Aspects Of Stigma Research Articles

"We're Not Gonna Aid You in Shooting Up": Stigma's Relationship to Harm Reduction in People Who Inject Drugs.

Harm reduction, when applied to drug use, prioritizes improving patient-centered health outcomes and reducing drug-related harm. In order for harm reduction strategies to be adopted by people who inject drugs (PWID), they need to be promoted, accessible, and accepted in that population and the community-at-large. While PWID face stigma at multiple levels, less is known about how stigma influences uptake and acceptance of harm reduction services and strategies among PWID. We aim to characterize the stigmatizing experiences PWID have had related to harm reduction and the role of stigma in influencing their acceptance and adoption of harm reduction services and strategies. A qualitative study using in-person, semi-structured interviews. We recruited hospitalized participants, age 18 and over, with a history of injection drug use. We developed an interview guide asking about various aspects of stigma and participants' experiences with naloxone, syringe service programs, fentanyl test strips, HIV and hepatitis C testing, and any other harm reduction strategies. Key themes were generated using a thematic analysis. We reached thematic saturation at 16 participants. PWID reported multi-level stigma related to harm reduction from themselves, the public, the healthcare system, and the legal and carceral systems. Themes were grouped into four main categories: internalized, interpersonal, intervention, and structural stigma. Stigma across all of these domains negatively impacted the ability of PWID to access harm reduction resources. Positive, non-stigmatizing experiences from others, such as syringe service programs and peer navigators, countered historically negative experiences and promoted greater education and comfort about using harm reduction resources among PWID. To expand the reach of harm reduction services, it is critical to develop interventions that can reduce the stigma against PWID and harm reduction.

STIGMA AND STIGMATIZATION IN A PEDAGOGICAL’S PROFESSIONAL WORK: SUBSTANTIVE AND INFORMATIVE ANALYSIS AND MODEL'S PRESENTATIONS

Background. The theory of stigma was popularized through research by sociologists M. Seeman and E. Goffman in the mid-1960s. The theoretical aspects of stigmatization presented in these works have made it possible to disseminate their results to different professions, including the teaching profession, and to construct a number of theoretical models of the processes of stigmatization of teachers. The component composition of such models is substantively based on theoretical studies carried out in the works of J.B. Pryor and G.D. Reeder. Research of this kind makes a significant contribution to stigma theory in terms of understanding that the processes of stigmatization of the educator’s personality can take different directions and how they are multidimensional; Societal perceptions of the teaching profession influence the level of stigmatization of the profession; acceptance of the stigma by the educator itself may result from an understanding of the social devaluation of the profession; Actors in a stigmatized pedagogical environment (such as family and friends) are at risk of social stigmatization; social institutions can perpetuate or exacerbate the stigmatized status of the teaching profession. Purpose. The article is aimed at presenting the theory of stigmatization of the teaching profession, as well as the development of an appropriate model and the analysis of its components, giving it qualitative certainty, reducing the risks of stigmatization and enhancing the value of the professional activity of the teachers Materials and methods. The practical and heuristic value of the study is that its findings broaden the existing understanding of the mechanisms of stigmatization and offer a productive tool for addressing the stigmatization of teaching professions in modern education, provide a vision of the key aspects to be further explored in this and related areas. The study used methods of comparative pedagogy, modeling method. Results. Based on the analysis of the scientific and methodical literature on the problem of stigmatization of individual professions, we proposed a model reflecting the basic concepts of the processes of stigmatization of the teaching profession in the field of education. The model identified the following main components: social stigma, self-stigma, associative stigma, structural stigma, primary and secondary personality relationships of the educator and learner. Social stigma is a key component of stigmatizing the teaching profession and underpins the subsequent components we have identified in this model. They also summarized the materials and highlighted the provisions that should be included in the theory describing the processes of stigmatization in education. This contributes to reducing the influence of the stigma formed in relation to the educational process or the profession of the teacher, and can have a positive influence on the status of the teacher, his professional identity and relationship with the students.

