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BACKGROUND: The proliferation of social media platforms has provided a unique space for discourse on mental health, originally intended to destigmatize mental illness. However, recent discourses on these platforms have shown a concerning shift towards the romanticization of mental health issues. This research focuses on Twitter (now called X) users' authentic discussions on the phenomenon of romanticizing mental health, aiming to uncover unique perspectives, themes, and language used by users when engaging with this complex topic. METHODS: A comprehensive content analysis was conducted on 600 relevant tweets, with the application of topic modeling techniques. This methodology allowed for the identification and exploration of six primary themes that emerged from Twitter users' discussions. Statistical tests were not applied in this qualitative analysis. RESULTS: The study identified six primary themes resulting from Twitter users' discussions on the romanticization of mental health. These themes include rejecting/critiquing the glamorization of mental health, monetization of mental health by corporate organizations, societal misconceptions of mental health, the role of traditional media and social media, unfiltered realities of depression, and the emphasis on not romanticizing mental health. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides valuable insights into the multifaceted discourses surrounding the romanticization of mental health on Twitter. It highlights users' critiques, concerns, and calls for change, emphasizing the potential harm caused by romanticizing mental illness. The findings underscore the importance of fostering responsible and empathetic discussions about mental health on social media platforms. By examining how Twitter users interact with and respond to the romanticization of mental health, this research advances our understanding of emerging perspectives on mental health issues among social media users, particularly young adolescents. The study also underscores the effects of this phenomenon on individuals, society, and the mental health community. Overall, this research emphasizes the need for more responsible and knowledgeable discussions around mental health in the digital age.
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Trastornos Mentales , Medios de Comunicación Sociales , Humanos , Adolescente , Ansiedad , Trastornos de Ansiedad , LenguajeRESUMEN
Do movies reduce stigma, increasing healthcare product choices offered by firms? We provide causal evidence on this question in the context of Indian pharmaceutical markets. For unpacking these effects, we use an exogenous shock to the market due to the release of a Bollywood blockbuster movie - My Name is Khan (MNIK) where the protagonist, superstar Shahrukh Khan, suffers from Asperger's Syndrome (AS). Using a difference-in-differences design, we find a positive and statistically significant effect of MNIK (between 14% and 22% increase in variety sold and prescribed) on product differentiation and choices in the market for antipsychotic medicines used to clinically treat AS. Results are consistent using alternative controls, a placebo treatment-based test and with a variety of other robustness checks. Our findings document likely for the first-time, supply side responses to edutainment and suggests potential associated welfare effects in healthcare markets characterized by sticky demand. Implications for global health and public policy given worldwide concerns around a mental wellness epidemic with Covid-19 are discussed.
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COVID-19 , Películas Cinematográficas , Humanos , Industria FarmacéuticaRESUMEN
Police officers are under high level of stress given the intense and emergent work nature. If left untreated, their mental wellbeing would be at risk and work performance compromised. However, mental health stigma is common among police officers and is perpetuated by factors like police cultures emphasizing toughness and self-reliance. In view of this, since 2016, the Hong Kong Police Force had launched a holistic campaign for Force members which was the first among law enforcement organizations in Hong Kong, aiming to reduce stigma, by enhancing mental health knowledge and decreasing negative attitudes and behaviors towards mental health issues. The programme incorporated standardised trainings of the Mental Health First Aid course with examples modified to the local police context, and psychoeducation via the use of digital medium and sharing by public figures. Positive feedback was received. It was foreseen that the campaign effects would increase Force members' awareness of their mental health, encourage help-seeking and facilitate officers' decision making when encountering crises in the community.
