Personal Experience Of Mental Illness Research Articles

Empathy and Mental Health Literacy

Background:There is growing literature on mental health literacy (MHL), but few studies have conducted research on anything more than demographic predictors of MHL. We believe that those who are more empathic would be more interested in and more knowledgeable about mental illnesses.Objective:This study was concerned to establish whether people who were more empathic would have higher MHL.Methods:The 129 volunteer, university panel, participants completed the Interpersonal Reactivity Index and were presented with 15 vignettes describing people with various mental disorders. Questions assessed participants' identification of the disorders and their perception of the life adjustment of each person.Key Results:The results showed that 3 of the 4 empathy subscales correlated with the MHL score. Results from correlation and regression analyses suggest that people who are more empathic, have studied psychology, and have had personal experience of mental illness demonstrate better MHL.Conclusions:As predicted, people with greater MHL had greater empathy, but this cross-sectional correlational study could not ascertain causal patterns. [Health Literacy Research and Practice. 2017;1(2):e31–e40.]Plain Language Summary:This study addressed whether people who are more empathic tend to be better informed about mental health issues because of their care for, interest in, and sympathy toward those with a range of mental illnesses. This was a questionnaire study and we did indeed find the relationship we thought may occur. However, we cannot be certain which caused which—do those who know more about mental illnesses and how common they are become more empathic or do those with greater empathy learn more about all aspects of mental illness?

Evaluating a unique, specialist psychiatric genetic counseling clinic: uptake and impact.

People with psychiatric disorders and their family members have expressed interest in receiving genetic counseling (GC). In February 2012, we opened the first (to our knowledge) specialist psychiatric GC clinic of its kind, for individuals with non-syndromic psychiatric disorders and their families. Prior to GC and at a standard 1-month follow-up session, clinical assessment tools are completed, specifically, the GC outcomes scale (GCOS, which measures empowerment, completed by all clients) and the Illness Management Self Efficacy scale (IMSES, completed by those with mental illness). Consecutive English-speaking clients attending the clinic between 1 February 2012 and 31 January 2013 who were capable of consenting were asked for permission to use their de-identified clinical data for research purposes. Descriptive analyses were conducted to ascertain demographic details of attendees, and paired sample t-tests were conducted to assess changes in GCOS and IMSES scores from pre- to post-GC. Of 143 clients, seven were unable to consent, and 75/136 (55.1%) consented. Most were female (85.3%), self-referred (76%), and had personal experience of mental illness (65.3%). Mean GCOS and IMSES scores increased significantly after GC (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.011, respectively). In a naturalistic setting, GC increases empowerment and self-efficacy in this population.

Public stigma towards mental illness in the Greek culture

Mental illness stigma negatively affects the lives of individuals with mental health disorders. Studies have indicated that the type and degree of stigma significantly varies across cultures. This study aimed to add to this body of knowledge by examining the prevalence and the type of mental illness stigma among individuals who identified themselves as Greek. It also examined the influence of a range of potential within-culture stigma moderating factors, including levels of previous experience with mental illness and mental illness knowledge. A cross-sectional quantitative design was employed, and 111 participants living in England and Greece were sampled through the snowball sampling technique. Stigma prevalence was measured using the 'Community Attitudes to Mental Illness' questionnaire. The findings revealed that participants showed a high degree of sympathy for people with mental illness but also considered them to be inferior and of a lower social class, and needing strict societal control. Higher stigma was significantly associated with being educated in England (instead of Greece), higher religiosity, lower knowledge levels and lower levels personal experience of mental illness. Targeted antistigma campaigns specifically tailored for the Greek culture are required in order to help reduce stigmatizing attitudes.

Good intentions: teaching and specialist support staff perspectives of student disclosure of mental health issues in post-secondary education

This article reports findings from a qualitative case study, as part of which staff perspectives of student disclosure of mental health issues in an Australian post-secondary vocational education setting were explored. Twenty teaching and specialist support staff from four vocational education and training institutions participated in individual semi-structured interviews. Institutional policies and practices related to the management of disability at each site provided contextual information relevant to the staff experience. All data were analysed thematically. Staff participants strongly supported student disclosure of mental health issues. Staff linked the likelihood of course success for students experiencing mental illness with disclosure and the implementation of educational supports. Findings draw attention to subtle differences in constructions of student disclosure reported by the specialist support staff and the teachers: differences in perspective which were consistent across locations. This study highlights the influence of personal experience of mental illness and institutional processes for educational adjustment on staff perspectives of student disclosure. Implications of the current practices in post-secondary education student support services are discussed. Further research on disclosure beliefs among teachers and specialist support staff, in a wider range of educational settings, would allow for a deeper exploration of issues raised by this study.