Borderline personality disorder subtypes and public stigma

Despite high public stigma towards individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD), no research has examined whether stigma differs among the various proposed BPD subtypes. The primary purpose of this research was to examine two potential contributors to stigma towards individuals with BPD: 1) gender, and 2) BPD subtype of the individuals. The three subtypes utilized in this study were emotional, low anxiety, and inhibited (Sleuwaegen, 2018). A total of 415 participants read 1 of 6 randomly assigned vignettes about an individual and then completed the Attribution Questionnaire which encompasses 6 aspects of stigma. Male individuals (featured in a vignette) led to greater overall and 5 aspects of stigma than female individuals. Higher public stigma was also expressed towards individuals with the emotional subtype for overall and 4 aspects of stigma than the other subtypes. The aggression portrayed in the emotional subtype may be a particularly worthy area of investigation, given the potential for over-appraisal of threat to one's personal safety. The findings here suggest that accurate portrayals of BPD need to be infused in education or contact anti-stigma interventions.

Public stigma and recognition of perinatal obsessive-compulsive disorder

Stigma is a barrier to disclosure of psychiatric symptoms and treatment seeking among perinatal patients, including those with perinatal obsessive-compulsive disorder (POCD), perinatal depression (PPD), and postpartum psychosis (PPP). This study examines the relationship between stigma, illness recognition, and familiarity with illness in six distinct postpartum experiences. In a cross-sectional online survey, participants (N = 572) were randomized to one of six postpartum vignettes: subclinical, depression, psychosis, and three subtypes of obsessive-compulsive disorder: contamination, responsibility for harm, and sexual content. Participants were asked to provide a diagnostic label of the condition and rate different aspects of stigma. Sexual content POCD, responsibility for harm content POCD, and the subclinical vignettes were less likely to be accurately recognized than PPD, contamination POCD, and PPP. A multivariate analysis of variance revealed the sexual POCD and PPP vignettes were met with the highest level of stigma, while the subclinical condition, PPD, and contamination POCD were met with the lowest levels of stigma. Significant interactions were present between accurate recognition of the condition and type of vignette on stigma variables, with recognition generally being associated with lower stigma for POCD and PPD. This demonstrates the need for comprehensive educational efforts on perinatal mental health.

Stigma research in Arab countries: a rapid review

Purpose This paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of existing research on stigma in Arab countries. Design/methodology/approach A rapid review approach was used, leveraging the Scopus database to identify relevant articles. This streamlined method allows for timely assessments of the current state of knowledge, identifies research gaps and is particularly relevant given the social and cultural dynamics in Arab countries. Findings This study identified a growing interest in stigma-related topics in Arab countries, with a notable increase in the number of publications and citations over the past decade. Research focused on various aspects of stigma, including mental health, HIV, COVID-19 and diverse health conditions, shedding light on the prevalent challenges faced by different populations. Additionally, comparative studies highlighted the influence of culture and gender on the expression of stigma in the region. Practical implications To combat stigma in Arab countries, this study suggests the need for culturally sensitive interventions, integration of mental health services into health-care systems and the development of public health campaigns. These measures should be designed to protect vulnerable populations and prioritize educational initiatives for both the younger generation and health-care professionals. Social implications Reducing stigma in Arab countries is crucial for fostering greater social cohesion, equality and overall well-being. The study underscores the importance of collaborations to adapt successful strategies to the unique Arab context. Originality/value This paper fills a crucial research gap by investigating stigma in Arab countries, emphasizing the need for culturally sensitive interventions, education integration and international collaboration to combat it effectively.

