PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

Study: Mental illness stigma entrenched in American culture; new strategies needed

Study: Mental illness stigma entrenched in American culture; new strategies needed
2010-09-15
(Press-News.org) BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- A joint study by Indiana University and Columbia University researchers found no change in prejudice and discrimination toward people with serious mental illness or substance abuse problems despite a greater embrace by the public of neurobiological explanations for these illnesses.

The study, published online Sept. 15 in the American Journal of Psychiatry, raises vexing questions about the effectiveness of campaigns designed to improve health literacy. This "disease like any other" approach, supported by medicine and mental health advocates, had been seen as the primary way to reduce widespread stigma in the United States.

"Prejudice and discrimination in the U.S. aren't moving," said IU sociologist Bernice Pescosolido, a leading researcher in this area. "In fact, in some cases, it may be increasing. It's time to stand back and rethink our approach."

Stigma, the well-documented reluctance by many to socialize or work with people who have a mental or substance abuse disorder, is considered a major obstacle to effective treatment for many Americans who experience these devastating illnesses. It can produce discrimination in employment, housing, medical care and social relationships, and negatively impact the quality of life for these individuals, their families and friends.

Funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, the study examined whether American attitudes concerning mental illness have changed during a 10-year period when efforts on many levels and by many groups focused on making Americans aware of the genetic and medical explanations for depression, schizophrenia and substance abuse. While Americans reported more acceptance of these explanations, this did nothing to change prejudice and discrimination, and in some cases, made it worse.

The study involved questions posed to a nationally representative sample of adults as part of the General Social Survey (GSS), a biennial survey that involves face-to-face interviews. Around 1,956 adults in the 1996 and 2006 GSS first listened to a vignette involving a person who had major depression, schizophrenia or alcohol dependency, and then they answered a series of questions.

Some key findings include:

In 2006, 67 percent of the public attributed major depression to neurobiological causes, compared with 54 percent in 1996.

High proportions of respondents supported treatment with overall increases in the proportion endorsing treatment from a doctor, and more specifically from psychiatrists, for treatment of alcohol dependence (79 percent in 2006 compared to 61 percent in 1996) and major depression (85 percent in 2006 compared to 75 percent in 1996).

Holding a belief in neurobiological causes for these disorders increased the likelihood of support for treatment but was generally unrelated to stigma. Where associated, the effect was to increase, not decrease, community rejection of the person described in the vignettes.

Pescosolido said the team's comparative study provides real data for the first time on whether the "landscape for prejudice for people with mental illness" is changing. It reinforces conversations begun by influential institutions, such as the Carter Center, about the need for a new approach toward combating stigma.

"Often mental health advocates end up singing to the choir," Pescosolido said. "We need to involve groups in each community to talk about these issues which affect nearly every family in American in some way. This is in everyone's interest."

The research article suggests that stigma reduction efforts focus on the person rather than on the disease, and emphasize the abilities and competencies of people with mental health problems. Pescosolido says well-established civic groups -- groups normally not involved with mental health issues -- could be very effective in making people aware of the need for inclusion and the importance of increasing the dignity and rights of citizenship for persons with mental illnesses.



INFORMATION:

For a copy of the study or for an interview with lead author Pescosolido, please contact Alex Capshew at acapshew@indiana.edu and 812-855-6256.

Co-authors include Jack K. Martin, Schuessler Institute for Social Research at IU; J. Scott Long and Tait R. Medina, Department of Sociology in IU's College of Arts and Sciences; and Jo C. Phelan and Bruce G. Link, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.


[Attachments] See images for this press release:
Study: Mental illness stigma entrenched in American culture; new strategies needed

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Understanding behavioral patterns: Why bird flocks move in unison

2010-09-15
Animal flocks, be it honeybees, fish, ants or birds, often move in surprising synchronicity and seemingly make unanimous decisions at a moment's notice, a phenomenon which has remained puzzling to many researchers. New research published today, Wednesday 15 September, in New Journal of Physics (co-owned by the Institute of Physics and German Physical Society), uses a particle model to explain the collective decision making process of flocks of birds landing on foraging flights. Using a simple self-propelled particle (SPP) system, which sees the birds represented by ...

