Our aim with this study is to create an understanding of how parents of children and young people with neuropsychiatric diagnoses experience cooperation and response from and between schools and authorities. Research show that cooperation can be successful, but that the path is often problematic. Although there is a collective responsibility in society of children's well-being,  research show that there is a shift in responsibility of the children's problems from the different parties in which the responsibility often fall solely on parents. Another aspect that appears in earlier research is the parents' great need of support in their situation that is described as chaotic.    The study is of qualitative sort and is based on interviews that consist of questions with an open character. The result has been analyzed with the help of previous research and theory of street-level bureaucrats (Lipsky), stigma (Goffman) and the idea of field, habitus and capital (Bourdieu & Passeron). Our result largely reflect previous research. From the parents perspective the school is perceived as the biggest concern. According to them the problem lies within a lack of knowledge and lack of an individual perspective. The parents express a desire for a greater cooperation, increased knowledge within authorities and schools, as well as an increased understanding of neuropsychiatric diagnoses and furthermore help and support in the early stages. Ultimately the parents have a desire that authorities, school and family frequently pursue a mutual dialogue where the character of the encounter is paramount.

Skin tone variation within American black communities has long been associated with intraracial stratification. Data from the National Survey of Black Americans (NSBA) indicate that lighter-skinned blacks – net of such factors as region of residence, age, and sex – consistently have higher levels of nearly every socioeconomic indicator including educational attainment, personal and family income, and perceived physical attractiveness when compared to their darker counterparts. What does this color caste system mean for the personal identities and emotional experiences of dark-skinned blacks in America? Using data from the NSBA and six interviews with dark-skinned blacks, I set forth social psychological implications of a phenotypically stratified subgroup in the United States.

Magister Curationis - MCur / HIV stigma is still affecting People Living with HIV (PLHIV) despite biomedical and structural interventions to reduce this phenomenon. Stigma, particularly health facility related stigma, experienced by PLHIV is reported to fuel poor access to services. As a result, considerable interventions to reduce the stigma among PLHIV have been proposed. However, poor HIV indicators are still reported. Little is reported about PLHIV’s lived experiences of stigma, especially at health facilities, which might be the contributor to poor health outcomes. Hence, this study sought to explore and describe the stigma experienced by PLHIV at a health facility in Khayelitsha Sub-District, Cape Town, South Africa. A qualitative approach, using an exploratory design was followed. Participants were purposively selected, and unstructured interviews were conducted. In total, 15 participants were anticipated to be interviewed. However, saturation occurred after 12 participants were interviewed, but the researcher went further to interview 14 participants. Audiotaped interviews were transcribed verbatim by the researcher (those in English) and assistant researchers (isiXhosa and Afrikaans). Data were then organised and entered into ATLAS.Ti version 8, a Computer Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis Software (CAQDAS) used for analysis of large sets of data. An independent coder was given raw data, and the two outcomes were discussed to reach a consensus on generated themes. The supervisor reviewed the analysed data. Rigour was ensured through the criteria of credibility, dependability, transferability and conformability. The ethical clearance for this study was obtained from the Biomedical Research Ethics Committee (BMREC) at the University of the Western Cape and the City of Cape Town. Six themes emerged from the data because of participants’ experience of stigma at the facility. These include: existence of stigma triggers, participants’ experience of stigma at the clinic, direct stigmatising behaviour, and PLHIV’s characterisation of stigma types, PLHIV’s directed health outcomes, and activism as a secondary health outcome. The results of the study revealed that stigma was perpetuated in the health facility in numerous forms. These were: physical demarcation of the facility, negative behaviour of nurses towards People living with HIV and incompetence of the nurses. This gave rise to recommendations in nursing practice, to policymakers and a need for further research on the topic.

