Severe and Persistent Mental Illness

Question 1

Define: Stigma

Answer 1

Societal devaluation or demeaning of an individual or group of people by judging, labelling, alienating or thinking them to be incapable of fulfilling valued social roles or contributing to society.

Question 2

Define: Marginalization

Answer 2

To relegate to an unimportant or powerless position within a society or group.

Question 3

How does stigma affect individuals with mental illness?

Answer 3

• Feel unable to seek help
• Isolation
• Fear
• Lowered self-esteem
• Feel limited in opportunities available to others
• Financial stress
• Self-blaming/internalizing negative messages

Question 4

How does stigma affect families with mentally ill members?

Answer 4

• Caregiver burden, especially if help is not sought out
• Self-blame/guilt/shame
• Lack of education/knowledge
• Isolation from loved ones with mental illness d/t fear
• Puts strain on family

Question 5

How does stigma affect communities and society?

Answer 5

• Increased ignorance on a larger scale
• Decreased job opportunities
• Decreased education/knowledge
• Increased healthcare cost
• Decreased access to healthcare, housing, employment, etc.
• Decreased community support initiatives, or overburdened services d/t limited amount
• Society excluding people who are not “valuable” (ex. unable to work, etc.)
• Perpetuates belief that it is okay to exclude groups of people, look down on others, etc.

Question 6

What can we do to reduce stigma as nurses?

Answer 6

• Create awareness/education about mental health
• Connect with resources and make referrals
• Use of therapeutic skills (listen and explore); not being afraid to talk with people with mental illness
• Advocate on an organizational, community and federal level
• Recognizing our own biases

Question 7

How has mental health care changed in BC?

Answer 7

• Deinstitutionalization, pushing for care in smaller hospitals and the community
• Goal was to house and integrate individuals into society (prevent them from being needed to stay “separate” from society)
• Community supports were not built up enough to adequately support these patients, resulting in homelessness, further marginalization, turning to crime/substances, etc.
• Overflowing psych wards in hospitals, burned out staff; perpetuates belief that they drain our system

Question 8

What are predictors of successful partnerships with mental health patients?

Answer 8

• Therapeutic relationships / Follow-up
• Choice and Voice in Treatment (give them back power that marginalization takes away)
• Access to Information
• Medication Compliance
• Hope (gives purpose and something to strive for)
• Community Resources
• Peer Support
• Sense of Purpose
• Abstaining from Substance Use
• Financial Support
• Family Support
• De-stigmatization