Urgent need for prostate cancer screening amongst Dutch men

2010-09-15
Arnhem, 15 September 2010 – A recent TNS NIPO survey, on behalf of the Dutch Association of Urology (NVU) and the European Association of Urology (EAU), showed that almost four out of 10 Dutch men of 50 years and older suffer, or have suffered, from urinary complaints. The same number of men also said in the same survey they are worried that they may have prostate cancer. The TNS NIPO survey also indicated that a significantly larger number of men that suffer, or have suffered, from urinary complaints expressed the concern of having prostate cancer as compared to men ...

Successful periodontal therapy may reduce the risk of preterm birth, according to Penn dental study

2010-09-15
PHILADELPHIA –- A collaboration led by a periodontal researcher from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine has found a possible link between the success of gum-disease treatment and the likelihood of giving birth prematurely, according to a study published in the journal BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. While a number of factors are associated with an increased rate of preterm birth, such as low body-mass index, alcohol consumption and smoking, the study adds to the body of research that suggests oral infection may also ...

Jennifer McGrath Receives the Endorsement of Huntington Beach Police Officers and Huntington Beach Firefighters

2010-09-15
Jennifer McGrath received key public safety endorsements in her campaign for re-election as Huntington Beach City Attorney. The Huntington Beach Police Officers Association and the Huntington Beach Firefighters Association have both officially endorsed Jennifer McGrath as the right choice for Huntington Beach City Attorney. "I am honored to receive the endorsement of our local firefighters and police. I applaud the efforts of our police and firefighters in ensuring our community is a better and safer place to live," said Jennifer McGrath. "I have been the City Attorney ...

Lizellen La Follette, MD, OB-GYN Practice, Expands Services to Women

2010-09-15
Lizellen La Follette, MD, has announced that her obstetrics and gynecology medical practice will heighten its patient services through the addition of an associate, Emily E. Binkley, MD. The La Follette practice provides healthcare to women of all ages. Dr. Binkley graduated from Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, with a BA in Earth and Planetary Sciences. A John Harvard Scholar for maintaining an A average, Dr. Binkley studied medicine at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee. She completed her residency at Pennsylvania Hospital ...

Greg Hoffman Consulting Adopts eSilverBullet Platform for Affiliate Management

2010-09-15
Greg Hoffman, owner of GHC, signed up for eSilverBullet when he discovered it on the popular affiliate forum A Best Web. "I like how eSilverBullet will allow me to leverage all of my affiliate relationships on one platform," he said. "We work with a very diverse list of merchants in the major affiliate networks and I can see this tool as the perfect solution on how to manage the recruiting process." eSilverBullet makes it easier for Outsourced Program Managers (OPMs) such as GHC to tailor communications on behalf of specific merchants. All prospect and publisher contact ...

Famed entrepreneur Sramana Mitra joins Blog Talk Radio host Kim Kelly on the My Crew Magazine Show September 16, 2010, at 7 pm. Pacific

2010-09-15
Famed global business strategist Sramana Mitra will appear on BlogTalkRadio's My Crew Magazine's (http://blogtalkradio.com/My-Crew-Magazine) Funding Your Startup Business in a Slow Economy Show with host Kim Kelly, Editor-In-Chief of My Crew Magazine on Thursday, September 16, 2010, at 7 pm, Pacific, and 10 pm Eastern. The exclusive interview will highlight Mitra's career in starting three successful business ventures and her new book, Innovation Need Of The Hour (EJ Volume Four). As strategy consultant, Sramana has consulted with over 80 companies, including public ...

