Many mental health organizations have developed campaigns that concentrate on reducing the stigma towards mental health with the intentions of increasing access and utilization for people with mental illnesses that are not receiving appropriate mental health services. The mental health campaigns predominantly focus on establishing awareness and education related to the number of people with mental illnesses and diagnoses so that people will not be ashamed or embarrassed to have mental illnesses or access mental health treatments. However, societal prejudices have caused many people diagnosed with mental illnesses to lose jobs, homes, and families; therefore, in general, people are afraid of being diagnosed as mentally ill and seeking mental health treatments. Additionally, recent national attention and media reports of tragic and senseless events caused by people diagnosed with mental illnesses intensified the societal prejudices and stigma towards people with mental illnesses, which have depicted these people as extremely harmful to themselves and others . Consequently, societal demands magnified the need for public changes to prevent future tragedies, which contributed to President Barack Obama proposing regulations and policy agendas aimed at reducing stigma towards mental health and increasing access and utilization of mental health services. The mental health campaign initiatives and legislative proposals are supportive to the cause by reducing prejudices and barriers for people diagnosed with mental illnesses, and hopefully, preventing future tragic events. However, the research indicated that there is another barrier to mental health services impacting the lower levels of access and utilization. / McAnulty College and Graduate School of Liberal Arts; / Health Care Ethics / PhD; / Dissertation;

This research explores areas of contention in the mental heath field in Australia through a qualitative analysis of voices and practices that can broadly be seen as talking with and talking back to psychiatry. The thesis is informed by key shifts in thinking that underpin postpsychiatry and analyses a set of materials through an interpretive lens of reading psychiatry against the grain (Bracken & Thomas, 2005; Lewis, 2006). In particular, it examines a failed ethics application to conduct research with people diagnosed with a mental illness, an anti-stigma campaign, the practices of some prominent mental health organisations in Australia, a conversation with two members of an emerging consumer/survivor network in Australia, and a television documentary and online discussion forum about an antidepressant medication. The research draws from discourse analytic methods and concepts from social movement framing research to identify factors shaping conformity and resistance to psychiatric doxa in the Australian mental health field. The research identifies the discursive repertoires that characterise the mental health field as a "game" in which competing perspectives vie for recognition. In relation to research ethics committees, the thesis argues that deference to clinical expertise is a potential barrier to cultural studies of psychiatry and a more inclusive agenda in mental heath research and practice. Some practices for ethics committees to consider when reviewing research that involves people who may have been diagnosed with a mental illness are proposed. The research also identifies problematic features of anti-stigma campaigns that direct their efforts toward protecting and promoting the discourse of biomedical psychiatry. A critique of this type of campaign is offered in relation to perspectives from postpsychiatry and social constructionism. On the basis of this research, it is argued that organisations that champion "mental health literacy" are limited in their ability to give voice to the goals and priorities of those who are calling for a more open, reflexive and democratic debate in mental health. The central argument of this thesis is that elevating first-person and postpsychiatry perspectives is necessary in order to interrogate and address the dominance of the medical model in psychiatry and its consequences.

The aim of the research was to explore perceived stigmatization of People with Bipolar Disorder to deepen the knowledge for Glocal Social Work Practice by means of an Interview and Literature Study. The data of the research was gathered from the perspective of people with bipolar diagnosis and a peer within the field, about whether stigma is experienced by people with bipolar disorder and how their resilience factors i.e. strength factors can be supported and enhanced. A qualitative study was conducted with the purpose of expanding the evidence-based knowledge base by exploring how people with bipolar disorder with resilience experienced stigmatization, and the factors that supported their resilience versus inhibited their resilience in their adversity. The research results were analyzed through literature reviews and interviews to gain an in-depth knowledge of the phenomena. The findings indicated that stigma was experienced by the people with bipolar disorder, and was experienced as affecting recovery negatively, creating reluctance to seek help and adding more stress factors. It was mentioned that a healthy social network for support (spouses, relatives, friends andprofessionals) i.e. inclusion along with an active lifestyle, defined goals in life andpurpose, spirituality, nature, faith and hope for a better tomorrow assisted in building and cementing resilience. The findings also indicated that education and anti-stigmainterventions helped in establishing better attitudes revolving around mental illness, especially interventions with personal encounters with people with mental illness.

