Student Research
Exploring internalized stigma among people living with severe mental illness in the Caribbean island of Barbados
Category: Masters Public Health
Status: Completed
Background: Persons living with mental disorders can be hindered in achieving life goals due to experiencing internalised stigma, low self-efficacy and low subjective quality of life. Understanding and addressing these variables are thus important. This study is the first to explore internalized stigma and these relationships in Barbados.
Project Outline: This study found that 14% of participants had high levels of internalized stigma;
17% had low self-efficacy; and 40% had low subjective well-being. Second, there was an association between internalized stigma, self-efficacy and subjective well-being suggesting that addressing these could be beneficial to people living with severe mental illness. Third, this study suggests that internalized stigma could impact patients’ receptivity to mental health interventions, highlighting the need to address internalized stigma and to optimize self-efficacy and well-being. This study therefore provides evidence to inform adjustments to and creations of existing and new interventions aiming at reducing internalized stigma among patients living with severe mental illness.
