Recently more studies are being conducted to show how being stigmatized effects the care and treatment mental health patients receive. Participatory action research is a method now being used to help understand how young people in particular are being effected by their diagnosis. One study conducted by, School of Health and Human Sciences,University of Essex showed that males and females had a hard time telling their friends about their recent diagnosis and felt alienated. Most of them , however felt that the experience allowed them to open their minds to the idea of needing mental help[1]
Doctors and therapist also play a role in helping patients to learn to cope with the possibility of being stigmatized. In order to improve their quality of life the people involved in the patient's care must make them aware that stigmas may arise and prepare them for the reality of being diagnosed with a serious mental illness. Yet another study was conducted in which 101 participants diagnosed with a serious mental illness were monitored for a year, some patients were socialized with the intent to teach them about stigmas and how to cope and others were not. The results showed that those participants that were socialized fared better in daily activities such as work and school and they also responded to treatment better than those who were not exposed to the socialization[2] Based on the most recent research from 2012-2013, children and adolescents have been widely reporting to face problems with peer relationships due to the diagnosis of a mental illness. They face isolation and ridicule from peers. Stereotypes that are associated with their diagnosis also do not go unnoticed, many of them face bullying simply due to the fact that they have ADHD or Depression . This hinders their chance for a fast recovery and may even prevent them from seeking further treatment[3]
- ^ Aggart, D., Franks, W., Osborne, O., & Collins, S. (2013). 'We are the ones asking the questions': The experiences of young mental health service users conducting research into stigma. Educational & Child Psychology, 30(1), 61-71.
- ^ Chronister, J., Chou, C., & Liao, H. (2013). THE ROLE OF STIGMA COPING AND SOCIAL SUPPORT IN MEDIATING THE EFFECT OF SOCIETAL STIGMA ON INTERNALIZED STIGMA, MENTAL HEALTH RECOVERY, AND QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG PEOPLE WITH SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS. Journal Of Community Psychology, 41(5), 582-600. doi:10.1002/jcop.21558
- ^ O'driscoll, C., Heary, C., Hennessy, E., & Mckeague, L. (2012). Explicit and implicit stigma towards peers with mental health problems in childhood and adolescence. Journal Of Child Psychology & Psychiatry, 53(10), 1054-1062. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7610.2012.02580.x
Aggart, D., Franks, W., Osborne, O., & Collins, S. (2013). 'We are the ones asking the questions': The experiences of young mental health service users conducting research into stigma. Educational & Child Psychology, 30(1), 61-71.
Chronister, J., Chou, C., & Liao, H. (2013). THE ROLE OF STIGMA COPING AND SOCIAL SUPPORT IN MEDIATING THE EFFECT OF SOCIETAL STIGMA ON INTERNALIZED STIGMA, MENTAL HEALTH RECOVERY, AND QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG PEOPLE WITH SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS. Journal Of Community Psychology, 41(5), 582-600. doi:10.1002/jcop.21558
McGarrity, L. A., Huebner, D. M., & McKinnon, R. K. (2013). Putting stigma in context: Do perceptions of group stigma interact with personally experienced discrimination to predict mental health?. Group Processes & Intergroup Relations, 16(6), 684-698. doi:10.1177/1368430213475675
O'driscoll, C., Heary, C., Hennessy, E., & Mckeague, L. (2012). Explicit and implicit stigma towards peers with mental health problems in childhood and adolescence. Journal Of Child Psychology & Psychiatry, 53(10), 1054-1062. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7610.2012.02580.x
Shim, R., & Rust, G. (2013, May). Primary Care, Behavioral Health, and Public Health: Partners in Reducing Mental Health Stigma. American Journal of Public Health. pp. 774-776. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2013.301214.