Public perceptions of risk in criminality: The effects of mental illness and social disadvantage

We examined how different types of mental illness elicited varying levels of predicted criminality and compared this with factors which might also elicit a negative response, specifically, a criminal history and social disadvantage. A sample of 243 participants undertook an anonymous, online experiment. Each participant was exposed to one of six vignettes: three involved mental illness (schizophrenia, depression/anxiety, or alcohol dependency); two in which socio-economic background was manipulated; and a control. The impact of mental illness, history of criminality and social disadvantage on the likelihood that the character in the vignette would commit future crime, and levels of sympathy, trust and potential for rehabilitation in the character were measured. Age and personal experience of mental illness and/or criminal behaviour in the participants was also examined. The sample were significantly more likely to think that a character would ‘possibly’ commit future crime if he had mental illness in comparison to the control, but crimes were expected to be minor. Significantly more discriminatory behaviour was reported towards the character with no mental illness but a disadvantaged background. Familiarity ameliorated this effect. Prejudice towards those with a criminal past and a disadvantaged background may be stronger than prejudice against those with mental illnesses.

Recovery research: the empirical evidence from England

Recovery research: the empirical evidence from England

Attitudes towards mental illness in Malawi: a cross-sectional survey.

BackgroundStigma and discrimination associated with mental illness are strongly linked to suffering, disability and poverty. In order to protect the rights of those with mental disorders and to sensitively develop services, it is vital to gain a more accurate understanding of the frequency and nature of stigma against people with mental illness. Little research about this issue has been conducted in Sub- Saharan Africa. Our study aimed to describe levels of stigma in Malawi.MethodsA cross-sectional survey of patients and carers attending mental health and non-mental health related clinics in a general hospital in Blantyre, Malawi. Participants were interviewed using an adapted version of the questionnaire developed for the “World Psychiatric Association Program to Reduce Stigma and Discrimination Because of Schizophrenia”.Results210 participants participated in our study. Most attributed mental disorder to alcohol and illicit drug abuse (95.7%). This was closely followed by brain disease (92.8%), spirit possession (82.8%) and psychological trauma (76.1%). There were some associations found between demographic variables and single question responses, however no consistent trends were observed in stigmatising beliefs. These results should be interpreted with caution and in the context of existing research. Contrary to the international literature, having direct personal experience of mental illness seemed to have no positive effect on stigmatising beliefs in our sample.ConclusionsOur study contributes to an emerging picture that individuals in Sub-Saharan Africa most commonly attribute mental illness to alcohol/ illicit drug use and spirit possession. Our work adds weight to the argument that stigma towards mental illness is an important global health and human rights issue.