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Policia , Estereotipo , Humanos , Policia/psicología , Hong Kong , Aplicación de la Ley , Salud MentalRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Stigmatization of morbidity in health care workers, the incidence of disease, the disease that interferes with the disease of medical care. Social distancing by clinicians is an integral part of the stigmatization that depends on the behavior of the patient and the level of awareness of the clinician. METHODS: The modified Bogardus Social Distance Self-Assessment Scale (BSDS) was used to evaluate the indicators of social distance phenomena. The assessment was performed by clinicians for the following groups of patients with the following mental disorders: alcohol use disorder, bipolar disorder, depression, drug addiction, epilepsy, mental retardation, schizophrenia. All statistical calculations were performed using IBM SPSS-27 software (IBM Corp. 2021, licensed to Samara State Medical University). P-value ≤ 0.05 was determined as significant for the between-group (PSY vs NPHP) comparisons using a nonparametric Wilcoxon test. RESULTS: The study included 141 clinicians: PSY (n=20; 36.2±4.2 y.o.) and NPHP (n=121; 25.9±2.2 y.o.). The NPHP group included general practitioners (GP)/physicians (n=29; 20.6%), surgeons (n=19; 13.5%), obstetrician-gynecologists (n=26; 18.4%), neurologists (n=11; 7.8%), pediatricians (n=6; 4.3%), and other subspecialists (including urologists, tuberculosis specialists, ophthalmologists, and dermatologists) (n=30; 21.3%). The study included 141 students at the Samara State Medical University who were trained in psychiatry. An anonymous survey was conducted on the BSDS scale before and after training. Our analysis of the data showed that the social distance of clinicians in terms of coverage reaches different values depending on the mental disorder, but with common trends both before and after the psychiatry training course. Mean (SD) social distance scores recurred from 2.8 (1.3) for bipolar disorder to 5.3 (1.5) for addiction in the predevelopment group and 2.9 (1.3), 5.4 (1.4) in the group of clinicians after training, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Social distancing scores among clinicians in contemporary Russia were highest for drug addicts, and lowest for depression and bipolar disorder. Stigmatization among clinicians appears to affect the delivery of care to certain categories of patients, which requires further study. Higher social distance scores in patients with drug addiction may be associated with higher stigma and lack of compassion towards these patients. Conversely, lower rates of social distancing and the corresponding emotional acceptance of people with depression and bipolar disorder by clinicians may interfere with timely diagnosis and the availability of appropriate early, treatable care. The awareness of clinicians regarding psychopathological manifestations does not affect the level of social distance, but increases it in relation to mentally healthy individuals with normal behavior.
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Trastornos Mentales , Trastornos Relacionados con Sustancias , Humanos , Salud Mental , Distanciamiento Físico , Trastornos Mentales/epidemiología , Trastornos Mentales/psicología , Estigma Social , EstereotipoRESUMEN
From ordinary beliefs to delusions, we're all susceptible to misguidance. In search of meaning, we tell ourselves stories that resonate with our feelings, and we unconsciously adhere to them. These subjective truths become pathological when the circumstances and terrain lend themselves to it. The causes are manifold and go beyond the realms of psychiatry and medicine. In rehabilitation, we explain the delusional faculty as a failed narrative attempt by the subject in response to uncertainty and confusion. This combats stigmatization while promoting critical thinking as a protective factor.
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Deluciones , Psiquiatría , Humanos , Pensamiento/fisiología , Emociones , Psicología del EsquizofrénicoRESUMEN
Law enforcers are stressed, but they may be reluctant to seek psychological support due to the stigmatization of mental illness in the law enforcement culture. Given the relatively stigma-free lifestyle medicine intervention, a two-arm pilot randomized controlled trial was conducted in the Hong Kong police force to examine the efficacy of integrated lifestyle medicine practices in enhancing the mental health of law enforcers. A total of 18 participants were randomly assigned to the intervention and waitlist control groups. The intervention group attended a 6-week lifestyle medicine program consisting of five lifestyle factors. On analyzing the results of the Patient Health Questionnaire using a paired sample t-test, a statistically significant intervention effect was found. This implies that participants had significantly better general psychological well-being after the intervention in this pilot study. In conclusion, the present findings provide preliminary support to promote the relatively stigma-free lifestyle medicine interventions in law enforcement. Nevertheless, further research effort with a larger sample size is warranted to provide empirical support for the efficacy of integrated lifestyle medicine programme.
