Impact of the Stigma of Mental Illness: A Descriptive Exploratory Study of Outpatients in a Public Mental Health Hospital in Ghana
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Wiley
Abstract
Despite ongoing efforts, persons with mental illness (PWMI) continue to experience stigma and discrimination and with profound negative outcomes. This study examined the psychological and social impact of the stigma attached to mental illness as experienced by out-patients at a public mental health facility. We applied a descriptive exploratory method using a semi-structured interview guide to elicit subjective responses from 12 Outpatient Department members. Study participants described various ways the stigma of mental illness impacted them within the social space. Overall, five (5) themes emerged. These include devaluing, losing their partners, social exclusion, unemployment, and loss of self-esteem. Participants' account of their experiences with stigma so far depicts stigma as an everyday occurrence that adversely impacts their social standing. To effectively address stigma requires intentional efforts to bridge the gap created by deliberate acts of discrimination and lack of support for PWMI within our social framework.Description
Keywords
Ghana, PWMI, impact, mental illness, outpatients, self‐esteem, stigma, 4201 Allied Health and Rehabilitation Science, 4203 Health Services and Systems, 4205 Nursing, 42 Health Sciences, Brain Disorders, Clinical Research, Behavioral and Social Science, Mental Health, Mental Illness, 8.1 Organisation and delivery of services, Mental health, 3 Good Health and Well Being, 1701 Psychology, Developmental & Child Psychology, 4206 Public health, 5201 Applied and developmental psychology, 5205 Social and personality psychology
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Journal of Community Psychology, ISSN: 0090-4392 (Print); 1520-6629 (Online), Wiley, 53(1), e23164-. doi: 10.1002/jcop.23164
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© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Community Psychology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.