The aim of the research was to explore perceived stigmatization of People with Bipolar Disorder to deepen the knowledge for Glocal Social Work Practice by means of an Interview and Literature Study. The data of the research was gathered from the perspective of people with bipolar diagnosis and a peer within the field, about whether stigma is experienced by people with bipolar disorder and how their resilience factors i.e. strength factors can be supported and enhanced. A qualitative study was conducted with the purpose of expanding the evidence-based knowledge base by exploring how people with bipolar disorder with resilience experienced stigmatization, and the factors that supported their resilience versus inhibited their resilience in their adversity. The research results were analyzed through literature reviews and interviews to gain an in-depth knowledge of the phenomena. The findings indicated that stigma was experienced by the people with bipolar disorder, and was experienced as affecting recovery negatively, creating reluctance to seek help and adding more stress factors. It was mentioned that a healthy social network for support (spouses, relatives, friends andprofessionals) i.e. inclusion along with an active lifestyle, defined goals in life andpurpose, spirituality, nature, faith and hope for a better tomorrow assisted in building and cementing resilience. The findings also indicated that education and anti-stigmainterventions helped in establishing better attitudes revolving around mental illness, especially interventions with personal encounters with people with mental illness. / <p>Godkända - Studie resultat: D</p>

Magister Public Health - MPH / The threat that HIV/AIDS poses to most institutions, including the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa, can potentially be decreased by reducing stigma and discrimination. Parliament’s Policy on HIV and AIDS provides protection for people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) against stigma and discrimination. The purpose of this study was to explore employee perceptions of HIV/AIDS stigma in the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa in order to inform improved anti-stigma strategies and interventions. This exploratory qualitative crosssectional study used individual interviews and focus group discussions among Parliamentary employees to examine perceptions of: HIV/AIDS related stigma in the workplace, the effectiveness of Parliament’s HIV/AIDS response strategy, and how HIV/AIDS-related stigma might be effectively addressed. A total of 49 respondents participated in: a) 19 individual interviews across five employment grades (A-Band to E-Band). b) 4 focus group discussions of 6- 9 people each. Data was analysed using thematic analysis. Five main themes were identified, as well as additional sub-themes. The main themes were: the actual acts of discrimination (enacted stigma), concerns related to disclosure, assumptions and preconceptions about causes and signs of HIV infection, concerns about psychological impact and lack of knowledge and education. Discrimination was generally described as being treated differently, as well as prejudice and negative attitude to a person with HIV/AIDS. More specifically, it was understood as labelling those who are HIV positive negatively and ostracizing them. Gossip and lack of confidentiality were the main barriers to disclosure and testing while weight loss and long term sick leave were interpreted as classic signs of a person who is HIV positive in Parliament. Fear played a major role in these respondents’ accounts of HIV/AIDS related stigma, while the perceived widespread ignorance was attributed to lack of information, knowledge and education. Respondents perceived Parliament’s HIV/AIDS response strategy to be ineffective. They suggested more awareness and training, establishment of support groups, involvement of PLWHA and involvement of Senior Management in addressing HIV/AIDS related stigma in Parliament.

No description available.

The stigma of mental illness endorsed by healthcare professionals has been linked to adverse outcomes. This issue underscores the need for early anti-stigma interventions in the context of professional training. The present study measured stigma change and suicide screening behaviors among medical, nursing, and pharmacy students enrolled in an interprofessional Communication Skills for Healthcare Professionals course. The Mental Health Knowledge Schedule (MAKS; Evans-Lacko et al., 2010), Opening Minds Scale for Health Care Providers (OMS-HC; Modgill, Patten, Knaak, Kassam, & Szeto, 2014), and the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale Form C (M-C SDS Form C; Reynolds, 1982) was administered at baseline (T1), a mid-semester assessment (T2), and post-intervention (T3) to 176 students. Post-intervention changes in stigma components (knowledge, attitudes, and behavioral intent) were mixed for all groups. Knowledge, attitudes, and behavioral intent did not predict whether students screened for suicidal ideation (p > .05). Findings from the present study support past research indicating that the stigma can be improved with appropriate intervention. Findings also support interprofessional training as an appropriate context for anti-stigma interventions. Currently, there is no general consensus regarding the best method and combination of tools to measure stigma among healthcare students. Additionally, the relationship between stigma and screening for suicidal ideation is an important area for further scientific inquiry.