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Trastornos Mentales , Salud Mental , Hong Kong , Humanos , Estilo de Vida , Trastornos Mentales/terapia , Proyectos PilotoRESUMEN
Infectious diseases are often stigmatized and criminalized because of the way they are transmitted. An experience providing care to a 37-year-old patient with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection who was admitted to a medical center's quarantine ward in July 2021 due to SARS-CoV-2 infection is described in this article. This patient lived with his mother, who was later diagnosed with COVID-19 as well. He was worried about his mother's health condition and, meanwhile, feared that information about his diseases and person would be exposed by the media. These stressors led to increased feelings of shame and anxiety and to situational low self-esteem. Several interventions were provided, including education regarding the importance of personal hygiene and of maintaining combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) to bolster immune system functions. During the isolation period, the nurses most regularly interacted with the patient directly. Thus, we worked to build the nurse-patient relationship by listening to the patient's worries, guaranteeing his privacy would not be compromised, and guiding him to express his emotions to reduce anxiety and enhance confidence. This experience demonstrated the importance of providing psychological care to COVID-19/HIV co-infected patients. We suggest that the government and media distribute correct and neutral information to destigmatize communicable diseases and to foster a friendlier healthcare environment.
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COVID-19 , Adulto , Humanos , Relaciones Enfermero-Paciente , SARS-CoV-2RESUMEN
The end of the global pandemic caused by COVID-19 and a future without masks and restrictions are promising with the discovery of a vaccine. Still, there is much worry about the vaccine itself. Fears about what is inside the vaccine, how quickly it was created and plans for distribution are major concerns. This article aims to address these concerns to relieve vaccine hesitancy. Methods for distribution within the United States as well as different strategies to ensure proper and equitable allocation of COVID-19 vaccine worldwide is also described.
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Vacunas contra la COVID-19 , COVID-19 , Humanos , Salud Pública , SARS-CoV-2 , Estados UnidosRESUMEN
The disclosure of recovery journeys on social media by individuals with substance use is a growing trend, but its impact on public attitudes toward stigmatized groups is not well-understood. To address this gap, an experiment was conducted with 1,438 U.S. adults who viewed a series of Instagram posts about a person's recovery journey. Participants were randomly assigned to view posts that either included a relapse episode or not. Structural equation modeling was used for data analyses. The results revealed that presenting a relapse narrative increased feelings of compassion, anger, and pity. In addition, mediation analyses provided evidence supporting the role these emotions played in mediating the effects of a relapse narrative on stigma beliefs and desire for social distance. These findings prompt a reevaluation of digital storytelling practices in health communication strategies, aiming for a balanced representation that can effectively reduce stigma and promote community support for those navigating substance use recovery. It is recommended to incorporate the study's insights into educational content, therapeutic interventions, and policy formulations to foster a more supportive and understanding environment for individuals in recovery.
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INTRODUCTION: Discrimination exists in one form or another in every society, usually against those who are weaker, in fewer numbers, or different from the rest. Most physicians are empathetic towards their patients but can either not keep an eye on their subordinates or lack the power to act against such employees. Persons experiencing discrimination in healthcare centers may try to avoid or postpone future visits, resulting in delayed diagnosis and treatment of ailments. Obesity bias present in society has crept into healthcare centers and intimidates persons with obesity who are seeking medical aid. Implicit and explicit obesity bias has been recorded in healthcare students. METHODS: Data from 102 undergraduate medical students (23 female) who completed this study was analyzed. Implicit bias (tested online using the Implicit Association Test) and explicit bias (measured using four types of tool kits) were measured before and after conducting an obesity sensitization program (OSP) comprising four lectures on the causes and consequences of obesity and obesity discrimination and its consequences. RESULTS: The change in implicit bias was not significant. However, a significant reduction was noted in the four different types of tools for explicit bias after conducting the OSP. CONCLUSION: OSP helped medical students identify obesity bias and reduce explicit bias. Sensitization lectures conducted in medical colleges and schools can help reduce such discrimination in healthcare centers.
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The violent colonial history of psychiatry in Africa prevents individuals from help-seeking. Because of this history, mental health care is now stigmatized, and clinical research, practice, and policy fail to capture the salient features of distress across African communities. If we are to transform mental health care for all, we must adopt decolonizing frameworks to ensure mental health research, practice, and policy are enacted in a manner that is ethical, democratic, critical, and serves the needs of local communities. Here, we present that the network approach to psychopathology as an invaluable tool in achieving this purpose. The network approach recognizes mental health disorders not as discrete entities, but rather as dynamic networks that are made of psychiatric symptoms (called nodes) and the relationships between these symptoms (called edges). This approach can pave a path to decolonizing mental health care by alleviating stigma, allowing context-based understanding of mental health and mental health problems, opening new avenues for (low-cost) mental health care and empowering local researchers to pioneer context-based knowledge production and treatment.
