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The impact of community-based mental health service provision on stigma and attitudes towards professional
Michelle Kearns1,2, Orla T Muldoon1,3, Rachel M Msetfi1,3
1a Centre for Social Issues Research, Department of Psychology , University of Limerick , Limerick , Ireland.
Background:
Stigma of mental ill-health and attitudes towards help-seeking are recognized barriers to seeking professional help, and have previously been linked to the type of support services available.
Aims:
This study examined if the introduction of community-based mental health services to an area impacts mental health stigma and attitudes towards professional help-seeking amongst local residents.
Method:
A repeated cross-sectional study comprising of community surveys in two localities was carried out before and after community-based mental health services were introduced (N = 1074). Measures including perceived public and self-stigma of mental ill-health, and attitudes towards seeking professional help were compared across the two time points.
Results:
Both public and self-stigma were significantly lower, and attitudes towards seeking professional help significantly more positive, after community-based mental health services had been introduced in each locality.
Conclusions:
The presence of local, accessible mental health services can positively impact help-seeking behaviour by reducing stigma and changing norms and attitudes around professional help-seeking.
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