Stigmatization of Ebola virus disease survivors in 2022: A cross-sectional study of survivors in Sierra Leone

BackgroundEvidence has demonstrated a high proportion of Ebola virus disease (EVD) survivors experienced stigma due to the disease. This study sought to understand the longer-term effects of stigma encountered by survivors of the 2014–2016 EVD epidemic living in Sierra Leone. MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study of 595 EVD survivors and 403 close contacts (n = 998) from Sierra Leone. Assessments were conducted using a three-part survey between November 2021 to March 2022. We explored the socio-demographic factors associated with stigma experienced by EVD survivors. Findings50·6 % (n = 301) of EVD survivors reported that they continued to experience at least one aspect of stigma. Females were disproportionately affected by stigma, with 45·2 % of females reporting isolation from friends and family compared to 33·9 % of men (p = 0·005). Multivariable logistic regression models revealed those aged 40–44, living rurally, and reporting an acute infection longer than seven days was associated with EVD-related stigma at the time of survey. InterpretationThis study demonstrates stigma is still prevalent among people who survived EVD in 2022. It also identified socio-demographic factors associated with stigma that can be used for targeting interventions. Importantly, this highlights the continued need for EVD survivors to access mental healthcare and social support systems well after disease recovery. FundingThis study was funded by the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (Grant no. PJT-175098. JK is funded by a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in the Molecular Pathogenesis of Emerging and Re-Emerging Viruses. SS is funded by a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Program Science and Global Public Health.

Psychometric assessment of HIV stigma in patients attending a tertiary facility: An initial validation of the Berger HIV stigma scale in a Ghanaian perspective.

HIV-related stigma and discrimination are major challenges to people living with HIV (PLWHIV) and are due to misconceptions. Due to socioeconomic variations, there is increased stigma experienced by PLWHIV in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Stigma affects adherence to antiretroviral medications by PLWHIV and defeats the goal of achieving viral suppression. This study evaluated the Bergers HIV stigma scale in PLWHIV in Ghana regarding construct validity and reliability and assessed which aspect of stigma is critical for immediate redress. The Berger et al. HIV stigma scale (39 items) and some selected questions from HIV stigma and discrimination measurement tool of the International Centre for Research on Women, Washington, DC were administered to a cohort of PLWHIV in Ghana (n = 160). Clinico- demographic data was collected from their folders and verbally. The psychometric assessment included exploratory factor analysis whiles scale reliability was evaluated as internal consistency by calculating Cronbach's α. The exploratory factor analysis suggested a four-factor solution which is like the original Berger HIV scale with sub-scales personalised stigma, disclosure concerns, negative self- image, and concerns with public attitudes. Items in the sub-scales personalised stigma (15- items), disclosure concerns (6), negative self-image (7) and concerns with public attitudes (6) were reduced compared to the original scale. Cronbach's α for the overall HIV stigma scale (34-items) was 0.808 whiles the sub-scales α ranged from 0.77 to 0.89. Analysis suggested the prevalence of a fundamental one-dimensional factor solution which yielded a 34-item scale after removing items for low factor loadings. Disclosure concerns was the highest ranked subscale although our study also found that about 65% of PLWHIV among our study participants had disclosed their status. Our 34-item abridged Berger HIV stigma scale showed sufficient reliability with high Cronbach's α and construct validity. Disclosure concerns ranked high among the sub-scales on the scale. Exploring specific interventions and strategies to address stigma concerns in our population will aid in the reduction of HIV-related stigma and associated consequences.

Indigenous cultural understandings of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias – research and engagement (ICARE): relationships between cultural strengths, education and stigma

