scholarly journals The College's Anti-Stigma Campaign, 1998–2003

2004 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 133-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arthur Crisp ◽  
Liz Cowan ◽  
Deborah Hart

In autumn 1996, under the Presidency of Dr Robert Kendell, the College decided to mount a campaign to tackle the stigmatisation of people with mental illnesses. In 1997, a working party proposed goals, content, process and a 5-year governance. Other campaigns, both here and abroad, have either generically addressed ‘mental health problems' (e.g. Mind's ‘Respect’ Campaign) or targeted a specific mental illness, e.g. the World Psychiatric Association's anti-stigma campaign in respect of people with schizophrenia. Our working party decided that it might be timely to recognise the differences in public attitudes to the variety of mental illnesses. The campaign thus addressed six categories of mental illness: anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, schizophrenia, the dementias, eating disorders, and drug and alcohol misuse/addiction. Target populations were identified as doctors, children and adolescents, the workplace, the media and the general public. The working party had also secured funding and arranged for a survey, in July 1998, by the Office for National Statistics of opinions of the British public concerning people with these mental illnesses (Crisp et al, 2000). The Campaign started on 7 October 1998. Since that time, and drawing upon our survey findings within its initial literature review (Kelly, 1999) the Department of Health mounted its own anti-stigma campaign, ‘Mind Out for Mental Health’, which addressed a similar range of mental illnesses.

2001 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Dowrick

Following ground-breaking work by Shepherd et al (1966) and, more recently, Goldberg & Huxley (1992), primary care is now recognised as the arena in which most contact occurs between the National Health Service (NHS) and people with mental health problems. General practitioners (GPs) remain the first, and in many cases the only, health professionals involved in the management of a whole range of conditions, from common anxiety and depressive disorders to severe and enduring mental illnesses.


Author(s):  
Jenny Paananen ◽  
Camilla Lindholm ◽  
Melisa Stevanovic ◽  
Elina Weiste

Mental illness remains as one of the most stigmatizing conditions in contemporary western societies. This study sheds light on how mental health professionals and rehabilitants perceive stigmatization. The qualitative study is based on stimulated focus group interviews conducted in five Finnish mental health rehabilitation centers that follow the Clubhouse model. The findings were analyzed through inductive content analysis. Both the mental health rehabilitants and the professionals perceived stigmatization as a phenomenon that concerns the majority of rehabilitants. However, whereas the professionals viewed stigma as something that is inflicted upon the mentally ill from the outside, the rehabilitants perceived stigma as something that the mentally ill themselves can influence by advancing their own confidence, shame management, and recovery. Improvements in treatment, along with media coverage, were seen as the factors that reduce stigmatization, but the same conceptualization did not hold for serious mental illnesses. As the average Clubhouse client was thought to be a person with serious mental illness, the rehabilitation context designed to normalize attitudes toward mental health problems was paradoxically perceived to enforce the concept of inevitable stigma. Therefore, it is important for professionals in rehabilitation communities to be reflexively aware of these tensions when supporting the rehabilitants.


2016 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 537
Author(s):  
Carole James ◽  
Brian Kelly ◽  
Robyn Considine ◽  
Ross Tynan ◽  
Jaelea Skehan ◽  
...  

Mental health issues are widespread across Australia, with the most common mental illnesses experienced by 20% of the population in any 12-month period. While no industry-specific data exists, general national population data suggests that all employers are managing workers affected by mental illness. Workplaces are ideally placed to prevent mental health problems, promote mental health, and support a person with mental illness. Investing in strategies to support mental health in the workplace has been associated with improvements in productivity, job satisfaction and significant returns on investment. This extended abstract discusses approaches to addressing mental health in the resources sector and reports on industry engagement, partnership with researchers from The University of Newcastle, and research into targeted interventions. A range of partnership activities included the development of a framework to support mental health in the workplace—a Blueprint for Mental Health and Wellbeing—and various workplace strategies to address mental ill-health and wellbeing. Discussion centres on the feasibility, acceptability and effectiveness of a multi-component mental health program that aims to promote: mental health awareness to employees; a peer-based support model; education to supervisors regarding the management of staff experiencing mental health problems; and, a review of organisational policy. Research in the coal-mining sector has demonstrated that through industry partnership, appropriate interventions can be developed and implemented that result in policy and practical changes that better the health and wellbeing of employees.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raveena Gill ◽  
Sean F Tyndall ◽  
Darshini Vora ◽  
Rashedul Hasan ◽  
James Megna ◽  
...  

