Special Issue

2018 ◽  
pp. 184-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Bender ◽  
Karlie Hill
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Sexually Transmitted Infections ◽  
Social Stigma ◽  
Psychological Consequences ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Attitudes And Behaviors ◽  
The Social ◽  
Prejudicial Attitudes

Misconceptions regarding the cause(s) of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) has led to a number of prejudices against those with such diagnoses. A fear of being the object of prejudicial attitudes and behaviors leaves many individuals concerned about the social stigma of a STI diagnosis. This, in turn, may leave people unwilling to get tested or hesitant to disclose their diagnosis to others, which may fuel the spread of such infections. In addition to the numerous medical concerns associated with STIs, the psychological consequences of STIs are notable as well. Understanding the stigma related to STIs is an important step towards improving the mental health of people with such diagnoses. This chapter provides the reader with an overview of STI diagnoses, and an explanation of their physical and mental health consequences. The chapter continues by examining the three types of stigma as well as their components. Finally, the chapter offers a number of suggestions regarding how to combat STI stigma, which may be extrapolated to combat other forms of stigma affecting mental health.

Special Issue

2021 ◽  
pp. 103-120
Author(s):  
Sara Bender ◽  
Karlie Hill
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Sexually Transmitted Infections ◽  
Social Stigma ◽  
Psychological Consequences ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Attitudes And Behaviors ◽  
The Social ◽  
Prejudicial Attitudes

Misconceptions regarding the cause(s) of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) has led to a number of prejudices against those with such diagnoses. A fear of being the object of prejudicial attitudes and behaviors leaves many individuals concerned about the social stigma of a STI diagnosis. This, in turn, may leave people unwilling to get tested or hesitant to disclose their diagnosis to others, which may fuel the spread of such infections. In addition to the numerous medical concerns associated with STIs, the psychological consequences of STIs are notable as well. Understanding the stigma related to STIs is an important step towards improving the mental health of people with such diagnoses. This chapter provides the reader with an overview of STI diagnoses, and an explanation of their physical and mental health consequences. The chapter continues by examining the three types of stigma as well as their components. Finally, the chapter offers a number of suggestions regarding how to combat STI stigma, which may be extrapolated to combat other forms of stigma affecting mental health.

scholarly journals Psychological Profile and Consumption of Healthcare Resources in Actively Employed People, Pre-Retirees, and Retirees

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 4415
Author(s):  
Antonio Taboada-Vazquez ◽  
Ruben Gonzalez-Rodriguez ◽  
Manuel Gandoy-Crego ◽  
Miguel Clemente
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Employment Status ◽  
Social Stigma ◽  
Health Resources ◽  
Personality Tests ◽  
Healthcare Resources ◽  
Personality Variables ◽  
Promotion Policies ◽  
The Social ◽  
Logistic Regressions

Research on personality variables and consumption of health services in actively employed people or retirees has been extensive, but the group of pre-retirees has hardly been studied. This work attempts to determine the mental health and use of health resources of the three groups, hypothesizing that, as the group of pre-retirees does not receive the social stigma of work exclusion, it will present better mental health. A sample of 1332 Spanish participants aged between 51 and 69 years was randomly chosen, and various personality tests were applied, and consumption of healthcare resources was determined. Pairwise analysis of the three work situations using binary logistic regressions showed that pre-retirees present better mental health, although there were no differences in the consumption of healthcare resources. The implications of this study for the creation of health promotion policies targeting older people, depending specifically on their employment status, are discussed.

Bereavement

2012 ◽  
pp. 724-728 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beverley Raphael ◽  
Sally Wooding ◽  
Julie Dunsmore
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Protective Factors ◽  
Spiritual Needs ◽  
Human Suffering ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Making Meaning ◽  
Loved One ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
The Social ◽  
Neurobiological Substrates

Bereavement is the complex set reactions that occurs with the death of a loved one: the emotions of grief with yearning, angry protest, and sadness; the cognitive processes of understanding and making meaning of the finality and nature of death; and the social, cultural, spiritual, and religious contexts of adaptation. Grief may also result from other losses such as health, home, country, and safe worlds. There have been investigations into potential neurobiological substrates, without, as yet consensus about the explanatory model. This chapter covers the phenomenology of ‘normal grief’, neurobiology of bereavement, risk and protective factors influencing course and outcome, physical and mental health consequences of bereavement, and assessment and management. Counselling bereaved people requires hopeful, compassionate psychotherapeutic intervention which recognizes the human suffering involved, validates the person’s strengths, and respects their spiritual needs. Loss is a central issue for all of us, both our fears of it, and its reality. Counselling requires those involved to recognize their own sensitivities in this regard, and to assist the ‘journey’ of those affected in dealing with their loss. Most people grieve, remember with love those whom they have lost, and continue to love, and love anew.

