Amna Khalil1, Fazila Gondal2, Nazish Imran3, Muhammad Waqar Azeem4. 1. Department of Child and Family Psychiatry, King Edward Medical University, Lahore, Pakistan. Electronic address: amnakhalil15@gmail.com. 2. Department of Child and Family Psychiatry, King Edward Medical University, Lahore, Pakistan. Electronic address: fazilaijazgondal92@gmail.com. 3. Child & Family Psychiatry Department, King Edward Medical University/Mayo Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan. Electronic address: nazishimrandr@gmail.com. 4. Department of Psychiatry, Sidra Medicine, Professor of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, Doha, Qatar. Electronic address: mazeem@sidra.org.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Self-stigma has a negative impact on the lives of children with mental health illnesses. It is a massive obstacle in the way of seeking professional help and poses a challenge to clinician's efforts to timely intervene and provide treatment. AIM: The aim of our study was to measure the stigma associated with mental illness in children with a variety of psychiatric diagnoses. METHODS: Following Institutional Review Board approval, an interviewer-based questionnaire was administered to children (aged 8-12 years), receiving treatment in Child Psychiatry Department at a tertiary care hospital in Lahore. The questionnaire comprised of Demographic Information Form and Paediatric Self-Stigmatization Scale (PaedS). In addition, parent / caregiver also completed a modified sub scale of the PaedS measuring the children's rejection by others due to their mental health difficulties. RESULTS: 110 children with various psychiatric problems, were interviewed with a mean age of 10 years + 1.7. Widespread presence of self-stigmatization was found in these children with particularly high scores for the scales of Societal Devaluation (2.6 + 0.54), Secrecy (2.85 + 0.59) and Self stigma (2.7 + 0.70). Almost two third of parents also answered in affirmative to statements about their children rejection by others due to their mental health difficulties. Children with emotional/ behavioral difficulties had statistically significant scores on secrecy and personal rejection subscales (P value<.05). CONCLUSIONS: Significant self-stigmatization amongst the children diagnosed with mental health illnesses in Lahore, Pakistan emphasize negative societal attitudes, which need to be addressed effectively in a timely manner.
INTRODUCTION: Self-stigma has a negative impact on the lives of children with mental health illnesses. It is a massive obstacle in the way of seeking professional help and poses a challenge to clinician's efforts to timely intervene and provide treatment. AIM: The aim of our study was to measure the stigma associated with mental illness in children with a variety of psychiatric diagnoses. METHODS: Following Institutional Review Board approval, an interviewer-based questionnaire was administered to children (aged 8-12 years), receiving treatment in Child Psychiatry Department at a tertiary care hospital in Lahore. The questionnaire comprised of Demographic Information Form and Paediatric Self-Stigmatization Scale (PaedS). In addition, parent / caregiver also completed a modified sub scale of the PaedS measuring the children's rejection by others due to their mental health difficulties. RESULTS: 110 children with various psychiatric problems, were interviewed with a mean age of 10 years + 1.7. Widespread presence of self-stigmatization was found in these children with particularly high scores for the scales of Societal Devaluation (2.6 + 0.54), Secrecy (2.85 + 0.59) and Self stigma (2.7 + 0.70). Almost two third of parents also answered in affirmative to statements about their children rejection by others due to their mental health difficulties. Children with emotional/ behavioral difficulties had statistically significant scores on secrecy and personal rejection subscales (P value<.05). CONCLUSIONS: Significant self-stigmatization amongst the children diagnosed with mental health illnesses in Lahore, Pakistan emphasize negative societal attitudes, which need to be addressed effectively in a timely manner.