Varaona Andrea, Molina-Ruiz Rosa M, Gutiérrez-Rojas Luis, Perez-Páramo Maria, Lahera Guillermo, Donat-Vargas Carolina, Alvarez-Mon Miguel Angel
Deparment of Medicine and Medical Specialties, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcala, Alcala de Henares, Spain.
Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain.
Front Psychol. 2024 Aug 30;15:1372955. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1372955. eCollection 2024.
Mental disorders significantly impact individuals and societies globally. Addressing societal stigma is crucial, as it affects help-seeking behaviors and the effectiveness of treatment for mental disorders.
This study aims to explore the knowledge and perceptions of the Spanish population toward mental disorders and their treatment, assess changes in mental health stigma over time, and examine variations across sociodemographic variables by comparing current results with previous studies.
A panel of three psychiatrists designed a questionnaire to collect public opinions about various aspects of mental illness in Spain, covering topics such as social perception, diagnostic reliability, causes, symptoms, treatment, suicide, and media influence. The survey, conducted from October to December 2022, involved 1,002 Spanish individuals aged 18-70.
Our results indicated an improved general knowledge of mental health, reduced stigma, and greater acceptance of those affected by these disorders, compared to past research. Almost 80% of the participants have accurate knowledge regarding the complex and multifactorial nature of mental illnesses. Around 90% of the participants share the belief that stigma affects those affected by mental disorders. Psychological and pharmacological treatment are considered to be effective and helpful by more than 70% of the sample. More than 60% of the participants highlighted that suicide needs to be addressed appropriately in the media.
These findings suggest a significant shift in how Spanish society views mental disorders, marking progress over decades of discrimination. Reducing the stigma associated with mental health can encourage individuals to seek assistance without the fear of judgment or discrimination, thereby increasing the likelihood of early intervention and treatment. Open conversations about mental health within families, communities, and workplaces can create a supportive environment that enhances recovery. However, continued efforts and awareness campaigns targeted to broader audiences remain necessary. Responsible media portrayals of mental health, avoiding stigmatizing language or sensationalism, are also essential.
精神障碍对全球个人和社会都有重大影响。解决社会污名化问题至关重要，因为它会影响寻求帮助的行为以及精神障碍的治疗效果。
本研究旨在探索西班牙民众对精神障碍及其治疗的认知和看法，评估心理健康污名随时间的变化，并通过将当前结果与以往研究进行比较，考察社会人口统计学变量之间的差异。
由三位精神科医生组成的小组设计了一份问卷，以收集西班牙民众对精神疾病各个方面的公众意见，涵盖社会认知、诊断可靠性、病因、症状、治疗、自杀和媒体影响等主题。该调查于2022年10月至12月进行，涉及1002名年龄在18 - 70岁的西班牙人。
我们的结果表明，与过去的研究相比，民众对心理健康的总体认知有所提高，污名化程度降低，对这些疾病患者的接受度更高。近80%的参与者对精神疾病的复杂性和多因素性质有准确的认识。约90%的参与者认为污名化会影响精神障碍患者。超过70%的样本认为心理和药物治疗是有效且有帮助的。超过60%的参与者强调媒体需要妥善处理自杀问题。
这些发现表明西班牙社会对精神障碍的看法发生了重大转变，标志着在数十年的歧视方面取得了进展。减少与心理健康相关的污名化可以鼓励个人在不担心被评判或歧视的情况下寻求帮助，从而增加早期干预和治疗的可能性。在家庭、社区和工作场所就心理健康展开公开对话可以营造一个支持性的环境，促进康复。然而，仍有必要继续针对更广泛受众开展努力和宣传活动。媒体对心理健康进行负责任的报道，避免使用污名化语言或哗众取宠，也至关重要。