AbstractBackgroundEvidence indicates Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) and chronic diseases considered risk factors for developing ADRD disproportionately affect Indigenous people. However, little is known regarding lived experiences, needs and resiliencies across the ADRD disease trajectory in Indigenous communities. This work highlights preliminary data from the ICARE study (R56 AG 62307); a project that explored factors impacting ADRD across the disease trajectory. This research focuses on thematic trends and relationships between education, cultural strengths and stigma emerging from the analysis of Sequential Focus Groups (SFGs) data.MethodCommunity‐based participatory research and phenomenology guided qualitative study design, recruitment, data collection and analysis. We conducted SFGs in four tribal community sites in the US and Canada. All participants had professional health care experience working with Indigenous people with dementia (PWD). Each site held between 4‐5 sequential virtual focus groups with consistent participants lasting between 30‐90 minutes. Community‐based researchers led these sessions focused on understandings within the contexts of early, mid and late‐stage dementia.ResultParticipants (N = 17) were aged 18+, and worked with Indigenous PWD (M = 11.09 years; SD = 9.25). Additionally, 41% reported caring for a loved one with dementia. Preliminary analysis suggests thematic shifts within the contexts of early, mid, and late‐stage ADRD, including cultural understandings of ADRD. Participants described a need for education in early‐stage, service access in middle‐stage, and safety and retrospective recommendations for education in late‐stage. Notably, aspects of stigma appeared thematically through each stage, and appeared antithetical to other consistent subthemes of community needs (e.g., education) and cultural strengths (e.g., connectedness, storytelling).ConclusionSFGs revealed nuances of cultural and community level factors influencing the impact of ADRD across the disease trajectory in four diverse Indigenous communities. Preliminary data provide lines of inquiry for ICARE R01 NIH (R01AG062307), such as exploring culturally appropriate education and outreach as inroads to developing effective interventions and reducing stigma, isolation and the burden of ADRD on AI/FN communities. Notions of stigma require further investigation and may reflect Western ideology and disconnection from traditional teachings resulting from colonization.

Stigmatizing attitudes about lung cancer among individuals who smoke cigarettes.

INTRODUCTIONMany individuals with lung cancer report experiencing stigma associated with their diagnosis. The objective of this study was to explore how different factors, including smoking status, lung cancer concern, and thoughts on smoking behaviors, were associated with increased stigmatizing attitudes towards people with lung cancer.METHODSIn 2015, a Web-based survey was completed by people who currently smoked. Participants (n=1419) aged 18–65 years were randomly assigned to one of three scenarios in which the character who was diagnosed with lung cancer currently, formerly, or never smoked cigarettes. Two aspects of stigma were assessed: blaming the victim and negative attributions about people with lung cancer.RESULTSFor blaming the victim and negative attributions, lung cancer stigma differed by scenario (described smoking status, p<0.0001), when adjusting for race, sex, education level, age, income, nicotine dependence, quit intentions, and quit attempts. Higher levels of lung cancer concern were associated with greater blaming the victim (p=0.001), when adjusting for scenario and other significant correlates.CONCLUSIONSThe findings suggest that stigmatizing attitudes from people who smoke towards people with lung cancer may be reflective of how they feel about their own smoking habits. We suggest that specific messaging guidelines that avoid an over emphasis on an individual’s smoking status, cessation interventions that address stigma, and screening messages tailored to smoking status, may help to lessen the burden of lung cancer stigma.

Cross-cultural comparisons of the effect of a schizophrenia label on stigmatizing family attitudes: A case vignette study.

It has been proposed that stigmatizing attitudes toward a family member with schizophrenia are less prevalent in low- and middle-income countries (LAMIC) than in high-income countries (HIC). Furthermore, studies from HIC have shown that labeling increases certain aspects of stigma. This raises concerns about an export of this Western psychiatric labeling practice to LAMIC. The aim of the present research was to determine (a) whether stigmatizing family attitudes are less prevalent in LAMIC than in HIC and (b) whether stigmatizing family attitudes are intensified in both country types by introducing a schizophrenia label. Adults from two HIC (n = 718) and four LAMIC (n = 763) participated in the online study by reading a vignette, which depicted a family member presenting schizophrenia symptoms. Participants were randomly allocated to receive either the label (mental illness called schizophrenia) or the no label condition. Stigma-related stereotypes, emotions, and negative family affect were measured. A two-way multivariate analysis of covariance was conducted. This analysis revealed that participants from LAMIC showed significantly less stigmatizing attitudes toward their family members compared to those from HIC. Introducing a schizophrenia label significantly increased stigmatizing family attitudes in both country types, but the association between labeling and family attitudes was stronger in HIC than in LAMIC. Our results indicate that family attitudes toward schizophrenia and associated labeling effects differ between countries with varying economic strata and cultural values. This needs to be considered in stigma research and in the tailoring of antistigma interventions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Experience of stigmatization in children receiving inpatient and outpatient mental health treatment: a longitudinal study

