Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2brh9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-25T08:59:36.076Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A qualitative study exploring experiences of discrimination associated with mental-health problems in Ireland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 February 2012

R. Lakeman ,
P. McGowan ,
L. MacGabhann ,
M. Parkinson ,
M. Redmond ,
I. Sibitz ,
C. Stevenson  and
J. Walsh
R. Lakeman*
Affiliation:
School of Health and Human Sciences, Southern Cross University, NSW, Australia
P. McGowan
Affiliation:
School of Nursing and Human Sciences, Dublin City University, Ireland
L. MacGabhann
Affiliation:
School of Nursing and Human Sciences, Dublin City University, Ireland
M. Parkinson
Affiliation:
School of Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Ireland
M. Redmond
Affiliation:
School of Nursing and Human Sciences, Dublin City University, Ireland
I. Sibitz
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
C. Stevenson
Affiliation:
Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Ulster
J. Walsh
Affiliation:
School of Nursing and Human Sciences, Dublin City University, Ireland
*
*Address for correspondence: Dr R. Lakeman DNSci, School of Health and Human Sciences, Southern Cross University, PO Box 157, LISMORE, NSW 2480, Australia. (Email: [email protected])
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Aims.

Stigma and discrimination related to mental-health problems impacts negatively on people's quality of life, help seeking behaviour and recovery trajectories. To date, the experience of discrimination by people with mental-health problems has not been systematically explored in the Republic of Ireland. This study aimed to explore the experience impact of discrimination as a consequence of being identified with a mental-health problem.

Methods.

Transcripts of semi-structured interviews with 30 people about their experience of discrimination were subject to thematic analysis and presented in summary form.

Results.

People volunteered accounts of discrimination which clustered around employment, personal relationships, business and finance, and health care. Common experiences included being discounted or discredited, being mocked or shunned and being inhibited or constrained by oneself and others.

Conclusions.

Qualitative research of this type may serve to illustrate the complexity of discrimination and the processes whereby stigma is internalised and may shape behaviour. Such an understanding may assist health practitioners reduce stigma, and identify and remediate the impact of discrimination.

Keywords

DiscriminationIrelandqualitative researchstigma
Type
Original Articles
Information
Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences , Volume 21 , Issue 3 , September 2012 , pp. 271 - 279
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Aromaa, E, Tolvanen, A, Tuulari, J, Wahlbeck, K (2011). Personal stigma and use of mental health services among people with depression in a general population in Finland. BMC Psychiatry 11:52. doi:10.1186/1471-244X-11-52.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Braun, V, Clarke, V (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology 3, 77–101.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brohan, E, Gauci, D, Sartorius, N, Thornicroft, G (2011). Self-stigma, empowerment and perceived discrimination among people with bipolar disorder or depression in 13 European countries: The GAMIAN–Europe study. Journal of Affective Disorders 129, 56–63.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Charmaz, K (2006). Constructing Grounded Theory: A Practial Guide Through Qualitative Analysis. Sage: London.Google Scholar
Corrigan, P (2004). How stigma interferes with mental health care. American Psychologist 59, 614–625.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Corrigan, PW, Watson, AC (2002). The paradox of self-stigma and mental illness. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice 9, 35–53.Google Scholar
Crisp, A, Gelder, M, Goddard, E, Meltzer, H (2005). Stigmatization of people with mental illnesses: a follow-up study within the Changing Minds campaign of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. World Psychiatry 4, 106–113.Google ScholarPubMed
El-Badri, S, Mellsop, G (2007). Stigma and quality of life as experienced by people with mental illness. Australasian Psychiatry 15, 195–200.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Goffman, E (1963). Stigma: Notes on the Management of Spoiled Identity. Simon and Schuster: New York.Google Scholar
Goffman, E (2005). On face work: an analysis of ritual elements in social interaction. In Interaction Ritual: Essays in Face-to-face Behavior. pp. 5–46. Transaction Publishers: New Jersey.Google Scholar
Jorm, AF, Korten, AE, Jacomb, PA, Christensen, H, Henderson, S (1999). Attitudes towards people with a mental disorder: a survey of the Australian public and health professionals. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 33, 77–83.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lakeman, R (2010). Epistemic injustice and the mental health service user [Editorial]. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing 19, 151–153.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lyons, C, Hopley, P, Horrocks, J (2009). A decade of stigma and discrimination in mental health: plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose (the more things change, the more they stay the same). Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing 16, 501–507.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
NVivo Qualitative data analysis software (2010). QSR International Pty Ltd: Victoria, AustraliaGoogle Scholar
Peterson, D, Pere, L, Sheehan, N, Surgenor, G (2007). Experiences of mental health discrimination in New Zealand. Health and Social Care in the Community 15, 18–25.Google ScholarPubMed
Read, J, Haslam, N, Sayce, L, Davies, E (2006). Prejudice and schizophrenia: a review of the ‘mental illness is an illness like any other’ approach. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica 114, 303–318.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rose, D, Willis, R, Brohan, E, Sartorius, N, Villares, C, Wahlbeck, K, et al. (2011). Reported stigma and discrimination by people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences 20, 193–204.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rüsch, N, Corrigan, PW, Wassel, A, Michaels, P, Larson, JE, Olschewski, M, et al. (2009). Self-stigma, group identification, perceived legitimacy of discrimination and mental health service use. British Journal of Psychiatry 195, 551–552.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Schulze, B, Angermeyer, MC (2003). Subjective experiences of stigma. A focus group study of schizophrenic patients, their relatives and mental health professionals. Social Science and Medicine 56, 299–312.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Scott, D (2005). Critical realism and empirical research methods in education. Journal of Philosophy of Education 39, 633–646.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thornicroft, G (2006). Shunned: Discrimination Against People with Mental Illness. Oxford University Press: Oxford.Google Scholar
Thornicroft, G, Brohan, E, Rose, D, Sartorius, N, Leese, M (2009). Global pattern of experienced and anticipated discrimination against people with schizophrenia: a cross-sectional survey. Lancet 373, 408–415.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Verhaeghe, M, Bracke, P (2011). Stigma and trust among mental health service users. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing 25, 294–302.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Zartaloudi, A, Madianos, M (2010). Stigma related to help-seeking from a mental health professional. Health Science Journal 4, 77–83.Google Scholar