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Trastornos Mentales , Salud Mental , Humanos , Población Negra , Trastornos Mentales/terapia , África , PolíticasRESUMEN
Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related stigma has been identified as one of the principal factors that undermines HIV prevention efforts and the quality of life of people living with HIV (PLWH) in many developing countries including Ghana. While studies have been conducted on HIV-related stigma reduction, very few have sought the views of PLWH on how this might be done. The purpose of the study was to (i) identify factors that cause HIV-related stigma in Ghana from the perspective of PLWH, (ii) identify challenges that HIV-related stigma poses to the treatment and care of PLWH, and (iii) to obtain recommendations from PLWH on what they think various groups (community members, health care providers, and adolescents) including themselves should do to help reduce HIV-related stigma in Ghana. Methods: A mixed methods cross-sectional study design was used to collect data from 404 PLWH at the Suntreso Government Hospital in the Kumasi Metropolis of Ghana across six domains using Qualtrics from November 1-30, 2022. Quantitative data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26 and the Statistical Analysis System (SAS) version 9.4. Qualitative data was analyzed using a thematic approach. Results: Most of the study participants (70.5%) said HIV-related stigma in Ghana is due to ignorance. Of this population, 90.6% indicated that they had experienced stigma because they have HIV, causing them to feel depressed (2.5%), ashamed (2.2%), and hurt (3.0%). Study participants (92.8%) indicated that the challenges associated with HIV-related stigma has affected their treatment and care-seeking behaviors. Recommendations provided by study participants for HIV destigmatization include the need for PLWH not to disclose their status (cited 94 times), community members to educate themselves about HIV (96.5%), health care providers to identify their stigmatizing behaviors (95.3%), health care providers to avoid discriminating against PLWH (96.0%), and the need for adolescents to be educated on HIV and how it is transmitted (97.0%). Conclusion: It is important for the government and HIV prevention agencies in Ghana to target and address co-occurring HIV-related stigma sources at various levels of intersection simultaneously This will help to shift harmful attitudes and behaviors that compromise the health and wellbeing of PLWH effectively.
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Online peer support platforms have gained popularity as a potential way for people struggling with mental health problems to share information and provide support to each other. While these platforms can offer an open space to discuss emotionally difficult issues, unsafe or unmoderated communities can allow potential harm to users by spreading triggering content, misinformation or hostile interactions. The purpose of this study was to explore the role of moderators in these online communities, and how moderators can facilitate peer-to-peer support, while minimizing harms to users and amplifying potential benefits. Moderators of the Togetherall peer support platform were recruited to participate in qualitative interviews. The moderators, referred to as 'Wall Guides', were asked about their day-to-day responsibilities, positive and negative experiences they have witnessed on the platform and the strategies they employ when encountering problems such as lack of engagement or posting of inappropriate content. The data were then analyzed qualitatively using thematic content analysis and consensus codes were deduced and reviewed to reach final results and representative themes. In total, 20 moderators participated in this study, and described their experiences and efforts to follow a consistent and shared protocol for responding to common scenarios in the online community. Many reported the deep connections formed by the online community, the helpful and thoughtful responses that members give each other and the satisfaction of seeing progress in members' recovery. They also reported occasional aggressive, sensitive or inconsiderate comments and posts on the platform. They respond by removing or revising the hurtful post or reaching out to the affected member to maintain the 'house rules'. Lastly, many discussed strategies they elicit to promote engagement from members within the community and ensure each member is supported through their use of the platform. This study sheds light on the critical role of moderators of online peer support communities, and their ability to contribute to the potential benefits of digital peer support while minimizing risks to users. The findings reported here accentuate the importance of having well-trained moderators on online peer support platforms and can guide future efforts to effectively train and supervise prospective peer support moderators. Moderators can become an active 'shaping force' and bring a cohesive culture of expressed empathy, sensitivity and care. The delivery of a healthy and safe community contrasts starkly with non-moderated online forums, which can become unhealthy and unsafe as a result.