Abstract BackgroundPoor diet quality has been found to be prevalent in people with mental illness [71] and even contribute to mental illness [71]. The purpose of this exploratory study is to examine the relationship between diet quality, mental health problems, socioeconomic variables, physical activity level, and body mass index amongst acute psychiatric inpatients.MethodThe study sample were 100 adult inpatients. Tools administered were Eating Habit Questionnaires (Dana Farber Institute) and the KIDMed index to assess food compliance in accordance with a Mediterranean diet. The Index marks all individuals as either having an “unhealthy score” or “healthy score”. The study utilized a descriptive correlation research design.ResultsThe results showed that 75% of the patients displayed an unhealthy score as per the KIDMed index. The findings displayed an inverse relationship of BMI and the KIDMed score. There was a significant positive correlation between the level of education and the KIDMed score. There is a positive correlation towards increased consumption of sugar in schizophrenic patients. There was no statistical significance between age, gender, income and physical activity with regards to the KIDMed score.Conclusionpsychiatric inpatients display unhealthy eating habits which is likely both an effect of and a contributing factor to the various mental illnesses. Prospective interventional randomized controlled studies are necessary for clarification of cause-effect relationships.


2015 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 423-430 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Bhugra ◽  
N. Sartorius ◽  
A. Fiorillo ◽  
S. Evans-Lacko ◽  
A. Ventriglio ◽  
...  

AbstractStigma against mental illness and the mentally ill is well known. However, stigma against psychiatrists and mental health professionals is known but not discussed widely. Public attitudes and also those of other professionals affect recruitment into psychiatry and mental health services. The reasons for this discriminatory attitude are many and often not dissimilar to those held against mentally ill individuals. In this Guidance paper we present some of the factors affecting the image of psychiatry and psychiatrists which is perceived by the public at large. We look at the portrayal of psychiatry, psychiatrists in the media and literature which may affect attitudes. We also explore potential causes and explanations and propose some strategies in dealing with negative attitudes. Reduction in negative attitudes will improve recruitment and retention in psychiatry. We recommend that national psychiatric societies and other stakeholders, including patients, their families and carers, have a major and significant role to play in dealing with stigma, discrimination and prejudice against psychiatry and psychiatrists.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia Moreno-Mencia ◽  
David Cantarero-Prieto

Abstract Background: Mental illness is an increasing problem in developed countries and affect a large number of the Spanish population. Moreover, it contributes to early retirement and also some working conditions, such as the stress level or the satisfaction with the job, are associated with an the risk of depressive and anxiety symptoms. The purpose of this article is to investigate the Spanish regional differences in the effect that some life conditions, such as obesity, doing exercise regularly, having a good diet, not smoking or not drinking alcohol has on mental health problems. Methods: We use data from the Spanish National Health Survey of 2017 in order to estimate a multilevel logit model with the objective to calculate the effects of life conditions factors on mental health outcomes. The main objective is to provide a comparable framework for the Spanish population with different characteristics though multilevel analysis. Results: People has, in average, 10.6% chances of having depression across all regions. Similarly we can show that in average, the probability of having anxiety problems is a 9.4% and is a 2.2% in case of other mental illnesses across the Spanish Regions. Men have less probability of having mental health problems, the same as married people, those with higher level of studies and the ones which are satisfied at work. Moreover, having healthy habits reduce the probability of suffering any mental disorder. On the other hand, older people and obese have more probability of developing a mental illness. Conclusions: Mental disorders are a growing public health problem in developed countries. So that, Governments has taken measures to deal with the problem such as the prevention. In order to prevent the mental problems they have to concentrate efforts in stress reduction, measures to decrease alcohol and tobacco consumption, to incentive the healthy life avoiding obesity problems, etc.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raveena Gill ◽  
Sean F Tyndall ◽  
Darshini Vora ◽  
Rashedul Hassan ◽  
James Megna ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Poor diet quality has been found to be prevalent in people with mental illness [71] and even contribute to mental illness [71]. The purpose of this exploratory study is to examine the relationship between diet quality, mental health problems, socioeconomic variables, physical activity level, and body mass index amongst acute psychiatric inpatients.Method: The study sample were 100 adult inpatients. Tools administered were Eating Habit Questionnaires (Dana Farber Institute) and the KIDMed index to assess food compliance in accordance with a Mediterranean diet. The Index marks all individuals as either having an “unhealthy score” or “healthy score”. The study utilized a descriptive correlation research design.Results: The results showed that 75% of the patients displayed an unhealthy score as per the KIDMed index. The findings displayed an inverse relationship of BMI and the KIDMed score. There was a significant positive correlation between the level of education and the KIDMed score. There is a positive correlation towards increased consumption of sugar in schizophrenic patients. There was no statistical significance between age, gender, income and physical activity with regards to the KIDMed score.Conclusion: Psychiatric inpatients display unhealthy eating habits which is likely both an effect of and a contributing factor to the various mental illnesses. Prospective interventional randomized controlled studies are necessary for clarification of cause-effect relationships.