Mental health-related stigma is poorly understood, and minimal research has focused on the experience of stigma from children’s perspectives. We sought to investigate whether children treated as inpatients and outpatients had different experiences of stigma over time and whether stigma is linked to global functioning cross-sectionally and longitudinally. Children, aged 8–12 years, receiving treatment within a national specialist mental health inpatient unit were matched for age, gender and diagnosis with children receiving outpatient treatment (N = 64). Validated measures of stigma, global functioning and symptom severity were collected at the start of treatment and upon discharge from the ward for inpatients, and a similar timeframe for their individually matched outpatients. Latent change score models and partial correlation coefficients were employed to test our hypotheses. No differences in most aspects of stigma between children treated as inpatients and outpatients were observed, except for personal rejection at baseline and self-stigma at follow-up favouring outpatients. A reduction in stigma was observed in societal devaluation, personal rejection and secrecy for inpatients, and self-stigma and secrecy for outpatients between the two assessments. Societal devaluation declined at a higher rate among inpatients compared to outpatients, albeit reductions in stigma were comparable for all remaining measures. No association was found between the change in stigma and change in global functioning. Future research may offer further insights into the development and maintenance of stigma and identify key targets for anti-stigma interventions to reduce its long-term impact.

HIV, migration, gender, and drug addiction: A qualitative study of intersectional stigma towards Afghan immigrants in Iran

HIV-related stigma has been identified as a major barrier to the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of HIV among immigrants. The intersection of HIV with other forms of stigma can lead to greater inequality in health outcomes and access to health services. This study aimed to improve the understanding of HIV stigma towards Afghan immigrants in Iran through an intersectional perspective. The data were collected using 25 semi-structured interviews with the following three groups: Afghan immigrants who were diagnosed with or at risk of HIV infection due to injection drug addiction or having multiple sexual partners (n=8), HIV service providers (n=8), and policymakers/managers/experts (n=9). Thematic analysis was used for data analysis. The participants described different manifestations of stigma (internalized, anticipated, perceived, experienced stigma, and discrimination) associated with HIV and interlocked with other aspects of stigma, including migration, gender, and drug addiction. According to the results, the intersection of different layers of stigma should be taken into account while designing and implementing HIV prevention and treatment programmes. It was also recommended to conduct the necessary interventions such as comprehensive HIV education, social support, as well as peer and outreach services to reduce stigma and discrimination based on the immigrants' needs as well as cultural and social values.

Humanizing Pedophilia as Stigma Reduction: A Large-Scale Intervention Study

The stigmatization of people with pedophilic sexual interests is a topic of growing academic and professional consideration, owing to its potential role in moderating pedophiles’ emotional well-being, and motivation and engagement in child abuse prevention schemes. Thus, improving attitudes and reducing stigmatization toward this group is of paramount importance. Prior research has suggested that narrative humanization—presenting personal stories of self-identified non-offending pedophiles—could be one route to doing this. However, this work has only been conducted with students or trainee psychotherapists, meaning the public generalizability of this method is still unknown. In this study, we compared two stigma interventions to test whether narratives reduce stigma toward people with pedophilic interests more effectively than an informative alternative (scientific information about pedophilia). Using a longitudinal experimental design with a lack of non-intervention control (initial N = 950; final N = 539), we found that narratives had consistently positive effects on all measured aspects of stigmatization (dangerousness, intentionality), whereas an informative alternative had mixed results, and actually increased perceptions of pedophiles’ levels of deviance. These effects were still present four months after the initial presentation. We discuss these data in relation to ongoing debates about treating pedophilia as a public health issue requiring a broad societal approach to well-being and child abuse prevention.

Стигма и социални дистанции при зрелостници спрямо хора с пси- хични разстройства

The work is dedicated to people with mental disorders, stigmatizing attitudes and social distances, manifested by graduate students. Different aspects of stigmatization and social distance are considered theoretically – fear, refusal to participate in cooperative activities, presence of a negative attitude, adverse treatment, aggression and more. At the end, there are made recommendations to overcome stigma and social distances. Empirical findings show that graduate students exhibit negative attitudes and social distances toward people with mental disorders, but they are well below the average levels for the Bogardus Social Distance Scale. The actual group of respondents definitely maintaining friendly relations with members of the target group and does not mind establishing a specialized center for dealing with people with mental disorders in the city or in their neighborhood.

