Stigma toward people with mental disorders in mental healthcare in Chile
Journal
International Journal of Social Psychiatry
ISSN
0020-7640
1741-2854
Date Issued
2024
Author(s)
Pamela Grandón
Claudio Bustos
Dany Fernández
Félix Cova
Gabriela Nazar
Gabriela Díaz-Pérez
Verónica Monreal
Jaime Méndez
Type
journal-article
Abstract
<jats:sec><jats:title>Objective:</jats:title><jats:p> This research aimed to determine the stigma toward people with mental illness among mental health personnel and identify individual, professional, and contextual predictors. </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods:</jats:title><jats:p> A descriptive, cross-sectional, and correlational design was used. The sample consisted of 218 mental health personnel working in Outpatient Psychiatric Units belonging to hospitals and Community Mental Health Centers in Chile. Stigma was evaluated using a scale of humanized treatment, a scale of social distance, and a scale of attitudes in health personnel. In addition, sociodemographic and professional information was collected from mental health personnel and contextual information, particularly the type of outpatient mental health center and the technical-administrative unit that groups all the health centers in a territory. </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results:</jats:title><jats:p> It was found that mental health personnel, in general terms, present low levels of stigma expressed in behaviors of comfort and support toward users, a desire for closeness and social interaction, and reduced stigmatizing beliefs and attitudes of infantilization toward individuals with MHPs. However, intimacy and trust were lower than expected. Only educational levels and health centers were related to stigma. </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusions:</jats:title><jats:p> The low levels of stigma may be due to the evolution of this phenomenon and the country’s mental health policies. </jats:p></jats:sec>
Cite this document
Grandón, P., Bustos, C., Fernández, D., Cova, F., Nazar, G., Díaz-Pérez, G., Monreal, V., & Méndez, J. (2024). Stigma toward people with mental disorders in mental healthcare in Chile. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 70(7), 1289-1297. https://doi.org/10.1177/00207640241263251