Healthy Living Reconsidered

2019 ◽  
pp. 107-121
Author(s):  
Glenn Geher ◽  
Nicole Wedberg
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Cell Phones ◽  
Evolutionary Perspective ◽  
Psychological Consequences ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Healthy Living ◽  
Diet And Exercise

In recent years, the evolutionary approach to health and medicine has led to major advances in our understanding of physical and mental health. A core concept in this area pertains to evolutionary mismatch, which helps explain why people gravitate toward unhealthy diets and sedentary lifestyles. Further, several common mismatches can help us understand issues with mental health. For instance, the large-scale prevalence of highly addictive cell phones and related technologies ultimately has adverse psychological consequences for people for various reasons. If we want to understand issues of human health, we must utilize an evolutionary perspective. Practices like selflessness, virtuosity, temperance, altruism, and even diet and exercise are nothing new. By studying facets of positive psychology through an evolutionary lens, it can be seen more clearly how these positive emotions and practices of healthy living have been adaptive for humans all along.

The mediating role of knowledge on the contact and stigma of mental illness in Hong Kong

2020 ◽  
pp. 002076402097579
Author(s):  
Qi Fang ◽  
Tian-Ming Zhang ◽  
Yin Ling Irene Wong ◽  
Yuen Yum Yau ◽  
Xu-Hong Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Attitudes And Behaviors ◽  
Stigmatizing Attitudes ◽  
And Behaviors ◽  
Prejudicial Attitudes

Background: Although knowledge is a crucial component in contact theory delineating how prejudice changes toward out-groups with stigmatized conditions, little is known about the mediating role of knowledge on contact, stigmatizing attitudes, and behaviors toward mental illness. Aim: This study aimed to examine the mechanism underlie contact and stigma change by knowledge. Methods: A total of 366 participants including family members (FM), mental health providers (MHP), and community residents (CR) recruited across communities in Hong Kong and completed measures of contact level, contact quantity, contact quality, mental health related knowledge, prejudice, and discriminatory behaviors. Structural equation modeling was adopted to test the association among the key variables. Results: Higher level of contact was significantly correlated with better knowledge, less prejudice, and less discriminatory behaviors. Knowledge was directly and negatively correlated with prejudicial attitudes but was not significantly related to discriminatory behaviors. Furthermore, lower levels of prejudice were associated with less discriminatory behaviors. Conclusion: Enhancement of contact may increase understanding toward people with mental illness (PMI) and diminish stigmatizing attitudes and behaviors. Although prejudicial attitudes may be reduced by broadening mental health knowledge, increasing knowledge only might not ameliorate discriminatory behaviors. Future research should test mediators on contact and stigma by using longitudinal data.

scholarly journals Cross-Sectional Study of Sexual Behavior, Alcohol Use, and Mental Health Conditions Associated With Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Deploying Shipboard US Military Personnel

2019 ◽  
Vol 184 (11-12) ◽  
pp. e693-e700 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith Harbertson ◽  
Paul T Scott ◽  
Hector Lemus ◽  
Nelson L Michael ◽  
Braden R Hale
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Sexually Transmitted Infections ◽  
Military Personnel ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sexual Partners ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Us Military ◽  
Sex With Men

Abstract Introduction Limited comprehensive data exist on risk behavior associated with sexually transmitted infections (STI) among ship-assigned US military personnel during the predeployment time period (PDT). This study examined whether sexual risk behaviors, alcohol use, involuntary drug consumption (IDC), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and depression during the 12 months prior to deployment were associated with provider-diagnosed STIs in this population. Materials and Methods Using cross-sectional data collected during 2012–2014 among sexually active personnel, multivariable regression assessed factors associated with STIs among all men (n = 1,831). Stratified analyses were conducted among men who have sex with women (MSW, n = 1,530), men who have sex with men or men and women (MSM, n = 83), and excluded those not reporting sexual partner gender (n = 218). Results Among MSW, transactional sex (AOR 3.8, 95% CI 1.5–9.4) meeting sexual partners at work (AOR 4.3, 95% CI 2.0–9.2), IDC (AOR 6.6, 95% CI 3.0–14.5), and incomplete mental health assessments (AOR 4.4, 95% CI 1.6–12.0) were significantly associated with STIs after adjustment. Among all men, those who identified as MSM (AOR 4.6, 95% CI 1.9–11.2) and drug screen positive (AOR 3.3, 95% CI 1.3–8.6) were significantly more likely to report an STI. Conclusions Previously unreported factors significantly associated with STIs at the PDT among MSW in the adjusted analysis were meeting sexual partners at work and IDC. IDC during the PDT warrants further exploration. These results can inform tailored STI reduction interventions among shipboard personnel and similarly aged civilians undergoing similar transition/travel experiences.

