Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-p9bg8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-25T16:29:46.948Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Experience of stigma among Chinese mental health patients in Hong Kong

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

K. F. Chung
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China (tel: 852 2855 4487; fax: 852 28551345; e-mail: kfchung@hkucc.khu.hk)
M. C. Wong
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.
Aims and Method

The study was intended to rectify the lack of data on how Chinese people experience the stigma of mental illness. A questionnaire on perceived stigmatisation, experiences of rejection and ways of coping with stigma was completed by 193 persons attending a psychiatric out-patient clinic in Hong Kong.

Results

Most of the participants were aware of the stigma associated with mental illness, but experiences of rejection were relatively less frequent. Eleven per cent of the respondents indicated that they were neglected by health care professionals and 8% had been avoided by family members. The most frequently reported coping method was maintaining secrecy about the illness.

Clinical Implications

In China, people with mental health problems experience stigma in various degrees. However, some of the people surveyed expressed feelings of relief that others were supportive and sympathetic towards their illness. Mental health professionals should maintain optimism in helping their patients to cope with the stigma.

Type
Original Papers
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
Copyright © 2004. The Royal College of Psychiatrists.

References

American Psychiatric Association (1994) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th edn) (DSM–IV). Washington, DC: APA.Google Scholar
Camp, D. L., Finlay, W. M. L. & Lyons, E. (2002) Is low self-esteem an inevitable consequence of stigma? An example from women with chronic mental health problems. Social Science and Medicine, 55, 823834.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Clafferty, R. A., Mccabe, E. & Brown, K.W. (2001) Conspiracy of silence? Telling patients with schizophrenia their diagnosis. Psychiatric Bulletin, 25, 336339.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Clausen, J. A. (1981) Stigma and mental disorder: phenomena and terminology. Psychiatry, 44, 287296.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dickerson, F. B. (1998) Strategies that foster empowerment. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 5, 231239.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dickerson, F. B., Sommerville, J., Origoni, A. E., et al (2002) Experiences of stigma among outpatients with schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 28, 143155.Google Scholar
Holmes, E. P. & River, L. P. (1998) Individual strategies for coping with the stigma of severe mental illness. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 5, 231239.Google Scholar
Link, B. G., Mirotznik, J. & Cullen, F.T. (1991) The effectiveness of stigma coping orientations: can negative consequences of mental illness labeling be avoided? Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 32, 302320.Google Scholar
Link, B. G., Struening, E. L., Rahav, M., et al (1997) On stigma and its consequences: evidence from a longitudinal study of men with dual diagnoses of mental illness and substance abuse. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 38, 177190.Google Scholar
Link, B. G., Struening, E. L., Neesetodd, S., et al (2001) The consequences of stigma for the self-esteem of people with mental illnesses. Psychiatric Services, 52, 16211626.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lundin, R. K. (1998) Living with mental illness: a personal experience. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 5, 223230.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mental Health Foundation (2000) Pull Yourself Together: A Survey of the Stigma and Discrimination Faced by People Who Experience Mental Distress. London: Mental Health Foundation.Google Scholar
Ono, Y., Satsumi, Y., Kim, Y., et al (1999) Schizophrenia: is it time to replace the term? Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 53, 335341.Google Scholar
Perlick, D. A., Rosenheck, R. A., Clarkin, J. F., et al (2001) Adverse effects of perceived stigma on social adaptation of persons diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder. Psychiatric Services, 52, 16271632.Google Scholar
Rosenfield, S. (1997) Labeling mental illness: the effects of received services and perceived stigma on life satisfaction. American Sociological Review, 62, 660672.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schulze, B. & Angermeyer, M. C. (2003) Subjective experiences of stigma. A focus group study of schizophrenic patients, their relatives and mental health professionals. Social Science and Medicine, 56, 299312.Google Scholar
Sirey, J. A., Bruce, M. L., Alexopoulos, G. S., et al (2001) Perceived stigma and patient-rated severity of illness as predictors of antidepressant drug adherence. Psychiatric Services, 52, 16151620.Google Scholar
Wahl, O. F. (1999) Mental health consumers' experience of stigma. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 25, 467478.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Submit a response

eLetters

No eLetters have been published for this article.