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Background: Stigmatization has taken a heavy toll on the mental health and quality of life of the survivors of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). To address this issue, we proposed a brief, self-directed, reflective, and practical destigmatization intervention. The current study aimed to investigate the efficacy of the online COVID-19 destigmatization program (OCDP) in mitigating stigma among the survivors of COVID-19. Methods: This study was conducted on 142 survivors of COVID-19 before their discharge from Vajra Hospital from July 2022 to November 2022. The participants were randomly assigned between the intervention group (n = 71), who attended the 40-min OCDP, and the control group (n = 71), who received standard mental health care. The primary outcome was the efficacy of OCDP in reducing stigmatization. A COVID-19 stigma questionnaire was administered to assess stigmatization in the intervention and control groups immediately before and after the program during follow-up on days 7, 14, and 28. The secondary outcome was the efficacy of the program in alleviating negative emotions according to the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 21 questionnaire. Results: Compared with the control group, the intervention group had a more prominent reduction in the overall stigma score on day 7 (p = 0.002) and day 14 (p = 0.028). The intervention group had a more evident reduction in enacted stigma (day 7, p = 0.04), internalized stigma (day 7, p = 0.008; day 14, p < 0.028), and perceived external stigma (day 7, p = 0.002) than the control group. However, there was no significant difference in terms of disclosure concern between the intervention and control groups. Furthermore, the reduction in depression, anxiety, and stress between the two groups did not significantly differ. Conclusion: Online COVID-19 destigmatization program provided prior to hospital discharge is an effective tool in reducing stigmatization, particularly within the first 2 weeks after reintegration into society, among the survivors of COVID-19.
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Although mask wearing has been demonstrated to be an effective strategy to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become a contentious issue. This is evident in the policy shift regarding mask wearing during the pandemic and the varying mask mandates across different states in the United States. This study investigates the relationship between mask wearing and COVID-19-associated discrimination (CAD) over the course of the pandemic (March 2020 through May 2021), and differences between states with and without mask mandates. This study utilized three-level longitudinal analyses to analyze a longitudinal panel data from a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults enrolled in the Understanding America Study (UAS). The experiences of CAD were much higher for those wearing a mask than those not wearing a mask before August 2020, but this pattern was reversed afterward. Another notable finding was that mask wearers reported greater CAD in states with no mask-wearing mandate than the ones in states with mask mandates. In contrast, the pattern was reversed for nonmask wearers. The findings highlight the importance of inclusiveness and openness when relatively new health practice is introduced during a public health crisis.
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COVID-19 , Pandemias , Adulto , Humanos , Máscaras , Discriminación Percibida , SARS-CoV-2 , Estados Unidos/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To understand individual abortion providers' experiences with targeted harassment. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of a convenience sample of US physicians with history of abortion provision, recruited through online groups, and listservs. Respondents completed a Qualtrics survey reporting personal and practice characteristics and experiences with harassment. We calculated descriptive statistics, comparing those who had and hadn't experienced targeted harassment using χ2 tests, and we qualitatively analyzed free-text descriptions of harassment experiences to identify themes. RESULTS: Of 321 respondents, 112 (35%) reported harassment. Targeted harassment was more likely with each decade of increasing age, and was greater for respondents providing outpatient versus only inpatient surgical abortion care (40% vs. 7%, p < 0.001) and care beyond the first trimester compared to only in the first trimester (39% vs. 16%, p = 0.001). Sixty-two respondents (19%) were not currently providing abortions, with 33 (52%) explicitly forbidden from doing so by their employers. Qualitative analysis revealed that most harassment is invasive and intimidating rather than overtly violent, with many providers experiencing intentional public exposure of their abortion work and having their professionalism discredited. Ensuing isolation of providers from their communities both perpetuates and facilitates further abortion provider stigma and harassment. CONCLUSIONS: Targeted harassment toward abortion providers is widespread and attempts to intimidate providers and isolate them from their communities. More research is needed to explore ways to mitigate isolation of providers, which could improve safety, and have positive effects on the abortion workforce.
