Graduate Education in Rehabilitation Counseling and the Stigma of Mental Illness: A Review of the Literature

Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling ◽

10.1891/jarc-d-20-00005 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. JARC-D-20-00005

Author(s):

Randall Boen ◽

Derek Ruiz

Keyword(s):

Mental Illness ◽

Service Providers ◽

Rehabilitation Counseling ◽

Self Evaluation ◽

Disability Awareness ◽

Persistent Mental Illness ◽

Full Participation ◽

Disability Stigma ◽

Stigma Of Mental Illness ◽

Effective Service

The Rehabilitation Counseling profession has foundations in disability awareness and acknowledges disability stigma as a barrier to full participation. Graduate-level rehabilitation counseling programs assist students with self-evaluation and examination of attitudes toward individuals with disabilities. Effective service providers are seen as having knowledge of how social attitudes play a part in issue of inclusion and full participation. Mental health is an area that has historically drew considerable attention. However, barriers to effective service delivery still persist and may include the stigma toward individuals with mental illness. Attitude formation and the implications of stigma will be provided in this conceptual article. This literature review will include an overview of factors that may contribute to stigmatizing reactions. Recommendations for graduate educational programs are discussed including best practices. These include creating a learning environment that focuses on student’s awareness, knowledge, and skills surrounding issues that affect individuals with severe and persistent mental illness.

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Outcomes of a care coordinated service model for persons with severe and persistent mental illness: A qualitative study

International Journal of Social Psychiatry ◽

10.1177/0020764016678014 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 63 (1) ◽

pp. 40-47 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Anton N Isaacs ◽

Keith Sutton ◽

Kim Dalziel ◽

Darryl Maybery

Keyword(s):

Mental Illness ◽

Qualitative Study ◽

Service Providers ◽

Unmet Need ◽

Australian Government ◽

Service Model ◽

Delivery Of Care ◽

Persistent Mental Illness ◽

Multiple Services ◽

Partners In Recovery

Background: Owing to difficulties faced by individuals with severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI) in accessing multiple services, the Australian Government trialed a care coordinated service model called the Partners in Recovery (PIR) initiative. Material: A total of 45 stakeholders in Gippsland were asked what difference the initiative had made. Discussion: The PIR initiative benefited not only clients and carers but also service providers. It addressed an unmet need in service delivery for individuals with SPMI. Conclusion: The PIR initiative has filled a gap in delivery of care for individuals with SPMI in Gippsland.

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Disability Awareness Activities on College Campuses: A National Study of Campuses with Undergraduate and Graduate Programs in Rehabilitation Counseling

Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling ◽

10.1891/0047-2220.29.2.30 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 29 (2) ◽

pp. 30-34

Author(s):

Mark A. Stebnicki ◽

Monika Sibrava ◽

Jennifer Rice-Mason

Keyword(s):

Rehabilitation Counseling ◽

Panel Discussion ◽

College Campuses ◽

Disability Services ◽

National Study ◽

Graduate Degrees ◽

Program Coordinators ◽

Disability Awareness ◽

Full Participation ◽

Campus Activities

This study surveyed all Program Coordinators in Offices of Disability Services on college campuses across the U.S., that offered undergraduate and graduate degrees in rehabilitation counseling. Data was collected regarding the type, frequency and support of disability awareness activities among students, faculty, and staff, as well as the financial resources allocated to carry-out such activities. Students, as opposed to faculty or staff, participated inmost awareness-type events. The most frequently reported type activities were panel discussion groups, seminars and outside guest presenters. The data suggests that little financial support and other resources are allocated for such campus activities. Implications are discussed regarding the lack of awareness among college professors and other staff/administrators concerning the special accommodations required for full participation across campus programs and services.