Do You Have Private Equity DNA? Find Out at September Experts Connection Teleseminar

2010-09-15
Even in troubled financial times, there is an allure about working in the field of private equity. Many executives dream of finding a private equity portfolio firm that allows them to work in an unconventional setting and earn bigger salaries. In the next session of Experts Connection (www.experts-conneciton.com), Mary Kier, CEO of Cook Associates Executive Search, will review what it takes to be hired by private equity firms in a session entitled "The Private Equity DNA - Do You Have What It Takes?" The teleseminar is scheduled for Wednesday, September 22, from 4:00 - ...

One and Only event to showcase "REAL" Japan coming back to Orange County even bigger with more excitement

2010-09-15
O .C. Japan Fair, a street festival introducing contemporary and traditional Japanese culture, is coming back for the second time to Orange County on Sunday, September 26th, 2010, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m., at the Great Irvine Park in Irvine. The festival celebrated its inaugural event last November with over 50 booths and more than 10,000 attendees. This year's festival will be even bigger, with double the amount of participating vendors (over 100 booths) and with more attendees coming to experience all the fun, food and entertainment. The main theme of this year's fair is "Irvine ...

Foxit and Seclore partner to bring Information Rights Management (IRM) to PDF solutions

2010-09-15
Foxit Corporation, a leader in PDF software solutions and Seclore, an Information Rights Management (IRM) provider today announced that they have entered into a new partnership to offer Foxit¡¯s PDF viewing technology as part of Seclore¡¯s security solution. "Foxit continues to expand its PDF technology within the enterprise market segment. Enterprise customers using the Seclore document management system now have the ability to use the Foxit Reader which is small, faster and less bloated PDF viewer offering superior security and usability." said Alex Alexander, Assistant ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Community partners key to success of vaccine clinic focused on neurodevelopmental conditions

Low-carbon collaborative dual-layer optimization for energy station considering joint electricity and heat demand response

McMaster University researchers uncover potential treatment for rare genetic disorders

The return of protectionism: The impact of the Sino-US trade war

UTokyo and NARO develop new vertical seed distribution trait for soybean breeding

Research into UK’s use of plastic packaging finds households ‘wishcycle’ rather than recycle – risking vast contamination

Vaccine shows promise against aggressive breast cancer

Adverse events affect over 1 in 3 surgery patients, US study finds

Outsourcing adult social care has contributed to England’s care crisis, argue experts

The Lancet: Over 800 million adults living with diabetes, more than half not receiving treatment, global study suggests

New therapeutic approach for severe COVID-19: faster recovery and reduction in mortality

Plugged wells and reduced injection lower induced earthquake rates in Oklahoma

Yin selected as a 2024 American Society of Agronomy Fellow

Long Covid could cost the economy billions every year

Bluetooth technology unlocks urban animal secrets

This nifty AI tool helps neurosurgeons find sneaky cancer cells

Treatment advances, predictive biomarkers stand to improve bladder cancer care

NYC's ride-hailing fee failed to ease Manhattan traffic, new NYU Tandon study reveals

Meteorite contains evidence of liquid water on Mars 742 million years ago

Self-reported screening helped reduce distressing symptoms for pediatric patients with cancer

Which risk factors are linked to having a severe stroke?

Opening borders for workers: Abe’s profound influence on Japan’s immigration regime

How skills from hospitality and tourism can propel careers beyond the industry

Research shows managers of firms handling recalls should review media scrutiny before deciding whether to lobby

New model system for the development of potential active substances used in condensate modifying drugs

How to reduce social media stress by leaning in instead of logging off

Pioneering research shows sea life will struggle to survive future global warming

In 10 seconds, an AI model detects cancerous brain tumor often missed during surgery 

Burden of RSV–associated hospitalizations in US adults, October 2016 to September 2023

Repurposing semaglutide and liraglutide for alcohol use disorder

[Press-News.org] Study: Mental illness stigma entrenched in American culture; new strategies needed