School of Nursing, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Int J Ment Health Nurs. 2018 Feb;27(1):368-377. doi: 10.1111/inm.12331. Epub 2017 Mar 27.
People with a mental illness often encounter stigma and discrimination from a variety of sources, reinforcing negative self-perceptions and influencing their health and well-being. Even though support systems and attitudes of the general public act as powerful sources of stigma, views and perceptions held by people with mental illness also influence their sensitivity to the experiences they encounter. The aim of the present qualitative study was to examine perceptions of stigma and discrimination and self-stigma in individuals diagnosed with a mental illness. This study adopted a narrative, descriptive method, using a semistructured interview guide to elicit participant perceptions regarding sources of stigma, discrimination, and personal factors that might influence their experiences. Twelve outpatients attending a clinic in Ghana were interviewed. Thematic content analysis was completed and augmented by field notes. Participants' perceptions about personal impacts of stigma were found to be influenced by self-stigma, anticipated stigma and discrimination, perceived discrimination, and their knowledge about their illness. For many participants, their views served to augment societal views, and thus reinforce negative self-perceptions and their future. However, for other participants, their views served as a buffer in the face of environmental situations that reflect stigma and discrimination. Stigma is a complex, socially-sanctioned phenomenon that can seriously affect the health of people with mental illness. As such, it requires coordinated strategies among public policy makers, governmental bodies, and health-care providers to address stigma on a societal level, and to address its potential impacts on broad health outcomes for individuals with mental illness.
患有精神疾病的人经常会遇到来自各种来源的污名化和歧视，这强化了他们的负面自我认知，并影响他们的健康和福祉。尽管支持系统和公众态度是污名化的有力来源，但精神疾病患者的观点和看法也会影响他们对所经历的事情的敏感程度。本研究采用叙事描述方法，使用半结构化访谈指南，以了解参与者对污名化、歧视的看法，以及可能影响他们体验的个人因素。对加纳一家诊所的 12 名门诊患者进行了访谈。完成了主题内容分析，并通过现场记录进行了补充。参与者对污名化个人影响的看法受到自我污名化、预期的污名化和歧视、感知到的歧视以及他们对自己疾病的了解的影响。对许多参与者来说，他们的观点反映了社会观点，从而强化了负面的自我认知和未来。然而，对其他参与者来说，他们的观点在面对反映污名化和歧视的环境情况时起到了缓冲作用。污名化是一种复杂的、社会认可的现象，它会严重影响精神疾病患者的健康。因此，需要公共政策制定者、政府机构和医疗保健提供者共同采取协调一致的策略，在社会层面上解决污名化问题，并解决其对精神疾病患者广泛健康结果的潜在影响。