Time Waits for No One: Longitudinal Study on the Effects of an Anti-Stigma Seminar on the Psychology Student Population.

The primary aim is to describe the changes in the knowledge of mental health conditions, the attitudes toward the mentally ill, and the intended behaviour towards people with mental illness among the entire student population of the third year of a degree course in Psychology. A total of 570 students attended a seminar on stigma towards mental illness and were invited to complete an online survey which collected data on sociodemographic characteristics and three validated questionnaires evaluating different aspects of stigma at three different time points (pre-intervention, post-intervention, and at one year follow up). A total of 253 students (44.39%) completed the questionnaires at t0, t1, and t2. The mean age of the sample was 23.7 (SD = ±5.89), and 86.96% (n = 220) were females. Between t0 and t1, a statistically significant improvement was observed for all three outcomes, while the intended behaviour outcome was no longer significant between t1 and t2 (Z = −0.70; p = 0.48). Females and who participated live at the seminar maintained a significant knowledge of mental illness and a better attitude toward community mental health care. The effects of the seminar focused on reducing stigma tended to diminish over time at one year follow-up, particular in relation to intended behaviour.

Reducing the stigma of mental health disorders with a focus on low- and middle-income countries.

Mental health disorders are a burgeoning global public health challenge, and disproportionately affect the poor. Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) bear 80 % of the mental health disease burden. Stigma associated with mental health results in delayed help seeking, reduced access to health services, suboptimal treatment, poor outcomes and an increased risk of individuals' human rights violations. Moreover, widespread co-occurrence of physical comorbidities such as noncommunicable diseases with mental health disorders makes the treatment of both conditions challenging and worsens prognosis. This paper explores various aspects of stigma towards mental health with a focus on LMICs and assesses measures to increase help-seeking and access to and uptake of mental health services. Stigma impacts persons living with mental illness, their families and caregivers and healthcare professionals (mental health professionals, non-psychiatric specialists and general practitioners) imparting mental health care. Cultural, socio-economic and religious factors determine various aspects of mental health in LMICs, ranging from perceptions of health and illness, health seeking behavior, attitudes of the individuals and health practitioners and mental health systems. Addressing stigma requires comprehensive and inclusive mental health policies and legislations; sustainable and culturally-adapted awareness programs; capacity building of mental health workforce through task-shifting and interprofessional approaches; and improved access to mental health services by integration with primary healthcare and utilizing existing pathways of care. Future strategies targeting stigma reduction must consider the enormous physical comorbidity burden associated with mental health, prioritize workplace interventions and importantly, address the deterioration of population mental health from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Correlation Between Stigma and Quality of Life in Leprosy Patients in Mehrab Khan Region of Mashhad

Leprosy is one of the oldest chronic diseases, and similar to other infectious diseases, it causes long-term physical and social effects on the lives of patients and their families. This was a cross-sectional study conducted with 103 patients with leprosy in Mashhad in the Mehrab Khan region in March 2016. The sampling method was convenience sampling. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 19. Descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation) and inferential tests (ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and independent t-test) were used. The results showed that the mean age of patients was 65.2±8.1 years and the mean age of developing leprosy was 15.3±7.03. There was an inverse correlation between the score of overall stigma, internal stigma, and all dimensions of quality of life that was statistically significant, except for the social dimension (r= -0.181…; P=0.067). There was an inverse correlation between the psychological dimension of quality of life and experienced stigma. The highest score of the overall quality of life was related to divorced patients with a mean score of 79.7, which was statistically significant (P=0.016) from those who were not divorced. In post-hoc test, just the difference between widow and divorced were significant regarding quality of life. According to results, there was a negative correlation between the quality of life and all aspects of stigma using the SARI tool.

