The Stigma That Mentally Ill People Face in Korea - Assignment Example

Internalised Stigma Student Name Institutional Affiliation Abstract The research will explore on the stigma that mentally ill people face in Korea. The mentally challenged people face a lot of stigma from the society such as discrimination in jobs, housings, and corporations. The actions, in turn, cause individually internalized stigma that shapes the behavior of the mentally ill people and their families (Kim et al., 2015). The goals of the research were to assess the magnitude of the internalized stigma among mentally ill patients and identify the possibility of perceived stigma among family members. The study used cross-sectional study design to collect the data about the 100 participants that were involved in the survey. The study found out that the majority of the patients did not have jobs. The family caregivers were spouses or parents. The study concluded that the mentally ill people are more stigmatized by the community attitudes than the severity of the survey. The researcher recommended that a study about the impact of the stigma be researched on the patients and family members. Internalised Stigma Introduction The mental illness stigma is still high unlike other medical conditions and more prevalent in these developed countries than the others (Kim et al., 2015). The people with mental problems face discriminations from the other people since there are negative stereotypes attached to their medical conditions. As a result of the stigma, these people lose their social status, self-esteem; qualify of their life, and interpersonal relationships. Apparently, it is common to find the mental patients unemployment, isolated, and delayed treatment which causes a serious health problem (Link et al., 1997).Similarly, the toughest problem is the internal stigma that these people develop due to the social stigma. In the world today there is increased research on the internalized stigma to understand what the external discrimination does to the mentally ill people. For instance, when the sick people are left out during housing and employments they feel they do not belong to that particular community. Also, sometimes people might not show them the real discrimination but from an attitude against them which leads to the same effects (Chang et al., 2014). The physical and emotional perception leads to internalized stigma which is very painful and destructive (Jung et al., 2008). As a result, the internalized stigma of mental illness (ISMI) was produced to analyze the perceptions of the mentally ill people. The ISMI has 29 questionnaires that measure self-stigma for people with psychiatric problems. The tool was developed with the substantial contribution from the consumers and has between widely used by different cultures all over the world (Chang et al., 2014). According to Boyd et al. (2014), the ISMI is 47 different versions and languages across the world and for every version there are those for depression, eating disorders, and smoking, epilepsy, among other social and clinical issues. The various versions have been reliable valid in the different systems, languages, and cultures. In their study, the authors found out in ISMI the internalized stigma highly correlates with low self-esteem, high depression, and severe symptoms. According to Jung et al., 2008, the stigma treatment works to facilitate the treatment and only the treatments that target to minimize the internal stigma and illnesses are seen efficient and long–term. The treatment of psychiatric illnesses using the ISMI was validated since 2003 with its original version been tested. For instance, the Korean version together with the Turkish, German, and original versions was used to treat leprosy. The previous studies show that ISMI reported remarkable consistency of >0.90 and an excellent reliability thus, making it a suitable procedure. Boyd et al. (2014) observed that the psychometric properties of ISMI were objective to studies conducted during an evaluation of the matter. Since then there have been various studies aiming to examine the reliability and validity of the psychometric properties of ISMI evaluation thus showing that the information is still insufficient. Apart from the features the scale also lacks substantial factor analysis thus resulting in the poor rating of the patients. Additionally, the people with the men all illness might be in a situation where they are unable to answer the questions given, therefore, subjecting them to more traumas. Also, the patients have different cognitive dysfunctions which make them require different measurement invariance so that the clinician and or researcher can realize what the patient needs. Patients with mental illness have varying factors that contribute to internalized stigma. Among the factors there are psychological, clinical and social-demographic issues that contribute to internal stigma to each. Stigmatization of the mentally ill people does not only cause inner shame to them but also to their family and friends. The majority of individuals with such patients conceal their whereabouts from the other people in the society to avoid criticism, public ridicule, stereotypes, contamination, and blame. Moreover, the family members deny psychiatric problems to reduce the amount of same they face if they had such symptoms. Interestingly, the close friends and families are more ashamed of female relatives than the male people. On the other hand, stigma denies a person a chance to acquire a house or even live in the comfortable home (Kim et al., 2015). Apart from the housing and employment, the mentally challenged people also face discrimination even in jails. Rationale of the Study Internalized stigma remains as a burden to the patients, loved ones, and the medical facilities. The stigmatizations delays treatment, increases health risks, violence, and abnormal behaviors. The situation leads to more adverse effects such as psychological stress, fear, marital issues, depression, and social stress among other social difficulties. Furthermore, the parents are more affected by the situation, thereby, living complicated lives such sleep problems. The patients and their families neglected by the society (Kim et al., 2015). The study, therefore, sorts to identify the magnitude of perceived internal stigma of the patients and relatives members Objectives To assess the importance of the internalized stigma among mentally ill patients To recognize the possibility of perceived stigma by family members Research Hypothesis Mentally ill patients feel different levels of stigma. There is the significant influence of perceived stigma to members of the family of the mentally sick person. Method Study Design The study will apply cross-sectional study design to evaluate the factors that contribute to internalized stigma. The cross-sectional study gave the researcher a chance to observe the internalized stigma at some point in the given time and population. The study also applied comparison for 100 participants with mental illness. The study was done in a hospital outpatient clinic that deals psychiatric patients. The study also included the family of the patients to analyze how they seek about the family members. The participants allowed a researcher to explore the different patients with mental illness, and family follow-up visits in the following factors: diagnosis, disease duration, age, social class, and admission to the hospital. The family and caregivers were analyzed by observed through blood relations, marriage, staying around the patients through staying close to them. The Tools for Data Collection ISMI questionnaire which was developed by the researcher for collection data related to socio-demographic characteristics of patients such as age, sex, educational level, illness duration. Another structured questionnaire was prepared for family caregivers such marital status, relationship degree, the level of education, and age. Data Analysis The data was collected was analyzed through excel program and SPSS software. The data was later given in descriptive data achieved through coded, tabulated, and revised statistical percentages, proportions, mean, and standard deviation. The analytical statistics tested the significance between the patients and family members Degrees of importance were recorded as follows Non-significance (NS) if P- value >0.05 Significance (S) if P-value< 0.05 Highly significant (H) if P-value Read More

