Assessing the impact of stigma reduction interventions in Iran: A qualitative study from the perspective of mental health stakeholders

Abstract

IntroductionThe fear and embarrassment associated with stigmas discourage patients from help seeking behavior, which may explain why even the patients' loved ones advise them to discontinue treatment to avoid being labeled. In addition, stigmas can lead to personal and family issues, causing patients to disregard their illness. As such, their disease may develop into a chronic condition. This being said, the present study aims to investigate the challenges, solutions, and successes associated with stigmatization in Iran from the perspective of mental health stakeholders.MethodA qualitative study was conducted in the summer of 2022. Purposive sampling was utilized to recruit participants. The primary data collection method involved a focus group interview that lasted 110 min. The project manager monitored the interviews, and all research team members attended the meetings, took notes, and made the necessary preparations. After explaining the study's purpose and ensuring the data's confidentiality, the interviewer led a focus group discussion. The interviews were recorded with the participants' consent. A focus group was used to conduct interviews with 13 individuals until data saturation was reached.FindingsTen psychologists, psychiatrists, and managers responsible for mental health, two patients, and one patient's family member participated in the current study as eligible participants. Repeated readings led to the emergence of three main classes under the headings of challenges, solutions, and successes of stigma management in Iran, each containing subclasses.ConclusionThe majority of the proposed solutions in this study centered on raising awareness and training diverse individuals and groups to lessen stigmas. The most crucial de-stigmatization measure is to offer training that will cause the current stereotypes to change. This must be taken by patients and their families as well as therapists, leaders, policymakers, the general public, and the media. Ideally, younger members of the target groups should be considered for these pieces of training, which must be based on research and derived from cultural and localized needs.

Identifying barriers to help-seeking from mental health professionals in the general population and mental disorders

“…The mean and standard deviation for GAD-7 were 9.38 and 6. 41 The most important barrier to help-seeking from mental health professionals in the mental disorders population was fear of stigma about mental disorders (M = 2.70, SD = 1.19). In other words, the majority of the participants agreed of strongly agreed (56.5%) with the fear of stigma about mental disorders.…”

“…Considering the existence of multiple interventions used to reduce the stigma (39-40), these interventions could be effective in reduction of stigma of Iranian mental disorders. As the result of a study in Iran showed, the proposed solutions by mental health stakeholders were mostly raising awareness and training (41).…”

Mental illness through the perspective of undergraduate medical students in Greece: a cross-sectional study at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

“…Considering that the-less positive-attitudes of medical students of the first years may reflect those formed during the secondary education or in public life, further research on minors and general population could bring about useful results. Based on them, an appropriate introduction and familiarization with mental illness in the mandatory education could be adopted, and targeted social campaigns (that make good use of media participation and arts as well) could be effectively organized (82)(83)(84).…”

Attitudes and intentions toward seeking professional psychological help among Chinese healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…The presence of self-stigma decreases the willingness of HCWs and their need to seek psychological help. Therefore, stigma reduction programs (e.g., to offer training that will cause the current stereotypes to change) ( 58 ) targeted at HCWs should be organized to encourage positive help-seeking attitudes and intentions, and increase the possibility for these workers to receive mental health treatment.…”