Mentor/s
Professor Brian Stiltner
Participation Type
Poster
Abstract
Mental illness affects a significant portion of the population, yet stigma surrounding it persists, leading to disparities in psychiatric healthcare. This paper discusses the impact of stigma on mental health treatment, drawing insights from scholarly literature, clinical experiences, and societal observations. It addresses the stereotypes and misconceptions that contribute to the reluctance of individuals to seek treatment and examines the influence of media representations and cultural attitudes surrounding psychiatric healthcare. Moreover, the paper explores the implications of stigma on the quality of care provided by healthcare professionals, particularly focusing on the attitudes of nurses in psychiatric settings. Drawing from firsthand observations during a clinical rotation, the paper highlights instances of stigmatizing behavior and its detrimental effects on patient outcomes. The discussion encompasses the broader societal implications of mental health stigma, emphasizing the need for increased awareness and education to combat misconceptions and promote understanding of psychiatric healthcare. Furthermore, the paper addresses systemic challenges such as underfunding and inadequate access to mental health services, and advocating for policy reforms aligned with human rights principles. Through a comprehensive examination of the intersection between stigma and psychiatric healthcare, this paper contributes to a deeper understanding of the barriers to effective treatment and calls for efforts to destigmatize mental illness and improve access to quality care.
College and Major available
Nursing BSN
Location
Digital Commons & West Campus West Building University Commons
Start Day/Time
4-26-2024 12:00 PM
End Day/Time
4-26-2024 2:00 PM
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
Prize Categories
Most Transformative for Social Justice
The Effect of Stigma Against Mental Illness on the Disparities of the Psychiatric Healthcare System
Digital Commons & West Campus West Building University Commons
Mental illness affects a significant portion of the population, yet stigma surrounding it persists, leading to disparities in psychiatric healthcare. This paper discusses the impact of stigma on mental health treatment, drawing insights from scholarly literature, clinical experiences, and societal observations. It addresses the stereotypes and misconceptions that contribute to the reluctance of individuals to seek treatment and examines the influence of media representations and cultural attitudes surrounding psychiatric healthcare. Moreover, the paper explores the implications of stigma on the quality of care provided by healthcare professionals, particularly focusing on the attitudes of nurses in psychiatric settings. Drawing from firsthand observations during a clinical rotation, the paper highlights instances of stigmatizing behavior and its detrimental effects on patient outcomes. The discussion encompasses the broader societal implications of mental health stigma, emphasizing the need for increased awareness and education to combat misconceptions and promote understanding of psychiatric healthcare. Furthermore, the paper addresses systemic challenges such as underfunding and inadequate access to mental health services, and advocating for policy reforms aligned with human rights principles. Through a comprehensive examination of the intersection between stigma and psychiatric healthcare, this paper contributes to a deeper understanding of the barriers to effective treatment and calls for efforts to destigmatize mental illness and improve access to quality care.
Students' Information
Avery VanDyke, BSN, Honor's student, May 2024