A A Pawar1, Ameetha Peters2, Jyoti Rathod3. 1. Command Medical Officer, Eastern Naval Command, Visakhapatnam, AP, India. 2. Matron (Psychiatry), Command Hospital (Southern Command), Pune 411040, India. 3. Clinical Psychologist, INHS Asvini, Colaba, Mumbai, India.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Stigma against mental illness exists across all countries. Stigma devalues the ill person and their relatives and denies them from attaining their rightful place in society. Stigma also prevents the ill person from seeking help. Stigma in the Armed Forces of UK and USA has been identified as a barrier to help seeking and a cause for concern as it could affect operational efficiency. However, studies conducted in the services of this country are lacking. Hence we decided to measure stigma perceived by patients and caregivers of the mentally ill and to assess stigma regarding the mentally ill patients and their caregivers, in the general population. METHODS: A cross sectional survey of patients (302), their caregivers (98), and members of the general population (102) who had no relatives suffering from mental illness was done. The patients were given the Stigma Scale developed by King et al. The caregivers (98) were given the devaluation of consumers scale and devaluation of consumer families scale developed by Struening et al. RESULTS: 90% of patients admitted to experiencing stigma. 86% of patients had experienced discrimination. Females experienced more discrimination than males. Stigma perceived was irrespective to age, mental status, rank and education of the patient. Caregivers perceived stigma and felt blamed by the community. Members of the general population gave similar responses. CONCLUSIONS: Study has brought out the high levels of stigma faced by the patients and their caregivers. High levels of stigma observed are a barrier to care.
BACKGROUND: Stigma against mental illness exists across all countries. Stigma devalues the ill person and their relatives and denies them from attaining their rightful place in society. Stigma also prevents the ill person from seeking help. Stigma in the Armed Forces of UK and USA has been identified as a barrier to help seeking and a cause for concern as it could affect operational efficiency. However, studies conducted in the services of this country are lacking. Hence we decided to measure stigma perceived by patients and caregivers of the mentally ill and to assess stigma regarding the mentally illpatients and their caregivers, in the general population. METHODS: A cross sectional survey of patients (302), their caregivers (98), and members of the general population (102) who had no relatives suffering from mental illness was done. The patients were given the Stigma Scale developed by King et al. The caregivers (98) were given the devaluation of consumers scale and devaluation of consumer families scale developed by Struening et al. RESULTS: 90% of patients admitted to experiencing stigma. 86% of patients had experienced discrimination. Females experienced more discrimination than males. Stigma perceived was irrespective to age, mental status, rank and education of the patient. Caregivers perceived stigma and felt blamed by the community. Members of the general population gave similar responses. CONCLUSIONS: Study has brought out the high levels of stigma faced by the patients and their caregivers. High levels of stigma observed are a barrier to care.
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Authors: Apoorva Guttikonda; Aleena M Shajan; Adeline Hephzibah; Akhila S Jones; Jerlyn Susanna; Sunil Neethu; Sharon Poornima; Sarah M Jala; D Arputharaj; David John; Nehemiah Natta; Dolorosa Fernandes; Shalini Jeyapaul; Dimple Jamkhandi; H Ramamurthy Prashanth; Anu M Oommen Journal: Indian J Psychol Med Date: 2019 Mar-Apr