Post-Disaster Trauma and Recovery

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tara M. Powell ◽  
Shannondora Billiot ◽  
Leia Y. Saltzman
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Posttraumatic Growth ◽  
Disaster Response ◽  
Acute Stress ◽  
Traumatic Event ◽  
Community Level ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
The Social ◽  
Response And Recovery

Natural and man-made disasters have become much more frequent since the start of the 21st century. Disasters have numerous deleterious impacts. They disrupt individuals, families, and communities, causing displacement, food insecurity, injury, loss of livelihoods, conflict, and epidemics. The physical and mental health impact of a disaster can have extensive short- and long-term consequences. Immediately after a traumatic event, individuals may experience an array of reactions such as anxiety, depression, acute stress symptoms, shock, dissociation, allergies, injuries, or breathing problems. Given the economic and human impact of disasters, social workers are often quick to respond. Historically, the social work profession has provided services on the individual level, but initiatives have expanded to address community preparedness, response, and recovery. This article will explore the complexities of disaster response and recovery. Health and mental health impacts will be examined. Resilience and posttraumatic growth will then be discussed, exploring how individuals overcome adversity and trauma. Individual and community level preparedness mitigation, response, and recovery will explore how the field of social work has evolved as disasters have increased. Followed by an exploration of how social work has evolved to develop individual and community level preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery activities as disasters have increased. Finally, the article will examine special populations, including those with disabilities, children, indigenous people, older adults, and social service workers in all phases of disasters. As disasters grow more frequent it is vital for social work professionals to improve their efforts. We will conclude the chapter by examining the coordinated efforts the social work profession is involved in to help communities recover and even thrive after a traumatic event.

Sexy till I die: What applied theatre can offer in approaches to sexual health

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 365-375
Author(s):  
Leah Tidey
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Critical Pedagogy ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Life Course ◽  
Social Stigma ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
The Social ◽  
Applied Theatre ◽  
The Life Course

Abstract For older adults in Canada, too often shame and silence describe their experiences of sexual health. With more citizens over the age of 65 than ever before and increasing rates of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in older adults, we are facing a serious issue. Applied theatre offers an innovative approach to deconstructing social stigma in sexuality across the life course, whereby new understandings and perceptions may emerge for people of all ages. The usefulness, gaps and application of three different approaches to sexual health issues are examined to highlight innovations in addressing sexual health and critique ageist, sexist and heteronormative assumptions through a feminist, critical pedagogy lens. The analysis culminates in a proposed outline for an intergenerational, community-based theatre project to address the social stigma of sexuality across the life course entitled You're Doing What?! At Your Age?!

scholarly journals Impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Outbreak Quarantine, Isolation, and Lockdown Policies on Mental Health and Suicide

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Balasankar Ganesan ◽  
Adel Al-Jumaily ◽  
Kenneth N. K. Fong ◽  
Palak Prasad ◽  
Surendra Kumar Meena ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Stigma ◽  
Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Issues ◽  
Huge Impact ◽  
Coronavirus Infection ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has made a huge impact on people's physical and mental health, and it remains a cause of death for many all over the world. To prevent the spread of coronavirus infection, different types of public health measures (social isolation, quarantine, lockdowns, and curfews) have been imposed by governments. However, mental health experts warn that the prolonged lockdown, quarantine, or isolation will create a “second pandemic” with severe mental health issues and suicides. The quarantined or isolated people may suffer from various issues such as physical inactivity, mental health, economic and social problems. As with the SARS outbreak in 2003, many suicide cases have been reported in connection with this current COVID-19 pandemic lockdown due to various factors such as social stigma, alcohol withdrawal syndrome, fear of COVID infection, loneliness, and other mental health issues. This paper provides an overview of risk factors that can cause suicide and outlines possible solutions to prevent suicide in this current COVID-19 pandemic.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document