A Guide to Overcoming Mental Health Stigma contains a number of resources that can help people overcome the stigma that surrounds mental health. These resources are organized according to three main areas of interest: internalized stigma, contact-based interventions, and legislative reform and advocacy.
Internalized stigma
Internalized mental health stigma has been associated with a host of negative outcomes, including decreased self-esteem, diminished treatment engagement, and social avoidance. It can also undermine a person’s personal resources, thereby complicating the treatment process.
There is a need for better understanding of mechanisms such as internalized stigma in order to identify targets for interventions. Moreover, a more sophisticated understanding of the association between stigma and somatic symptoms could contribute to more targeted treatments for patients with psychosis-risk symptoms. The San Diego Center for Mental Wellness is always welcoming of everyone who wishes to learn more about mental health.
The literature suggests that stigma may be an important factor in the development of depressive symptoms. However, there has been a lack of research in this area. Therefore, the present study was aimed at exploring the representation of depressive symptoms in Arabic-speaking refugee outpatients.
The study was able to identify five distinct clusters of somatic symptom manifestations. These were interpreted using the rich poetic resources of the Arabic language.
Self-esteem and somatic symptom expression both showed a significant association with internalized stigma. Furthermore, both were not significantly different in magnitude.
Internalized mental health stigma is a complex topic, and understanding it is a prerequisite for developing mental healthcare services in Indonesia. The results of this study support previous findings. Interestingly, the most robust associations between internalized stigma and psychological and somatic symptoms were observed when trauma-related symptoms were controlled.
The main results showed a moderate level of somatic symptoms. The most prominent symptom across both scales was energy loss.
Self-esteem, SOC, and the PHQ-9 were found to be the most significant mediating factors. This is notable because it provides a model for a complex phenomenon. However, future studies should examine how the presence of the other two variables interacts with one another, especially when the magnitude of the effect is comparable.
Microaggressions
The term microaggressions is used in psychology to describe everyday indignities that target a group of people. These can include discrimination against a specific race or ethnicity, disability, gender, sexual orientation, and/or religion.
Microaggressions can have a significant impact on mental health and mental wellbeing. It is important to identify and respond to microaggressions. In doing so, you will help yourself and others.
Identifying microaggressions requires critical self-reflection and education. You can begin by identifying and pointing out implicit bias. This will encourage the perpetrator to take some responsibility for their actions.
Individuals can also engage in acts of epistemic resistance. Examples of acts of epistemic resistance include supporting reclamation of derogatory language, or sharing your own experience of mental illness.
Targets of microaggressions may experience a variety of emotional responses. These can include anger, shame, or indifference. Some targets will feel like they have to protect the person who commits the microaggression. They may not be able to advocate for themselves.
Bystanders who witness microaggressions have the power to identify them. But they must consider whether they are willing to risk social and psychological harms by pointing them out.
When bystanders identify microaggressions, they can be discredited by the person whose bias is being identified. If the person is a privileged individual, they may not be motivated to confront the bias. Often, these individuals do not want to learn alternative perspectives because it threatens their social position.
The perpetrators of microaggressions can be difficult to address because they have cognitive biases. They fail to see the cumulative effect of their behavior and fail to recognize their own biases.
Microaggressions often target individuals with mental impairments, which includes individuals who are LGBTQ+, disabled, or people of color. Although microaggressions can have a negative impact on mental health, they can also be a source of strength.
Contact-based interventions
Contact-based interventions are designed to reduce mental health stigma by providing people with lived experience with interpersonal contact. The key components of a contact-based intervention include education and face-to-face contact.
In order to reduce public stigma, efforts to educate the public should be implemented at different levels. At the most basic level, educating the public about the treatment of mental illness is the first step. However, there are many other factors that need to be addressed.
Stigma has negative effects on individuals, including self-judgment, indignation, and a reduction in help-seeking behavior. Contact-based interventions have been shown to have a more effective effect on stigma than educational methods.