Also, sometimes people might not show them the real discrimination but from an attitude against them which leads to the same effects (Chang et al., 2014). The physical and emotional perception leads to internalized stigma which is very painful and destructive (Jung et al., 2008). As a result, the internalized stigma of mental illness (ISMI) was produced to analyze the perceptions of the mentally ill people. The ISMI has 29 questionnaires that measure self-stigma for people with psychiatric problems.

The tool was developed with the substantial contribution from the consumers and has between widely used by different cultures all over the world (Chang et al., 2014). According to Boyd et al. (2014), the ISMI is 47 different versions and languages across the world and for every version there are those for depression, eating disorders, and smoking, epilepsy, among other social and clinical issues. The various versions have been reliable valid in the different systems, languages, and cultures.

In their study, the authors found out in ISMI the internalized stigma highly correlates with low self-esteem, high depression, and severe symptoms. According to Jung et al., 2008, the stigma treatment works to facilitate the treatment and only the treatments that target to minimize the internal stigma and illnesses are seen efficient and long–term. The treatment of psychiatric illnesses using the ISMI was validated since 2003 with its original version been tested. For instance, the Korean version together with the Turkish, German, and original versions was used to treat leprosy.

The previous studies show that ISMI reported remarkable consistency of >0.90 and an excellent reliability thus, making it a suitable procedure. Boyd et al. (2014) observed that the psychometric properties of ISMI were objective to studies conducted during an evaluation of the matter. Since then there have been various studies aiming to examine the reliability and validity of the psychometric properties of ISMI evaluation thus showing that the information is still insufficient. Apart from the features the scale also lacks substantial factor analysis thus resulting in the poor rating of the patients.

Additionally, the people with the men all illness might be in a situation where they are unable to answer the questions given, therefore, subjecting them to more traumas. Also, the patients have different cognitive dysfunctions which make them require different measurement invariance so that the clinician and or researcher can realize what the patient needs. Patients with mental illness have varying factors that contribute to internalized stigma. Among the factors there are psychological, clinical and social-demographic issues that contribute to internal stigma to each.

Stigmatization of the mentally ill people does not only cause inner shame to them but also to their family and friends. The majority of individuals with such patients conceal their whereabouts from the other people in the society to avoid criticism, public ridicule, stereotypes, contamination, and blame. Moreover, the family members deny psychiatric problems to reduce the amount of same they face if they had such symptoms. Interestingly, the close friends and families are more ashamed of female relatives than the male people.

On the other hand, stigma denies a person a chance to acquire a house or even live in the comfortable home (Kim et al., 2015). Apart from the housing and employment, the mentally challenged people also face discrimination even in jails. Rationale of the Study Internalized stigma remains as a burden to the patients, loved ones, and the medical facilities. The stigmatizations delays treatment, increases health risks, violence, and abnormal behaviors. The situation leads to more adverse effects such as psychological stress, fear, marital issues, depression, and social stress among other social difficulties.

Furthermore, the parents are more affected by the situation, thereby, living complicated lives such sleep problems.

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