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Grant Proposal-Assessing the role of stigma towards mental health patients in help seeking

Study problem

There are several studies that have shown that stigmatization towards mental health patients have been present throughout history and even despite the evolution in modern medicine and advanced treatment. For example, Verhaeghe et al., (2014), captures in a publication in reference to a study that he conducted that stigmatization towards mental health patients has been there even as early is in the 18th Century. People were hesitant to interact with people termed or perceived to have mental health conditions.

Stigmatization has resulted from the belief that those with mental problem are aggressive and dangerous creating a social distance (Szeto et al., 2017). Also, mental health-related stigma has become of major concern as it creates crucial barriers to access treatment and quality care since it not only influences the behaviour of the patients but also the attitude of the providers hence impacting help-seeking. Timmermann, Uhrenfeldt and Birkelund (2014), have identified stigma as a barrier that is of significance to care or help seeking while the extent to which it still remains a barrier have not been reviewed deeply. Therefore, this study will assess the role contributed by stigma in help seeking in depth.

The intention of the research study is to review the association between stigma, mental illness and help seeking in order to formulate ways in which the stigma that is around mental health is done away with to enable as many people suffering from mental health complications to seek medical help.

Mental health is crucial in every stage of life. It is defined as the state of psychological well-being whereby the individual realizes a satisfactory integration instinctual drive acceptable to both oneself and his or her social setting (Ritchie & Roser, 2018). The status of mental health influences physical health, relationships, and most importantly day-to-day life. Mental health problems arise when there is a disruption in mental well-being.

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The risk factors to mental health problems are not limited and therefore everyone is entitled to the problem irrespective of gender, economic status, and ethnic group. For example, data shows that in America one out of five individuals experience mental health problems annually; with mental disorders being recognized as the leading cause of disability not only in the United States but also globally (Ritchie & Roser, 2018). Mental health disorders are seen to be complex and of many forms such as anxiety, mood, and schizophrenia, among others.

Data shows that in 2017 about seven hundred and ninety-two million people lived with a mental disorder. Challenges have been identified with data presentation since mental health disorders are under-reported worldwide (Ritchie & Roser, 2018). World health organization data shows that mental health disorders are not only determined by one’s ability to manage their thoughts, behavior and interaction with others but also economic, environmental and social factors. For example, the on-going global financial crisis creates a macroeconomic phenomenon that provides a significant opportunity for mental health consequences with an increased rate of suicide and harmful substance use.

Most research studies have shown that there exist many gaps in relation to mental health problems. The gap ranges from treatment interventions and effective use of the available tools to reduce the issues of mental health. For example, there exists a research gap on the interventions meant to reduce and eradicate stigma which has been recognized as a determinant of mental health problems and this spiked my interest.

Therefore, in order to fill this gap such question as a) what is the association between stigma towards mental health patients and help-seeking? b) To what extent does stigma constitute a barrier to the search for help among mental health patients? And c) Are there populations that are more deterred from seeking help due to stigma? Have to be answered through research to get the intended purpose.

Research objectives

a) To explore the impacts of stigma

b) To assess an association between the contributing factors of stigma to help seeking

c) To assess the extent in which these factors of stigma contribute to help seeking.

Research questions

How does the stigma around mental health complications prevent those suffering from mental health complications from seeking medical help?