Money, Agency, and Self-Care among Cisgender and Trans People in Sex Work

Many qualitative studies about the exchange of sex for money, drugs, and less tangible outcomes (i.e., social status) contend that this activity contributes to high levels of internalized stigma among people in sex work. The cis (n = 33) and trans people (n = 5) who participated in our project about health, violence, and social services acknowledged the stigma associated with sex work but were not governed by the dominant discourse about its moral stain. They shared nuanced insights about the relationship between sex work and self-respect as people who use their earnings to mitigate the struggles of poverty and ongoing drug use, and care for themselves more broadly. This study sheds new light on the ways that cis and trans people negotiate issues of money, agency, and self-care, contributing to the literature on consensual sex work that examines different aspects of stigma, safety, and health with a nuanced, non-binary gender analysis.

Attitudinal and demographic factors associated with seeking help and receiving antidepressant medication for symptoms of common mental disorder

BackgroundDespite the increased attention given to improvement of mental health-related knowledge and attitudes, rates of help-seeking for mental illness remain low even in countries with well-developed mental health services. This study examines the relationships between attitudes to mental illness, symptoms of common mental disorder and seeking-help and receiving medication for a mental health problem.MethodsWe used data from the nationally representative Health Survey for England 2014 to design three logistic regression models to test for the effects of attitudes to mental illness (measured by a shortened version of the Community Attitudes toward the Mentally Ill, CAMI scale) on: recent contact with a doctor for a mental health problem; use of any type of mental health service in the last 12 months; and having antidepressants currently prescribed, while controlling for symptoms of common mental disorder (measured by the General Health Questionnaire, GHQ). We also tested for an interaction between attitudes to mental illness and symptoms of common mental disorder on the outcomes.ResultsA significant but very small effect of CAMI score was found on ‘antidepressants currently prescribed’ model (OR = 1.01(1.00, 1.02) but not on the two indicators of help-seeking. We also found a significant but very small interaction between CAMI and GHQ scores on recent contact with a doctor (OR = 0.99, 95% CI (0.990, 0.998); adjusted Wald test P = 0.01)). Knowing someone with a mental illness had a significant positive effect on help-seeking indicated by: (a) recent contact with a doctor (2.65 (1.01, 6.98)) and (b) currently prescribed antidepressant (2.67 (1.9, 3.75)) after controlling for attitudes to mental illness.ConclusionsOur results suggest that knowing someone with a mental health problem seems to have a further positive effect on help-seeking, beyond improving attitudes to mental illness. Furthermore, multiple different types and aspects of stigma may contribute to help-seeking behaviours, consequently multi-faceted approaches are likely to be most efficient.

Messaging in Biological Psychiatry: Misrepresentations, Their Causes, and Potential Consequences.

Most experts in the field of psychiatry recognize that neuroscience advances have yet to be translated into clinical practice. The main message delivered to laypeople, however, is that mental disorders are brain diseases cured by scientifically designed medications. Here we describe how this misleading message is generated. We summarize the academic studies describing how biomedical observations are often misrepresented in the scientific literature through various forms of data embellishment, publication biases favoring initial and positive studies, improper interpretations, and exaggerated conclusions. These misrepresentations also affect biological psychiatry and are spread through mass media documents. Exacerbated competition, hyperspecialization, and the need to obtain funding for research projects might drive scientists to misrepresent their findings. Moreover, journalists are unaware that initial studies, even when positive and promising, are inherently uncertain. Journalists preferentially cover them and almost never inform the public when those studies are disconfirmed by subsequent research. This explains why reductionist theories about mental health often persist in mass media even though the scientific claims that have been put forward to support them have long been contradicted. These misrepresentations affect the care of patients. Indeed, studies show that a neuro-essentialist conceptualization of mental disorders negatively affects several aspects of stigmatization, reduces the chances of patients’ healing, and overshadows psychotherapeutic and social approaches that have been found effective in alleviating mental suffering. Public information about mental health should avoid these reporting biases and give equal consideration to the biological, psychological, and social aspects of mental health.