Treat the brain; communicate with the mind

I had the great fortune of listening to Sandy Jeff's keynote address at the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses Conference on the Gold Coast last year, and have just finished reading her remarkable book Flying with Paper Wings (Jeffs 2009). Both listening to and reading her work gave such a strong insight into Sandy's personal experience of mental illness and the treatment provided by the mental health system. Her experiences are poignant and moving, and offer so much to mental health nursing in its ongoing quest to become a consumer-focused profession. During her keynote, Sandy made a simple but powerful statement: ‘Treat the brain; communicate with the mind’. These words resonated with me as a reminder of the humanity that is core to quality mental health nursing practice. Through her speeches and her writings, Sandy articulates her belief that mental illness does exist and has a biological cause. Many mental health nurses would support this view, but many others would disagree. Mental health nursing often celebrates its diversity, and this includes different, often opposing views about whether mental illness actually exists, and if so, whether its causes are biological, social, psychological, or a combination of these and other factors. These differing views are the subject of much debate, and make an important contribution to the strength and robustness of our profession. My main take-home message from Sandy's words was that while views about the existence or causation of mental illness are highly influential in determining service structures and funding models, they should not fundamentally alter the relationship between nurses and consumers. Whether mental illness is biological, social, psychological, or doesn't exist at all, the business of mental health nursing is to work as partners with people diagnosed with a mental illness, to facilitate positive outcomes for each individual journey to recovery. The impact of mental illness or mental distress, rather than the causes, should become the primary focus. Communication is key. Time and time again, findings from research into consumers’ experiences of nursing care, and of the mental health system more broadly, highlight communication (along with its inseparable partner respect) as indicators of the quality of care, and ultimately whether the experience is a positive or negative one. The need for effective and respectful communication is not unique to mental health, and indeed should underpin all nursing practice. Undeniably though, it is particularly important for people diagnosed with mental illness who experience such profound discrimination in all aspects of their lives both within and outside the health-care system. What is important for us is that mental health nursing can and does make a profound difference to consumer experiences. In her book Sandy specifically mentions some wonderful psychiatric nurses who have made such an important impact in her journey to recovery. Sadly, but not surprisingly, she also relays negative experiences. All too often health professionals judged her not only for her diagnosis and associated behaviours, but for her lifestyle and sexual preference. Supporting the biological approach and arguing that physical treatments are all that is required to ‘treat the illness’ cannot explain this type of response. Whatever the role of the brain is in one's thinking (pardon the pun), mental distress impacts the mind. This has to be acknowledged and addressed. For those who haven't already, I recommend reading Flying with Paper Wings and other accounts of lived experience within the mental health system. Such compelling stories are a constant reminder of the person behind the diagnosis, and the desperate need of each person to feel listened to and understood. Thanks to Sandy and others, whose lived experiences have given so much to our understanding and articulation of our profession.

Experience of support time and recovery workers in promoting WRAP

Aims and methodSupporting self-management is a core ambition of progressive mental health services, but little is known about how to achieve this. Support time and recovery (STaR) workers are routinely taught the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP). This study explores their capacity to support self-management using WRAP.ResultsThe audited STaR trainees had introduced an average of nine service users each to WRAP. There was a trend for those with personal experience of mental illness to introduce more clients to WRAP and even more so for those who had used WRAP themselves. Qualitative analysis suggested a range of factors that may mediate whether people engage with self-management or not.Clinical implicationsThe capacity of STaR workers and others to support people in self-management may depend on more than knowledge of self-management methods and having personal experience of mental health problems and services. Important factors may also include specific experience of the methods introduced, ongoing training, accountability and supervision.

Experiences of mental illness stigma, prejudice and discrimination: a review of measures.

BackgroundThere has been a substantial increase in research on mental illness related stigma over the past 10 years, with many measures in use. This study aims to review current practice in the survey measurement of mental illness stigma, prejudice and discrimination experienced by people who have personal experience of mental illness. We will identify measures used, their characteristics and psychometric properties.MethodA narrative literature review of survey measures of mental illness stigma was conducted. The databases Medline, PsychInfo and the British Nursing Index were searched for the period 1990-2009.Results57 studies were included in the review. 14 survey measures of mental illness stigma were identified. Seven of the located measures addressed aspects of perceived stigma, 10 aspects of experienced stigma and 5 aspects of self-stigma. Of the identified studies, 79% used one of the measures of perceived stigma, 46% one of the measures of experienced stigma and 33% one of the measures of self-stigma. All measures presented some information on psychometric properties.ConclusionsThe review was structured by considering perceived, experienced and self stigma as separate but related constructs. It provides a resource to aid researchers in selecting the measure of mental illness stigma which is most appropriate to their purpose.

Internalized stigma: a barrier to employment for people with mental illness

Internalized stigma is a barrier to employment for people diagnosed with mental illness, as they assimilate the stereotypes and prejudices of society in a manner that is detrimental to their success in the workplace. This article draws upon the author’s personal experience of mental illness and supported employment to explore the effects of internalized stigma and strategies for addressing these barriers. It asserts that the onus of responsibility is clearly with employers and service providers, for ensuring that people with mental illness receive the necessary supports and education about internalized stigma in a way that empowers them to become fully assimilated members of the workforce.

The Relative Irrelevance of Human Rights for the Care and Protection of the Mentally Ill

This paper argues that the approach adopted by the recent Report of the National Inquiry into the Human Rights of People with Mental Illness of seeking to protect the interests of the mentally ill by following a human rights model is fundamentally flawed. The application of human rights to the care and protection of the mentally ill is at best irrelevant and at worst actually harmful to their best interests. Human rights are incapable of addressing the personal experience of mental illness and are similarly incapable of addressing the social and political issues that confront the mentally ill.