Associative Stigma against Mental Health Nursing: Ways Forward

Abstract

In some countries, there is a serious public stigma against people with mental health disorders that is transferred to those in close association with people suffering from these disorders, such as family members and health-care professionals, a process called associative stigma. The stigma against mental health nurses comes not only from the general public but also from other health-care workers, including nurses themselves. Some nursing education curricula contain little information about mental health, such that prospective nurses graduate with poor knowledge of mental health, reflected in the small number willing to specialize in mental health nursing, especially in developing countries where this stigma is at its peak. Nurses who form a vital part of the mental health team must rise and defend themselves through advocacy for policies to protect world mental health.

Career Intentions and the Determining Factors among Health Science Students: A Systematic Review

“…It was disheartening to read of health science students being deterred from choosing a given specialty because of low prestige and stigmatizing attitudes among healthcare team members (Hebditch et al, 2022;Appleton et al, 2017;McKenzie et al, 2021;Ibrahim et al, 2014;Njaka, 2021). This highlights the need for a general reorientation of health-care professionals' attitudes, and for the incorporation of anti-stigma programs into health professions curricula.…”

A Systematic Review of the Effect of Stigmatization on Psychiatric Illness Outcomes

“…Globally, mental health services are often neglected and under-resourced, especially in developing nations [23]. In developed countries, high levels of stigmatization persist, with nearly 90% of individuals with mental illness reporting experiences of stigma [24,25]. In some Asian countries, cultural values, fear of shame, and strong family values restrict the pursuit of psychiatric treatment [26].…”