. Our systematic review addressed the overarching question: What is the impact of mental health-related stigma on help-seeking for mental health problems? Subquestions were: (a) What is the size and direction of any association between stigma and help-seeking? (b) To what extent is stigma identified as a barrier to help-seeking? (c) What processes underlie the relationship between stigma and help-seeking? (d) Are there population groups for which stigma disproportionately deters help-seeking?MethodFive electronic databases were searched from 1980 to 2011 and references of reviews checked. A meta-synthesis of quantitative and qualitative studies, comprising three parallel narrative syntheses and subgroup analyses, was conducted.ResultsThe review identified 144 studies with 90 189 participants meeting inclusion criteria. The median association between stigma and help-seeking was d = − 0.27, with internalized and treatment stigma being most often associated with reduced help-seeking. Stigma was the fourth highest ranked barrier to help-seeking, with disclosure concerns the most commonly reported stigma barrier. A detailed conceptual model was derived that describes the processes contributing to, and counteracting, the deterrent effect of stigma on help-seeking. Ethnic minorities, youth, men and those in military and health professions were disproportionately deterred by stigma.ConclusionsStigma has a small- to moderate-sized negative effect on help-seeking. Review findings can be used to help inform the design of interventions to increase help-seeking.

scholarly journals Association between public views of mental illness and self-stigma among individuals with mental illness in 14 European countries

2011 ◽  
Vol 42 (8) ◽  
pp. 1741-1752 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Evans-Lacko ◽  
E. Brohan ◽  
R. Mojtabai ◽  
G. Thornicroft
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Perceived Discrimination ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Mental Illness Stigma ◽  
Public Stigma ◽  
The Public

BackgroundLittle is known about how the views of the public are related to self-stigma among people with mental health problems. Despite increasing activity aimed at reducing mental illness stigma, there is little evidence to guide and inform specific anti-stigma campaign development and messages to be used in mass campaigns. A better understanding of the association between public knowledge, attitudes and behaviours and the internalization of stigma among people with mental health problems is needed.MethodThis study links two large, international datasets to explore the association between public stigma in 14 European countries (Eurobarometer survey) and individual reports of self-stigma, perceived discrimination and empowerment among persons with mental illness (n=1835) residing in those countries [the Global Alliance of Mental Illness Advocacy Networks (GAMIAN) study].ResultsIndividuals with mental illness living in countries with less stigmatizing attitudes, higher rates of help-seeking and treatment utilization and better perceived access to information had lower rates of self-stigma and perceived discrimination and those living in countries where the public felt more comfortable talking to people with mental illness had less self-stigma and felt more empowered.ConclusionsTargeting the general public through mass anti-stigma interventions may lead to a virtuous cycle by disrupting the negative feedback engendered by public stigma, thereby reducing self-stigma among people with mental health problems. A combined approach involving knowledge, attitudes and behaviour is needed; mass interventions that facilitate disclosure and positive social contact may be the most effective. Improving availability of information about mental health issues and facilitating access to care and help-seeking also show promise with regard to stigma.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document