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Aborto Inducido , Estudios Transversales , Femenino , Humanos , Embarazo , Primer Trimestre del Embarazo , Estigma Social , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , Estados UnidosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Male breast cancer is a rare and understudied disease. In addition to coping with cancer, suffering from what is perceived as a "woman's disease" significantly burdens men's illness experience and can lead to stigmatization. The way men cope with these challenges has not been studied to date. Drawing on stigma, coping, and destigmatization theories, this study aims to explore how men experience and respond to the diagnosis of an illness typically associated with women. METHODS: In-depth interviews were conducted with 16 Israeli men who were diagnosed with breast cancer within the past 10 years. Thematic analysis was performed, focusing on participants' references to experiencing and managing the psychosocial implications of being a male breast cancer patient. RESULTS: Results demonstrated that participants faced stigmatizing situations both inside and outside healthcare settings. In addition, findings revealed four main responses to stigmatization: (1) selective disclosure, (2) concealment practices, (3) universalizing, and (4) making comparisons. Whereas the first two are strategic reactions to specific situations, the latter two are general conceptual destigmatizing responses. CONCLUSIONS: Men's coping styles reveal their efforts to disengage from the discrediting attributes of male breast cancer, to distance themselves from female breast cancer, and to avoid emasculation. They manage stigmatizing situations using disengagement situational responses, such as concealment and selective disclosure, and negotiate group boundaries with the goal of destigmatizing male breast cancer. Beyond broadening the understanding of coping with male breast cancer, this study also illustrates the significant place of boundary work as a destigmatization practice about illness-related stigma.
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Neoplasias de la Mama Masculina , Neoplasias de la Mama , Adaptación Psicológica , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Negociación , Estigma Social , EstereotipoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Stigma against those who suffer from mental illness is a major issue in many nations. Stigma, which is comprised of prejudice, ignorance, and discrimination, serves as a barrier to seeking help and staying in contact with mental health services. It is thus imperative that concerted efforts are taken against stigma. METHODS: Eight young psychiatrists from eight Asian nations offer a narrative review of the state of stigma in their respective nations, the sociocultural reasons behind this stigma, recent anti-stigma efforts and the effects, if any, of such efforts. RESULTS: Despite these eight nations lying varying significantly in terms of economic developmental levels, there are sociocultural commonalities that undergird stigma across these nations. It is also evident that there have been more recent concerted efforts to combat this stigma, and in some countries, there has been a change in the perceptions of mental illness. CONCLUSION: The causes of stigma tend to be similar across various nations, and this perhaps suggests that international collaboration and a concerted global effort to combat this problem might thus be a possibility.
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Salud Global , Trastornos Mentales , Estigma Social , Asia , Humanos , Trastornos Mentales/etnología , Trastornos Mentales/terapiaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: This study describes the psychometric testing of the Mental Health Continuum (MHC) model the Canadian Department of National Defense developed initially, among undergraduates of three Canadian universities. The MHC is a tool that consists of 6 items to guide students the way to attend to, or monitor, signs and behavior indicators of their mental health status and suggest appropriate actions to improve their mental health. METHODS: Online survey data were collected from 4206 undergraduate students in three universities in two Canadian provinces during the spring of 2015 and winter of 2016. Participants completed an online survey questionnaire that consisted of the MHC questionnaire, the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K-10), and demographic information, including age, gender, and year of study. RESULTS: Factor analysis using the principal components method followed by a two-step internal replication analysis showed that the MHC tool was two-dimensional and that all six domains assessed were crucial. The construct (convergent) validity of the MHC tool was tested against the K-10, and the correlation analysis results were strong overall, as well as within subgroups defined by gender, year of study, and university. CONCLUSIONS: The MHC is a useful tool that helps college students reflect on and enhance their mental health.
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Salud Mental , Estudiantes , Universidades , Canadá , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Psicometría , Encuestas y CuestionariosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Despite several fruitful attempts in destigmatization, disability is still associated with stigma. The role of language, especially when addressing a disabling condition and people, has been the matter of social as well as scientific debates. This article poses an intriguing question about the language we apply when addressing people and disability. METHOD: A narrative review of different models of disability with the emphasis on how labels and more generally language affect identity formation, and the extendibility of positive psychology concepts on the field of disability studies. RESULTS: In this theoretical paper, the authors suggest that the term disability per se is contributing to increasing the stigma and has disempowering effect. Considering previous evidence from different lines of literature, the authors suggest a new approach of destigmatization, namely changing the term disability to a less stigmatizing one. Moreover, the authors discuss some theories to support this perspective. CONCLUSION: Replacing 'dis' in 'disability' with the prefix 'para' in the term 'Para-ability' is suggested.