Background: Self-injury is a serious behaviour undertaken by those in distress. Attitudes to self-injury both with and without intent to end life is often studied in terms of professionals working in Accident and Emergency (A&E), with little attention paid to other professionals or non-professionals. There are several potential aspects to one's stigmatising attitudes, such as willingness to help individuals, perceived causes for behaviour, optimism for prognosis and general empathy experienced. Moreover, some research suggests stigmatising attitudes may be different depending on the severity of the self-injury, including the presence or absence of suicidal intent. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact on these factors of the form of self-injury and professional background. Methods: Using an online survey methodology 436 respondents completed the survey. The attitudes of Mental Health Professionals, Primary Care Professionals and those not working in either of these settings ('Non-Professionals') were compared to explore their attitudes towards self-injury. Participants were randomly shown a vignette depicting either self-injury with or without intent to end life and reported their overall empathy, willingness to help, attributions for the behaviour and optimism for prognosis. Results: On all measures Non-Professionals reported more negative attitudes than either healthcare professional group, who had similar attitudes towards self-injury. Both professional groups differed in their attitudes towards self-injury with and without suicidal intent on all measures expect for optimism for prognosis. Across all professional groups a difference was seen between the optimism for personal and others' intervention. Conclusions: The study outlined the current attitudes of different healthcare professionals and the general public towards self-injury both with and without intent to end life. Differences in attitudes were seen, showing the potential to improve the stigmatising attitudes experienced by those who self-injure; methods were suggested by which to do this. Further research is needed in order to assess the clinical effectiveness of attempts to improve stigmatising attitudes.

Background: Stigmatization of people with psychosis is a widespread and global issue that has been existing for a long time. While other psychological illnesses are getting less stigmatized, schizophrenia and psychosis tend to be unchanged. Aim: The aim of the study was to illuminate experiences of stigmatizations in people with psychosis. Method: This is a literature study based on qualitative research. Thirteen articles were analyzed according to Friberg's five-step model and resulted in four themes and seven sub-themes. Results: The main theme that emerged was: feeling powerless, experience of exclusion, being treated unfairly, a need to withdraw. The result showed that people with psychosis or schizophrenia experience stigma from different directions which includes family, society and healthcare. Conclusion: Stigma exist everywhere and to prevent stigmatization, more knowledge about the phenomenon is required. Stigmatization gives the person worse conditions in life. The recovery becomes more lengthy and complicated. / Med samhällets ökande stress och krav ökar också den psykiska ohälsan. Men vem vågar prata om sina psykiska problem i det rådande samhället? Vem vill bli kallad psykfall eller galning? När familj och vänner väljer att lämna dig på grund av dig och din sjukdom, och det enda som finns kvar är hemmets fyra väggar, vad gör du då? Psykisk ohälsa som schizofreni och psykos har en lång, mörk historia som präglats av stigmatisering. Utvecklingen går framåt, men i alldeles för långsam takt och dåtidens fördomar lever kvar. Medan behandlingsformerna har förändrats genom åren har stigman alltid funnits kvar, sida vid sida, inom vården men också i samhället. Stigma tar sig hänsynslöst över kulturer och länder och ter sig på ungefär samma sätt överallt. Stigma handlar om okunskap, fördomar, rykten och stereotyper, därför bör alla titta igenom sitt eget förråd av värderingar. Ger samhället de utsatta personerna förutsättningar att kunna leva fritt i samhället? Och vems ansvar är det att arbeta förebyggande för att krossa stigman? Personer som lider av psykossjukdom behöver få möjlighet till en hoppfull och ljus framtid efter allt mörker. I den här litteraturstudien har en kvalitativ metod använts och genom att ha sammanställt 13 vetenskapliga artiklar har fyra teman och sju underteman framkommit vilka visar att personer med psykos och schizofreni är en utsatt, stigmatiserad grupp i samhället och vården. Genom att belysa det här ämnet kan fler bli uppmärksammade på de fördomar som finns.