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Implementing community-based participatory research among African Americans with serious and persistent mental illness: A qualitative study

Gateways International Journal of Community Research and Engagement ◽

10.5130/ijcre.v14i1.6894 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Lindsay Sheehan ◽

Sonya Ballentine ◽

Lorenzo Washington ◽

Mark Canser ◽

John Connor ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Illness ◽

African Americans ◽

Lived Experience ◽

Participatory Research ◽

Service Providers ◽

Qualitative Interviews ◽

Community Based Participatory Research ◽

Community Based ◽

Research Participants ◽

Persistent Mental Illness

Community-based participatory research (CBPR) is an approach that involves community members in research, not as research participants, but as partners. However, few studies have examined CBPR projects conducted among African Americans with serious and persistent mental illness (SPMI). This article focuses specifically on the Inspiring Change (IC) model, which includes a leadership trio comprised of an academic researcher, health service provider and an African American with lived experience of SPMI. Our purpose is to investigate how the IC model shapes not only how research is conducted but how research is understood and experienced by the community. We achieve this purpose by (1) describing an innovative CBPR model and pilot projects that involved African Americans with SPMI in all stages of the research project; and (2) presenting findings from qualitative interviews conducted with CBPR team members about strengths, challenges and leadership particular to this model of CBPR, an area rarely explored in CBPR literature. With the guidance of an advisory board and the manualised IC curriculum, two CBPR teams initiated and conducted nine-month long research projects focusing on health disparities for African Americans with SPMI. Members of the two CBPR teams (n = 13), which included individuals with lived experience, service providers and researchers, completed qualitative interviews. Benefits of CBPR projects included opportunities to learn, a sense of purpose in helping others and increased trust of research participants. Challenges pertained to disorganisation of leadership, lack of transparency with compensation, time pressures and interpersonal conflicts. These challenges highlight the importance of preparing and supporting those from both academic and lived experience backgrounds in skills necessary to thrive in leadership roles for CBPR projects.

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Acceptability of Assisted Suicide in Patients With Severe and Persistent Mental Illness

GeroPsych ◽

10.1024/1662-9647/a000248 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Sophie Gloeckler ◽

Manuel Trachsel

Keyword(s):

Mental Illness ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Psychiatric Diagnosis ◽

Assisted Suicide ◽

Shared Values ◽

Psychiatric Nurses ◽

Attitudes And Beliefs ◽

Future Studies ◽

Persistent Mental Illness ◽

Moral Attitudes

Abstract. In Switzerland, assisted suicide (AS) may be granted on the basis of a psychiatric diagnosis. This pilot study explored the moral attitudes and beliefs of nurses regarding these practices through a quantitative survey of 38 psychiatric nurses. The pilot study, which serves to inform hypothesis development and future studies, showed that participating nurses supported AS and valued the reduction of suffering in patients with severe persistent mental illness. Findings were compared with those from a previously published study presenting the same questions to psychiatrists. The key differences between nurses’ responses and psychiatrists’ may reflect differences in the burden of responsibility, while similarities might capture shared values worth considering when determining treatment efforts. More information is needed to determine whether these initial findings represent nurses’ views more broadly.

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Crisis Occurrence and Resolution in Patients with Severe and Persistent Mental Illness

Crisis ◽

10.1027/0227-5910.26.4.160 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 26 (4) ◽

pp. 160-169 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Paul S. Links ◽

Rahel Eynan ◽

Jeffrey S. Ball ◽

Aiala Barr ◽

Sean Rourke

Keyword(s):

Mental Illness ◽

Suicide Ideation ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Psychiatric Symptoms ◽

Self Report ◽

Community Treatment ◽

Persistent Mental Illness ◽

Crisis Events ◽

Symptom Distress Scale ◽

Distress Scale

Abstract. Assertive community treatment appears to have limited impact on the risk of suicide in persons with severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI). This exploratory prospective study attempts to understand this observation by studying the contribution of suicidality to the occurrence of crisis events in patients with SPMI. Specifically, an observer-rated measure of the need for hospitalization, the Crisis Triage Rating Scale, was completed at baseline, crisis occurrence, and resolution to determine how much the level of suicidality contributed to the deemed level of crisis. Second, observer-ratings of suicidal ideation, the Modified Scale for Suicide Ideation, and psychopathology and suicidality, Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, were measured at baseline, crisis occurrence, and resolution. A self-report measure of distress, the Symptom Distress Scale, was completed at baseline, crisis occurrence, and resolution. Finally, the patients' crisis experiences were recorded qualitatively to compare with quantitative measures of suicidality. Almost 40% of the subjects experienced crisis events and more than a quarter of these events were judged to be severe enough to warrant the need for hospitalization. Our findings suggest that elevation of psychiatric symptoms is a major contributor to the crisis occurrences of individuals with SPMI; although the risk of suicide may have to be conceived as somewhat separate from crisis occurrence.

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