A local study explored the impact of combined education and face-to-face contact. Students who received an early contact-based intervention were compared to students who did not. Both groups were assessed at two points in time. For the education group, a complementary lecture and a series of videos about mental health were provided.
Contact-based interventions are often implemented in conjunction with other anti-stigma strategies. For example, Bring Change to Mind is a nonprofit organization that raises awareness about mental illness and provides tools for reducing stigma.
Media professionals can also play a proactive role in the fight against stigma by providing factual information about mental health. They can also serve as gatekeepers by sharing articles about recovery, helping to counter the negative portrayal of mental illness.
Although contact-based interventions have a small body of literature, they have been shown to be effective. A meta-analysis of 79 studies found that contact was twice as effective as other intervention methods at changing attitudes about mental health.
One possible explanation for the effectiveness of contact-based interventions is the interactive social component. In a contact-based session, a person with lived experience personalizes the information that is given to the student. Moreover, a contact-based intervention is usually conducted in a group setting, fostering interaction between the students and a person with a mental illness.
Legislative reform and advocacy
Stigma against mental health conditions is widespread and affects everyone in the community, from family members to people with mental illnesses. Among its many negative effects are discrimination, aversive reactions, and feelings of self-judgment and shame. The goal of anti-stigma efforts is to overcome this stigma and improve the lives of those with mental illness.
People with lived experience of mental illness can be an important part of these efforts. They can be a valuable resource in identifying and addressing gaps in previous strategies and in guiding future initiatives.
One way to address stigma is to educate the public. Media professionals have a crucial role in this effort. Their ability to counter negative media portrayals of mental illness and offer personal stories of recovery can be a powerful tool for reducing stigma.
In addition, people with mental health conditions can provide invaluable insights into effective anti-stigma efforts. This can include sharing their experiences, sharing information on recovery, and promoting the importance of understanding and sensitivity toward those with mental illnesses.
Another way to reduce stigma is to raise awareness about the symptoms and treatments of various mental illnesses. There are a number of resources available, including NAMI and Bring Change to Mind. These nonprofit organizations work to reduce stigma by raising awareness, offering resources, and encouraging dialogue about mental health.
Anti-stigma campaigns traditionally involve psychiatric experts. But mental health advocates also stage strong advocacy efforts to fight stigma.
The best evidence suggests that contact-based interventions are the most effective means of reducing stigma. Typically, the majority group members are contacted by a representative from the stigmatized population.
Although some stigma is natural, most comes from a lack of understanding or fear. This can be addressed at the individual level or at the population level.
Effects of bullying on employee’s mental health
Bullying at work is a serious issue. It can lead to mental and physical health problems. Many people who are bullied are left feeling depressed, which may affect their ability to perform at work.
In addition to mental health, studies have shown that workplace bullying can have a negative impact on physical health. Some studies have found that bullying leads to a rash of sick days and can lead to other negative consequences such as substance abuse and depression.
One study found that employees who experienced bullying spent twice as much on mental health care as their peers. The study looked at data from nearly 80,000 workers in Sweden and Denmark.
Another study found that men who had been bullied were twice as likely to leave their jobs. Researchers also found that mistreatment at work was associated with a 42% increase in the number of days employees took off from work.
Another study found that workplace bullying was associated with higher rates of anxiety and depression. A University of Copenhagen study evaluated data from nearly 80,000 employees in Sweden and Denmark.
Researchers compared participants’ reports of bullying at baseline with their health records. They discovered that the effects of workplace bullying were dose-response dependent. Specifically, they found that victims of workplace bullying were more likely to experience heart-related problems and to have a cardiac incident in the first four years of employment.
Overall, studies have found that workers who have been bullied are more likely to have a poor self-assessment of their physical and mental health. The study noted that these effects are most pronounced among workers who are bullied or who have witnessed a bullying incident.