Low literacy remains a problem across the developed world. Health literacy has emerged as a specialist literacy, although its conceptualisation and measurement overlap with those of functional literacy. The social practice view, which conceptualises literacy as an activity rather than a skill, is useful in examining literacy-related practices and demands in healthcare contexts. Associations between low functional or health literacy and poorer health outcomes have been established in the research literature but studies have included participants whose low literacy may be obvious to healthcare providers and others. This thesis presents first a systematic review that focuses on literacy and health outcomes in the ‘hidden population’ with low literacy, defined as those of working age whose first language is that of their resident country but who score low on literacy measures. The review concludes that there is a link between low literacy and poorer health in this ‘hidden population’ but that potential pathways have not been explored to any extent. The thesis then presents a primary research study which sought to explore links between low literacy and poor health from the perspectives of people with low literacy; and how the health service might respond to address the issues raised. The findings from 25 in-depth interviews and 2 focus groups with adult learners highlighted the various ways that people with low literacy struggle with written and spoken communication in clinical encounters and in self-care activities. They further revealed that stigma frequently plays a central role in the social practices of those with low literacy, affecting their mental wellbeing and social relationships, including those with healthcare staff. The potential solutions identified for service providers would benefit from piloting and evaluation to help create a literacy-sensitive health service, which could improve engagement; enable self-care and enhance capabilities for health in those with low literacy.

Prior researchers have identified stigma as a significant barrier to mental health treatment for military service members as many members in need of mental health treatment fail to seek it. Researchers have evaluated the relationship between certain forms of stigma (specifically, self-stigma, which encompasses an individual's belief that having a mental health disorder may reflect diminished character, and public stigma, which encompasses an individual's perception that others stereotype people with mental health issues) and service members' attitudes toward mental health treatment. However, a gap exists in research on the relationship between experienced stigma (i.e., the subjective experience of discrimination) and individuals' attitudes toward mental health treatment. The purpose of this nonexperimental, quantitative study was to extend prior research completed by assessing the relationship among experienced stigma, public stigma, self-stigma, and soldiers' attitudes toward seeking mental health care. Ajzen's theory of planned behavior constituted the theoretical framework. A sample of military service members and veterans (N = 78) obtained from social media completed a questionnaire containing items from 3 existing scales. Multiple regression and mediation analysis revealed that public stigma and self-stigma were associated with less favorable attitudes toward mental health treatment. Self-stigma partially mediated the relationship between public stigma and attitudes toward treatment. Experienced stigma was not a significant predictor of participants' attitudes toward treatment. Study findings may help clinicians to develop more effective mental health programming for military service members and veterans, resulting in potential positive social change.

Pedophiles are the most stigmatized population in society (Jahnke, Imhoff, & Hoyer, 2015; Sanghara & Wilson, 2006). Social worker’s responsibility is to maintain standards and treat individuals with dignity and respect (NASW, 2017). It is important to explore bias against pedophiles because studies have shown bias is linked to offender recidivism rates (Jahnke, Schmidt, Geradt, & Hoyer, 2015). Social workers may unintentionally inhibit pedophiles from seeking treatment if they hold strong biases against them which could potentially negatively impact child abuse rates. The purpose of this study was to identify bias reduction techniques so that they could possibly be implemented in the social work field. Experienced social workers and social work students were interviewed so that the origins of and methods to combat bias could be explored. Themes among interviewee responses were identified and the importance of Opening a Dialogue eclipsed the need to utilize bias reduction techniques.

This thesis explores the topic of shame through my perspective as a pro-choice woman and future educator. It tells of the long relationship I have had with shame, which began when I had my first abortion. It also describes the history of shame inflicted on the women of Ireland, who continue to fight for their reproductive rights. I use these narratives to support my position that educators have a responsibility to create safe spaces for controversial topics and vulnerable populations on university campuses.

Weight stigma is associated with negative health outcomes across the BMI continuum. However, few studies have examined weight discrimination targeting people with low body weights. This investigation explored the presence of anti-thin bias, defined as the belief that people with low BMIs have undesirable personality characteristics. Participants were randomly assigned to read one of six vignettes about women that differed by race (White and Black) and weight status (slightly underweight, normal weight, and slightly overweight). Negative personality characteristics were more likely to be ascribed to both underweight and overweight women, compared with normal weight women. Furthermore, participants were significantly more likely to attribute underweight women’s body weight to biological factors. Results indicate that underweight women might be more stigmatized for their body weight than normal weight women. Weight bias literature should continue to research the impact of weight discrimination for individuals across the BMI spectrum.