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Adolescents' Experience of Stigma When Accessing School-Based PTSD Interventions
Tanya van de Water1, Jaco Rossouw1, Alberta S J van der Watt1
11 Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.
Qualitative Health Research
|March 16, 2018
Summary
Adolescents in school-based posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) therapy valued caring adults and sought strategies to manage stigma. Improving access, like after-school sessions, can enhance PTSD treatment for youth.
Area of Science:
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Mental Health Services Research
- Qualitative Health Research
Background:
- Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) significantly impacts adolescents.
- School-based mental health services offer a promising avenue for intervention.
- Understanding adolescent experiences is crucial for optimizing PTSD treatment delivery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore adolescent participants' experiences with school-based psychotherapy for PTSD.
- To identify facilitators and barriers to accessing and engaging in treatment.
- To inform improvements and scale-up of adolescent PTSD interventions in schools.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative investigation nested within a randomized controlled trial (RCT).
- Semi-structured, in-depth interviews and focus groups with 10 adolescent participants.
- Thematic analysis using Atlas.ti software.
Main Results:
- Adolescents reported varied support experiences, with motivated engagement linked to caring adults.
- Participants employed calculated disclosure strategies to mitigate stigma and marginalization.
- School-based therapy was generally well-received, with a preference for after-school hours.
Conclusions:
- School-based psychotherapy for adolescent PTSD can be effective but requires attention to support systems.
- Addressing adolescent-identified needs, such as session timing and stigma management, is vital.
- Findings offer actionable insights for enhancing and expanding school-based PTSD interventions for adolescents.