Having a mental health problem quite upsetting, confusing and scary at first. The scares often be filled with negative thoughts that can be unrealistic way to happen just like been shown on the media. Mental health is a common human experience, but by having the mental illness is something that needs the treatment. Some of people living in current times causing depression, anxiety and many others of mental health problems. Some young working adults struggle with emotional and physical issues as they leave university, before or maybe in working world. The aim of the research is to study about the mental health issues among the animators or artists in creative industry and it will be focus on the visualising the issues arise in animation in certain medium which is in 3D (3-Dimensional) animation. With this research, we hoped that it will increase the knowledge to people about mental illness that been faced by the animators and can create the awareness regarding mental health issues through the animation.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raeanne Cristine Moore ◽  
Colin Andrew Depp ◽  
Philip D Harvey ◽  
Amy E Pinkham

BACKGROUND The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused significant stress and mental health problems among the general public. However, persons at greatest risk for poor mental health outcomes, such as people with serious mental illness, have been largely overlooked. OBJECTIVE This paper presents the protocol for a study that aims to examine the mental health impact of COVID-19 and social distancing behaviors in people with serious mental illness and the behaviors undertaken to prevent COVID-19 infection in this group. METHODS Participants will include individuals with serious mental illness (eg, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder) and nonpsychiatric control participants who are currently participating in or have previously participated in several ongoing parent observational studies. Data will be collected from April 2020 through August 2020. Participants will complete phone interviews at 2 time points to assess their current emotional functioning and discuss the measures they have taken to prevent COVID-19 infection. Baseline (pre-COVID-19) mental health, sampled by ecological momentary assessment over an extended period, will be compared with current mental health, also sampled by ecological momentary assessment over an extended period. Demographic, cognitive, and psychosocial factors at baseline will be used to examine risk and resilience to current mental health and coping. RESULTS The inclusion of participants for the first round of telephone assessments started on April 3, 2020 and will be completed by May 31, 2020. As of April 30, 2020, 101 individuals had completed these first-round assessments. The second round of telephone assessments will likely occur between June 1, 2020, and August 31, 2020. Study results will be published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. CONCLUSIONS Our findings will have broad implications for understanding the psychological consequences of COVID-19 among vulnerable persons with serious mental illness and will provide the opportunity to identify targets to reduce negative outcomes in the future. We also hope our efforts will provide a roadmap and resources for other researchers who would like to implement a similar approach. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT DERR1-10.2196/19203


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 50-53
Author(s):  
R.K. Jha ◽  
P. Mahat ◽  
R.L. Shrestha ◽  
K.B. Kami ◽  
A. Chaudhary ◽  
...  

Introduction: Mental health is state of wellbeing in which as individual realizes in his or her abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community (WHO, 2004). Schizophrenia is a significantly disabling disease that affects social family psychological, vocational and occupational functioning (Lyngdoth, L. et al, 2016). Depressive disorders often start at a young age; they reduce people’s functioning and often are recurring (Marcus et al., 2012). Studies have shown decreased functioning ability in people having mental illness in Nepal. This study was done to explore the impact of mental illness in their daily functioning abilities. Material And Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 120 people suffering from mental illness (psychosocial disabilities) for more than six months. Mental health social workers who were facilitating mental health self-help group of treatment seeking mental health patients in the health facilities were trained and supervised during data collection. Selected participants were informed about research objectives and received consent for the study. Nepali adopted WHO-DAS-2 (Thapa et al, 2005) was used to collect both demographic and functioning abilities of research participants. Data were analysed using SPSS 20th version mainly for descriptive statistics. Results: Participants' age ranged from 18-60 years with mean age 29.53 (SD±10.8), with gender distribution 58.3% female and 41.7% male. People with psychosocial disabilities experienced in an average 9.45 days difficulty, average 6.95 days they couldn't do daily work and minimized work for average 3.55 days in the month. Female with mental health problems experienced more difficulties in daily life functioning (S1-S12 items in WHO-DAS) where moderate to severe level difficulties observed than male with mental health problems. Emotional effect due to health problems, talking with unknown people, difficulties in friendship area and doing daily activities were affected significantly statistically (p=0.01, 0.05, 0.04 and 0.02). Ethnicity and gender is significantly correlated with total affected days (r=.221, -.180 p= 0.05, table 3). Gender and total affected working days is correlated but not significant statistically. Conclusion: Level of functioning is affected significantly in people having psychosocial disabilities; impairment is higher in female, people suffering with severe form of mental illness. Findings indicate need of awareness in mental health. Further research is necessary in larger and representative population including care-taker of mentally ill person.


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