Study about Stigma of Mental Illnesses in AboOsher_AlGazeira in 2017

Abstract

Introduction: stigma “is a mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstances, quality, or person. There are two types of stigma; public stigma and self stigma. Stigma about mental illnesses remains the main obstacle in the treatment of mental disorders, although the quality and effectiveness of mental health services are improved over the past 50 years, many people who are in need for these services do not come to obtain it due to stigma.  

Objective:  to study the stigma of mental illnesses, to assess the effect of stigma in seeking help and medical advice, to know the effect of media in feeling stigma, to know the association between socio-economic status and stigma, to address the commonest forms of stigma faced by families of mentally ill patient and to assess the awareness of people about the interventions that are needed to minimize stigma.

Methodology: a descriptive cross sectional community based study was conducted in Abo-Osher at November 2017. The total number of participants was 203, data was collected using interview questionnaire, , complied and analyzed by SPSS version- 23.

Results: From a total of 203 participants, 166 (81%) said that they will go to the psychiatrist when having a relative with psychiatric symptoms. The study found that there is no significant association between socioeconomic status and stigma, as the P-value was more than 0.05. The study also revealed that the most disturbing things about mental illnesses are the long nature of the disease (27%), and the socially unacceptable behavior (26.5%) and the most common forms of stigma faced by families are the change in their neighbors and society treatment (15.1%), discrimination by family members (9.8%), and byword (8.3%). Luckily the majority of the responders agreed to pay more tax money to help psychiatric patients, and almost all f them support the idea of a family project to help their mentally ill relative. Health education was chosen by 104 participants as an effective measure to reduce stigma. 

Conclusion: The most disturbing thing about mental illnesses is the long nature of the disease and the socially unacceptable behavior.

Health education was chosen as the most effective measure to reduce stigma.

Almost all the participants agreed to pay more tax money to help psychiatric patients.

Key words: Stigma-mental illness-measures